On Saturday, August 5, 2000, Joseph E Burt <burtji@tusco.net> wrote: > If a son, approximate age 14, accompanies his mother and father to the USA > from Germany, does he have to file for citizenship? The time of arrival was > in the early 1880's. I always understood that if the head of household > filed, and was successful, citizenship went to every member of his family. > I would appreciate someone letting me know if I was right or wrong. Derivative citizenship for women and minor children was practiced until at least 1922. Beginning then adult women had to petition for naturalization separately. I assume that derivative citizenship continued for minor children after that time, but I'm not positive. I assume the age of majority was 21 at that time. However: do you know if they petitioned for naturalization before the child reached adult status? If not, they must petition separately. Thomas Cranston was sixteen years old when he arrived in the U.S. in 1802 with his father John. They waited until 1812 to petition for naturalization together (in Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas). The only concession to Thomas' minor status on arrival that I can see is that only John was required to take the oath of abjuration: 18 AUG 1812 Thomas Cranston and John Cranston Natives of Ireland filed in Court their petitions setting forth that it is bona fide their intention to become Citizens of the United States. John Cranston took the oath of Abjuration agreeably to Law. John's son John, born 1799/1800, would have received derivative citizenship from his father. S R C A cott obert ranston nderson phssra@physics.emory.edu Administrator, {C{offield,ollosky,ranston,ummins},OHGuerns}-L@RootsWeb.com USGenWeb Coordinator, http://www.usgennet.org/usa/oh/county/guernsey/