This appeared today on OHRICHLA-L@Rootsweb.com Hope it helps: Here's the place to go re Naturalization. Terry === Terry Wilson 40 S. Gamble Street Shelby, OH 44875 Researching: ALLEN, COLTMAN, EDMAN, FERRIS, HARLAN/HARLAND,HOLLENBAUGH, HORNER, JANNY/JANNEY/JENNING, KELLER, KLINKLE, KRUNK/CRUNK/CRONK,MARING/MEARING, MAY, McCORMIC/McCORMICK, SEAMAN, SHOMO, SIFFERLIN, TOUSLEY/TOSELEY, & WILSON ---O'Hallorans <ohalljp@indigo.ie> wrote: > > Hi All, > > I found a helpful website that answers a lot of our questions about > naturalization in the 1800s and early 1900s.... > > http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/natural.html > > Here is an excerpt: > > "Naturalization is the process by which an alien becomes an American > citizen. It is a voluntary act; naturalization is not required. Of the > foreign-born persons listed on the 1890 through 1930 censuses, 25 > percent had not become naturalized or filed their "first papers." > > "Congress passed the first law regulating naturalization in 1790 (1 > Stat. 103). As a general rule, naturalization was a two-step process > that took a minimum of 5 years. After residing in the United States for > 2 years, an alien could file a "declaration of intent" (so-called "first > papers") to become a citizen. After 3 additional years, the alien could > "petition for naturalization." After the petition was granted, a > certificate of citizenship was issued to the alien. These two steps did > not have to take place in the same court. As a general rule, the > "declaration of intent" generally contains more genealogically useful > information than the "petition." The "declaration" may include the > alien's month and year (or possibly the exact date) of immigration into > the United States." > > There is a lot more excellent info on this site. > > Linda O'Halloran > > > ==== NYFingerLakes Mailing List ==== > Have you visited the NYGenWeb project home page? > http://www.rootsweb.com/~nygenweb > Links to all NY counties, USGenWeb project, and more! > > _________________________________________________________ DO YOU YAHOO!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ----- Original Message ----- From: <KCLind@aol.com> To: <OHLOGAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 1999 4:42 PM Subject: [OHLOGAN-L] Naturalization Question Hello, I am new to the list. My great great grandparents were in Bellefontaine Ohio from 1850 on. (SUGRUE/SHUGRUE) was their names. I am looking for someone who may possibly have access to look up their naturalization papers. The came from Kerry Irleand about 1850 to 1865. I do appreciate any help. I will send more info, if someone is able to do this. I am in CA. Thank you so much Peggy email is KCLind@aol.com