All male new comers to King George II's American Colonies who were older than some specified age were obliged to take an oath and declare allegiance to the crown. What was the age? 16? 21?? If you have a reference I would appreciate it - but don't let that stop you... Best regards Hal

Hal, The following is from an ad for Henry Egle's book on the subject. "Names of Foreigners Who Took the Oath of Allegiance to the Province and State of Pennsylvania, 1727-1775" see www.genealogical.com It says the age was 16.: In 1727, the Pennsylvania Provincial Council passed a law requiring all "foreign" immigrants (i.e. those of non-British origin) to swear an oath of allegiance to the Crown. Lists of these immigrants were originally assembled for publication in the Pennsylvania Archives (Ser. 2, Vol. XVII), and they are reprinted here without change. This work, then, is an exhaustive list of "foreigners"-mostly Germans-who immigrated into the Province and, later, the State of Pennsylvania between the years 1727 and 1775 and again during the years 1786-1808. More to the point, it is a collection of ships' passenger lists, in many cases the lists being transcribed in entirety, with Captains' lists of passengers running up to the relatively late year of 1808. Along with the full name of the immigrant, including the names of all males over the age of sixteen, since that was the age they were obliged to take the oath, such information is given as name of ship, date of arrival, port of origin, and, in some instances, ages, names of wives, and names of children. An exhaustive index of surnames, running to more than 100 pages, contains about 35,000 references. Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hal Laube" <zzurlauben@mindspring.com> To: <PACUMBER-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, October 25, 2002 3:30 PM Subject: [PACUMBER] What age to take the Oath? > All male new comers to King George II's American Colonies who were older than some specified age were obliged to take an oath and declare allegiance to the crown. What was the age? 16? 21?? If you have a reference I would appreciate it - but don't let that stop you...

Bill, great reference..... Have seen on another list a caution on ages of children. Ages are not always what they seem. And it has to do with cost of passage. Age 4 and/or under were free, 4?-12 were half fare and full fare over 12.... So some who might have been 16 and able to pass for 12, might be listed that way to save a few £. -- joe