Naturalization Records Prior to 1906

Prior to 1906, the original record of naturalization is in the court where the naturalization took place. There in no copy available form the Immigration and Naturalization Service. You must determine where the man lived when he become a citizen.

A general rule of thumb is that he would have gone to the closest, most convenient court, usually his county court. In New England, and in some other areas, in addition to the country court, there were also local, district of police courts, so more than one court might need to by checked. Additionally, in every state, a person could have elected to apply for naturalization in a Federal Court. There is at least one Federal district in each state. Even though the Federal Court may been in a different city from the one where the person lived, check the Federal District court if no record is found at the local level.

Also check with the local voter registration office. If he become naturalized and registered to vote, he would have had to show proof of Citizenship. Often the Registrar of voters kept the voter registration books, which show the court and date of naturalization. California Voter Lists have been microfilmed and provide this information for that western state.

The Old Law

"Old Law" included all naturalization processes between 1789 and September, 1906. There was no standard set of questions. Each court asked what it thought necessary to ensure that the applicant met the requirements for citizenship. Basically, courts asked for name, age, residence, and former allegiance (country of origin) of the applicant. While not particularly useful from a genealogical standpoint, these were often the only questions asked.

A more complete, and useful, set of questions might include: the above questions, date and place of birth, and the port of arrival in the United States. In some counties complete information was provided including the town of birth.

For places of birth, any of the following might have been legal replies for a man born in Abbey Stroudy, County Cork, Ireland:

1. Ireland
2. County Cork
3. County Cork, Ireland.
4. Abbey Stroudy, County Cork, Ireland
5. Great Britain

The same range of replies can apply to any other nationality. But since you won’t know until you see the document, and the document might provide other clues, it is always best to search for the record. It might help eliminate two people of the same name.

Below is a sample of Online Naturalizations at wia.leafglow.com/Sources.html found using www.google.com Study these and see how much can be found in the records even prior to 1860.

1835 Naturalizations in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. (Notice how many places give the county in Ireland as well as the country. Also some gave the year they arrived.)

Name Information:

• ALLENDORF, Peter Native of France, resident of Conemaugh Twp. Arrived in Boston in June of 1830. Filed 02 Jul 1833. Admitted as a citizen 05 Oct 1835. Vouched for by Peter MCNEELY.
• ASPEL, Edward Native of Westmeath, Ireland. Now aged 36 years and living in Cambria County. Emigrated from Dublin. Filed 06 Oct 1835.
• BAXTER, John Born in Motgomeryshire, Wales. Emigrated from Liverpool. Now aged 30 years and living in Cambria County. Filed 06 Oct 1835.
• BORTMAN, Peter Born in Luzerne County, Switzerland. Emigrated from Havre de Grace. Aged 27. Living in Cambria County. Filed 06 Oct 1835
• BOYLE, Peter Born in County Monaughan, Ireland. Arrived in New York in June 1838. Resident of Frankstown Twp, Huntingdon County. Filed 30 Nov 1832 in Bedford County, at the age of 33. Admitted as citizen Oct 1835. Vouched for by Daniel WALTERS.
• BRACKEN, Michael (X) Born in Kings County, Ireland. Emigrated in June of 1828, arrived at Buffalo in August. Now residing in Conemaugh Twp, Cambria County. Filed 02 Oct 1833. Admitted as citizen 06 Oct 1835. Vouched for by Christian GOOD.
• CALLAN, John Born in Monahan County, Ireland. Emigrated from Dublin. Now aged 30, living in Cambria County. Filed 05 Oct 1835.
• CASSIDY, Lawrence Born in County Derry, Ireland. Residing in Washington Twp., Cambria County. Filed 27 Dec 1830 in Huntingdon County. Admitted as citizen 05 Oct 1835. Vouched for by Charles LITZINGER.
• CONNOLLY, Bryan Native of Ireland. Arrived in New York Oct 1828. Now living in Cambria County. Filed 03 Jul 1832. Admitted as citizen 06 Oct 1835. Vouched for by Francis MCGRATH.
• CARROLL, Thomas Native of Ireland. Arrived in the U.S. in 1825 at the age of 13. Living in Cambria County. Admitted as citizen Oct 1835. Vouched for by Daniel CAHILL and Michael BRACKEN.
• DAISEY, Patrick (also Peter) Born in Cork County, Ireland. Emigrated from Cork. Now aged 45. Living in Cambria County. Filed 05 Oct 1835
• DAVIS, David R. Born in Montgomeryshire, Wales. Emigrated from Liverpool. Now aged 30. Living in Cambria County. Filed 06 Oct 1835.
• DONEGAN, Michael Born in County Fermeanaugh, Ireland. Emigrated from Belfast. Now aged 37. Living in Cambria County. Filed 05 Oct 1835.
• DOYLE, James Born in County Kildare, Ireland. Emigrated from Dublin. Now aged 35. Living in Cambria County. Filed 09 Oct 1835.
• EAGEN, John Born in Kings County, Ireland. Emigrated from Dublin. Aged 35. Living in Cambria County. Filed 05 Oct 1835.
• EGAN, Nicholas Born in Kings County, Ireland. Emigrated from Dublin. Now aged 40. Living in Cambria County. Filed 06 Oct 1835.
• EVANS, David R. Born in Montgomeryshire, Wales. Emigrated from Liverpool. Now aged 34. Living in Cambria County. Filed 07 Oct 1835.
• EVANS, Richard T. Born in Montgomeryshire, Wales. Emigrated from Liverpool. Now aged 34. Living in Cambria County. Filed 07 Oct 1835.
• FARRELL, Thomas (X) Born in Leith County, Ireland. Emigrated from Dublin. Now aged 37. Living in Cambria County. Filed 07 Oct 1835.
• FARREN, John Born in County Donegal, Ireland. Emigrated from Londonderry. Now aged 48. Living in Cambria County. Filed 05 Oct 1835.
• FERGASON, William Born in County Westmeath, Ireland. Emigrated from Londonderry. Now aged 31. Living in Cambria County. Filed 07 Oct 1835.
• FARRY, Robert (X) Born in County Fermanaugh, Ireland. Now living at Hollidaysburg, Huntingdon County. Filed 12 Nov 1832 in Huntingdon County. Admitted as citizen 06 Oct 1835. Vouched for by John DAILY.