Virginia Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions

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[[Virginia Naturalization Petitions (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
[[Virginia Naturalization Petitions (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
 
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Revision as of 10:33, 18 February 2011

United States Gotoarrow.png U.S. Naturalizations Gotoarrow.png Virginia Gotoarrow.png Naturalizations

History[edit | edit source]

In the colonial era, the general assembly and the governor granted citizenship to aliens. Some of these records have been published in the sources listed in Virginia Public Records.

Later naturalization records could be filed in a city, county, state, or federal court. Naturalization information is usually found in the orders and minutes of the various local courts of Virginia that were kept by the county clerk in each courthouse.

Most of the surviving original county court record books before 1865 have been transferred to the Library of Virginia. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most of these. They are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Place Search under VIRGINIA, [COUNTY] - COURT RECORDS. Copies of declarations, petitions, and certificates still at the county courthouse can be obtained by contacting the clerk's office.

Records of the Eastern U.S. District Court held at Richmond and Alexandria, and the Western U.S. District Court, held at Charlottesville and Big Stone Gap, are at the National Archives—Mid-Atlantic Region. The Family History Library has filmed naturalizations for the Eastern District for 1867-1938 and Western District for 1908-1929. The Library of Virginia has some U.S. court records for 1790-1861.

Pre-1906 Records[edit | edit source]

A good place to start colonial Virginia naturalizations searches is:

  • Bockstruck, Lloyd DeWitt. Denizations and Naturalizations in the British Colonies in America, 1607-1775. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 2005. FHL Book 970 P4b

N.B. It was not necessary for British and Irish immigrants to Colonial America to become naturalized, as the colonies belonged to Great Britain.

Post-1906 Records[edit | edit source]

For naturalization records after September 1906, access the Genealogy Program at www.uscis.gov

Online resources[edit | edit source]

Index to Naturalization Petitions, Eastern District of Virginia, 1909-1929: http://www.alexandria.lib.va.us/lhsc_genealogy_resources/citizen/citizen.html

References[edit | edit source]

Virginia Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.

NOTE: All of the information from the original research outline has been imported into the FamilySearch Wiki and is being updated as time permits.

Virginia Naturalization Petitions (FamilySearch Historical Records)