New York Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions

After 1790, aliens could declare their intention to become citizens and later be naturalized in any court of record. Most naturalizations took place in the county courts of common pleas, but they were also recorded in city, mayors', district, and other courts. After 1906, naturalizations were usually handled by the county supreme courts and district courts. <br>  

The county courthouse have naturalization records from 1790 to the present. They also have separate volumes of military petitions of soldiers naturalized following the Civil War and the first World War. You can obtain copies of the papers from the clerk of the appropriate court. <br>  

Naturalization documents include declarations of intention, petitions for naturalization, certificates of arrival, and certificates of naturalization (after 1906). <br>  

''New York Published Source''<br>  

*Scott, Kenneth, ''Early New York Naturalizations: Abstracts of Naturalization Records from Federal, State and Local Courts, 1792–1840'' (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1981). [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/7776300 At various libraries.] [[FHL|25797|disp= FHL book 974.7 P4s]].) - May show foreign birthplace, age, or residence in New York. Abstracts of:<br>

::*New York City Court of Common Pleas (1792–1840)<br>  

::*District Court for the Southern district (1824–1840)<br>  

::*New York County Superior Court (1828–1840)<br>  

::*Marine Court of New York City (1807–40)<br>  

'''Alien Landowners''' <br>To own land and pass the land to their heirs, an alien had to declare to be a citizen of the United States. This law has created some records regarding these aliens.<br>  

Alien depositions of intent to become citizens from 1825 through 1913 Record Group A1870) are at the [[New York State Archives|New York State Archives]] (Record Group [http://nysl.nysed.gov/uhtbin/035-archives/(N-Ar)A1869 A1869]; Abstracted version: Record Group [[http://nysl.nysed.gov/uhtbin/035-archives/(N-Ar)A1870 A1870]]. These were statements made by aliens who wanted to buy land. They showed the alien's intention to stay in the United States and become a citizen as soon as legally possible. Because the desire to buy land was impacted by this law, the alien was often motivated to formally declare his intention to become a citizen at the same time. Thus, an alien deposition can often be a clue as to where the declaration was filed.<br>  

Prior to 1825, aliens could be enabled to hold land by an act of the state legislature. The acts seldom gave details on the alien – just the name and the date of the act.<ref>Gordon Lewis Remington, FUGA, “Alien Landowners in New York State,” ''The Irish at Home and Abroad,'' 1, no. 4(Spring 1994): 8-9.</ref> These books and articles contain a description of the records and names of the aliens:<br>  

*Scott, Kenneth and Roseanne Conway, ''New York Alien Residents, 1825-1848'' (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978). [http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=ti%3ANew+York+Alien+Residents%2C+1825-1848&qt=advanced&dblist=638 At various libraries]; {{FHL|88055|item|disp=FHL book 974.7 R2s}} - Gives details from the depositions, including counties of residence, and can be used as an index to finding declarations in this time period.<br>

'''Registration of Aliens'''<br>From 1798 to 1828 an "Alien Report and Registry" was required of all aliens. Each alien was to gave details on when and where they arrived, and sometimes names of family members. The Alien report was a Federal requirement and the records do not always survive. In New York State some counties (notably St. Lawrence) maintained separate registers of Alien Reports, but in most cases if the report survived, it is included as a loose paper with the Declaration of Intention or in the court minutes. Records are at the county courthouse and sometimes on microfilm at the [[New York Naturalization and Citizenship#Family_History_Library|Family History Library]].<br>  

*Scott, Kenneth, ''British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812''&nbsp;(Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1979), pp. 58-241. [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=49091 On Ancestry.com]; [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/5711802 At various libraries;]&nbsp;{{FHL|78653|item|disp=FHL book 973 W4s}} – New York residents make up 50% of this source and includes alien registeration under the Federal law of 6 July 1812. &nbsp;States where they lived, how long they had been in the United States, and other details. It can be used to tell an ancestor’s citizenship status and where he might have been naturalized. The fear was that these individuals would join British forces.<br>

*Moorhouse, Ann. "Citizenship Testimonials 1807-1817," ''The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record,'' Vol. 112, No. 1 (Jan. 1981):46-49. Digital version at [http://www.newyorkfamilyhistory.org/public-elibrary New York Family History] ($); {{FHL|161380|item|disp=FHL Book 974.7 B2n v. 112}}.

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