The first act regulating naturalization was passed in 1790 and was amended several times through the years. Many of the amendments dealt with required length of residence in the United States before citizenship was permitted. The Act of 1805 allowed free white persons to submit their intent to become a citizen as long as they had lived in the United States five years and “renounced allegiance and fidelity to all foreign power, prince, state or sovereignty,” particularly the head of the country where they were born.
Naturalization records were to be submitted to any court of record. The intent to become a citizen could be filed in one county and state and the declaration of citizenship could be finalized in another state. The following documents are recorded in Livingston County, Kentucky Circuit Court Order Books. The record of Thomas McCormick below is found in Circuit Court Order Book F, p. 104.
CirCt OB= Circuit Court Order Book
Thomas McCormick. In pursuance to an Act of Congress to establish a uniform rule of naturalization, McCormick makes the following registry. He migrated from Ireland; previous to his migration he was a subject of George the 3rd King of Great Britain, Ireland &c. He landed in the United States in 1816; has resided in Livingston County since the 2nd day of Decr 1816; His age is 25 years; his business and profession is a merchant. 4 Mar 1823. [CirCt OB F, p. 104] He has behaved as a man of good character. Admitted and considered a citizen of the United States of America. 5 Jun 1826. [CirCt OB F, p. 329]
William Roberts. He migrated from England and previous to his migration he was a subject of George the 3rd King of Great Britain. He landed in the United States 1807 wherein he has resided since and in Livingston County since 10 Sep 1819. His age is 29 and his business is a tavernkeeper. 4 Mar 1823. [CirCt OB F, p. 105]
John Sheridan. Alien; migrated from Ireland in 1823 and was a subject of King George the 4th King of Great Britain and Ireland; now renounces all allegiance to every foreign power, Prince, state or Sovereignty, particularly King George the 4th King of Great Britain and Ireland. 6 Sep 1824. [CirCt OB F, p. 235]
John Ashworth. In pursuance to an Act of Congress to establish a uniform rule of Naturalization, John Ashworth makes following Registry for being naturalized. He migrated from England about the 19th of March 1820 and previous to this he was a subject of George the 4th; he landed in the United States in May 1829 & has now resided in Kentucky upwards of 2 years and within the county 5 months. His age is 26 years; his profession & business a carpenter & it is his bonafide intention to become a citizen of the United States & state of Kentucky. 3 Jun 1823. [CirCt OB F, p. 144] John Ashworth has behaved as a man of good character attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States. He has renounced all allegiance to any foreign power, Prince, State or Sovereignty, particularly George the 4th King of Great Britain and Ireland. Granted citizenship. 5 Jun 1826. [CirCt OB F, p. 329]
Richard Kingston. In pursuance of an Act of Congress to establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization Richard Kingston makes the following Registry. He migrated from Ireland about the first of Jun 1806; previous to his migration he was a subject of Geo. The 3rd; that he landed in the United States 1st Sep 1806; that he has resided in Kentucky and in this county 23 months; his age is 45 years; his profession is a farmer and it is bonafide his intention to become a citizen. 4 Jun 1823. [CirCt OB F, p. 148] Kingston has resided 1 year at least in the state during which time he has behaved as a man of good character. Citizenship granted. 7 Jun 1826. [CirCt OB F, p. 351]
John Jenkins. In pursuance of an Act of Congress to establish a uniform rule of Naturalization, he makes the following registry for being naturalized. He migrated from Island[?] about 21 Sep 1816; previous to that he was a subject of George the 3rd. He landed in the United States Nov 1816 & has resident in Kentucky and in this county 5 months. His age is 38 years and his profession & business is a merchant. 4 Jun 1823. [CirCt OB F, p. 148]
Richard Rowe. Appeared in court & made oath that he was born in Scotland in Berwick upon Tweed in the government of Great Britain in 1795. He left there in 1818 & landed in the government of the United States and has ever since resided with in sd. Government & for the last 13 years in Livingston County & it is his bonafide intention to become a citizen of the United States & renounces all allegiance to any foreign power, Prince, state or sovereignty, particularly the Government of Great Britain. Jesse Patterson proved in court that Rowe has lived in this state and Tennessee for 8 or 9 years & in this county for more than 2 years & he has good moral character. 9 Sep 1833. [CirCt OB H, p. 111]
James Ewing. Made oath he was born in County Donegal Ireland in 1791 under the government of Great Britain. Left Ireland 27 May last (viz) 1837 which country was subject to government of William the 4th King of Great Britain & Ireland, landed in City of New York in the State of New York on the 8th day of July 1837 and is at this time a citizen of Livingston County. It is bonafide his intention to become a citizen of the United States of America. 18 Sep 1837. [CirCt OB I, p. 79]
Walter Burns, a Scotchman
and alien, produced in court a Declaration of his intention to become a citizen
of the United States … “I was born in the Island of Great Britain, a subject of
the kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; I immigrated to the United States in
1836 in the 22nd year of my age … and I do declare it to be my
bonafide intention to become a citizen of same and renounce all allegiance to any foreign
prince, power or potentate whatsoever, particularly to Victoria, 1st
Queen of Great Britain and Ireland.” 13 Sep 1841 [Cir Ct OB K, p. 231] Walter Burns (an alien) took the oaths to
support the Constitution of the United States and the state of Kentucky. 21 Sep
1843. [CirCt OB L, p. 76]
Robert Shearer, alien, made oath that bonafide is his intention to become a citizen of the United States and renounces all allegiance … particularly to Victoria 1st Queen of Great Britain & Ireland. 23 Mar 1843 [CirCt OB K, p. 619] Proven in court by the oaths of P.C. Lander & Jas. W. Mills that Shearer has resided in the U.S. for 5 years at least and in this state for more than 1 year & during that time he has behaved as a man of good moral character. Granted citizenship. 20 May 1847 [CirCt OB M, p. 168]
John Wayman, an alien, made oath that bonafide is his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and renounces all allegiance … particularly Victoria, 1st Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. 23 Mar 1843 [CirCt OB K, p. 619]
Frederick William Kreft, by Peter Tillman, a sworn interpreter, made oath and signed a declaration for the purpose of becoming a citizen. Kreft was born 16 Oct 1814 in the providence of Westphalia of the Kingdom of Prusia [sic]. He left there in 1843 and landed at New Orleans 1st of June 1843; is now a subject of Frederick William the 4th King of Prusia and has been since his birth to the present time; renounces all allegiance to Frederick William the 4th King of Prusia. 25 Sep 1844 [CirCt OB L, p. 226] Residence since Apr 1844 proved by oaths of P.H. Conant & Solo. Littlefield. Declared a citizen. 23 May 1849 [CirCt OB M, p. 479]
Charles Hutswede, by Peter Tillman, a sworn interpreter. Hutswede was born 8 May 1817 in the province of Westphalia; he left there 1843 and landed at New Orleans 25 Dec 1843. He renounced all allegiance to any foreign power, prince, or potentate, particularly Frederick William the 4th King of Prussia. 25 Sep 1844 [CirCt OB L, p. 226]
James Senor. He was born 31 July 1804 in the Department Duda[?] of the Kingdom of France in the part of the country called Monballiar [Montpelliar?]. He left France in 1833 & landed in city of New York 4 Aug 1833 and is now a subject of Louis Phillip King of France and has been since birth to the present time. 25 Sep 1844 [CirCt OB L, p. 227]
Peter Tillman. He was born 2 Aug 1813 in Dusseldorf in the Kingdom of Prusia [sic]. He left Dusseldorf in 1839 & landed at the city of New York on 26 Oct 1839 and is now a subject of Frederick William the 4th King of Prusia and has been since his birth.25 Sep 1844 [CirCt OB L, p. 227]
Lewis Martin by James Senor, a sworn interpreter. Martin was born 15 Jan 1801 in Mur Department in the Kingdom of France. He left the Kingdom of France in 1838 & landed in the city of New Orleans about 13 Apr 1838. He is now a subject of Louis Phillip King of France and has been since his birth to the present and now wishes to renounce all allegiance & fidelity to all foreign prince, power or potentate whatsoever, particularly Louis Phillip King of France. 26 Sep 1844 [CirCt OB L, p. 234]
George Wilson. He was born 1807 in the Kingdom of Sweden, emigrated to the United States and landed at Philadelphia in 1822 and has resided in the United States ever since. In 1834 he was in a court of record in New York naturalized and received record evidence of the fact which has since lost in the city of Liverpool on a voyage to England. It is now as it has all the while been his intention to in good faith to become a citizen of the US. And state of Kentucky. He holds no title of nobility whatever and renounces all allegiance to every King, Prince, potentate whatever and especially to the King of Sweden and declares he will be faithful & true to the Constitution of the United States and state of Kentucky. 26 Sep 1844 [CirCt OB L, p. 234]
Thomas Croaker, an Irishman by birth, declared bonafide his intention to become a citizen and renounces all allegiance to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, particularly Victoria, Queen of England Ireland [sic]. 21 Sep 1843 [CirCt OB L, p. 80] Croker permitted under Acts of Congress to take necessary oaths requisite to becoming a citizen of the United States. Granted citizenship. 1 Oct 1845 [CirCt OB L, p. 476]
Edward Dixon. He is an Englishman by birth & from Cumberland County & a subject of Victoria, the first, queen of Great Britain. He landed in city of New York 12th of Aug 1833 & has been in the U.S. ever since & renounced allegiance to every King, Queen, potentate or Sovereign, especially to Victoria, present Queen of England & will support the constitution of the U.S. and state of Kentucky. 21 Sep 1843 [CirCt OB L, p. 80]
John Dick. He is a Scotchman by birth & from Aberdeen County & a subject of Victoria the first, Queen of Great Britain. He landed at New York on the 20th Sep 1834 & has been in the U.S. ever since. 21 Sep 1843 [CirCt OB L, p. 80]
Published 28 Jan 2021, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment