The first statute dealing with
naturalization was labeled the Naturalization Act of 1790 and allowed any white
person, or alien, of good character who had been in the United States for two
years to become a citizen. Not included were slaves, indentured servants and most women. The applicant also had to renounce all
allegiance and fidelity to every “foreign Prince, Potentate, State or
Sovereignty.” In 1795, the required
period of resident was increased to five years and had to give notice of
application of three years.
The Naturalization Act of 1798 extended
the residency requirement to 14 years and notice period to five years. The
Naturalization Act of 1802 repealed the Law of 1798 in favor of the
Naturalization Law of 1802, which stated
that the alien had to declare at least three years in advance his intent to
become a U.S. citizen. The previous 14
-year residence requirement was reduced to five years. Resident children of
naturalized citizens and children born abroad of U.S. citizens were considered
citizens. Former British soldiers during the “late war” were barred unless an
exception was made specifically for them.
In Kentucky, the applicant for
naturalization filed his intent in either county or circuit court. He could
also file his intent in one state and, if he met all the requirements, become a
citizen while living in another state. The following entries were filed by
residents of Crittenden County, Kentucky who wanted to become citizens of the
Union States. The sources of the information are at the end of the
entry.
William Oliver Wallace
declared he was born in the town of Annan, Dumfriesshires County, Scotland on
the 13th day of January 1820; that he them remained until 1835; that he left
the country at that time and came to the United States of American sometime in
February 1836 with the bonafide intention of becoming a citizen of the United
States. He has been residing in the United States from February 1836 up to the
present time; he renounces forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign
prince, potentate, state or sovereignty whatever and particularly to Victoria
the present reigning Sovereign of Great Britain. [Circuit Court Order Book
A, p. 127, 15 Oct 1844]
Christopher Kelly swore he
was born in the town of Wells Well in Prussia on the 26th of
February in 1819; that he then remained [there] until the year 1841 and that he
left that country at that time and came to the United States on the 24th
of June 1841 with the bonafide intention of becoming a citizen of the United
States; that he has been a resident of the United States from June 24th
1841 up to the present time. It is bonafide his intention to become a citizen
of the United States and renounce all allegiance and fidelity to foreign
prince, potentate, State or sovereignty, particularly Frederick William the 4th,
the present reigning Sovereign of Prussia.
[Circuit Court Order Book A, p. 128, 15 Oct 1844]
William Johns, an alien,
has lately arrived in the United States; is desirous of being naturalized a
citizen and states he was born in the city of Cornwell in England on the 12th
day of July 1816, being now in his 28th year of age; he is a subject
to her Majesty Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, Great Britain, Scotland
and Ireland, owing allegiance to her Majesty and none other. He emigrated from
Cornwall to the United States on the 25th of July 1841 and landed at
the city of New York in September of the same year; he has settled in the
county of Crittenden in the state of
Kentucky one of the United States of America.
[Circuit Court Order Book A, p. 128,
15 Oct 1844]
Jacob Bricker, who has
arrived lately in the United States is desirous of being naturalized a citizen
thereof, made a report of himself. He was born in the village of Grolsdoff in France March the 28 day in the year of our Lord 1820, being now in his 23rd
year of age; that he is a subject of his majesty Louis Philip the 14th
King of France owing allegiance to that Monarch and none other; that he
emigrated from France in Nov 1840 and landed at New Orleans in Jan 1841 and
intended to settle in the county of Crittenden in Kentucky. [signed] Jacob (X
his mark) Bricker. Wherefore Bricker
declared that is his bonafide his intention to become a citizen of the United
States of America and to renounce forever all allegiance to any foreign power
Prince, potentate, State or sovereignty, particularly to Louis Philip present
reigning King of France. [Circuit Court Order Book A, p. 133, 16 Oct 1844]
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