About Obtaining Naturalization Records in Lawrence County, Ohio
NATURALIZATION RECORDS IN LAWRENCE COUNTY, OHIO
Written by Martha J. Martin
The process to become a US citizen took several years to accomplish. There was several problems involved, the most common one being the inability to speak or spell the proper English language. Even today, this is a barrier in searching for your ancestors, often the person becoming a citizen couldn’t pronounce the name correctly, nor sometimes the person taking the information could not understand the proper name, because of the thick accent of the immigrants.
In order for a new American to own property or in some instances, even to get a job, the new immigrant needed proof of becoming a citizen of the United States. This usually was a two part process:
- Filing for Declaration of Intention at the county in which the new immigrant had resided for at least three years. This included renouncing and abjuring all allegiance and fidelity to the old country, as with my own ancestors who came from Ireland in 1838.
- After another three years the immigrant was then permitted to file for his naturalization and was declared a legal citizen of the United States, unless the immigrant was arrested or caused other distrubances.
In the state of Ohio, the naturalization was usually recorded in the Court of Common Pleas. You can find these in the early Journals or Complete Record books, housed at the Clerk of Courts office or by ordering from your local FHC on microfilm.
- Place of birth
- Date of birth
- Date sailed
- Name of port he sailed from
- Date he left the port
- Where he landed in America
- Date he landed in America
- Renouncing of Queen Victoria, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The above document was found in the Clerk of Court Office in Meigs County, Ohio and was signed 10 July 1844 by both the clerk and my ancestor, Henry MARTIN.
The declaration papers in Lawrence County, Ohio have been lost, misplaced or taken to Athens Co, Ohio to the depository at the Ohio University Alden Library. If anyone knows where these records are, please contact me.
NATURALIZATION’S
The naturalization process in Lawrence County, Ohio was needed in order to vote, own property or opening a business. This was done in Ohio after being in this state for three years, then one could apply for declaration of intention papers. It was performed in court and the alien would declare their intent to become a citizen. Soldiers, after honorable discharge, were granted citizenship without formal petition. You will find a lot of the Rev. War Veterans naturalizations listed in the Journal Book 1 & 2 located in the Clerk of Courts office in Ironton courthouse [these are also available on microfilm from your local Mormon church] . Before 1906, the records were kept by federal, state, and local courts. After 1906, the copies were then forwarded to the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Since 1968, uncertified copies of these papers cam be requested for research purposes.
Immigrants may have come either directly from their place of birth to the United States or by another country, where they had stayed for a number of years. My own ancestors lived in County Wicklow, Ireland, but sailed from Liverpool, England port. I do not know how long they were living at Liverpool before sailing to America.
STEPS TO BECOME A U.S. CITIZEN MAY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
ALIEN REGISTRATION
From 1802-1828, registrations of aliens with local court of records were required. some of these passenger lists from Salem and Beverly, Mass., are recorded from 1798-1800 and are housed in the National Archives.
During the War of 1812, a law was enforced and you can find this material which lists persons immigrating after 1800 in Passenger and Immigration Lists Index by P. William Filby with Mary K. Meyer.
In 1929, aliens were required to register their current residences and place of employment annually with the federal government, this was under the 1929 Alien Registration Act.
All aliens were required to carry these cards, and could be deported without a hearing if found without them. These cards can trace the immigrants and lead to the birth certificates on file with the Passport Agency, US Dept. of State of the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Dept. of Justice.
Other areas to check:
Letters of identity
Affidavits of birth and identify
Passenger lists
Correspondence regarding visas
Travel permits between 1937-1965.
All of the above items are available from the National Archives.
If you would like additional information about the Naturalization records, please email Martha J. Martin (Kounse) or Don Clark. The Lawrence County Genealogy Society has some of the names on where the person filed their declaration of intention, some were other than Lawrence County, Ohio.
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