Naturalization Records at NARA - New York City
By Arlene Jennings, CG

Walter Hickey’s article on “Naturalization Records”, supplemented by our listing of “Naturalization Records on Microfilm at NARA – Pittsfield, tell the story of files you can find at NARA - Northeast Region, in the two Massachusetts facilities. Since many of our readers live within easy reach of New York City, you may be pleased to know that the Regional Archives in New York has Petitions for Naturalization dating from 1792 to 1990 for courts in New York City. There are also records for some courts in New Jersey and Puerto Rico.

The New York Court records, with selected examples characteristic of their groups, consist of the following:

Example, 1792 (earliest record):

From the New York County Court of Common Pleas, an affidavit was filed March 6, 1792, for George Shipley to become naturalized. This document appears to be equivalent to a Declaration of Intention, but all early records in this group are the same and NARA has labeled the group “Petitions for Naturalization.” The document provides little information of genealogical value save that the applicant has been a resident of New York state for at least two years and is said to be of good moral character.

Example, Declaration of Intention and Petition for Naturalization, 1867:

The text of the Declaration of Intention made February 11, 1867, by Montague Richard Leverson, and his Application for Naturalization, filed June 10, 1872, are typical of the documents in this group. They contain no genealogical information beyond the facts of continuous residence in the United States for at least five years and in the state of New York for least one year, and that the applicant is of good moral character. The files become more useful for the genealogist only when there are addenda. In the case of Leverson the file also contains a letter from the U.S. Department of Labor indicating that he was granted a certificate of re-admission as a British subject April 25, 1922, and that he took the oath of allegiance as a British subject on April 27, 1922.

Example, Declaration of Intention, 1906 and Petition for Naturalization, 1910:

Some files in this group contain both the Declaration of Intention and Petition for Naturalization. The Declaration of Intention of Shepsel Wainflash from 1906 indicates his country of origin, and his Petition for Naturalization from 1910 adds his current address; occupation; date and place of birth; date and place of embarkation for the United States; vessel, date and port of arrival in the United States; name of spouse, her place of birth, and her current residence; and the number of children they have, in this case, none. The Petition is signed by two witnesses who have known him for six years and whose names, occupations, and addresses are also given.

Example, Declaration of Intention, 1990:

In the latest files the information has changed but is still very limited, as seen in a Declaration of Intention of Alvaro Laverde. It gives only his name, current address and states that he is over 18 years of age and was lawfully admitted to the United States. His file shows a photograph, but that is exceptional rather than typical for these documents.

Examples, Petitions for Naturalization, 1990:

The Petitions for Naturalization indicate only full name; current place of residence; and date and place of birth, as seen in the file of Lucinda Petronila Vasquez Bello.

There are now files for children, as is seen in that of Bakil Kaid Abdulla Salim, so that in addition to the above information we also have a parent child relationship identified.

Example G, Declaration of Intention, 1848:

These documents are very limited in content as is seen in the Declaration of Charles Mercier, sworn March 22, 1848, and indicating only his name and prior nationality.

Example H, Military Petition for Naturalization, 1945:

This group includes Petitions and Certificates of Naturalization. The certificates cannot legally be copied; however they contain no genealogical information beyond what is in the petitions. The Petition for Stephen Matura shows the address of his current residence, date and place of birth, personal description, present nationality, marital status and number of children, point of embarkation for the United States, date and place of entry into the United States, Army or Navy serial number, and current military service status.

Example, Declaration of Intention, 1926:

These are the most informative of the Declaration of Intention files seen. That of Ida Jaffe, sworn February 8, 1926, gives her age, occupation, personal description, date and place of birth, current residence, city and vessel of embarkation for the United States, last foreign residence, marital status, and date of arrival in the United States

Example, Petition for Naturalization, 1940:

The Petition for Hanne Jacobsen includes her full name, married name and maiden name; address of current residence; occupation; age; date and place of birth; personal description; name of husband; date and place of marriage; husband’s current residence; date and place of birth; husband’s date and place of entry into the United States; date, place and certificate number of husband’s naturalization; names of her children, their birth dates, birth places and current residence; her last foreign residence; point of embarkation abroad for the United States; vessel on which she arrived in the United States and date and point of entry has indicated by her Certificate of Arrival which is also included in the file.

Example, Declaration of Intention, 1827:

The Declaration of Intention filed by Samuel Brown on August 13, 1827 is unusually valuable as an early genealogical resource as it indicates the sex, place of birth, age, country whence migrated, condition or occupation, and current residence for Brown, his wife, his 7 children, and his ward, Mary Barnes.

Example, Petition for Naturalization, 1840:

The Petition for Citizenship of Thomas Benjamin Rodier indicates the city in which he was born, the town, county, and state in which he now resides, the age at which he came to the United States, and that he has lived in the U. S. at least five years and in the state of New York at least one year. A witness attests that he is of good moral character.

Example, Petition for Naturalization, 1896:

The Petition for Citizenship of Jacob Hyman of May 5,1896, indicates his current residence and his country of origin. A witness attests that he has been in the United States continuously for five years and for the last year in the state of New York, that he is of good moral character, and "attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States."

 

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