[Genealib] Minor Naturalizations

[Jefferson Moak]

>From the work that I did on Philadelphia naturalizations filed during the 
19th century in the Philadelphia city and county courts, I can say that if a 
person arrived in this country under the age of 18, then all that he had to 
do was wait 5 years and achieve his majority at the age of 21 in order to 
file a petition.  People filing minor petitions did not have to file a 
declaration of intention.  I have seen where a father and son might go the 
courthouse the same day after waiting 5 years: the father has to file a 
declaration and wait an additional 2 years; the son, if he is over 21, can 
file his petition on that day.  The Philadelphia records would often give 
the year of immigration.  In one extreme example, Samuel Jenkins of Wales, 
filed a minor petition in 1870 claiming that he arrived in this country 
under the age of 18 in 1801.

What I suspect from your information is that the person either arrived in 
this country at the age or 10 or 12, waited until past his 21st birthday and 
filed a minor petition.  The other possibility is that the person had 
already been in the country for either 10 or 12 years before filing.

I suggest that you check the ages of the two folks - the first in the 1880 
census and the second in the 1900 census to ascertain more information which 
might solve this puzzle for you.

Jefferson M. Moak
National Archives - Mid-Atlantic Region

>From: "Trevia W Beverly" <treviawbeverly at houston.rr.com>
>Reply-To: Librarians Serving Genealogists <genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu>
>To: "Librarians Serving Genealogists" <genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu>
>Subject: Re: [Genealib] Minor Naturalizations
>Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:36:07 -0500
>
>My first thought is that perhaps, like some today, the minor was doing his
>'intent' and even taking the oath -- and then doing the final steps upon
>reaching maturity - age 18 or 21.   I do believe the # of years indicates
>age.  Without some other answers, it will be hard to determine ---
>* this was an Index to Naturalization Petitions .... has the patron 
>followed
>through on the other steps of naturalization to see if they were completed.
>Normally the process was/is
>  . Declaration of Intention (first papers)
>. Petition (the court to become a citizen).
>
>. Oaths of Allegiance, of fidelity and abjuration. (renunciation of birth
>country)
>* what was the law at the time
>* were these unaccompanied minors
>* did it give any clue as to what country they were from
>* did your patron read the preface/instructions at the front of that film
>for any explanatory notes
>* what was found on the first census after those dates; were they with
>parents, etc.
>
>In 2006 I presented an all day seminar on Immigration & Naturalization at
>the Angelina College Genealogy Conference.  The outline is 22 pgs long.
>While it is an outline without my remarks or the Q&A, it still might be
>helpful in that most of the major laws are listed, etc.  Anyone who wants a
>copy, request it from treviawbeverly at houston.rr.comn and let me know
>who/where you are.
>
>Trevia Wooster Beverly
>Houston, Texas
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Kristen Smith" <ksmith at aapld.org>
>To: "Librarians Serving Genealogists" <genealib at lists.acomp.usf.edu>
>Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 8:44 PM
>Subject: [Genealib] Minor Naturalizations
>
>
>I have a question about minor naturalizations, that is immigrants who were
>minors at the time of their immigration who were eligible for "speedy"
>naturalizations if they met certain residency requirements once they 
>reached
>the age of majority.  (In other words, not the derivative naturalizations 
>of
>actual minors).
>
>A patron found two puzzling references in microfilm publication M1285, 
>which
>is an index to naturalization petitions filed in county courts in eastern
>Iowa, northwestern Indiana, eastern Wisconsin, and northern Illinois.  One
>naturalization, from 14 Oct 1884 says "Minor 12 yrs."  Another, from 1898,
>says "Minor 10 yrs".   I'm assuming that since these individuals are listed
>in the index, they are minor naturalizations, as opposed to minors who
>received derivative citizenship.  I'm puzzled what the years reference.
>Does it mean that the individuals immigrated to the US at 12 and 10 years 
>of
>age respectively?  Or, perhaps that they have resided in the US for 12 or 
>10
>years?  Or perhaps something else?
>
>  I would appreciate hearing from anyone who might have some insight as to
>how to interpret this information.
>
>
>Thanks!
>
>  Kristen Newton Smith, M.L.S.
>Reference Librarian
>Algonquin Area Public Library
>
>_______________________________________________
>genealib mailing list
>genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
>http://mailman.acomp.usf.edu/mailman/listinfo/genealib
>
>_______________________________________________
>genealib mailing list
>genealib at mailman.acomp.usf.edu
>http://mailman.acomp.usf.edu/mailman/listinfo/genealib

_________________________________________________________________
Like puzzles? Play free games & earn great prizes. Play Clink now. 
http://club.live.com/clink.aspx?icid=clink_hotmailtextlink2