Find of the Day – A Warren County NJ Naturalization Record
- At April 14, 2016
- By admin
- In family history, genealogy, new jersey
0
Naturalization records can provide a wealth of information on an ancestor including their birth date, birthplace or place of origin, when they immigrated, their port of departure and/or arrival, and possibly the ship’s name. Some petitions for naturalization also include important details, such as birth dates and birthplaces, on an ancestor’s spouse and children. This information can be extremely helpful when continuing your family research.
However, this rich detail is often absent in New Jersey naturalization records that pre-date 1906. Very often researchers are disappointed by the lack of information and specificity in early naturalization records. Pre-1906 naturalization records typically include the petitioner or declarant’s age, country of origin, year of immigration, maybe a port of arrival, but not much else.
Here is an example of our great-great-grandfather’s petition for naturalization filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Middlesex County, New Jersey, on 24 September 1856.
The record, of course, is not without great merit. We learn that Robert Gillis was a native of Ireland, he arrived in 1849 and filed his declaration of intention to become a citizen with the Clerk of the Superior Court of New York City on 12 January 1852. But, we’re out of luck if we’re searching for where specifically in Ireland he originated. Irish genealogy research is heavily dependent on identifying where in Ireland an immigrant ancestor originated – the county, parish and/or townland.
The difference in the information available in naturalization records is partly due to changes in the naturalization process that occurred in 1906. Citizenship could be granted by municipal, county, state, or federal courts before 1906. These varying courts often had their own forms and processes. The Federal Government was unhappy with this inherent lack of standardization and sought greater control and centralization of all naturalization records.1 The Federal Government’s instrument of change was the Naturalization Act of 1906 – signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt.2 The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization – now known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) – was created to support and enforce these new standards.3
See the following resources for more information on the naturalization process and its evolution:
- United States Naturalization & Citizenship: https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship
- Naturalization Records: Introduction and Links to Resources: https://www.archives.gov/research/naturalization/
- Naturalization Records: https://www.archives.gov/research/naturalization/naturalization.html
- A Guide to USCIS and the Process for Citizenship: https://www.uscitizenship.info/a-guide-to-uscis-and-the-process-for-citizenship/?r=bing-organic-search-guide+to+citizenship%27
- The Naturalization Act of 1906: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalization_Act_of_1906
A Hidden Gem in a Genealogical Haystack
Genealogy is one of the greatest examples of the validity of the well known proverb: “there is an exception to every rule.”
There were courts in other jurisdictions that required more detailed information prior to 1906. The records these courts generated have trickled into New Jersey record sets when an immigrant ancestor declared his intention to become a citizen in one jurisdiction and filed his petition in another. A copy of the declaration of intention, or other prior documentation, was often included with the applicant’s petition for naturalization.
I recently came across a prime example of this situation while researching Warren County naturalization records at the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, NJ. Thomas Brady filed a petition for naturalization in the Court of Common Pleas of Warren County on 3 October 1851. Included with the petition was a copy of his declaration of intention – also referred to in the documents as a Report and Registry – filed with the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County, PA.
Here is a snapshot of his declaration filed 6 February 1849 in Easton, Northampton County, PA:
As you can see, it has a gold-mine of information. We learn that Thomas Brady was not only born in Ireland, but he was born in County Cavan, Ireland. He departed from the Port of Liverpool in 1846 and arrived in the Port of New York in June 1846. Thomas was destined for South Easton, Pennsylvania – once a separate borough, but now part of the City of Easton.4
While the record fails to provide a specific parish or townland in Ireland, we have at the very least narrowed down Thomas’ origins to County Cavan. We also have opened up new research avenues for a potential passenger list for Thomas. If the information provided was accurate, a search could be done for passenger lists with a departure from Liverpool and arrival in June 1846 in New York.
Naturalization records can be a great resource of genealogical information. Pre-1906 records may not contain all the valuable information found in later documents, but every now and then you might just get lucky and discover a hidden gem. This is a good reminder to not overlook any records. Exhaustive searches are an absolute must when trying to answer important questions related to our ancestors. You never know where one bit of information could lead – possibly breaking down that long-standing brick wall.
Interested in finding your ancestor’s New Jersey naturalization records? Check out these important resources:
- FamilySearch’s New Jersey, County Naturalization Records, 1749-1986 Collection – has good coverage for most New Jersey Counties: https://familysearch.org/search/collection/2057433?collectionNameFilter=false
- Monmouth County’s Naturalization Record Search 1804-1906: http://www.visitmonmouth.com/Naturalization.aspx
- New Jersey State Archives’ Naturalization (Citizenship) Records: http://www.nj.gov/state/archives/catsunatura.html
- ItalianGen’s Index to Naturalizations at NARA in NYC – the index includes Camden, Newark and Trenton NJ: http://italiangen.org/records-search/naturalizations.php
- USCIS’ Certificate Files, September 27, 1906 – March 31, 1956: https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/genealogy/certificate-files-september-27-1906-march-31-1956
Need a little extra help? We regularly search for the origins of our clients’ ancestors. Contact us today to find out more about our genealogy and family history research services.
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1Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org), “Naturalization Act of 1906,” rev. 22:49, 30 December 2015.
2 Ibid.
3 FamilySearch Wiki (https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/index.php), ” United States Naturalization and Citizenship,” rev. 17:47, 6 March 2016.
4 Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org), “Easton, Pennsylvania,” rev. 19:11, 11 April 2016.
10 Great Research Questions To Ask A Genealogist
- At November 09, 2015
- By admin
- In genealogy
- 0
Interested in Family History? But not sure what to ask a Genealogist?
Then check out this great list we prepared just for You.
10 Great Research Questions To Ask A Genealogist.
Who are my ancestor’s parents?
We all have that one ancestor that no one seems to know where they came from or who their parents were. It’s as if they just appeared one day. Searching for an ancestor’s parents can be a great research project for a genealogist who has the local knowledge and expertise to extend your family tree further back in time and shed light on some of those unanswered questions.
Where did my ancestors come from?
Most of our immigrant ancestors arrived in the US in the 19th and early 20th Century during one of the many waves of immigration. We may know where they lived here in the US, but aren’t exactly sure where they started out in life. You may know an ethnicity, or possibly a country – but maybe the town, commune, townland, parish, or shtetl still remains elusive. Searching for an ancestor’s origins can be immensely rewarding – reconnecting you to a culture and history that may not have made it down through the generations.
How long has my family lived in the US?
Some people have ancestors that arrived as early as the Mayflower and others may only be second generation Americans. Discovering when your ancestors arrived in the US and how long they have been here helps to connect them to the historical events in America’s past. Adding this historical context can broaden your understanding of your ancestors and help paint a picture of the times within which they lived.
What professions did my ancestors have?
What we do for a living is a huge part of our lives. The same was true for our ancestors. Delving into the professions of your ancestors can provide a certain depth to who they were and how they lived. Tales of hardships and struggles or stories of success and fame can make your ancestors more relatable and help you understand how successive generations were influenced. You may even discover interesting connections between your ancestors’ professions and your own.
What did my ancestors die from?
You may have a general idea of how some of your ancestors died, but getting specific details can be intriguing and, even more importantly, life saving. Knowledge of the diseases, ailments, or sicknesses that affected your ancestors could help you take preventive measures for you and your family’s health. Uncovering a pronounced history of heart attack or stroke among your ancestors could make a tremendous difference in your own life.
Did my ancestors serve in the military?
Military service can reveal a great deal about an ancestor – stories of courage, strength, fortitude and sacrifice. Whether the Revolutionary War or the Vietnam War, these events impacted everyone in the US at the time – both the soldier and their families. Discovering your ancestor’s military service can provide a way for you to honor them and keep their memory and sacrifice alive for future generations to appreciate.
How many siblings did my ancestors have?
Too often beginner family historians only focus on their direct ancestors. Many families had multiple children. Branching out to the siblings of your ancestors can put you in touch with extended members of your family. Second, third, fourth and fifth cousins could be out there right now waiting to be discovered. These new-found cousins could provide you with new family relationships, stories, research leads or even pictures you never knew existed.
Where are my ancestors buried?
Locating the final resting place for ancestors can provide a great opportunity to show your respect, honor and gratitude for all they accomplished, achieved and overcame to pave the way for you to live the life you now have. Visiting that cemetery and seeing that headstone often brings your family’s story full circle and allows for a certain sense of closure.
Did my ancestors own a house or land?
Land ownership was an important goal for most of our ancestors – whether it was several hundred acres in the woods or a small corner lot in town. Tracking the land your ancestors may have bought and sold could reveal a lot about their entrepreneurial spirit and their economic status. Each story we discover can further bring your ancestors to life – stories of success along with the failures. The loss of a house during the depression can be just as interesting as an ancestor who received a 160 acre land grant in the Midwest.
What religion were my ancestors?
You may assume that your ancestors practiced the same religion you currently do, but that may not be the case. Each of us has 32 great-great-great grandparents – that’s a lot of ancestors. It’s likely some of them differing faiths. Determining the religion of your ancestors can reveal a lot about their traditions, culture and even their everyday lives. You may even find ancestors of different faiths who inter-married. Marrying outside your faith at a time when it was frowned upon could say a lot about those ancestors and the love they shared.
Now that you have read through these questions, which one do you want to ask us?
As genealogists we want to provide more than just facts and figures. Our goal is to discover the stories and moments that enrich the narrative of your ancestors’ lives. You are connected to a rich tradition of love, faith, perseverance and survival. Your roots run deep.
You can check out all our genealogy and family history services here: GENEALOGY.
We wish you the greatest success in Discovering UR History!
