I can't seem to find any naturalization records on ancestors in the 1840 and 1849. I was able to find them in the late 1800's. This may be a stupid question but were they required to have natualization records in the early 1800's when they first came over or was that required in later years. I was also unable to find the records of the Superb from when it landed in New York, i got the passenger lists from leaving Norway. I know that from researching several sights with passenger lists that some were to damaged to read. Does anybody know if that's the case with the ship Superb
The Superb's transcription is available on this web page. Look at the listings by year for 1849 and click on the sheet there next to the Superb.
Foreigners have never been required to become US citizens. Most undertook the first step (the declaration of intent) because that step was required to get a homestead under the laws in 1862. But there was no requirement to actually complete the process and become a citizen.
People were never required to become citizens. They could live as resident aliens but they would have far fewer rights.
Finding naturalization records is a study in inself - you have to find the court of record where they may have filed their series of papers to become citizens. I found many of my Norwegian ancestors had completed the process at the courthouse of the county where they lived at the time.
The US National Archives didn't have copies passenger arrival records of the year you wanted to search in their collections for that port and year? Not everything is available on websites.
Naturalization records
Posted - 10/03/2010 : 22:11:12
