New York Naturalization and Citizenship

United States U.S. Naturalizations  New York  Naturalizations

If you do not know if your ancestor was naturalized, search for important clues in federal censuses (1870–1920) and state censuses (1825–1925). The 1925 state census specifically asks for the date and place of naturalization. Voting registers often give similar information.

Colonial
Between 1664 and 1708 aliens occasionally sought British citizenship through the King of England or by a special act of Parliament. The Governor of New York or a deputy could also grant a letter of denization (similar to naturalization). Because the process was quite costly, most immigrants did not apply.

Oaths of allegiance were also taken in 1664, 1673, 1687, and 1776. Most colonial naturalizations kept during the colonial period followed a 1740 Act of Parliament. Colonial naturalization records rarely give such information as age or town of origin.

Most existing records are found in the session laws and in:


 * Bockstruck, Lloyd de Witt, Denizations and Naturalizations in the British Colonies in America, 1607-1775 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, c2005). At various libraries; . Indexes sessions laws and five other sources with colonial naturalizations and denizations. Some information is difficult to reference back to the original record.
 * Giuseppi, M. S. Naturalizations of Foreign Protestants in the American and West Indian Colonies (Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, 1979). Abstracted on Ancestry.com; At various libraries; . Contains 10 pages for New York and includes details on residence, occupation, religion and date of naturalization.
 * Scott, Kenneth and Kenn Stryker-Rodda,Denizations, Naturalizations, and Oaths of Allegiance in Colonial New York (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1975). On Ancestry.com ($); At various libraries;

Post 1790
After 1790, aliens could declare their intention to become citizens and later be naturalized in any court of record. Most naturalizations took place in the county courts of common pleas, but they were also recorded in city, mayors', district, and other courts. After 1906, naturalizations were usually handled by the county supreme courts and district courts.

The county courthouse have naturalization records from 1790 to the present. They also have separate volumes of military petitions of soldiers naturalized following the Civil War and the first World War. You can obtain copies of the papers from the clerk of the appropriate court.

Naturalization documents include declarations of intention, petitions for naturalization, certificates of arrival, and certificates of naturalization (after 1906).

New York Published Source


 * Scott, Kenneth, Early New York Naturalizations: Abstracts of Naturalization Records from Federal, State and Local Courts, 1792–1840 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1981). At various libraries. .) - May show foreign birthplace, age, or residence in New York. Abstracts of:


 * New York City Court of Common Pleas (1792–1840)
 * District Court for the Southern district (1824–1840)
 * New York County Superior Court (1828–1840)
 * Marine Court of New York City (1807–40)
 * Some Queens, Richmond, and Brooklyn county court records.

Alien Landowners To own land and pass the land to their heirs, an alien had to declare to be a citizen of the United States. This law has created some records regarding these aliens.

Alien depositions of intent to become citizens from 1825 through 1913 Record Group A1870) are at the New York State Archives (Record Group A1869; Abstracted version: Record Group A1870). These were statements made by aliens who wanted to buy land. They showed the alien's intention to stay in the United States and become a citizen as soon as legally possible. Because the desire to buy land was impacted by this law, the alien was often motivated to formally declare his intention to become a citizen at the same time. Thus, an alien deposition can often be a clue as to where the declaration was filed.

Prior to 1825, aliens could be enabled to hold land by an act of the state legislature. The acts seldom gave details on the alien – just the name and the date of the act. These books and articles contain a description of the records and names of the aliens:


 * Scott, Kenneth, "Resident Aliens Enabled to Hold Land in New York State 1790-1825," National Genealogical Society Quarterly, 67(March 1979): 42-57.
 * Scott, Kenneth and Roseanne Conway, New York Alien Residents, 1825-1848 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978). At various libraries; - Gives details from the depositions, including counties of residence, and can be used as an index to finding declarations in this time period.

Registration of Aliens From 1798 to 1828 an "Alien Report and Registry" was required of all aliens. Each alien was to gave details on when and where they arrived, and sometimes names of family members. The Alien report was a Federal requirement and the records do not always survive. In New York State some counties (notably St. Lawrence) maintained separate registers of Alien Reports, but in most cases if the report survived, it is included as a loose paper with the Declaration of Intention or in the court minutes. Records are at the county courthouse and sometiems on microfilm at the Family History Library.


 * Scott, Kenneth, British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1979), pp. 58-241. On Ancestry.com; At various libraries; – New York residents make up 50% of this source and includes alien registeration under the Federal law of 6 July 1812.  States where they lived, how long they had been in the United States, and other details. It can be used to tell an ancestor’s citizenship status and where he might have been naturalized.

How to Find Naturalization Records
Because an alien could naturalize in any court of record, naturalization indexes and records are found in courts that performed naturalizations. For New York, these courts include county, city, district, circuit, superior, marine, common pleas, and supreme.

Depending on the court, their records can be housed in the court it originated or the National Archives Northeast Region (Boston). Many naturalization records are microfilmed and are at National Archive regional branches and the Family History Library. More and more microfilmed records are being digitized and are now available online.

Pathfinder to New York Naturalization Records - provided by the New York State Archives

Websites

 * Ancestry.com - ($), has several US and New York naturalization indexes
 * Historical Records on FamilySearch.org
 * Italiangen.org - Free, includes indexes to naturalization records in New York City and other New York counties covering various years. Also has an incomplete index for military naturalizations for veterans of World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
 * Olive Tree Genealogy - Links to free and paid websites for online New York naturalization indexes and records covering various years.
 * Online Searchable New York Naturalization Indexes and Records - Links to free and paid websites for online New York naturalization indexes and records covering various years.
 * Italiangen.org - Free, includes indexes to naturalization records in New York City and other New York counties covering various years. Also has an incomplete index for military naturalizations for veterans of World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
 * Olive Tree Genealogy - Links to free and paid websites for online New York naturalization indexes and records covering various years.
 * Online Searchable New York Naturalization Indexes and Records - Links to free and paid websites for online New York naturalization indexes and records covering various years.
 * Online Searchable New York Naturalization Indexes and Records - Links to free and paid websites for online New York naturalization indexes and records covering various years.

The National Archives at New York City (Northeast Region)

 * The National Archives at New York City(Northeast Region)) 201 Varick Street 12th Floor New York, NY 10014 (Entrance on Houston Street, between Varick and Hudson.) Telephone Toll-free: 1-866-840-1752 Telephone: 212-401-1620 Fax: 212-401-1638 E-mail: [mailto:newyork.archives@nara.gov newyork.archives@nara.gov] Internet: http://www.archives.gov/northeast/

NOTE: In fall 2012, The National Archives at New York City (Northeast Region) will be moving to the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House at One Bowling Green in New York City. More information

New York naturalizations indexes and records include:

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Indexes:
 * Index to Declarations of Intention, 1917-1950 (online index available, subscription required)
 * Index to Overseas Military Petitions for World War II and the Korean War (free online index available)
 * Index to Petitions for Naturalization, 1824-1991 (free online index available, 1907-1959 only, and online index available, subscription required, 1824-1989 only)

Records:
 * Declarations of Intention, 1842-1959; 1968-1991
 * Overseas Military Petitions - World War II and Korean War
 * Petitions for Name Change (Oath Ceremonies), 1991-1996
 * Petitions for Naturalization, 1824-1991
 * Registration of Aliens, 1815-1831
 * Repatriation Applications, 1937-1970
 * Transfer Petitions for Naturalization, 1953-1991

U.S. Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York Indexes:
 * Index to Petitions for Naturalization, 1846-1876, 1906-1911 (free online index available, and online index available, subscription required)

Records:
 * Declarations of Intention, 1845-1911
 * Petitions for Naturalization, 1846-1876; 1906-1911

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York Indexes:
 * Index to Declaration of Intention, 1909-1925; 1934-1958
 * Index to Military Petitions for World War II and Korean War (free online index available)
 * Index to Petitions for Naturalization - 1865-1991 (free online index available, 1865-1957 only, and online index available, subscription required, 1865-1957 only)

Records:
 * Declaration of Intention, 1865-1979
 * Military Petitions-World War I, World War II, Korean War
 * Petitions for Naturalization, 1865-1991
 * Transfer Petitions for Naturalization, 1952-1992

U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York Indexes
 * Index to Petitions for Naturalization and Declarations of Intention, 1903-1966 (online index available, subscription required, petitions only, 1903-1966)

Records:
 * Declarations of Intention, 1906-1963
 * Military Petitions-World War I, World War II and Korean War Petitions for Naturalization, 1903-1966
 * Repatriations, 1937-1970

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York Indexes:
 * Index to Petitions for Naturalization - 1821-1855, 1906 (free online index available, 1821-1855 only)

Records:
 * Petitions for Naturalization, 1821-1855; 1906

Family History Library
New York County Records The Family History Library has microfilmed naturalizations for nearly all New York counties from the 1790s to 1906. The records for some counties were filmed to the 1930s. The county microfilmed records can be viewed at the Family History Library or at your local Family History Center. Do a place search in the Family History Library Catalog using the name of the county. Naturalization records are listed under the topic, Naturalization and Citizenship. Instructions on how to use the Family History Library Catalog.

New York Federal Court Records Federal Naturalization Indexes and Records Records for New York federal courts can also be found at the Family History Library. Do a place search for New York state records in the Family History Library Catalog using "New York." Naturalization records are listed under the topic, Naturalization and Citizenship and Naturalization and Citizenship - Indexes. Instructions on how to use the Family History Library Catalog.

Two important indexes to New York City naturalizations (mostly petitions) are:

Soundex Index

 * Works Projects Administration (W.P.A.) Index(Soundex) to Naturalization Records, 1792–1906:


 * U.S. District Court, Southern District (1824–1906)
 * U.S. Circuit Court, Southern District (1846–76)
 * U.S. District Court, Eastern District (1865–1906)
 * New York County Court of Common Pleas (1792–1895)
 * New York County Superior Court (1828–95)
 * New York County Supreme Court (1868–1906)
 * New York City Marine Court (1806–49)
 * Kings County Court (1856–1906)
 * Brooklyn City Court (1836–94)
 * Queens County Court (1799–1906)
 * Queens County Surrogate's Court (1888–1898)
 * Richmond County Court (1869–1906) (on 294 FHL films)

County Index

 * New York County Index to Naturalization Records, 1792–1906:


 * Court of Common Pleas (1792–1895)
 * Supreme Court (1795–1844, 1868–1906)
 * Superior Court (1828–95) (FHL 82 films).

Note: the W.P.A. Soundex above has the same records as this one except this collection has additional records of the Supreme Court, 1795–1844.

Naturalizations:
Eastern District: 1865-1957 (Consisting of Kings, Richmond, Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties) Southern District: 1824-1959 (Consisting of Manhattan, Bronx, and Westchester Counties) Nassau County Supreme Court: 1899-1989 Suffolk County Supreme Court: 1865-1981 Bronx Borough Supreme Court:1914-1952 Queens Borough Supreme Court: 1906-1957 Clinton County:1865-1906 Essex County:1836-1906 Northern County Richmond Naturalization Trenton Naturalization Index NY United States Circuit Court for the Southern District Court Alien Statements Western District Military Naturalizations

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services - Post 1906
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has instituted the Genealogy Program for public access to all records from 1906 to 1956 created by this agency, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Review the Genealogy Frequently Asked Questions website to expedite your order and ensure success for your request.

The following records can be requested online or by mail:


 * Certificate Files (C-files) from September 27, 1906 to April 1, 1956
 * Alien Registration Forms from August 1, 1940 to March 31, 1944
 * Visa files from July 1, 1924 to March 31, 1944
 * Registry Files from March 2, 1929 to March 31, 1944
 * Alien Files (A-files) numbered below 8 million (A8000000) and documents therein dated prior to May 1, 1951

When ordering by mail, use forms G-1041 (for an index search) and G-1041A (for obtaining the record). Do not submit a request for records (G-1041A) until you have completed an index search (G-1041) unless you have a valid file number. Once the form is filled out, include a money order or cashier's check. Cash or a personal check will not be accepted. There are no refunds for incorrect file numbers submitted or for negative results. The mailing address is:


 * USCIS Genealogy Program P.O. Box 805925 Chicago, Illinois 60680-4120

The fee schedule is:


 * Index Search--$20 (form G-1041) Microfilm copies--$20 (form G-1041A) Paper copies--$35 (form G-1041A)

Form G-639, the FOIA form is used to obtain naturalization records created after 1956.

Jurisdictions
The Eastern District had jurisdiction over Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, and Richmond (Staten Island) counties.

The Southern District had jurisdiction over Bronx, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, New York (Manhattan), Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties.

The Western District had jurisdiction over Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties.