Maryland Naturalization Petitions - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of approximately 13,800 naturalization petitions filed in the U.S. District Court for the district of Maryland. It also includes certificates of arrival, oaths of allegiance, and declarations of intention to naturalize. The collection corresponds to NARA publication M1640: Naturalization Petitions of the US District Court for the District of Maryland, 1906-1931. Index provided by Fold3.com.

The card index is arranged alphabetically by surname. It is very accurate and the information that was current at the time of naturalization was usually reliable. However, there was always a chance for misinformation. Errors may have occurred because of the informant’s lack of knowledge or because of transcription errors or other circumstances.

The naturalization volumes vary in size and format. Prior to 1906, each document was usually handwritten on one page. From the late 1800s and on, printed forms were used. After 1906, many entries were typewritten. While there were various types of naturalization records, the Declaration of Intent and Naturalization Petition usually had the most complete genealogical information. The first naturalization act was passed in 1802. Immigrants to the United States were not required to apply for citizenship. Of those who did apply, many did not complete the requirements for citizenship.

Naturalization to become a U.S. citizen was a two-part process: the Declaration of Intent to Naturalize, or First Papers, and the Naturalization Record (including the Naturalization Petition), or Final Papers. The First Papers were normally filed five years before the Final Papers because of the five-year residency requirement to become a citizen. No centralized files existed before 1906. In 1906 federal forms replaced the various formats that had been used by the various courts. Copies were sent to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), creating a central file for naturalization papers. The INS is now known as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Naturalization records are generally well preserved, but some records may have been lost to fire or other disasters. Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. New York’s counties recorded naturalization procedures in the court records as legal proof of citizenship. The courts handling naturalizations changed several times so the card index was created as a way to quickly access specific records.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

A Declaration of Intent and Naturalization
 * Date of Declaration of Intent
 * Full name and age of declarant
 * Date and place of birth
 * Current residence
 * Date of arrival and port of entry, including name of ship
 * Occupation and race
 * Physical description
 * Last foreign residence
 * Marital status
 * Spouse's name with date and place of birth
 * Names of witnesses
 * Name and signature of court official

Petitions for Naturalization
 * Name of petitioner
 * Current residence and occupation
 * Birth date and place of petitioner
 * Date and place of emigration
 * Date and port of entry in U. S. including name of ship
 * Marital status
 * Wife's maiden name
 * Number of children
 * Birth date and place of spouse
 * Names of witnesses

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate date and place of naturalization

If you do not know this information, check the 1900 census and then calculate the possible year of naturalization based on the date of immigration. The 1920 census may tell you the exact year of immigration or naturalization.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the information to find other records such as emigrations, port records, and ship’s manifests
 * Look for the Declaration of Intent soon after the immigrant arrived, and then look for the Naturalization Petition five years later, when the residency requirement would have been met. Look for naturalization records in federal courts and then in state, county, or city courts. An individual may have filed the first and final papers in different courts and sometimes in a different state if the person moved. Immigrants who were younger than 18 when they arrived did not need to file a Declaration of Intent as part of the process
 * Learn foreign and “Americanized” names
 * Learn the place of origin and find vital records such as birth, baptism, marriage, and death
 * Search for military, land and probate records
 * Use the information to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for church records

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try viewing the original record. Indexes and transcriptions may not include all the data found in the original records. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives that can be verified by records
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search
 * Try variant spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Maryland.
 * Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records
 * Maryland Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.