Reference
The Declaration of Intention [ henceforth DOI ] and the second, and
SEPERATE form, the Petition for Naturalization [henceforth PFN]: The
DOI is the first form filed. After the year of 1906 it has
spaces for the immigrants: name, occupation, physical description, birth
date, present residence, where emigrated from, what ship name emigrated
on, last foreign residence, whether or not married, if married, a place
for spouse' birth town/state/country. It also provides a space for
renunciation of any allegience to any foreign country/ruler/government.
It also has spaces for port of arrival info, date/year of arrival at
that port. The immigrants signature. The immigranta picture MAY be
affixed to the DOI. The PFN has spaces for almost the same EXACT info as
the DOI. The PFN is the 2nd and LAST form filed. It also has an area
for: children, and their name, date/place of birth, and residence of
each child listed. NOW you are going to ask "Where can I find these
forms?" It seems to be a little known fact that these forms are retained by
the COUNTY COURT in which the immigrant filed for naturalization. Now
you will wonder "How do I know WHICH County Court?" Here is a good rule
of thumb: The immigrant USUALY filed in the very FIRST county they lived
in [AFTER arrival in America] OR the county the immigrant resided in THE
LONGEST. Many County Courts , TO THIS DAY, have the ORIGINAL DOI and PFN! If that
COUNTY COURT does NOT have it, they will tell you where they
sent the DOI and PFN. Also, I've heard these are available through
NARA [ National Archives And Records Administration ], look through the
URL's and they will help you with that.
You MUST read Naturalization URL's to know what to look for.
Women and Minor children were naturalized just by their husband/father
becoming naturalized. Many men fighting in wars for America and serving
in the armed forces were naturalized WITHOUT having to file the DOI and
PFN. In Colonial days immigrants to America took an "Oath of Allegience".
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