Naturalisation

[searcher 52]

Has anyone any experience of trying to access the naturalisation papers for a Scot who went to US?

My grandfather left Scotland in 1923 seeking the New World leaving behind a wife and 4 children. He worked his passage aboard the Tuscania and features in the Ellis Island records.

He jumped ship and after intial contact with my granny and his children, he lost his return ticket!

I have traced his death registration in 1945 in which he is described as an American citizen complete with a social security number.

Any thoughts?

Andrew

[Tracey]

Hi Andrew

I got the Naturalisation Petition for one of mine who went to live in New York off Ancestry, i wasnt looking for it just came across it by chance !. The petition was in 1933. It doesnt really tell me much - name, age, address, date of petition. I dont know if this is the norm or if there are varying degrees of information on them.
Im sure someone here will have a look on there for you !

Tracey

[Bob C]

...He worked his passage aboard the Tuscania and features in the Ellis Island records.

I have traced his death registration in 1945 in which he is described as an American citizen complete with a social security number.

Any thoughts?

Andrew

During that period, naturalization was handled by either the local federal courts or state courts. but most likely the state courts since they were more accessible to everyone seeking citizenship. Do you know where he was living at the time as this will be helpful in determining where to look.

Have the Ellis Island records been annotated with a handwritten number? If so, then that number is the petition number where the government verified his entry into the US and could be a clue as to where the petition was filed.

As an aside, with his social security number you can request a copy of his application that he filled out to get the number which will contain his mailing address at the time of application and his signature. A copy of this record can be obtained by writing to:

Social Security Administration
OEO FOIA Workgroup
300 N. Green Street
P.O. Box 33022
Baltimore, Maryland 21290-3022 USA

In your letter, request his form SS-5(application for Social Security Number), give his date and place of birth and date and place of death along with his social security number and enclose a check payable to the Social Security Administration for US$ 27.00.

If you could give some more information such as his name, date of arrival, place of death, etc. it would help.

Regards,

Bob

[Ina]

His social security number will tell you where he was living when he registered for social security, and his address at time of death. It won't tell you where he was when he filed for citizenship.

I applied for social security myself in New York, but applied for citizenship in Los Angeles. Just recently I sent away for my citizenship application, just to see what information was on it. All it gave was my name and address at the time of application, and the names of my sponsors. No parents names etc.

Ina

[JustJean]

Here are a few websites I've bookmarked over the years regarding naturalization information or further links to it that I've found informative. Some may too too specific to benefit you Andrew.... but then again it may help someone else who happens along and reads this.....

http://www.rootsweb.com/~bifhsusa/natrec.html

http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/natz.htm

http://www.rootsweb.com/~ohcuyah2/nats/index.html

Best wishes
Jean

[searcher 52]

When I said Ellis Island records I suppose I should have correctly described them as New York Passenger Lists. Not sure if they are the same thing.

I looked again at that record and indeed there is a manuscript beside his name. It is "E I Reg 43379" - I think! The last two numbers are a bit indistinct.

Does that take us further forward?

Thanks to all for your help so far.

Andrew