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Naturalization
in the Territory
and State of New Mexico
The naturalization procedure produced a variety of records from county and district courts throughout the state. Many of the loose papers within this collection are correspondence concerning applications for naturalization or other information that did not neatly fit into the record books. The loose paper files contain records from 1852 to 1960 and are only a small portion of the naturalization records at the state archives. Documents that may be found include:
• The first document found for an immigrant was the Certificate of Arrival. Information contained in this document included the port of entry, name of vessel/ship or other method of entry into the country, and date. Some forms contained more information.
• An optional form, the Petition of Facts, was filed at the leisure of the applicant with the court clerk. This form included information required to fill out the first and second papers and made it easier for the immigrant when filling out the formal naturalization papers.
• The “first papers,” filed two years after establishing residence, provided the least amount of information with the name of the applicant and the country of origin. This Declaration of Intention was an oath to declare allegiance to the United States of America and give up allegiance to the country of origin.
• The Petition for Naturalization or “second papers” usually was submitted five years after the “first papers.” This five-year period varied depending upon the immigration laws in effect at the time. The petition included information from the Petition of Facts previously filed with the county clerk. It also contained a “deposition” from two people who had known the applicant for the previous five years and could vouch for the applicant’s character. Many times the deposition was from a relative.
• The files may also include name change, an option a person had when he became a citizen. Name change can be a dramatic difference from the original, such as Aage Oskar Ejlertsen of Colfax County who changed his name to Robert Lee.
• If a person was denied citizenship, the record included the reason. Many denials resulted from an alien not volunteering for military service during World War I/II because he was an alien. Several denials were because the applicant could not speak fluent English or was not conversant about the government of the United States.
These extracted records provide information about people from all over the United States. Naturalization records from one state can provide clues on the immigration of people from other states. If you do not find your ancestor in these records it would be wise to search for other relatives and where they may have become naturalized.
If an immigrant accidentally provided incorrect information or information that did not agree with previous information, he or she had to fill out an extensive form that required such information as parents’ names and place of birth. Often, it was obvious that several people arrived on the same ship, proceeded to their destination, and filled out papers at the same time. At other times an immigrant became naturalized, and later, a brother was found on naturalization records having also immigrated. A few certificates of arrival included information as to who the immigrant was traveling with, their relationship, and their destination.
Women have typically acquired the citizenship of their husbands. They may or may not be mentioned in the naturalization process depending upon the court where the petition was filed. New Mexico naturalization records regularly mention the wife and children with places of birth and dates. An excellent article concerning the laws of women obtaining citizenship is “Women and Naturalization, ca. 1802-1940,” by Marian Smith [see Bibliography].
Information of help to genealogists in the original naturalization consists of:
• place of origin;
• birth date and place;
• where the petitioner embarked to the United States;
• date and place of arrival;
• date and place he declared his intention, with the certificate of intention on the back of the certificate;
• name of the applicant’s wife, her date and place of birth;
• names children under 18 years old, their birth dates and place of birth;
• reverse side contains naturalization number and date.
Bernalillo County, for example, included the original declaration of intention or evidence of military service. If the naturalization was denied, the reason was also stated on the reverse side. It appears that early naturalizations were not always entered at the time of the event. Naturalizations occurred at the court terms. Pages were numbered sequentially, but petitioners may not be in sequence of receiving their citizenship.
About the authors: NMGS board members Karen Daniel and Elizabeth Albright each had begun independent extractions of New Mexico Naturalization records. When they recognized this duplication, they combined their efforts. This is the first book that is completed. |
