Lawrence County, Ohio - Naturalization

= Indexes - Naturalization =

= Records - Naturalization =

Key to Libraries/Archives

 * Archives/Library Division, Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, Ohio: you can visit the Ohio Historical Society and do your own research, however, they have limited hours. The OHS will also do research for a fee.
 * Chicago Branch of the National Archives, Chicago, Illinois: Research requests can be made by email or by phone. Research can also be done in person. FAQ about the Chicago Branch.
 * FHL (Family History Library), Salt Lake City, Utah: These microfilms are available for patron usage at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. The library is open to the public. FHL hours . Also, most films can be accessed through a loan system in the over 4,500 Family History Centers around the world. Call your local Family History Center for hours and more information about viewing microfilm. There is a small fee to rent the film. Books cannot be loaned out to Family History Centers and must be viewed at the Family History Library. There are no search services at the FHL or at Family History Centers. The first film number or book number for the resources available at the Family History Library is provided on the charts above with links to the Family History Library Catalog, which states more information about the source.
 * Lawrence County Courthouse, Ironton, Ohio: You must call the courthouse to see what records are still in their possession. A fee usually applies for all copies of records.
 * Ohio University Library, Athens, Ohio: If the record is on microfilm, Ohio University Library offers Inter-Library Loan as a service. Textual records must be viewed in person at the library.

= How to Find the Records =

By Index
The top chart contains the indexes to naturalization records available for Lawrence County. It should be noted, that many of the naturalization record volumes containing declarations and petitions also contain indexes at the beginning. Note the years and courts that each index covers to make sure that all possible sources are searched for the applicant’s naturalization records.

By Time Period
Lawrence County was created in 1815 from the counties of Gallia and Scioto, Ohio. Earliest of naturalization records found in Lawrence County begin in 1817 although some only exist in index form with no records surviving.

Before 1906
Before 1906, naturalization records – declarations of intention and petitions – contained limited information. Each court recorded what it felt was necessary to process the immigrant. Thus, records are inconsistent on what they contain. Because the information could vary significantly from court to court, it is highly recommended that both the declaration and the petition should be located for the applicant. Generally speaking the information provided on a declaration or petition record MAY include:


 * Port of arrival
 * Date of immigration
 * Country of origin
 * Age of applicant

After 1906
The information provided on naturalization records change significantly in 1906, when the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was created. The INS began to keep copies of the naturalization records and provided forms for the courts that naturalized. Information included on both the declaration and petition generally included the same information for the applicant:


 * Birth date and place
 * Last foreign address
 * Personal description
 * Port and date of arrival
 * Wife and children with their birth dates and places
 * Residence
 * Occupation
 * Country of birth or allegiance

By Record Type
There are two major record types in naturalization records: declaration of intention and petition.

Declaration of Intention:
Also referred to as first papers, it is the first court record stating the applicant’s desire to declare their intent to become a citizen of the United States. It usually is filed after 1 to 2 years residency in the United States. It often includes an oath of allegiance denouncing allegiance to their former country. Before 1906, the declaration can have more or less information than the petition It is suggested that this document is obtained even if the petition has already been located as there is no way to know what may be listed on the document. Before 1906, information on a declaration can include port of arrival, date of immigration, country of origin, and age of applicant. After 1906, much of the same information is listed on both the declaration and petition including (among other information): birth date and place of applicant, port and date of arrival, wife and children with their birth dates and places.

Petition:
This is also referred to as “second papers” or “final papers.” It occurs approximately 2 to 3 years after the declaration was filed, depending on the naturalization law in place at the time. The petition is the final paper filed with the court by the applicant. The petition before 1906 can contain port of arrival, date of immigration, country of origin, and age of applicant. After 1906 it can include birth date and place of applicant, port and date of arrival, wife and children with their birth dates and places.

Other Naturalization Records:
For Lawrence County, there are other miscellaneous naturalization records created. These include journal entries concerning declaration and naturalization dates. It also includes oaths of allegiance. Information in these records varies by time period and by county. It is suggested that the declaration and petition should be sought first with the other naturalization records searched for following.

By Court
Naturalization could be granted by any court. After 1906, more naturalization took place in the federal courts, but this depended on the region. The declaration and petition could be processed in two different courts anywhere in the country. After 1906, a copy of the naturalization was always submitted to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). If no naturalization record can be located in the records listed above for an individual naturalized after 1906, a copy can be obtained for a fee from the former INS, now called United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. (include link to genealogy program)

The courts granting naturalization to applicants living in Lawrence County included the clerk of court, probate court, court of common pleas, circuit court and district court. Lawrence County was in the Ohio District in 1815 when it was created. Lawrence County was assigned to the Ohio Southern District in 1855. In 1911, it was assigned to the Southern District, Western Division where it remains today.