Delaware, County Naturalization Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains Superior Court naturalization records for Kent, New Castle and Sussex counties. The record content and time period vary by county. Before 1906, immigrants could naturalize in any court that performed naturalizations including city, county, state and federal courts. As a result they often selected the most convenient court. If they lived in the Eastern District but worked elsewhere, they may have gone to a court closer to work. To begin, look for naturalization records in the courts of the county or city where the immigrant lived. If the county has an index search it first. Next look for the petition (second papers), because they are usually easier to find in courts near where the immigrant eventually settled.

Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. 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. 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.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: Petitions • 3 Declaration of Intent • 3

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know: 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. If your ancestor naturalized befor 1900, check the census records to see when he or she first appeared in the census. This will give you a 10 year window in which they may have immigrated.
 * The name of the individual
 * The approximate date of 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.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor’s naturalization record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?
You can use naturalization records to:
 * Add any new information to your records
 * Learn an immigrant’s place of origin
 * Confirm their date of arrival
 * Find records in his or her country of origin such as emigrations, port records, or ship’s manifests
 * Look for the Declaration of Intent soon after the immigrant arrived, 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

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

 * Check for variant spellings. Realize that the indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings and misinterpretations
 * Look for an index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the naturalization records year by year
 * Search the naturalization indexes of nearby counties

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Delaware.
 * Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records
 * Delaware Guided Research
 * Delaware Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Delaware Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Kent Co.. Superior Court. Certificate of naturalization stubs, 1909-1952
 * Kent Co. Superior Court. Citizenship petitions granted or denied, 1930-1959
 * Kent Co. Superior Court. Declarations of intention, 1906-1957
 * Kent Co. Superior Court. Naturalization book, 1796-1858
 * Kent Co. Superior Court. Naturalization papers, A-Z
 * Kent Co. Superior Court. Naturalization petition and record, 1858-1958
 * New Castle Co. Superior Court. Naturalization papers, A-Z
 * New Castle Co. Superior Court. Naturalization records, 1798-1906
 * Sussex Co. Superior Court. Certificate of naturalization stubs, 1915-1927
 * Sussex Co. Superior Court. Citizenship petitions granted or denied, 1930-1958
 * Sussex Co. Superior Court. Declarations of intention, 1907-1958
 * Sussex Co. Superior Court. Naturalization papers, A-Z
 * Sussex Co. Superior Court. Petition and record for naturalization, 1907-1958

U.S. District Court
 * Naturalization petitions of the U.S. District and Circuit Courts for the District of Delaware, 1795-1930 ; index to naturalization petitions for the U.S. Circuit Court, 1795-1911, and District Court, 1795-1928, for the District of Delaware : NARA RG21 publications M1644 and M1649

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.

Delaware, registros de naturalización del condado (Registros históricos de FamilySearch)