Maine, County Naturalization Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains naturalization records acquired from Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington, and York counties. The collection covers the years 1800 to 1990.

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: • 2 Declaration of Intent and Naturalization Petitions may include any of the following: • 4

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 or 1910 census, 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.
 * The full name of your ancestor
 * The approximate immigration and naturalization dates
 * The ancestor’s residence

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.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Learn an immigrant’s place of origin
 * Confirm their date of arrival
 * Learn foreign and “Americanized” names
 * 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, and 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
 * If your ancestor had a common name, be sure to look at all the entries for a name before you decide which is correct
 * Continue to search the naturalization records to identify siblings, parents, and other relatives in the same or other generations who may have naturalized in the same area or nearby
 * The witnesses named on naturalization records may have been older relatives of the person in the naturalization process. Search for their naturalizations
 * You may want to obtain the naturalization records of every person who shares your ancestor’s surname if they lived in the same county or nearby. You may not know how or if they are related, but the information could lead you to more information about your own ancestors

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties

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

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

FamilySearch Catalog

 * edited by Rhonda R. McClure, Genealogist's handbook for New England research 6th ed. Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic Genealogical Society®, 2022 FS Library 974 D27mr
 * Androscoggin Co. Supreme Judicial Court. Admission to citizenship, 1895-1906
 * Androscoggin Co. Supreme Judicial Court. Certificates of naturalization, 1900-1907.
 * Androscoggin Co. Clerk of the Superior Court. Application to take oath of allegiance, 1940-1970
 * Androscoggin Co. Supreme Judicial Court. Naturalization records, 1870-1972 ; index, 1895-1972
 * Androscoggin Co. Supreme Judicial Court. Naturalization records, 1895-1906
 * Androscoggin Co. Lewiston. Municipal Court. Final papers of naturalization, 1883-1893
 * Androscoggin Co. Lewiston. Municipal Court. Record of intention of naturalization, 1882-1893
 * Cumberland Co. Supreme Judicial and Superior Courts. Declarations of intentions, 1859-1906
 * Cumberland Co. Superior Court. Naturalization docket book, 1868-1906
 * Cumberland Co. Superior Court. Naturalization index, 1859-1906
 * Cumberland Co. Supreme Judicial and Superior Courts. Naturalization records, 1859-1906
 * Hancock Co. Supreme Judicial and Superior Courts. Naturalization records, 1845-1958
 * Oxford Co. Supreme Judicial and Superior Courts. Naturalization records, 1900-1974
 * Penobscot Co. Supreme Judicial and Superior Courts. Naturalization records, 1834-1958
 * York Co. Supreme Judicial Court. Naturalization records, 1904-1955

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * Maine, United States Naturalization Records, 1918-1991
 * United States, New England, Petitions for Naturalization, 1787-1906

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.