New Hampshire, County Naturalization Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains naturalization records for the years 1771 to 2001 from the following counties: • 2

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:


 * Name of petitioner
 * Name of court
 * Date of emigration
 * Occupation and place of residence
 * Date and place of birth


 * Date of Declaration of Intent
 * Date of marriage
 * Spouse's full name (sometimes, wife's maiden name)
 * Spouse's date and place of birth
 * Children's names and birth places


 * Name of Judge
 * Names of witnesses

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 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
 * If available, check the image for additional information
 * Analyze the entry to see if it provides additional clues to find other records of the person or their family

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

 * The person may be recorded with an abbreviated or variant form of their name
 * Try searching by surname only
 * Remember that spelling was generally not standardized until the early part of the 20th century

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

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

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Newman, John J. American Naturalization Records;1790-1990: what they are and how to use them. Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1998. FS Library 973 P47na
 * Szucs, Loretto Dennis They became Americans: finding naturalization records and ethnic origins Salt Lake City, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, c1998 FS Library 973 P47t
 * Belknap County, Superior Court, Declarations of intentions, v. 1-9, 1906-1929 1906-1929
 * Belknap County, Superior Court, Naturalization petitions and records, 1907-1930
 * Belknap County Court, naturalization papers, 1842 -1906
 * Belknap County Court Naturalization docket of notices, 1870-1904
 * Carroll County, Superior Court, Declarations of intentions, no. 1-250, 1907-1942
 * Carroll County, Superior Court, Certificates of naturalization, 1907-1928
 * Carroll County, Superior Court, Naturalization petitions and records, no. 1-157, 1907-1937
 * Carroll County, Supreme Court, Naturalization records, minors, v. 1, no. 1-97, 1876-1903
 * Carroll County, Supreme Court, Naturalization records, v. 2, 1871-1905
 * Cheshire County, Supreme Court, Naturalization records and petitions, 1860-1945
 * Coos County, Supreme Court, Naturalization records, 1888-1900; index to naturalization, 1886-1930
 * Grafton County, Superior Court, Certificates of naturalization, no. 475621-475630, 1914- 1915
 * Grafton County, Superior Court, Declarations of intention, 1906-1929
 * Grafton County, Superior/Supreme Court, Naturalization dockets, 1868-1906
 * Grafton County, Supreme Court, Naturalization index, 1773-1906
 * Grafton County, Superior Court, Naturalization papers, 1840-1906
 * Grafton County, Superior Court, Petition and record, 1907-1921
 * Grafton County, Court of Common Pleas, Petitions for naturalization, 1839-1862
 * Hillsborough County, Superior Court, Naturalization dockets, 1901-1906
 * Hillsborough County, Superior Court, Naturalization index, early-2001 and naturalization records 1901-1906
 * Hillsborough County, Superior Court, Naturalization records, 1906-1932; index, 1906-1929
 * Hillsborough County, Supreme Court, Record of naturalizations, 1842-1901; indexes, ca. 1842-1907
 * Merrimack County, Naturalization index, 1850-1948
 * Merrimack County, Naturalization records, 1846-1889
 * Rockingham County, Superior Court, Declarations of intentions, 1906-1929; declarations index cards, 1922-1956
 * Rockingham County, Superior Court, Naturalization index cards, 1771-1906
 * Rockingham County, Superior Court, Naturalization papers, 1926-1939
 * Rockingham County, Superior Court, Naturalization petitions and records, 1907-1933; naturalization index cards, 1919-1964
 * Stratford Cover, Dover, Police Court, Naturalization docket, 1880-1888
 * Stratford County, Supreme Court, Naturalization papers, 1861-1906; indexes to petitions for naturalization, and declarations of intention, 1861-1936
 * Stratford County, Superior Court, Naturalization petition and record, 1907-1931
 * Stratford County, Court of Common Pleas, Naturalization records, 1842-1861
 * Stratford County, Superior Court, Record of declarations of intention, 1906-1931
 * Sullivan County, Superior Court, Naturalization index, early-1955
 * Sullivan County, Superior Court, Naturalizations, 1838-1905

FamilySearch Historical Records

 * New Hampshire, United States Naturalization Records, 1906-1993

Citing This Collection
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