Series 85171

DESCRIPTION: To become a citizen of the United States, an individual normally filed a "declaration of intention to become a citizen" at least two years prior to applying for citizenship. The next step was the naturalization hearing at which the candidate and witnesses either made oral statements or filed written petitions and affidavits attesting to the applicant's character, worthiness to become a citizen, and the validity of statements made to the court. If the judge found the applicant eligible to become a citizen, an oath was administered and the individual renounced his former citizenship. At this point a certificate of citizenship was issued documenting the fact. The certificates in this series summarize the hearing and oaths.

The applicant's name and current nationality were noted. The applicant was required to give evidence that he had declared his intention to become a citizen at least two years earlier. Two U.S. citizens attested that the applicant had resided in the United States at least five years and in Utah territory at least one year. They also testified that the applicant was of good moral character and behaved in a manner supportive of the U.S. Constitution. The applicant was sworn to support the Constitution and renounce allegiance to his former nation and particularly, by name, to its ruler.

This volume contains the handwritten procedures recorded in each case by the court clerk. The clerk also served as the witness to each applicant's loyalty oath.

The last three pages of the volume were used as an account ledger for the clerk's activities, primarily in divorce cases, from August 1876 to February 1877.

ARRANGEMENT: Entries are arranged chronologically.

RELATED RECORDS: Since the probate court held concurrent jurisdiction with the district court during this period, other declarations of intention filed by Box Elder County residents may be found in the records of the district courts. Any minutes of the probate court would record more details of the naturalization hearing.

The DECLARATIONS OF INTENTION RECORD BOOKS from the other district courts from this period include: First District Court, series 85113; Second District Court, series 85174; Third District Court, series 85111; and the Fourth District Court, series 85169. CERTIFICATES OF CITIZENSHIP from the different district courts include those from the First District, series 83895; the Second District, series 85175; the Third District, series 85110; and the Fourth District (from 1894-1895), series 85170. Since Box Elder County was in the first district from 1856-1858, and again from 1880-1891; the third district from 1859-1879; and the fourth district from 1892-1895; these series would be most likely to contain citizenship records of Box Elder county citizens. The Supreme Court also kept DECLARATIONS OF INTENTION AND CERTIFICATES OF CITIZENSHIP RECORD BOOKS, series 3942, which include some records of the first and third judicial districts during the years Box Elder County was in those districts. For other possible sources consult the Research Guide to Naturalization records.

FINDING AIDS: An index is available.

PROCESSING NOTE: This volume was microfilmed by the LDS Genealogical Society in 1966. Archivally processed by A.C. Cone in 1989.