21 March 2012

Homesteaders Had to be Citizens

If your ancestor filed a homestead claim under the United states Homestead Act of 1862, he had to be a citizen of the United States. This might be a place to locate your ancestor's naturalization record if he naturalized in some unknown location "back East" before moving west to homestead.

2 comments:

  1. What kind of documents were required at this time to prove citizen ship ? I once ask a question ! What documents were required at the time of the WWI for a person to go into the army ! They could not tell me ! They did not know ! I am still looking for an answer !

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  2. In regards to the homestead application, the applicant would have to eventually include a certified copy of his naturalization from the court that granted it.

    I think the requirements for World War I were somewhat lax and based upon statements made by the registrant--but I am not certain. Many of the WWI volunteers would not have had a birth certificate and their word might have been sufficient.

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