Rockingham County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1826-1911

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

Rockingham County's loose naturalization records, 1826-1911, are digitized and available through the Naturalization Records Digital Collection on the Library of Virginia website. Please use digital images.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Rockingham County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1826-1911. Local government records collection, Rockingham County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.

Summary

Extent:
.2 cu. ft. (1 box)
Creator:
Rockingham County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Rockingham County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1826-1911. Local government records collection, Rockingham County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Rockingham County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1826-1911, consists of loose naturalization records filed in the local court. Loose naturalization records may include affidavits, reports for naturalization, declarations of intent to become United States citizens, and notices of application for admission of citizenship. The reports are narrative accounts made by applicants summarizing their journey to the United States. The declarations of intent record the person's name, place of birth, age, country of previous citizenship, renunciation of allegiance and fidelity to the nation of which the person is currently a citizen, and the date the intention was sworn. Affidavits, signed by those who knew the applicant and could vouch for their loyalty to the United States, may also be filed with the reports and declarations.

Biographical / historical:

Context for Record Type: Beginning in 1795, a person could declare their intent to become a citizen at any time and in any place after they arrived in the United States. Prior to the Naturalization Act of 1906, the naturalization process primarily occurred in local and state courts. Declarations of intent were the record by which an applicant for U.S. citizenship declared their intent to become a citizen and renounced their allegiance to a foreign government. This document typically preceded proof of residence or a petition to become a citizen by two or more years.

Locality History: Rockingham County was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, second marquis of Rockingham, who supported the colonies during the years before and during the Revolutionary War. The county was formed from Augusta County in 1778. The county seat is the city of Harrisonburg.

Lost Locality Note: A courthouse fire in 1787 destroyed primarily wills and estate records. In June 1864 during the Civil War, court records (mostly volumes) were removed from the courthouse and loaded on a wagon to be taken to place of safety on or beyond the Blue Ridge. The wagon was overtaken by Union troops near Port Republic and set afire, which was put out by local citizens. Many order books, deed books, will books, and fiduciary books, however, were lost or severely damaged by the fire. The loose records that remained at the courthouse were undamaged. Pre-1865 records including deeds and wills were rerecorded following an act of assembly passed in November 1884.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a 2004 transfer of court papers from Rockingham County under the accession number 40981.
Processing information:

Loose naturalization records, 1826-1911, were processed and indexed for the purpose of inclusion in the Library of Virginia's Naturalization Records digital collection by Library of Virginia staff.

Encoded by G. Crawford: March 2014; updated by M. Long: May 2024.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the following series:

  • Series I: Loose Naturalization Records, 1826-1911, arranged chronologically.

Arranged chronologically.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia