Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Princess Anne County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1806-1855. Local government records collection, Princess Anne County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Princess Anne County.

Historical Information

Princess Anne County was named for Anne, daughter of King James II, who became queen of England in 1702. The county was formed from Lower Norfolk County in 1691 and became extinct on 1 January 1963, after its consolidation with the city of Virginia Beach. The county seat was Princess Anne.

Prior to 1906, naturalizations could be recorded in any court — federal, state, county, or city. 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. A declaration of intention normally preceded proof of residence or a petition to become a citizen by two or more years. 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.

Scope and Content

Princess Anne County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1806-1855, include declarations of intent and reports to become United States citizens and notices of application for admission of citizenship. 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.

Arrangement

Arranged chronological.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Princess Anne County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Immigrants -- Virginia -- Princess Anne County.
• Naturalization -- Virginia -- Princess Anne County.

Geographical Names:

• Princess Anne County (Va.) -- History.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records -- Virginia -- Princess Anne County.
• Naturalization records -- Virginia. -- Princess Anne County.