Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Cumberland County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1852-1856. Local government records collection, Cumberland 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 Cumberland County.

Historical Information

Cumberland County was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland, third son of King George II. It was formed from Goochland County in 1749. The county seat is Cumberland.

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

Cumberland County (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1852-1856, 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:

• Cumberland County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Immigrants -- Virginia -- Cumberland County.
• Naturalization -- Virginia -- Cumberland County.

Geographical Names:

• Cumberland County (Va.) -- History.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Local government records -- Virginia -- Cumberland County.
• Naturalization records -- Virginia. -- Cumberland County.