A Guide to the Arlington County (Va.) Abstract of Reports of Aliens, 1801-1832,

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Abstract of Reports of Aliens, 1801-1832, use microfilm copy available in the Library of Virginia reading room on Arlington County (Va.) Reel 52. See "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Arlington County (Va.) Abstract of Reports of Aliens, 1801-1832. Local government records collection, Arlington County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.

Alternative Form Available

Abstract of Reports of Aliens, 1801-1832, use microfilm copy available in the Library of Virginia reading room on Arlington County (Va.) Reel 52.

Acquisition Information

This volume came to the Library of Virginia in an undated transfer of court papers from Arlington County.

Processing Information

This item was microfilmed by the Library of Virginia’s Imaging Services Division in 1981.

Encoded by C. OBrion: April 2010; updated by M. Long: March 2025.

Historical Information

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: Arlington County was originally named Alexandria County. Alexandria County was named for the town of Alexandria, which in turn was named for John Alexander, an early owner of the tract in Fairfax County on which the town was located. It was formed from a portion of Fairfax County that Virginia in 1789 ceded to the federal government for use as the site of a new national capital. In 1801 the area officially became part of the District of Columbia, although Congress named it Alexandria County. By an act of 9 July 1846, Congress returned the county to Virginia, and the General Assembly extended the commonwealth's jurisdiction over the region effective 20 March 1847. By an act of assembly passed 16 March 1920, the county's name was changed to Arlington, the name of the Custis family mansion (the home of Robert E. Lee), which is located in the county. An urban county, Arlington contains no incorporated towns or cities. The county courthouse is in the county.

Scope and Content

Arlington County (Va.) Abstract of Reports of Aliens, 1801-1832, contains a list of aliens who arrived at the town of Alexandria with the intention of residing in the United States, compiled by the clerk of the circuit court of the District of Columbia for the County of Alexandria. Each entry contains the date of the report, the full name of the person reported, sex, place of birth, age, nation, place of allegiance or citizenship, condition or occupation, place of actual or intended residence, and name of person who made the report (usually the same as the person reported). There are entries for 126 individuals reported between 1801 and 1832. Place of birth includes Africa, Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica, Scotland, Great Britain and Ireland, Russia, Poland, France, Germany, and Italy. Place of birth sometimes includes a locality in addition to the country.