Series 85169

District Court (Fourth District) Declarations of intention record books, i 1878-1895.

1.00 cubic foot and 1 microfilm reel

These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.

Historical Note

See history of the records' creator.

Summary of Records

These volumes record individuals' vows to become United States citizens and renounce their current citizenship. The volumes have standardized forms and were maintained by the Territorial Fourth District Court.

Scope and Content

To become a citizen of the United States, an individual normally filed a "declaration of intention to become a citizen" at least two years prior to applying for citizenship. The next step was the naturalization hearing at which the candidate and witnesses either made oral statements or filed written petitions and affidavits attesting to the applicant's character, worthiness to become a citizen, and the validity of statements made to the court. If the judge found the applicant eligible to become a citizen, an oath was administered and the individual renounced his former citizenship. At this point a certificate of citizenship was issued documenting the fact. These volumes record declarations of intention, the first step in the process.
These volumes record individuals' vows to later become United States citizens and to renounce their current citizenship. The volumes have standardized forms for declarations of intention with blanks for insertions of the individual's name, formersovereign, date, and signatures of the individual and the court clerks witnessing the statement.
The volumes were used in Ogden by a court clerk and were passed along as Weber County was assigned to different court districts over the years. Thus the first volume was used by the Third District Court from 1878 through 1879 and then by the First District Court from 1880 to 1892 before being passed to the Fourth District Court.

Arrangement

Chronological by date.

Additional Forms

This series is available on microfilm.
Copies of these records are located at Ancestry.com View Online.
Copies of these records are located at Ancestry.com View Online.

Access Restrictions

This series is classified as Public.

Use Restrictions

These records are available for reproduction and use.

Preferred Citation

Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.

Acquisition Information

These records were acquired from the creating agency through established retention schedules.

Processing Information

The series was transferred to the Archives and scheduled by Pat Scott in 1989. Archival processing by A.C. Cone was completed that same year. The volumes were microfilmed in 1998.

Other Finding Aids

Indexes: An electronic index is available. Entries include the name of the individual, the volume in which the entry appears, and the month and year of the entry. View index. Other: A Guide to Naturalization records is available in the Archives Research Center.

Related Material

Declarations of intention and certificate of citizenship record books from the Territorial Supreme Court, Series 3942, of the Supreme Court contain mored 1st and 3rd district records, from 1852-1856 and 1859-1860, respectively. Weber County had been in those districts during those times as well.
Certificates of citizenship record books from the District Court (First District), Series 83895, contain final citizenship certificates issued by the 1st District Court 1890-1892, perhaps for some of the same individuals who earlier filed declarations in Weber County 1880-1892.
Certificates of citizenship record books from the District Court (Third District), Series 85110, should be consulted for final naturalization records from that court, perhaps including those for some who filed declarations while Weber County was part of the third district.
Declarations of intention record books from the District Court (Third District), Series 85111, contain more declarations filed with that court during the territorial period prior to 1896.
Declarations of intention record books from the District Court (First District), Series 85113, of the 1st District Court contains more declarations of intention from that court for part of the same period, specifically 1884-1896.
Certificates of citizenship record books from the District Court (Fourth District), Series 85170, include certificates of citizenship later granted by the same court to newly naturalized citizens, perhaps some of the same individuals whose declarations are recorded here.

Container List

ReelBoxDescription
11 Volume A; 1878 Dec 21-1894 Nov 28
12 Volume A; 1894 Nov 26-1895 Dec 18