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Loyalist Naturalizations

Loyalist Naturalizations

Posted: 27 Apr 2014 3:56PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames: Caldwell
There is a possibility my ggggranffather was a Loyalist in the Upstate New York area. I found his naturalization papers from Johnstown, NY in October 1791. Does anyone know if Loyalists who remained in the Colony had to file for naturalization or did he possibly just enter the US? His name was William Caldwell. TIA

Re: Loyalist Naturalizations

Posted: 10 May 2014 8:56PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 10 May 2014 9:36PM GMT
Since most Loyalists were born in what became the United States of America, they were already citizens, or at least natives. Not all Loyalists left the US in 1783; mostly those whose property had been confiscated. Also, many Loyalists later returned with no need for any special documentation.

Later, Loyalist descendants, born outside the USA, would have to apply for citizenship. I would imagine that Thomas Alva Edison's father would likely have had to apply even though his father's parents were likely from New Jersey.

Would not the naturalization papers you mention suggest a place-of-origin? As far as I can tell the William Caldwell who d. 1823-4 and had a wife, Rebecca, seems to have likely been born in the colonies. I see a reference to his having to "swear alliance to the USA" but every male capable of bearing arms was required to do so during the Revolution. Some refused.

William appears to have been the William Caldwell in the 1790 census. See:
http://montgomery.nygenweb.net/census/caughna1790.html
With apparently four children, I assume he was in the USA before 1783 and likely never left. The date when he took an oath of allegiance would say much about why he took such an oath. For example, the first law regarding naturalization was the United States Naturalization Law of March 26, 1790. If William took the oath before then, then it was not likely for purposes of citizenship. If after then he was likely not a Loyalist as he would then likely have been a "natural-born citizen" (or at least a citizen before the Revolution) and not required to be naturalized.

Thomas.

Re: Loyalist Naturalizations

Posted: 10 May 2014 9:18PM GMT
Classification: Query
Unfortunately for me, William was naturalized prior to the rules and regulations regarding naturalization. He appeared with a witness who stated that he knew him to be of good character and that he had resided in the area upwards of four years. That was all there was to it in October of 1791. My thought is that he hurried to do it so that he could own property, but that is just a guess. He had to have been one of the very first. If he had only waited a year!

Nadine Quinn
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