Deedy.com Blog

A recent trip to the Northeast National Archive revealed my Great-Grandfather's naturalization record. A common form for naturalization did not exist until September of 1906. Prior forms were created by the courthouse - so required information varies greatly depending on where you became naturalized. Also, women generally obtained their naturalization status from a Father or Husband - so looking for female ancestors in the naturalization roles in the late 1800's and early 1900's was a fruitless endeavor. The first page of the record was blurry on the microfilm, the second page was clearer. Below is the transcript of the full record:

{Final Declaration Alien}
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, SS

To the Honorable the Justice of the CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT of Worcester, holden at Worcester, within the County of Worcester, Respectfully presents Edward Deedy, that he is Thirty years of age and by occupation a Laborer that he resides at number Twenty Two on Ellsworth street in Worcester in the County of Worcester and within the district of said court, an alien, that it is his bona fide intention to become a Citizen of the United States of America, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince, Potentate, State, and Sovereignty, and particularity to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, whose subject he has heretofore been. All which together with his declaration thereof on oath, before Central District Court of Worcester appears in the Records of said Court to wit: at the October eighteenth Term thereof A.D. 1895. And said petitioner further represents that he has resided within the jurisdiction of said United States for more than five years now last past.

And said petitioner further represents that he has resided in the said State of Massachusetts one year at least, that he has never borne any hereditary title, or been of any of the orders of Nobility; that he is ready to renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty and particularly to the said Victoria Queen of Ireland as aforesaid, whose subject he has heretofore been: that he is attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same.

And said petitioner further represents that it is his intention to summons as witnesses at his final hearing: Patrick H. Shea who resides at number Twenty Two on Ellsworth Street in Worcester in the County of Worcester, and Joshua Melican who resides at number Nine on Endicott street in Worcester in the County of Worcester. Wherefore said petitioner prays that he may be admitted to become a citizen of the said United States of America according to the forms of the Statutes in such case made and provided.
Signed - Edward Deedy

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, SS CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT OF WORCESTER
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We, the witnesses for the within named applicant, severally depose and say that we are respectively citizens of the United States, and that we at the time of filing of the preceding petition resided as set forth in the said petition, and that we have known the foregoing petitioner for five years last past, during which time he has resided in Worcester and has conducted himself and behaved as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same.

signed: John Melican
signed: Patrick H. Shea
Worcester, SS.
Sworn in said Court October 17, 1899

I do solemnly swear, that I do absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State, or Sovereignty, particularly to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland whose subject I have heretofore been; and that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America. So help me God.

signed: Edward Deedy
Worcester, SS. Central District Court of Worcester October 17, 1899, Sworn and admitted a citizen

What I found particularly interesting in this document is how Edward signs his name - he is clearly spelling his name Deedy, not Deady. He is also swearing on October 17, 1899 that he is thirty years old. On his marriage certificate (which I have now received from the City of Worcester) he spells his last name as Deady and says he is 28 years old - and the marriage certificate was issued November 16, 1899 (the actual wedding took place on November 8, 1899) - so basically one month later Edward has lost two years and put back the letter a in his last name!

The other very interesting thing found is this document is the name Patrick H. Shea. As you can see, both Edward Deedy and Patrick Shea gave the same address - could this mean they are related in some way, or just roommates?

Another small thing to note, when Edward and Hannah married on November 8, 1899, she not only got a husband, she also got citizenship. I wonder if the timing of those two events was a coincidence or if Edward getting his citizenship was something they both needed before feeling comfortable getting married.

Labels: Deedy