Summary: Michael Barth files his Declaration of Intention to become a US citizen in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania on 7 Aug 1839. He appears before the Berks County Court of Common Pleas and states his name, birthplace, date of birth, town, etc. His signature here matches the signature in his Wanderbuch. We use this as proof of his birth date and birthplace. He then renounces his allegiance to the King of Bavaria. After a waiting period of two to three years, he will be able to enter any court in the country, produce a copy of the declaration, prove that he had resided in the United States for a period of not less than five years, have a person vouch for his character, and present a petition for full citizenship. He would then receive the Naturalization Petition. Note that the last entry in his Wanderbuch was dated 1837. Michael Barth must have left Germany and come to the US between 1837 and 1839.
Source: Berks County, PA, Court of Common Pleas, Index of Naturalization Papers (1798-1915), Declaration of Intention "First Papers" (LDS microfilm 020505)
Name: Michael Barth
Nation of: Beyern
Decl. Filed: August 7th 1839
Admitted: [blank]
Date of Transcription: 26 Feb 2002 KCW
Location of Transcription: Apex, NC
Note: The above transcription was copied verbatim from a microfilmed copy of the original to the best of my abilities. Paragraphs were inserted by me Kim Curlin Wettroth
Summary: Michael Barth files his Declaration of Intention to become a US citizen in Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania on 7 Aug 1839. He appears before the Berks County Court of Common Pleas and states his name, birth place, date of birth, town, etc. His signature here matches the signature in his Wanderbuch. We use this as proof of his birth date and birth place. He then renounces his allegiance to the King of Bavaria. After a waiting period of two to three years, he will be able to enter any court in the country, produce a copy of the declaration, prove that he had resided in the United States for a period of not less than five years, have a person vouch for his character, and present a petition for full citizenship. He would then receive the Naturalization Petition. Note that the last entry in his Wanderbuch was dated 1837. Michael Barth must have left Germany and come to the US between 1837 and 1839.
Source: Berks County, PA, Court of Common Pleas, Naturalization Papers #417 - Reading, PA, Declaration of Intention - "First Papers" (LDS microfilm 020506)
7 Aug 1839
To the Honorable John Banks, Esq. ~ President this associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Michael Barth of the Borough of Hamburg, Pennsylvania, an alien reports himself pursuant to the second section of the Act of Congress, passed the 14th of April A.D. 1802. Entitled An Act to Establish An Uniform rule of Naturalization, and report the Act heretofore passed on that Subject to wit
Name - Michael Barth
Birth Place Kingdom of Beyern
Age - 33
Nation - Beyern
County ? Emigrated - Erloch
Allegiance - King of Bavaria
? f? Settlement - Penna
Reading August 7th 1839
Michael Barth [his signature]
Berks County, SS
On the 7th day of August A.D.1839 personally Appeared in Open Court of Common Pleas in and for said County Michael Barth, who upon his Solemn Oath doth become a Citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever, all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince Potentate State or Sovereignty whatsoever and particularly to the King of Bavaria
Sworn and Subscribed in Open Court August 7th 1839
Michael Barth [his signature]
Benjamin Tyson
Prothy
Date of Transcription: 26 Feb 2002 KCW
Location of Transcription: Apex, NC
Note: The above transcription was copied verbatim from a microfilmed copy of the original to the best of my abilities. Paragraphs were inserted by me Kim Curlin Wettroth
Summary: Petition [or Petition and Oaths or "second papers"] before the Court of Common Pleas in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Co., PA of Michael Barth to become a citizen of the United States. On 7 Aug 1831 he had appeared before the Berks Co., PA Court of Common Pleas and declared on oath that he renounced the King of Bavaria and wanted to become a citizen of the US. Now he is appearing to petition admission to citizenship in Schuylkill Co. PA. George Daur, a citizen, testifies that Michael Barth has lived 1+ years in PA and 5+ years in the US. He came to the US between 1837-1839 and filed for citizenship in 1839. We do not have the actual naturalization certificate but the Court admits him to be a citizen in this document.
Source: Schuylkill County, PA, Court of Common Pleas, Naturalization Petition - "Second Papers" Private Collection James W. Curlin
31 Jul 1843
BE IT REMEMBERED, that at a Court of Common Pleas, held at Orwigsburg, in and for the county of Schuylkill, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States of America, on the thirty first day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty three Michael Barth a native of Bavaria exhibited a petition, praying to be admitted to become A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, and it appearing to the said Court that he had declared on Oath before the Court of Berks County Common Pleas on the 7th day of August A.D. 1831 that it was bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the King of Bavaria of whom he was at that time a subject; and the said Michael Barth having on his solemn Oath declared and also made proof thereof by competent testimony of George Duer? A Citizen of the United States, that he had resided ONE YEAR and upwards within the State of Pennsylvania, and within the United States of America, upwards of FIVE YEARS immediately preceeding his application; and it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court, that during the time he 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; and having declared on his solemn Oath before the said Court that he would support the Constitution of the United States, and that he did absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign, Prince, Potentate, State and Sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the King of Bavaria of whom he was before a subject. And thereupon the Court admitted the said Michael Barth to become A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said Court at Orwigsburg, this 31st day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty three and of the SOVEREIGNTY and INDEPENDENCE of the United States of America, the 68.
Chas. Frailey Prothonotary.
Date of Transcription: 12 Mar 2002 KCW
Location of Transcription: Apex, NC
Note: The above transcription was copied verbatim from a microfilmed copy of the original to the best of my abilities. The original is owned by my father, James W. Curlin, of Lottsburg, VA. "[ ]" denotes my personal comments. Paragraphs were inserted by me Kim Curlin Wettroth
Submitted by Kim.
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