Would there have been any check of birthdate or birthplace for a person going to be naturalised in 1908 in the USA?
I ask this because the person I’m looking into is clearly confused.
He states firstly his age, being 34 years. Then states his date of birth 12 aug 1872. Nobody seems to mind this is not correct. Then I found his birth certificate in the Netherlands. Date 24 july 1870, making him 38 years at 1908. I can understand he is confused, but am wondering about not being checked in some way. I am 100% sure I found the correct birthcertificate. So how did the process of naturalisation go? Did he just turn up at a Circuit Court?
I doubt there was any practical way of checking back in that time.
I have a person in our tree that was a circus performer who gave a different city of birth on every Census.
The only “check” to see if what was stated in their Petition for Naturalization is true that I have seen is their immigration record. Which would be the first record under the control of the government.
This US Citizen and Immigration Services article explains just how inconsistent the Naturalization process was.
In particular, read through the following section:
“Old Law” Period (March 26, 1790 – Sept. 26, 1906)
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