Citizenship Documents

William Dennis Porteous becomes a citizen:

IN THE DISTRICT COURT of the 16th Judicial District of the State of Kansas, SITTING IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF PAWNEE, May Term, A.D. 1887

Be it Remembered, that on this the 10th day of May A D 1887 personally appeared in open Court, William D. Porteous a native of England and applied to be admitted a CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, and produceda Certificate of his declaration of his intention to become a citizen of the United States, issued by the Clerk of the District Court of Pawnee County State of Kansas Dated January 23th AD 1880 and proved to the satisfaction of the Court, here, that he has resided in the United States for more than the period of five years next preceding this application, and for one year last passed within the State of Kansas; and that during the whole of that period, he has conducted himself as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles of this Government and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same.
Thereupon, the Court being fully satisfied that said applicant has fulfilled all the requirements of the laws of the United States respecting the naturalization of foreigners, and the said William D Porteous having declared on oath that he will support the Constitution of the United States, and renounce and abjure forever, all allegiance nnd [sic] fidelity to every foreign power, prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, whatever, and particularly to the Queen of Great Britian of whom he was heretofore a subject, it is ordered by the Court, he, the said William D Porteous be, and is hereby delcared a CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA, with all the rights and privileges thereto.
J.G. Strang; Judge 16 Judicial District of Kansas

John Porteous becomes a citizen:

United States - State of Illinois, of America, County of Lake.
At the Regular Term of the County Court of said County of Lake begun and holden in the Court House in Waukegan in said County of Lake on Monday the Third day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and ninety being the Fifteenth day of the Month of March A.D. 1890.

Present-Honorable Francis E. Clarke Judge.
Attest Lewis C. Dorsett, Clerk. Lewis C. Dorsett, Clerk.
In the Matter of the Naturalization of John Porteous an Alien.

Be it Remembered, That on the Fifteenth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety personally appeared before Francis E. Clarke presiding Judge of the County Court of the County of Lake and State aforesaid (the same being a Court of Record, having and exercising common law jurisdiction, a Seal and a Clerk, sitting judicially for the dispatch of business, at the Court House in Waukegan in the County aforesaid, John Porteous an alien, above the age of twenty-one years, and applied to the said Court to be admitted to become a Naturalized Citizen of the United States of America, pursuant to the several Acts of Congress heretofore passed on that subject; and the said John Porteous having thereupon produced to the Court record testimony showing that he has heretofore reported himself and filed this Delcaration of his Intention to become a Cititzen of the United States, according to the provisions of the said several Acts of Congress, and the Court being satisfied, as well from the oath of the said John Porteous as from the testimony of G. B. Watrous and George C. Brown who are known to be citizens of the United States, that the said John Porteous has resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States for at least five years last past, and at least one year last past within the State of Illinois, and that during the whole of that time he has behaved himself as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles contained in the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same, and two years and upward having elapsed since the said John Porteous reported himself and filed his declaration of his intention of aforesaid, IT WAS ORDERED that the said John Porteous be permitted to take the oath to support the Constitution of the United States, and the usual oath whereby he renounced all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State and Sovereignty whatever, and more particularly to Victoria, Queen of the Untied Kingdom of Great Britain England whereof he heretofore a subject, which said oath having been administered to the said John Porteous by the Clerk of said Court, it was ordered by the Court that the said John Porteous be admitted to all and singular the rights, privileges and immunities of a Naturalized Citizen of the United States, and that the same be certificed by the Clerk of the Court, under the Seal of said Court, accordingly.

Attest Lewis C. Dorsett, clerk.

My grandfather was three-years old when he came to the United States in 1870. Because he was a minor, this document is a little different from the others. There are four sections filled out before his naturalization was given at the bottom of this image.

William Dennis Porteous becomes a citizen:
[Petition, final oath and certificate (minor)]

State of Illinois Lake County}Sct.
in the County Court within and for the County of Lake and State of Illinois, at the March Term A.D. 1888.
At a regular Term of the County Court of said County of Lake begun and holden in the Court House in Waukegan in said County of Lake on Monday the Fifth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty eight being the Sixteenth day of the month of March A.D. 1888.

Present-Honorable Francis E. Clarke Judge.
Attest Lewis C. Dorsett, Clerk. Lewis C. Dorsett, Clerk.

In the Matter of the Naturalization of William Dennis Porteous an Alien.
To the Honorable Francis E. Clarke Judge of the County Court of Lake County:
Your petitioner William Dennis Porteous an alien, a native of England respectfully represents unto your Honor, that he arrived in the United States a minor, under the age of twenty-one; that he resided in the United States three years preceding his arrival at the age of Twenty-one years; that he has continued to reside therein to the time of his making this, his application to be admitted a citizen thereof; that he has arrived at the age of twenty-one years; that he has resided in the United States five years and upward, towit: for the term of 18 years, including the three years of his minority, and in the State of Illinois for 18 years; that it is bona fide his intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever and particularly the allegiance and fidelity which be in anywise owes to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain England whereof he was heretofore a citizen or subject, and for two years next preceding it has been bona fide his intention to become a citizen fo the United States.

William Dennis Porteous

State of Illinois Lake County}Sct.
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 16th day of March A.D. 1888.
Lewis C. Dorsett, Clerk.

William Dennis Porteous being duly sworn, upon his oath says that the above petition is true.

William Dennis Porteous

State of Illinois Lake County}SS.
We, M. Wirtz and G.M. Traut of the County of Lake and State of Illinois, having been first duly sworn, do depose and say that we have been personally acquainted with William Dennis Porteous an alien, who has applied to be admitted as a Naturalized Citizen of the United States, for the space of five years last past and upward; that during the whole of said time he has continued to reside within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States, and one year, at least, in the said State of Illinois, preceding the day fo the date hereof; and that as far as our knowledge and observation have extended, he has behaved himself as a man of good moral character, and appears to be attached tothe principles contained in the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same; and that for two years next preceding it has been bona fide his intention to be come a citizen of the United States.

Subscribed and sworn to in open Court, this 16th day of March A.D. 1888} M. Wirtz - G.M. Trout

Lewis C. Dorsett, Clerk

State of Illinois Lake County}SS.
I William Dennis Porteous do solemnly swear (affirm), is the presence of Almighty God, that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and that I do absolutely and entirely reounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State and Sovereignty whatever, and more particularly to Victoria, Queen of the Untied Kingdom of Great Britain England whereof he heretofore a subject.

Subscribed and sworn to in open Court, this 16th day of March A.D. 1888} William Dennis Porteous

Lewis C. Dorsett, Clerk

Be it Remembered, That on the Sixteenth (16th) day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and eighty eight personally appeared before the Hon. Francis E. Clarke presiding Judge of the County Court of the County of Lake and State aforesaid (the same being a Court of Record, having and exercising common law jurisdiction, a Seal and a Clerk), sitting judicially for the dispatch of business, at the Court House in Waukegan in the County aforesaid, William Dennis Porteous an alien, above the age of twenty-one years, and applied to the said Court to be admitted to become a Naturalized Citizen of the United States of America, pursuant to the several Acts of Congress heretofore passed on that subject; and the said William Dennis Porteous having thereupon produced to the Court record testimony showing that he has heretofore reported himself and filed this Delcaration of his Intention to become a Cititzen of the United States, according to the provisions of the said several Acts of Congress, and the Court being satisfied, as well from the oath of the said William Dennis Porteous as from the testimony of M. Wirtz and G. M. Traut, who are known to be citizens of the United States, that the said applicant arrived in the United States a minor under the age of twenty-one years, has resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States, for and during the full term of five years, including the three years previous to his arrival at the age of twenty-one years, and one year within the State of Illinois; that, during said term of five years, he has sustained a good moral character, and appeared to be attached to the principles contained in the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same; and the said applicant having now here filed his declaration of intention to become CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, according to the provisions of the several Acts of Congress heretofore passed on that suject; and he having now here in open Court taken and subscribed the oath required by those loaws, to support the Constitution of the United states, and to renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State and Sovereignty whatever, and more particularly to Victoria, Queen of the Untied Kingdom of Great Britain and England whereof he heretofore a subject.

IT IS THEREUPON CONSIDERED, ORDERED AND ADJUDGED BY THE COURT, That the said William Dennis Porteous be admitted to all and singular the rights, privileges and immunities of the naturalized citizen of the United States, and that the same be certified by the Clerk of this Court, under the seal of said Court, accordingly.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, The Seal of the said Court is hereto affixed, at the Clerk's office in Waukegan this Sixteenth day of March A.D. 1888 and of the Independence of the United States the 112th.

By order of the Court. Attest: Lewis C. Dorsett, Clerk of the County Court of Lake County.