Nicholas Smith, my 4th great-grandfather, who arrived in America between 1840 and 1851 from Ireland, as explained in my previous post. Information about the family's voyage has yet to be found but it was most likely during the Great Irish Famine. In fact, his daughter, Catherine, married another Irish Famine Immigrant, William McGinnis. The family thrived in central New York for decades and their descendants live on! (Read more about WIlliam's arrival here).
The following is Nicholas Smith's Declaration of Intention, filed in 1853, prior to his naturalization as a U.S. Citizen. (See transcription below):
I, Nicholas Smith, do declare on oath, that it is bona fide my intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to all and any foreign prince, potentate, state, and sovereignty whatever; and particularly to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom and Great Britain and Ireland of who I was a subject.
Sworn in open court this 27th day of May A.D. 1853,
E.D. Robinson, Clerk of Broome County
Nicholas Smith
In 1847, James K. Polk was President, followed by Zachary Taylor. Richard Fillmore succeeded Taylor and Franklin Pierce was the President in 1853 when Nicholas Smith filed the above intention. Pierce was followed by James Buchanan and the people elected Abraham Lincoln in 1861.
Source:
New York Naturalization Records [Link]
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