Erie County, NY - Naturalization (Citizenship) Records

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On this page, microfilm numbers and film numbers refer to FHL catalog numbers. For more information, see Family History Library (FHL).

The Erie County Naturalization (Citizenship) records span many reels of microfilm. I have transcribed only records of a few people who might be members of my family, or related to my family.

There are two types of naturalization documents, and each has an index. The first is the naturalization documents, which officially declare a person to be a United States citizen. The other is the "alien declaration" form, which precedes the naturalization by a couple years, in which a person declares his intention to become a citizen. (I say "his" intention, because all of the documents that I have come across are for males.)

Erie County Card Index to Naturalizations, 1831-1930

This is an alphabetical index spanning multiple microfilm reels. Each page is an image of a card with a person's name and with minimal information.

Microfilm # 979171 - Index: OETINGER to PACKI

I transcribed everyone with the surname OTT before 1860..

• OTT, Anthony
  • Born in France
  • Naturalized 18-Oct-1852
  • Certificate # or Vol. & Page: LIBER 13 page 152
  • Location: County # 2291
  • Witnesses: Andrew BIPER and Joseph HAITZ
• OTT, George
  • Born in France
  • Naturalized 18-Feb-1843
  • Certificate # or Vol. & Page: LIBER 6 page 329
  • Location: County # 2291
  • Witnesses: Jacob DEIFENBAUGH and Michael WIGMAN
• OTT, "JNO."
  • Born in France
  • Naturalized 17-Oct-1838
  • Certificate # or Vol. & Page: LIBER 3 page 112
  • Location: County # 2291
  • Witnesses: Joseph SCHNEIDER and Jacob DIFFENBACH
• OTT, Louis
  • Born in France
  • Naturalized 05-Oct-1840
  • Certificate # or Vol. & Page: LIBER 4 page 86-1/2
  • Location: County # 2291
  • Witnesses: Amos ROBINSON and Robert DEVENBAUGH
• OTT, Michael
  • Born in France
  • Naturalized 08-Jun-1838
  • Certificate # or Vol. & Page: LIBER 3 page 60
  • Location: County # 2291
  • Witnesses: Michael GATES and Michael OTT, Jr.
• OTT, Michael Jr.
  • Born in Bavaria
  • Naturalized 08-Jun-1838
  • Certificate # or Vol. & Page: LIBER 3 page 58-1/2
  • Location: County # 2291
  • Witnesses: Michael GATES and Noah H. GARDINER (mechanic)
• OTT, Samuel
  • Born in Bavaria
  • Naturalized 09-Oct-1846
  • Certificate # or Vol. & Page: LIBER 3 page 176
  • Location: County # 2291
  • Witnesses: Michael OTT and Michael GOETZ

Erie County Naturalization Records, Final Papers, 1831-1906

This is a chronological set of final naturalization papers, generally one or two forms per page.

Microfilm # 979362 - Final papers, v. 6 1835-1845

I transcribed records from the names found in the index above.

• OTT, John, p.112
  • Renounces allegiance to the King of the French
  • Naturalized 17-Oct-1838
  • Declaration made 09-???-1836
  • Witnesses: Joseph SCHNEIDER and Jacob DEIFENBAUGH
• OTT, George, p.329
  • Renounces allegiance to the King of France
  • Naturalized 18-Feb-1843
  • Declaration made 25-Aug-1840
  • Witnesses: Jacob DEIFENBAUGH and Michael WEYMANN
• OTT, Lewis, p. 86-1/2
  • Renounces allegiance to the King of the French
  • Naturalized 05-Oct-1840
  • Witnesses: Theo? ROBINSON and Robert DEIFENBAUGH
  • "... & has been for the last five years & that he has been a resident of the United States for more than three years prior to his arriving at the age of 21 years..."

Erie County Index to Alien Declarations, 1835-1906

This is an alphabetical index spanning multiple two reels. Each page lists names, dates, and page numbers of detail declaration records.

Microfilm # 979358 - Index: 1835-1891

I transcribed everyone with the surname BALTHASAR, HOCK, and OTT before 1860. "L" stands for "Liber," which is the same as "volume number."

• BALTHASER, Anthony - L9, p.443, 1854
• BALTHASAR, John - L12, p.476, 1872
• BALTHASER, John - L14, p.166, 09-Nov-1880
• HOCK, Claudi, L2, p.193, 1836
• HUCH, Philip Jacob, L2, p.199, 1836
• HOCH, Henry, L2, p.242, 1836
• HOCK, Jacob, L3, p.128, 1840
• HUCK, Erolomus, L3, p.40, 1842
• HOCK, Jacob, L5, p.288, 1847
• HOCK, Wm, L6, p.169, 1849
• HOKE, Fred, L7, p.317, 1857
• HOKE, Henry, L7, p.318, 1857
• HOCK, Geo, L9, p.363, 1854
• HOCK, Teresa, L9, p.363, 1854
• HOCK, Jacob, L9, p.481, 1854
• HOCK, Fred, L9, p.482, 1854
• HOCK, Louis, L11, p.307, 1856
• HOCK, Jacob, L11, p.313, 1856
• OTT, John - L2, p.129, 1836
• OTT, Michael - L2, p.159, 1836
• OTT, Michael - L2, p.276, 1838
• OTT, George - L3, p.164, 1840
• OTT, Saml - L4, p.183, 1844
• OTTO, Jno - L5, p.157, 1846
• OTT, Martin - L6, p.211?, 1848
  • I could not find this record in the detail
• OTT, Anthony - L6, p.288, 1849
• OTT, Theodore - L9, p.493, 1854

Erie County Alien Declarations, 1835-1896

This is a chronological set of alien declaration forms, generally two forms per page.

Microfilm # 979244 - Declarations v.1-4: 1835-1854

I spite of its title, the records seem to begin with 1839. I transcribed records from the names found in the index above.

• OTT, John - 09-Mar-1836 - L2, p.129
  • Lives in Lancaster, late of France
• OTT, Michael - 07-Jun-1836 - L2, p.159
  • Lives in Buffalo, late of Dyre?, allegiance to King of the French
  • Michale OTT is probably no close relation to my Ott ancestors
• OTT, Michael, Jr. - 05-Jun-1836 - L2, p.276
  • Lives in Buffalo, late of Sardal in Kingdom of Bavaria
• HOCK, Klaudi - 21-Sep-1836 - L2, p.193
  • Lives in Amherst, allegiance to the "King of Bayern (Bavaria) or Emporer of Prussia"
• HOCK, Jacob - 07-May-1840 - L3, p.128
  • Lives in Amherst, late of Bavaria, allegiance to the King of Bavaria
• OTT, George - 25-Aug-1840 - L3, p.164
  • Lives in Cheektowaga, late of France

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