Thomas J. McIntyre, Petition for Naturalization, 1910

Having completed his Declaration of Intention in 1908, Thomas is now completing his naturalization process.  The top part of the first page of his Petition for Naturalization is filled in with the information supplied on the original Declaration of Intention.  It is noted that he filed his first papers in Chicago, Illinois in the Circuit Court of Cook County.  He is now filing his Petition in the Superior Court of Cook County.  This portion of the paperwork is dated May 26, 1910.

Two individuals are required to sign an "Affidavit of Witnesses" each stating he is a citizen and that each personally knows Thomas McIntyre to have resided in the United States for a period of at least five year continuously immediately preceding the date of filing as well as in the State of Illinois.  They also swear that Thomas is a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the constitution of the United States, and that he is in every way qualified to be admitted a citizen of the United States.

James Joseph Hallinan, a conductor who lives at 740 Irving Ave, signs the document first.  Hallinan was probably a co-worker of Thomas' at the Chicago Surface Line.  The second witness is William Madden, a police officer residing at 2958 Lee Avenue, Chicago.  Madden is Thomas' first cousin.  He is also the brother of the Patrick Madden, the person Thomas states on the ship's passenger manifest he is going to join when he came to America in 1904.  


On October 7, 1910 Thomas McIntyre swore his Oath of Allegiance:
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to George V King of Great Britain and Ireland of which I have heretofore been a subject, that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic; and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same."
Signed: Thomas McIntyre

Certificate of Naturalization No. 142375

Of note is the last section "Order of Court Admitting Petitioner".  It says to "Insert on following lines marriages and births occurring after petitioning and before naturalization.  Since Thomas and Ellen/Helen were married between these two occurrences what is written is:

"Helen Nacacahoone reside in Chicago Ill married Sept. 4, 1910."

When I saw this I was confused until I tried to pronounce Nacacahoone and realized it was Knockahoney, the townland where Ellen Walsh was born.

If Thomas McIntyre had not made the one week trip across the ocean in 1904 and then filled out the paperwork to become a citizen of the US in 1910, we might be in a very different place in our lives.  We are all very fortunate. 

So on October 7, 2010 the McIntyres will give thanks and celebrate the 100th Anniversary of our immigrant ancestor's decision to become an American Citizen.