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*Tracing Your Roots > First Steps in Family History > Getting Started
* Acts of Parliament and Naturalisation - the 1800s 
 
During the nineteenth century the process of becoming British was simplified for migrants when the Home Secretary was given the power to grant*naturalisation. Previously, the process was lengthy and costly involving a private Act of Parliament and few people could afford this process.

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Steerage passengers at Dover, 1906
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Immigrants on the Deutschland, which was mainly an emigrant ship operated by the Hamburg-Amerika Line, photographed as she made an unscheduled stop at the port of Dover in summer 1906. This is a rare picture, showing the faces of just a few of the many thousands of people from central and eastern Europe on their way to start new lives. These were were steerage passengers, travelling by the cheapest possible means, accommodated in the crowded hold of the ship.
* Moving Here catalogue reference (NMM) N19706
Home Office records provide a fascinating insight into the decisions behind the applications and granting of British citizenship.

1844
The Naturalisation Act (*Naturalisation Act 1844) provided that every alien residing in Great Britain with intent to settle should present a memorial or document to the Secretary of State stating age, trade and duration of residence. After this would be issued a certificate granting all the rights of a natural-born subject with the exception being a member of the Privy Council or Parliament. The Act provided that women, but not men, could become naturalised through marriage to a natural-born or naturalised British Citizen. It also stipulated that applicants wishing to become naturalised citizens should state their intention to reside and settle in Great Britain.

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Naturalisation certificate for Leon Ginsberg.
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A certification of naturalization for Chiel Blum, known as Leon Ginsberg, who was born at Swesni in Russia in 1878, and who was living in Taylorson Street, Salford. There was a large Jewish community in Salford. He worked as a tailor, was married and had one child - David - aged three at the time. This is a good example of how naturalisation certificates can supply genealogical information.
* Moving Here catalogue reference (MJM) PD1424/3a
1847
Following an Act of 1 August 1847, regulations provided that a declaration should be made and signed by at least four householders, who should state their places of residence vouch for the respectability and loyalty of the applicant and verify the several particulars stated in the memorial. The householders, known as resident referees, were required to make their declaration before a magistrate. Resident referees were accepted only if they met the following criteria: they were natural-born British subjects; were not the agents or solicitors of the applicant; were able to testify to the facts of residence from personal knowledge and had known the applicant for at least five years.

1870
The Naturalisation Act (*Naturalisation Act 1870) introduced a qualification period, demanding that applicants should reside within the United Kingdom for at least five years before submitting an application, in addition to declaring their intention to reside permanently in the country. After 1870, records include the name and address of the person seeking naturalisation, names and addresses of any resident children and the addresses of any places occupied by him or her during the five-year qualification period.

1873
After 1873, the practice of obtaining a Metropolitan Police report on the respectability of the applicant and the referees was established. Outside London, mayors, and chairmen of *Quarter Sessions were asked to investigate the respectability of candidates and their referees.

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