Amanuensis Monday - Andrew Yawman's Naturalization (1842)

On his TransylvanianDutch blog, John Newmark defines an amanuensis as “a person employed to write out what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.” For more information about this daily blogging prompt, see John’s post Amanuensis – Why?.

I have amassed quite a collection of scans of handwritten documents related to my ancestors—primarily marriage records, deeds, and wills. As I have been transcribing these documents, it occurred to me that most of these documents were not actually written by my ancestors, but rather dictated to someone else, and then transcribed by a clerk into official records.

Last week I presented the sworn statement made by my maternal 2^nd great-grandfather Andrew Yawman with respect to his desire to become a citizen of the United States. This week I have transcribed the naturalization form filed in the Mayor’s Court of the City of Rochester by which he was declared a citizen. The text that was filled in on the document is italicized and underlined; the pre-printed part of the form is in regular font. His previous deposition is referred to in this document as being “annexed.”

MAYOR'S COURT

OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER.
Of the Term of November in the year 1842 1042[stamped]

COUNTY OF MONROE

And City of Rochester, ss.
Be it Remembered, that on the 2^nd day of November in the year

1842 in this present Term, Andrew Yawman of

the city of Rochester in said County, personally appeared in open Court, and produced the following ^annexed

report and affidavit, heretofore duly filed in this Court, pursuant to the laws of the United States:

            To the Judges of the Mayor's Court of the City of Rochester:

The Subscriber, [blank] of the [blank] of [blank] in

the county of Monroe, humbly reports that he was born in [blank]

[blank] in the Kingdom of [blank] a subject of the

King of [blank] on or about the [blank]

[blank] day of [blank] that he has ever since his said arrival, resided in the United States,

and particularly that he has resided at his present place of residence for the last [blank] that it is his

bona fide intention to continue to reside in the United States, and to become a citizen thereof as soon as the laws in relation to

naturalization will permit, and to renounce all allegiance to every foreign power, prince, state and sovereignty whatever, and

particularly to the King of [blank]

City of Rochester, ss.

being duly sworn, says, that the facts set forth in the foregoing report are true.

Sworn to in open Court, this [blank] day

of [blank] 184[blank], before me.

                                                                        Clerk of the Court.

City of Rochester, ss. [illegible] W^m. Chappell and W^m Allgood

being duly sworn, say that they are citizens of the United States-that they are well acquainted with the above named

Andrew Yawman that he has resided in the United States for more that five years last

past-is of good moral Character, as they verily believe, and attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States.

Sworn to in open Court, this 2^d day}                                   W^m Chappell

of November 1842 before me.         }                                   W^m Allgood

                                    E. Jae[?]         Clerk of the Court.

Whereupon such proceedings were had that the said Court were satisfied that the said

Andrew Yawman had resided in the United States

for more than five years last past-and he having in open Court taken the oath that he will support the

Constitution of the United States, and that he has absolutely and entirely renounced all allegiance and

fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, power, state and sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the

King of The French and the Court being satisfied that the

said Andrew Yawman hath in all respects conformed

to the laws of the United States in relation to the naturalization of aliens:  Therefore it is considered

by the said Court, that the said Andrew Yawman be, and he is hereby,

admitted to become, and declared to be, a citizen of the United States.

[The following four lines appear to the left of the above paragraph.]

Judgment signed this

2 day of November

1842

  L. Mathews

City of Rochester, ss. [?]

I Andrew Yawman do solemnly swear, that I will support the Constitution of

the United States, and that I hereby renounce all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, power, state and

sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the King of The French So help me God.

Sworn to in open Court, this 2^nd day           }

of November 1842 before me.                      }

                                    E. Jae              Clerk.                         Andrew Yawman

Source: Monroe, New York, Naturalization Petitions, c. 1823-1906,
File 5, Petition Number 1042, Andrew Yawman; FHL microfilm 980,257.

© 2011 Denise Spurlock