HISTORY BY HAND

original historic handwritten manuscripts, documents and letters

a division of Jonathan Sheppard Books

Item Number: DM4004

The Intention: Handwritten document (6 7/8” X 8”), signed by Lawrence Dwen and dated 11 September 1828, declaring his intention to settle in Frederick County.  In overall excellent condition.

Docketing on reverse:  “Entered M[inute] B[ook] page 64/ Lawrence Dwen/ Report/ sworn to in court &/ filed 11^th Sept 1828.”

Background Information: Lawrence Dwen (1805 – 1867) settled in Emmitsburg, Maryland, was a successful shoemaker and raised a large family. He is buried in Emmitsburg’s Catholic cemetery, as is his son James A. Dwen (1831 – 1877).  Lawrence Dwen’s name is on the rolls as a member of the Emmitsburg fire company in 1840.  Ironically, his house was the first house destroyed in the Emmitsburg fire of June 1863. 

 This “declaration of intention” statement was the first official step required by the Naturalization Act of 1802. This Act restored the 5 year residency requirement, reducing it from the 14 years required by the 1798 Act.   The complete text of the statement, directed to the clerk of the Frederick County Court, is below: 

I, Lawrence Dwen in compliance with an act of Congress passed on the 14^th day of April 1802 do hereby report to the clerk of Frederick County Court, in the state of Maryland, my name as aforesaid, that I was born in the county of Kildare (to the best of my knowledge) in Ireland, under the dominion of the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and am now, as I believe, of the age of twenty four or twenty five years, that I owed allegiance to the King aforesaid, that I migrated from Dublin in Ireland and arrived at Alexandria and that I have and intend settling in Frederick County in the state of Maryland.  Witness my hand this 11^th day of September 1828.

A frameable example of Irish American immigration history.

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