Seeking immigration/naturalization records for John Hiber

Hi Mary,

Welcome to History Hub,

I found John Hiber on findagrave.com with his biography and photo of him and his wife. click on link below to see

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108400395/john-hiber

Do you know if his uncle adopedt him and his sisters? or if their parents came to the United States?

Alice Lane

Research Volunteer

When John Hiber registered for the WWI draft in 1918 he stated that he was a citizen through his father's naturalization while John was still a minor.  So far I can find no indication that his parents came to the US. 

I did find the arrival of John's uncle, aunt, and their daughter on the SS Nederland arriving in Philadelphia on 12 March 1881  Since families often traveled the same routes, I hoped this would help me find John and his sisters, but so far that is a dead-end.

Dear Ms. HIber,

Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the series Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897 ( M237) in the Records of the U.S. Customs Service, (Record Group 36) that may contain records of John Hiber/Heber. For access to these series, please contact the National Archives at Washington, DC (RDT1) via email at archives1reference@nara.gov.

The M237 passenger lists are available and searchable on Ancestry.com. There may be a fee for using Ancestry. Instead, check for access at your local library as many library systems subscribe to these sites, making them free for their patrons.

We also searched the Access to Archival Databases (AAD) and located a database titled Germans to America Passenger Data File, 1850 - 1897 that includes 7 possible passenger records for John/Johann Heber and 1 possible record for Jos. Hiber. To locate the arrival date, ship name, and port of departure information associated with an individual passenger record, search the Manifest Header Data File in AAD using the manifest identification number listed in the passenger record. Please refer to the FAQs for more details.

We also suggest that you review the NARA publication on Immigration Records, the article on Genealogy: Passenger Arrival List Research Tips as well as the FamilySearch Research wiki for United States Emigration and Immigration Genealogy. 

Beginning on September 27, 1906, the responsibility for naturalization proceedings was transferred to the Federal courts. If a naturalization took place in a Federal court, naturalization indexes, declarations of intention (with any accompanying certificates of arrival), and petitions for naturalization will usually be in the custody of the National Archives facility serving the state in which the Federal court is located.

Unfortunately, no central index exists. To ensure a successful request, please include the name of petitioner (including known variants); date of birth; approximate date of entry to the US; approximate date of naturalization; where the individual was residing at the time of naturalization (city/county/state); and country of origin.

In most cases, the National Archives will not have a copy of the certificate of citizenship. Two copies of the certificate were created – one given to the petitioner as proof of citizenship, and one forwarded to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Certificates of citizenship were issued by the Federal courts until October 1991 when INS took over responsibility for naturalization proceedings. All INS records are now overseen by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS maintains duplicate copies of court records (including the certificate of citizenship) created since September 27, 1906 and may be requested through the USCIS Genealogy Program.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from RDT1 and other NARA units. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your family research!

Hi Mary,

Peter Nickels in 1900 census..John Hiber is listed as a servant...shows PA for naturalizations which means he has filled out papers.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMVY-WD6

The reason that I ask about a possible adoption by Peter Nickels was because on John's draft registration he stated that he became a citizen through his father's naturalization, but did his parents come to America?

Alice Lane

Research Volunteer