Originally published in the Georgia Genealogical Society Quarterly 45, no. 2 (Summer 2009), pps. 153-163.

<– continued from Part 2, previous page

The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 required the commander of every military district in the Southern states to register all citizens who had signed a loyalty oath and were qualified to vote. Almost one thousand foreign-born men registered in Chatham County and the city of Savannah. All of them were required to present proof of naturalization, which was recorded in the voter registration books (Reconstruction Returns of Voters, Record Group 1-1-108, Georgia Archives).

The following list was extracted from the Returns of Voters for the City of Savannah and Chatham County and includes all individuals whose place of birth was foreign, including former slaves born in Africa. Most entries include the place, date, and court of naturalization. Almost all entries include an explanation of how the individual became a citizen. The phrase “No naturalization information recorded” was used to denote the lack of any naturalization information recorded in the book emeraldcarpetcleaning.ie. The Returns of Voters are not alphabetized and the number associated with each entry should be used to find it in the original record.

Each record includes some or all of the following information:

  • Name
  • Race (White or Colored)
  • Residence (City of Savannah or Chatham County)
  • Entry Number (for locating entry in original book)
  • Country of Origin
  • Naturalization Court
  • Naturalization Date
  • Naturalization Place
  • Naturalization Explanation

These records are available on microfilm at the Georgia Archives and through the Family History Library (Film 1843918). For additional information about the returns and oath books, see Georgia’s 1867-1868 Returns of Qualified Voters and Registration Oath Books (White), compiled by Rita Brinkley Worthy and John David Brandenburg (1995). The full text of the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 can be found at the following website: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/history/constitutions/1868/1868enablinginst.html.

Smith, James, white, of City of Savannah (#3306), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 24 May 1856, Chatham County, Georgia [James Smith]
Smith, John, white, of City of Savannah (#1204), from Scotland; naturalized in court, papers lost [John Smith]
Smith, John, white, of City of Savannah (#1401), from Ireland; excluded, citizenship not proved [John Smith]
Smith, John E., white, of City of Savannah (#4813), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 8 Oct 1852, Schenactady, New York [John E. Smith]
Smith, Lewis, white, of City of Savannah (#1444), from Germany; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 4 Aug 1845, Savannah, Georgia [Lewis Smith]
Smith, Michael H., white, of City of Savannah (#4630), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Michael H. Smith]
Smith, Patrick, white, of City of Savannah (#2110), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 17 Jan 1853, Chatham County, Georgia [Patrick Smith]
Smith, Phillip, white, of City of Savannah (#2654), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Phillip Smith]
Smith, Thomas H., white, of City of Savannah (#1234), from Ireland; excluded, citizenship not proved [Thoams H. Smith]
Smythe, Daniel, white, of City of Savannah (#898), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 16 May 1854, Chatham County, Georgia [Daniel Smythe]
Smythe, Edward D., white, of City of Savannah (#2631), from Ireland; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [Edward D. Smythe]
Snitar, Christopher, white, of Chatham County (#2036), from Germany; naturalized by judge of Superior Court, Savannah, Georgia, by affidavit of D. A. O’Byrne [Christopher Snitar]
Solomon, Samuel, white, of City of Savannah (#3135), from England; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Samuel Solomon]
Spears, Wm, white, of Chatham County (#1806), from [Not Recorded]; naturalized 4 May 1859, City of Savannah [Wm Spears]
Spieldock, Leopold, white, of City of Savannah (#1008), from Prussia; naturalized in City Court, 1844, Charleston, South Carolina [Leopold Spieldock]
Stamm, Bernard, white, of City of Savannah (#3288), from Germany; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [Bernard Stamm]
Stark, Adolph, white, of City of Savannah (#5210), from Germany; naturalized through 3 years service in U.S. Army [Adolph Stark]
Stegin, John H., white, of City of Savannah (#1841), from Germany; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [John H. Stegin]
Steimberg, John, white, of City of Savannah (#4617), from Germany; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [John Steimberg]
Stevenson, John, white, of City of Savannah (#2963), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [John Stevenson]
Strauss, Peter, white, of City of Savannah (#1886), from Germany; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Peter Strauss]
Sullivan, Daniel, white, of City of Savannah (#551), from Ireland; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 6 Nov 1851, Savannah, Georgia [Daniel Sullivan]
Sullivan, Daniel, white, of City of Savannah (#1477), from Ireland; naturalized in U.S. District Court, 12 Jan 1854, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [Daniel Sullivan]
Sullivan, Edmund, white, of City of Savannah (#3579), from Ireland; came to U.S. at 5 years of age [Edmund Sullivan]
Sullivan, Eugene, white, of City of Savannah (#1820), from Ireland; naturalized in County Court, 28 Aug 1866, Chatham County, Georgia [Eugene Sullivan]
Sullivan, James, white, of City of Savannah (#2396), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 6 Jul 1867, Savannah, Georgia [James Sullivan]
Sullivan, Jeremiah, white, of City of Savannah (#2571), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 12 May 1860, Savannah, Georgia [Jeremiah Sullivan]
Sullivan, John, white, of City of Savannah (#1756), from Ireland; naturalized in U.S. District Court, 20 Jun 1856, Massachusetts [John Sullivan]
Sullivan, John, white, of City of Savannah (#3076), from Ireland; came to U.S. at 6 years of age [John Sullivan]
Sullivan, John, white, of City of Savannah (#5322), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 30 Nov 1854, Savannah, Georgia [John Sullivan]
Sullivan, John, white, of City of Savannah (#735), from Ireland; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 6 Nov 1848, Savannah, Georgia [John Sullivan]
Sullivan, John, white, of City of Savannah (#4661), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 10 May 1842, Chatham County, Georgia [John Sullivan]
Sullivan, Joseph, white, of City of Savannah (#2166), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 26 May 1852, Chatham County, Georgia [Joseph Sullivan]
Sullivan, Patrick, white, of City of Savannah (#3331), from Ireland; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 17 Nov 1858, New York City [Patrick Sullivan]
Sulter, Henry, white, of City of Savannah (#4201), from Germany; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Henry Sulter]
Sweeney, Henry, white, of Chatham County (#2099), from Germany; naturalized by affidavit of Henry Long, 1854, Charleston, South Carolina, papers lost [Henry Sweeney]
Symons, William, white, of City of Savannah (#4342), from England; naturalized in County Court, 15 Aug 1866, Chatham County, Georgia [William Symons]
Tanner, John, white, of Chatham County (#1486), from Foreigner; no naturalization information recorded [John Tanner]
Tearney, John, white, of City of Savannah (#3308), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [John Tearney]
Thompson, George, white, of City of Savannah (#4881), from England; naturalized in Superior Court, 1848, Chatham County, Georgia, papers lost but citizenship proved [George Thompson]
Thompson, John, colored, of City of Savannah (#3679), from Ireland; came to U.S. at 8 years of age [John Thompson]
Thompson, John, white, of City of Savannah (#2848), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 4 Jun 1844, Chatham County, Georgia [John Thompson]
Thomson, Charles, white, of City of Savannah (#3093), from Denmark; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Charles Thomson]
Thomson, David, white, of City of Savannah (#2097), from Scotland; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 13 Dec 1847, Savannah, Georgia [David Thomson]
Thynne, John, white, of City of Savannah (#5286), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 19 May 1856, Bibb County, Georgia [John Thynne]
Tishler, P., white, of City of Savannah (#1786), from Prussia; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [P. Tishler]
Tishler, Solomon, white, of City of Savannah (#3647), from Prussia; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Solomon Tishler]
Tobin, Patrick J., white, of City of Savannah (#344), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 3 Nov 1856, Savannah, Georgia [Patrick J. Tobin]
Tomlinson, Anthony, white, of City of Savannah (#2684), from England; naturalized in Inferior Court, 21 Feb 1857, Chatham County, Georgia [Anthony Tomlinson]
Townsend, Michael, white, of City of Savannah (#1940), from Ireland; naturalized in Inferior Court, 23 Aug 1856, Chatham County, Georgia [Michael Townsend]
Toye, Alfred, white, of City of Savannah (#2408), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 15 Jul 1865, New York [Alfred Toye]
Trosler, Simon, white, of City of Savannah (#4425), from Prussia; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Simon Trosler]
Tully, Barnard, white, of City of Savannah (#2791), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 16 Jun 1856, Chatham County, Georgia [Barnard Tully]
Tully, Michael, white, of City of Savannah (#3149), from Ireland; naturalized in U.S. District Court, 8 Aug 1854, Savannah, Georgia [Michael Tully]
Turner, Richard, white, of City of Savannah (#3009), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Richard Turner]
Ubelee, Christeen, white, of Chatham County (#478), from Wurtenburgh (Germany); naturalized 23 years, Savannah, Georgia [Christeen Ubelee]
Vatter, John C. F., white, of City of Savannah (#3194), from Germany; naturalized in Superior Court, 20 Jul 1858, New York City [John C. F. Vatter]
Von Newton, John H., white, of City of Savannah (#3147), from Germany; naturalized in Superior Court, 9 Oct 1857, New York City [John H. Von Newton]
Vonglahn, Henry, white, of City of Savannah (#2062), from Germany; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Henry Vonglahn]
Wade, John, white, of City of Savannah (#4474), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 12 Dec 1855, Savannah, Georgia [John Wade]
Wakefield, Charles E., white, of City of Savannah (#1875), from England; naturalized in City Court, 6 Feb 1860, Brooklyn, New York [Charles E. Wakefield]
Waldner, George, white, of City of Savannah (#3346), from Germany; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [George Waldner]
Wall, James J., white, of City of Savannah (#5032), from Ireland; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [James J. Wall]
Wallace, William, white, of City of Savannah (#3415), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 30 Nov 1854, Savannah, Georgia [William Wallace]
Walsh, Frank, white, of City of Savannah (#4408), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Frank Walsh]
Walsh, James, white, of City of Savannah (#2898), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [James Walsh]
Walsh, James, white, of City of Savannah (#2305), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 30 Nov 1859, Savannah, Georgia [James Walsh]
Walsh, James, white, of City of Savannah (#4549), from Nova Scotia; no naturalization information recorded [James Walsh]
Walsh, Jeremiah, white, of City of Savannah (#3025), from Ireland; naturalized in court, 9 Jul 1858, citizenship proved [Jeremiah Walsh]
Walsh, John, white, of City of Savannah (#2175), from Ireland; naturalized in County Court, 21 Aug 1866, Chatham County, Georgia [John Walsh]
Walsh, John D., white, of City of Savannah (#5026), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [John D. Walsh]
Walsh, Maurice, white, of City of Savannah (#1524), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 30 Nov 1854, Savannah, Georgia [Maurice Walsh]
Walsh, Michael, white, of City of Savannah (#4282), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Michael Walsh]
Walsh, Michael S., white, of City of Savannah (#3885), from Ireland; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [Michael S. Walsh]
Walsh, Thomas, white, of City of Savannah (#3929), from Ireland; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [Thomas Walsh]
Walsh, Thomas J., white, of City of Savannah (#880), from Ireland; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [Thomas J. Walsh]
Walsh, Walter M., white, of City of Savannah (#4337), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Walter M. Walsh]
Walshlegor, Herman, white, of City of Savannah (#3012), from Switzerland; naturalized in Superior Court, 12 — 1866, New York City [Herman Walshlegor]
Walter, August, white, of City of Savannah (#4969), from Prussia; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 6 Nov 1851, Savannah, Georgia [August Walter]
Ward, James, white, of City of Savannah (#750), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 1852, Chatham County, Georgia, by Judge Wm. B. Fleming [James Ward]
Ward, Peter H., white, of City of Savannah (#3116), from England; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Peter H. Ward]
Watts, Napoleon, colored, of City of Savannah (#4031), from Africa; brought to U.S. and sold into slavery [Napoleon Watts]
Weisgerber, A., white, of City of Savannah (#1455), from Germany; came to U.S. at 6 years of age [A. Weisgerber]
Welch, Michael, white, of City of Savannah (#5314), from Ireland; naturalized in Inferior Court, 18 Jul 1853, Chatham County, Georgia [Michael Welch]
Welsh, Richard, white, of City of Savannah (#2306), from Ireland; excluded, alien [Richard Welsh]
Wendelken, Martin, white, of City of Savannah (#2059), from Germany; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Martin Wendelken]
West, Richard, white, of City of Savannah (#889), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 26 Nov 1860, Savannah, Georgia [Richard West]
Wetter, Augustus P., white, of City of Savannah (#3926), from Germany; naturalized in U.S. District Court, 12 Aug 1856, Savannah, Georgia [Augustus P. Wetter]
Whalan, James, white, of City of Savannah (#2953), from Ireland; excluded, alien [James Whalan]
Whelan, Patrick, white, of City of Savannah (#4278), from Ireland; naturalized in City Court, 6 Jul 1855, Savannah, Georgia [Patrick Whelan]
Whilihen, James, white, of City of Savannah (#4045), from Ireland; naturalized in Superior Court, 6 Nov 1857, Chatham County, Georgia [James Whilihen]
White, James, white, of City of Savannah (#3290), from Ireland; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 13 Apr 1857, New York City [James White]
White, Joseph, white, of City of Savannah (#501), from Prussia; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 1 Oct 1859, New York City [Joseph White]
White, Michael, white, of Chatham County (#1962), from Ireland; naturalized by Judge Fleming, Bulloch County, Georgia [Michael White]
White, Patrick, white, of City of Savannah (#5149), from Ireland; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 1 Nov 1852, Savannah, Georgia [Patrick White]
White, Samuel, white, of City of Savannah (#2595), from Poland; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 8 Sep 1858, New York City [Samuel White]
Wickham, Edward, white, of City of Savannah (#3254), from Ireland; naturalized in County Court, 9 Nov 1857, Chatham County, Georgia [Edward Wickham]
Wiggins, Louis, white, of City of Savannah (#4810), from Russia; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Louis Wiggins]
Williams, Alonzo, colored, of Chatham County (#385), from Africa; no naturalization information recorded [Alonzo Williams]
Williams, John, white, of City of Savannah (#1833), from Scotland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [John Williams]
Williamson, John W. C., white, of City of Savannah (#4808), from Denmark; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [John W. C. Williamson]
Wilson, Francis, white, of City of Savannah (#2897), from Scotland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Francis Wilson]
Wilson, William, white, of City of Savannah (#4115), from Sweden; naturalized in Court of Common Pleas, 17 Oct 1844, New York City [William Wilson]
Witkousky, Louis, white, of City of Savannah (#3974), from Prussia; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [Louis Witkousky]
Wittkamp, Carl H. G., white, of Chatham County (#473), from Hamburg Germany; naturalized 12 years, Boston, has been in U.S. Navy for 11 years [Carl H. G. Wittkamp]
Wittmer, Boheke, white, of City of Savannah (#1144), from Germany; naturalized in City Court, 1 Dec 1854, Savannah, Georgia [Boheke Wittmer]
Witts, Christopher, white, of City of Savannah (#1145), from Germany; naturalized in U.S. District Court, 15 Aug 1843, Savannah, Georgia [Christopher Witts]
Wohltman, M., white, of City of Savannah (#2447), from Germany; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [M. Wohltman]
Wolber, John, white, of City of Savannah (#996), from Prussia; naturalized in City Court, 9 May 1857, Savannah, Georgia [John Wolber]
Wolf, Louis, white, of City of Savannah (#4240), from Prussia; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [Louis Wolf]
Wood, George, white, of City of Savannah (#3291), from Ireland; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [George Wood]
Wurzburg, Henry, white, of City of Savannah (#3920), from Germany; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [Henry Wurzburg]
Wyley, John, colored, of Chatham County (#1644), from Africa (W); no naturalization information recorded [John Wyley]
Yager, Frank Peter, white, of City of Savannah (#5044), from Germany; naturalized in City Court, 19 Jul 1867, Savannah, Georgia [Frank Peter Yager]
Yong, John, white, of City of Savannah (#2843), from Germany; came to U.S. under 18 years of age [John Yong]
Zacharias, Ephraim, white, of City of Savannah (#1972), from Germany; papers lost but citizenship proved [Ephraim Zacharias]
Zeigler, John, white, of City of Savannah (#3659), from Germany; naturalized in court, papers lost but citizenship proved [John Zeigler]
Zimmermann, William, white, of City of Savannah (#2093), from Germany; naturalized through service in U.S. Army [William Zimmermann]
Zogbaum, William D., white, of City of Savannah (#4867), from Germany; naturalized in Inferior Court, 5 Nov 1860, Chatham County, Georgia [William D. Zogbaum]