Great Aunt Stephania became of citizen of the United States on March 2, 1944 . By law, she had to complete the naturalization process between two and seven years after filing her Declaration of Intention . She had filed her Declaration on November 25, 1940, so she was well within the required window of time.
 
Stephania Meleski’s Petition for Naturalization – Front
 
Stephania Meleski’s Petition for Naturalization – Back
Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Petition for Naturalization for Stephania Meleski – 1944 . The Petition shows that:
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Stefania Chmielewska changed her name to Stephania Meleski as part of the naturalization process on Petition for Naturalization No. 39405
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Stephania filed her Petition at the Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester
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Stephania still lived at 15 Charlton St. Worcester, Mass and worked in a rooming house
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She was 57 years old, and was born on Jan. 7, 1886 in Likiszki, Vilna, Poland
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She was female, white, of medium complexion, with hazel eyes, brown hair, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 125 pounds, and had a mole on her chin
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She was of the white race, of Polish nationality, was not married, and had no children
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Her last place of foreign residence was Likiszki, Vilna, Poland
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She emigrated from Bremen, Germany and entered New York, N.Y. under the name Stefania Chmielewska on Sept. 16, 1901 on an unknown ship
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Since entering the United States, she had not been absent for a period of 6 months or longer
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She declared her intention to become a citizen of the United States on November 25, 1940 in the Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester, Mass.
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She had been in the United States for at least five years, that is to say, since Sept. 16, 1901 and continuously in the state of Massachusetts for at least six months, that is, since Feb. 1933
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Stephania’s Petition was witnessed by Harriett Bell Thurston, a housewife, and Harry C. Thurston, retired, both residing at 56 Elm St. Worcester, Mass.
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The Petition was subscribed and sworn at Worcester, Massachusetts on December 13, 1941 before Carl L. [Greenslil?], Deputy Clerk for William C. Bowen, Clerk
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Stephania’s Certificate of Arrival was No. 1X 81667
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Stephania made her Oath of Allegiance on March 2, 1944 and was granted Certificate No. 6119990 by Carl L. [Greenslil?], Deputy Clerk for William C. Bowen, Clerk
In the three years since filing her Declaration of Intention, Great Aunt Stephania has changed her name, gained five pounds, developed a mole on her chin, changed her race from Polish to white, specified that Likiszki, Poland was Likiszki, Vilna, Poland, and still can’t remember the ship on which she immigrated.
But, most interesting of all is her statement that she had been in Massachusetts since February of 1933 . Since she immigrated in 1901, where did she spend the first 32 years of her life in America?
Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko
