Act for Naturalization of Several Individuals, May 1669; Maryland Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Andrea K. Haga ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Below is the naturalization act, dated May 1669 for several individuals, remarkably one family was one in my family tree! Anyway the act doesn't list their residences, but I know that the Van Sweringen's were of St. Mary's County, and Charles de la Roche was of Kent County...and I think Peter Johnson was of Kent as well. The individuals listed in this act are: 1. Garrett Van Sweringen, wife Barbara DeBarrette & children Elizabeth & Zacharias 2. Isaack DeBarette 3. Robert Roelands 4. Jean Jourdaine 5. John Vanheock/Vanheck 6. Charles Dele Roche/de la Roch 7. Peter Johnson [May 1669] To the Right Honble Lord Proprietary of the Provinces of Maryland and Avalon Lord Baron of Baltimore The humble Peticon of Garrett Vansweringen Barbarh DeBarrette wife of the said Garrett Elizabeth Vansweringen and Zacharias Vansweringen Children of the said Garrett and Barbarah, Isaack DeBarette Robert Roelands Jean Jourdaine John Vanheock Charles Dele Roche and Peter Johnson all Resydents and Inhabitants of this Province Humby Sheweth vnto your Lordship that your Peticoner Garret Vanswaringen was born in Reensterdwan in Holland vnder the Dominion of the states Generall of the vnited Pro- vinces Barbarah DeBarette in Valenchene in the Low Countryes Belonging to the King of Spayne Elizabeth Vanswaringen in Newamstell in Delaware Bay then vnder the Government of the said States Generall Zacharias Vanswaringen there alsoe Isaac De Barrett att Harlem in Holland aforesaid Robert Roelands in Brabant within the Dominions of the said States Generall Jean Jourdain att Rouan in the kindome [sic] of ffrance John Van heeck in the Collony of Virginia vnder the Dominion of his Majesty of great Brittaine Charles Dele Roche within the kingdom of ffrance and Peter Johnson in the kingdome of Sweadland and your Peticoners being now Remoued into this Province have for divers yeares therein Inhabitted being in- vited to come and dwell within this Province by and vpon Con- fidence of your Lordships declaracon of the second of Iuly one thousand six hundred forty and Nyne whereby you did impower your Gouernour from time to time to grant lands vnto any persons of french Dutch Spanish Swedish or other forreign des- cent in the same in as ample manner and vpon the same Tearmes & Provisoes as he was thereby Impowered to grant Land to any person or persons of Brittish or Irish discent and dureing their said abode within this Province Your Peticoners haue beene always faithfull and obedient vnto your Lordships Lawes Yett for that your Peticoners are not of Brittish or Irish discent they cannot take benefitt of the Lawes and Customes of this Prouince as other the good people of this Prouince of Brittish or Irish discent may To their great losse prejudice and hinderance as alsoe to the deterring of divers others of the for- reigne nations aforesaid by comeing into this Prouince and by Consequence foreslowing the peopling of this Prouince with vsefull artificers and Handicrafts men May itt therefore please your Lordship of your abundant goodness and wonted care of and over this Province That itt may be ordained and Enacted by your Lordship and be itt ordeined and Enacted by the Right Honble the Lord Proprietary of this Province by and with the advice and Consent of the upper and lower house of this present Generall Assembly That your Lordships humble peti- coners Garrett Vansweringen and Barbarah his wife Elizabeth and Zacharias Vansweringen Isack DeBerelle Robert Roelants Charles De Le Roche Jean Jourdaine John Vanheck and Peter Johnson and every of them shall from henceforth be adjudged Reputed and taken as Natureall borne people of this Prouince of Maryland and alose that they and every of them shall and may henceforth by the same Authority be Enabled and ad- judged to all intents and purposes able to demand challenge aske have hold and Enjoy any lands tenements Hereditaments and Rents within this Prouince as heir or heires to any of their Ancestors by reason of any discent in feesimple or ffeetayle Generall or Speciall or Remainder Vpon any fee tayle Generall or Speciall or come to them or any of them by any discent in fee simple ffeetayle Generall or Speciall or remainder vpon any Estate tayle as aforesaid or by any other Lawfull Conveyance or Conveyances or meanes whatsoever as if they and every of them had been borne within this our Prouvince or were of Brittish or Irish discent as aforesaid and alose that they and every of them from hencforth may and shall be Enabled to prosecute maintaine and avow Justifie and defend all manner of accons Suites plaints and other demands whatsoever as Liberally ffrankly freely fully Lawfully and securely as if they and every of them had been Natureally borne within this Province of Maryland or were of Brittish or Irish discent and as any other person or persons Natureally borne within this Prouince or of Brittish or Irish discent may any wayes Lawfully doe Any Lawe Provisoe Act or Custome of this Province or other thing whatsoever had made ordeyned or done within this Prouince to the Con- traty thereof in any wise to the Contrary Notwithstanding And your peticoners shall as in duty bound pray & ca.