Declaration of Intent of Henry Menke

Becoming a US citizen in the 1860's involved three different documents: the Declaration of Intent, the Petition and the Certificate. I have found the Declaration of Intent for Henry Menke, still searching for the others.

Here's a quick explanaton of the process from the National Archives website  (https://www.archives.gov/research/naturalization/naturalization.html):

General Rule: The Two-Step Process

Congress passed the first law regulating naturalization in 1790 (1 Stat. 103). As a general rule, naturalization was a two-step process that took a minimum of 5 years. After residing in the United States for 2 years, an alien could file a "declaration of intent" (so-called "first papers") to become a citizen. After 3 additional years, the alien could "petition for naturalization." After the petition was granted, a certificate of citizenship was issued to the alien. These two steps did not have to take place in the same court. As a general rule, the "declaration of intent" generally contains more genealogically useful information than the "petition." The "declaration" may include the alien's month and year (or possibly the exact date) of immigration into the United States.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                      State of Ohio, Scioto County, SS

I, <Henry Menke>, do declare on oath, that

it is bona fide my intention to become a citizen of the United States,

and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign

Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly

to <The King of Hanover>

Sworn to, and subscribed in open Court, this <Seventh> day of 

<October>, A. D. 18<65>.     <signature of Henry Menke>

<J. C. Seuel>, Probate Judge, S. C.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                 State of Ohio, Scioto County, SS

Be it remembered, that on the <7> day of <October>

A. D. 18<65>, <Henry Menke>, a free white person

an alien and native of <Hanover> , personally appeared

in open Court before me, <J. C. Seuel>, Probate Judge,

in and for said county, and declared on his solemn oath, that he

first arrived in the United States in the month of <September>

A. D. 18<59>, and that it is his bona fide intention to become a

citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance to

every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and

particularly to <The King of Hanover>.

                                <signature of Henry Menke>

Signed and declared in open Court, the day and year above written.

                                 <J. C. Seuel>, Probate Judge. S. C.

The King of Hanover in 1865 was George Fredrick Alexander Charles Ernest, son of Ernest Augustus. George V, as he was known, was the last King of Hanover.

There are several Henry Menke's who immigrated from Germany, but comparing this signature from the top form

to the signature years later from Henry Menke's will, I feel pretty sure it's the same Henry Menke.