Denizations And Naturalizations In The British Colonies In America, 1607-1775

Denizations and Naturalizations in the British Colonies in America, 1607-1775; by Lloyd deWitt Bockstruck; xv + 350 pp; Paperback; Published: 2005; ISBN: 9780806317540; Item # GPC489. The question of citizenship became a prominent issue early in the American colonial experience. The colonies needed settlers for military security, economic prosperity, and population growth. Since not enough English colonists were available to fulfill these demands, the colonies invited foreigners to do so. Many of these non-English settlers sought citizenship before leaving for America. Still others sought an English grant after their arrival. They could follow two main avenues to British citizenship--one was naturalization, the other denization. Initially, during the 17th century and first decade of the 18th century, French Huguenots accounted for the majority of non-English stock seeking citizenship. German colonists, however, surpassed their number thereafter. While Germans accounted for the largest