Robert Charles Hotson - juvenile delinquent

[Erato]

I don't know when he moved to Maryland; I haven't found him on the 1920 census yet.  His naturalization papers were filed in Maryland in 1925 but I don't have access to them.  It isn't clear if he actually got citizenship before he died.

It seems to be true that he was a bit of a footloose adventurer.  Why he went to Cincinnati is a mystery - I'm guessing that he had a contact there.  He went to work for the Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific Railway in the comptrollers office.  What Grace E. Chapin was doing in Cincinnati is also a mystery; in fact the whole Chapin family is a mystery.  They were from Boston.  At any rate, Robert and Grace didn't stay long in Ohio.  They went out to Colorado where they had three children.  Then they moved to Brooklyn, NY by 1896; their last kid was born there.

[Erato]

I'm confused about the naturalization proceedings in 1925.  It seems to be a petition for the naturalization of Grace Emma Hotson, wife of Robert Charles Hotson.  Does that mean she renounced her citizenship and then applied to get it back?   She was born in Massachusetts and her parents were Americans.  Does anyone have access to these documents?

[chempat]

There is a marriage of a William Newell to a Mary Ann Hotson in 1848, showing on 1851 census etc, to explain the uncle part - I did a quick check, then decided that it did not really matter as other information of more importance.

[Jool]

Hi Erato, I too am confused as to why a native born American born to American parents would apply for US citizenship.

The naturalization record states that Grace was born on and has resided in the USA since 3rd Feb  1868 in Boston, Mass. and had resided in Maryland since 18th April 1915.  Husband Robert Charles b. 7 April 1867 Croydon, England. Grace was granted citizenship on 11th Jan 1926.

[KGarrad]

Not sure about the US, but it used to be the case that a married woman "took on" her husband's nationality.

Maybe she had to reapply at a later date?

See: http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/104346.pdf

[Erato]

Poor Grace, it looks like she lost her citizenship which must mean that her husband Robert never did become a naturalized American maybe he was blocked by his criminal record.  Those were the bad old days, for sure.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread.  I think the original question about the delinquent Robert Charles Hotson has been answered affirmatively.  I will bring up any further questions about these people on the USA Board which is a more appropriate location.  There are still plenty of questions.