Certificate of Naturalization — J. J. Murphy, native of Ireland, 26 Sept 1906, Butte

Naturalization Records, District Court of the Second Judicial District of Montana, Silver Bow County · Silver Bow County, Montana, USA · 1906-09-26

naturalization certificateprimary focus

Summary

Original Certificate of Naturalization for **J. J. Murphy** (= person_james_murphy_son_of_pat_and_ellen), naturalized 26 September 1906 in the District Court of the Second Judicial District of Montana, for the County of Silver Bow, in Butte. Filed under Petition No. **1877**; issued as Certificate No. **1717**. JJM declared a "native of Ireland." Certificate invokes the Act of Congress of 3 March 1903 regulating immigration of aliens. **Witnesses**: **Martin Toway** and **C. H. Gallagher**. Signed by **William E. Davis** (Clerk) and **N. J. Thomas** (Deputy). This is the certificate corresponding to the GEDCOM-recorded "NATU 26 sep 1906 Butte Silver Bow Montana" event for JJM.

People

James Joseph "James J." Murphy (b. 1883 Ardgroom; d. 1938 LA)(as printed: J. J. Murphy)
role: applicant · family confidence: 100 certain
The user's JJM. Naturalization 26 Sep 1906 matches the GEDCOM event. Confirms his "native of Ireland" status as documented on a federal court instrument.
Charles H. Gallagher (b. c.1875 Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland; d. 28 Aug 1964 Butte, age 89; founder of Wiz-Way Stores; AOH state president)(as printed: C. H. Gallagher)
role: witness · family confidence: 0 not family
MAJOR FINDING. C. H. Gallagher is JJM's naturalization witness 1906 — TWO YEARS BEFORE he was best man at the Murphy-Kelly wedding (19 Oct 1908). Their relationship goes back at least to 1906, and likely earlier — a naturalization witness has to swear to 5+ years of personal acquaintance with the petitioner, which would push the friendship back to at least 1901. Reinforces Gallagher as the structural Butte AOH continuity figure paired with JJM. Promote person_charles_h_gallagher_butte to is_book_subject: true if not already.
Martin Towey (JJM naturalization witness, 1906)(as printed: Martin Toway)
role: witness · family confidence: 0 not family
NEW: JJM's second naturalization witness 1906. Spelling "Toway" per the signature; could read "Twoway", "Toney", or other variant — handwriting ambiguous. As a naturalization witness he must have known JJM 5+ years (back to ≤ 1901) and been a US citizen. Likely a Butte Irish-American friend or co-worker.

Also mentioned

William E. Davis · court_clerk
Clerk of the District Court of the Second Judicial District of Montana. Signed the certificate.
N. J. Thomas · deputy_court_clerk
Deputy clerk who countersigned the certificate.

Places

Butte, Montana (primary)
Silver Bow County, Montana (primary)
Montana (primary)
Ireland (context)

Themes

Story threads

Related sources

Transcription

transcription: complete · confidence high

# Transcription — JJM Naturalization Certificate, 26 Sept 1906 **Source**: Original Certificate of Naturalization, District Court of the Second Judicial District of the State of Montana, County of Silver Bow. **Petition No.**: 1877 **Certificate No.**: 1717 **Date**: 26 September 1906 **Place**: Butte, Montana --- ## Form text (verbatim, handwritten entries in **bold**) > **Petition No. 1877**     **Certificate No. 1717** > > **UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, STATE OF MONTANA** > > District Court of the Second Judicial District of the State of Montana, > IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SILVER BOW. > > To All People to Whom These Presents Shall Come: Greeting: > > Know Ye, That in the District Court of the Second Judicial District of the State of Montana, in and for the County of Silver Bow, on the **26** day of **Sept**, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and **Six**, **J. J. Murphy**, a native of **Ireland**, having produced the evidence, and taken and subscribed the oath required by Law, and the affidavits required by Act of Congress entitled "An Act to regulate the immigration of Aliens into the United States" approved March 3, 1903, having been duly made and recorded, was admitted to become a citizen of the United States, according to the Act of Congress in such case made and provided. > > IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Butte, Montana, this **26** day of **Sept**, A.D., 190**6**, and in the year of Independence of the United States of America, One Hundred and Twenty— --- ## Signatures > Witnesses: >     **Martin Toway** [signature] >     **C. H. Gallagher** [signature] > >     **William E. Davis**, Clerk >     **N. J. Thomas**, Deputy --- ## Notes on the transcription - The applicant's name appears as **"J. J. Murphy"** — the abbreviated form. The user's JJM (James Joseph Murphy) used this abbreviated form interchangeably with his full name throughout his life; the certificate's use of the initials is normal for legal instruments of the period. - **"Native of Ireland"** is the only nationality identifier on the certificate — no parish, county, or town. Consistent with the pre-1906-Act practice (the 1906 Act began requiring more detailed origin information from petitioners; this certificate is dated right at the transition, 26 Sept 1906). - Both witness signatures are clearly legible. **C. H. Gallagher** matches the Charles H. Gallagher of the AOH-cluster archive records exactly — same hand style as later 1908+ signature appearances. **Martin Toway** is a new name. - The year **"Six"** is written out in longhand; the second "26" is also written out. The form date "190___" had the trailing 6 added in pen.

Open questions

Martin Toway — surname spelling needs second-look at the signature. Could be Toway / Toney / Twoway / similar. Worth checking the accompanying Petition (the "first papers" Declaration of Intent) if it surfaces in the inbox.
The petition itself (Petition No. 1877) would carry richer detail — date of arrival in US, ship name, length of residency in Butte, renunciation language. If a separate Petition for Naturalization document exists for JJM, it would be the next high-leverage find.