Extract from the Naturalisation Papers: Sarah Parker Remond, from the United States of America. Certificate 4809 issued 11 September 1865. Catalogue ref: HO 1/123/4809
In this extract from her application, Sarah Remond explains her reasons for wanting to become a British citizen. Remond (b.1826-d.1894) was a free-born African American, suffragist, anti-slavery activist and physician. From 1859, she campaigned and lectured against slavery in Britain. She studied languages and liberal arts at Bedford College, later Royal Holloway and Bedford New College. She trained as a nurse at London University College in 1865. After gaining British citizenship, she moved to Florence, Italy in 1866 to qualify as an obstetrician.
University College London’s Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the Study of Racism and Racialisation is named in her honour.
Transcript
To the Right Honourable Sir George Grey, Baronet, Her Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department.
The Memorial [application] of Sarah Parker Remond of Aubrey House, Notting Hill in the County of Middlesex.
Sheweth [Shows]
That your Memorialist [applicant] is desirous [wishes] of obtaining for herself a Certificate of Naturalisation pursuant [following] to the Act of Parliament passed in the eighth year of the Reign of Her present Majesty entitled “Act to amend the Law relating to Aliens” [citizens of a foreign countries]
That your memorialist is of African descent and a native of Salem, Massachusetts in the United States of America.
That your Memorialist is forty-one years of age and is unmarried.
That your Memorialist’s settled place of residence is in London.
That your Memorialist has resided uninterruptedly in the Country for the last six years and upwards and it is her intention to continue to reside permanently within the United Kingdom.
That the Grounds upon which your Memorialist seeks to obtain the rights and capacities of a natural born British subject are as follows: She has to all intents and purposes adopted England as her Country and is desirous of being able to obtain and hold real or leasehold property in this Country where many of her most intimate friends reside. The strong prejudice against persons of African descent which is entertained by a large proportion of the Inhabitants of the United States and the social disabilities under which such persons consequently suffer have determined your Memorialist under no circumstances to return to reside in America.
Your Memorialist therefore humbly prays that a Certificate of Naturalisation may be granted to her.
Sarah P. Redmond
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