Certificate of citizenship for seamen, no. 121, James Valley
Description
A copy of the official Certificate of Citizenship for James Valley of New Orleans, Louisiana. Obtained for him by Larkin Smith, the United States Collector of the District of Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia, on April 10, 1810. Sailors carried certificates on their person to prove their citizenship in foreign ports and to avoid being pressed into service. Similar to modern day driver’s licenses, these documents included a physical description of the carrier.
Creator
Date
1810-04-10