As we look in the Tener Family History book, we see Richard Tener on page 73. (There are a few Richard Tener's, but here we are focused on the Richard tener who is noted on Pages 24, 31 and 73!)
Richard was the second born child of Robert (Robin) Tener, and brother of John Kinley Tener I. Richard was born in 1806 (TBB pg. 30) He married Mary Brown in 1828, this according to the Newry Commercial Telegraph, January 11, 1828. **Interesting here, too, is that Mary Brown was a sister to the wife of Henry W. Oliver - who became a Senator in America and a steel man -
Included in a letter written by Mary Frances Tener to her dear friend Mrs. Cole of Dublin, we learn that on July 12, 1848 Richard left Ireland, via Liverpool, aboard the Wyoming, for a journey to America. He arrived in America in August 1849.
According to the 1860 U S Census population schedule, Richard was 53 on July 9, 1860; and was living in "Ward 2", Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His occupation was listed for the purposes of the census as "bookkeeper".
From the Tener blue book, we learn Richard died in Philadelphia in 1880.
From on-line resources we learned that Richard filed with the Courts of Pennsylvania his Declaration of Intent to become a United States Citizen on October 6, 1862. This is very interesting in as much as this was after hostilities commenced for the 'War Between the States'.
Richard's third great grand daughter shares with us the Naturalization papetrs - copies of which were obtained from the Pennsylvania State Archives of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. With her permission, below you will find her transcription of those documents:
3094 -- Petition of Richard Tener for NaturalizationFiled Oct. 6, 1862
United States of America
State of Pennsylvania,
City and County of Philadelphia, ss.
Be it remembered, that before the prothonary of the District Court for the City and County of Philadelphia, on the twenty seventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven personally appeared Richard Tener who, upon his solemn oath did depose and say, that he is a native of Ireland now residing in the City of Philadelphia, aged fifty years, or thereabouts, and that it is bona fide his intention to become a Citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any Foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland of whom he is now a subject.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court, this Twenty Seventh day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven.
B.E. Fletcher Prothonotary
To the Honorable Walter H. Lowrie Chief Justice, and his associates, Justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
The Petition of Richard Tener a native of Ireland Respectfully Sheweth, That he declared on oath before the Prothonotary of the District Court for the City and County of Philadelphia on the Twenty Seventh day of July A.D. 1857 that it was and still is bona fide his intention to become a Citizen of the United States, and of renouncing forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the Queen of the United Kingdome of Great Britain and Ireland, of whom he was at that time a subject. That your Petitioner has resided within the United States upwards of five years, and one year in the State of Pennsylvania, last past, immediately preceding this his application to become a Citizen of the United States.
That he has never borne any hereditary title, or been of any of the orders of nobility in his own or any other country.
He therefore prays, that on his making the proof, and taking the oath prescribed by law, he may be admitted a Citizen of the United States of America and he will ever pray, & c.
(signed) Richard Tener
Hugh W. Tener Esq. a Citizen of the United States of America, being duly sworn according to law, saith, that he knows and is well acquainted with Richard Tener the Petitioner; that to his knowledge he has resided in the United States five years, and one year last past in the State of Pennsylvania, immediately preceding his application to be a citizen; that during the said period he has behaved as a man of good moral character, attached to the principles of our Constitution, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same.
Sworn in open Court, (signed) Hugh W. Tener
(signed) Z.R. Snowden, Prothonotary.
I, Richard Tener, do swear, that the contents of my Petition are true; that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and that I now renounce and relinquish any title or order of nobility to which I am now, or hereafter may be entitled, and I do absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiances and fidelity to any foreigh Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatever, and particularly to the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland of whom I was a Subject.
Sworn in Open Court,
this Sixth day of October A.D. 1862 (signed) Richard Tener
(signed) Z.R. Snowden, Prothonotary.
3094 -- Richard Tener, Naturalizationfiled Jul 24 1906
in Supreme Court,
and duplicate issue.
Supreme Court of Penn.
Eastern District
Kinley J. Tener being duly sworn doth depose and say that Richard Tener, registered in naturalization record at No. 3094A; was his father, his voucher being Hugh W. Tener, his father's brother, further the deponent saith not.
Sworn and subscribed (signed) Kinley J. Tener
before me this 24th day
of June A.D. 1906
(signed) Lewis C. Greene
Deputy Prothonotary
