Here are my experiences for New York City, 1850's to 1870's:
Applicant went to the court clerk and signed his name on a preprinted
form, 3 per page, bound into a journal, swearing his intention to become a
citizen. The clerk dated the entry and signed his own name. The clerk
then filled out a certificate stating that the applicant had declared his
intention on that date, signed it, and gave it to the applicant.
After the required waiting period, 5 years residence in the US, 1 year in
the state, 2 years since filing the D of I, the applicant went to open
court with his witness and produced his copy of the D of I. The clerk
filled out a preprinted form with the date and the names of the applicant
and witness, the applicant's former allegiance, sometimes their addresses,
sometimes their occupations. The applicant then swore his oath, the witness
his oath, and both signed the form. The clerk signed the form and filed it.
There was a judge but his name doesn't always appear on the form.
The courts involved were NY Common Pleas, NY Superior Court, and NY Supreme
Court.
I assume the clerk filled out a certificate stating that the applicant had
been naturalized and gave it to the applicant. I have never seen one of
these, but there are some news items in the NY Times in 1868 referring to
a political party leader charged with selling forged naturalization papers.
Regards,
Charles Sullivan
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