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MILITARY.TXT
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┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MILITARY RECORDS for the GENEALOGIST │
│ by Robyn Gootfried │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
I. General Information
Military records of the US many not provide a solution to every
genealogical problem, but they often contain excellent supplemental
pedigree information. Records relating to conflicts prior to the
Revolutionary War are mainly historical accounts and contain little
genealogical data. Records created since the Revolution often
contain facts relating to birth, marriage, death, parentage,
migration as well as other important genealogical events.
Military records of major genealogical importance consist mainly of
service and pension files. Service files contain documents
relating to events which affect personnel during their tour of
duty; from enlistment or induction to separation or discharge.
Pension files often include more genealogical information than
service files and relate to the individual after he was released
from service.
With the exception of a few record groups which were destroyed in
1800 and 1812-15, most service and pension files have been
preserved. Most records in existence which related to early wars,
and in peacetime during the same periods, are in the National
Archives in Washington, D.C. Most Confederate veteran's records
are not in the National Archives but are mainly located in their
respective states. A majority of existing records relating to
World War I have been centralized at a Federal Records Center in
East Point, GA. Records relating to pesonnel who served during
World War II and in later conflicts have been centralized at a
Federal Records Center in St Louis, Missouri. Personnel currently
in the service, whether on active duty or in the Reserves, usually
are of record in Headquarters Unit of their parent organization.
Duplicate and supplemental records relating to service personnel
who have served since the beginning of World War II may also be
found in regional offices of the Veterans Administration.
II. Revolutionary War Records
Service files relating to the Revolution were destroyed when the
British burned Washington during the War of 1812.
Pension records relating to service in the Revolutionary War were
created under various Congressional acts beginning in 1776 and
continuing to the 20th century. The burden to provide the actual
benefits rested first with the states and applied mainly to
officers. Important pensions acts in 1818, 1828, and 1832
liberalized pension requirements; allowing the enlisted man, his
widow, and his orphans certain benefits. Under acts beginning in
1776 and continuing to 1855, "Bounty Lands" were granted to
veterans of U.S. service or of State Militia.
Documents relating to a particular soldier, his widow, or to his
children, have been combined in a single packet or file in the
National Archives and are available to the genealogist. Xerox or
microfilm copies of existing documents can be obtained from the
National Archives at a reasonable cost. The files have also been
microfilmed and are available through the LDS Genealogical Society
in Salt Lake City. The microfilmed files are alphabetically
arranged by the name of the soldier and a published index also
exists.
III. American Loyalists Records and Regular Army Records.
After the peace treaty of 1783, both the U.S. and Great Britain
provided means whereby "Loyalists" could be compensated for
property losses and records pertaining to these claims have been
preserved. Microfilmed copies of "American Loyalist's" Claims,
Series "I" are in the Genealogical Society in Salt Lake City and
are indexed on microfilm GS #62,010. Several volumes of published
material relating to Loyalists can also be found at the Society in
Salt Lake City.
The Regular Army also known as "The United States Army" was created
as a permanent establishment in 1789 and records relating to its
personnel have been preserved. Records of both officers and
enlisted men are reflected in registers of enlistment which were
prepared from various original documents created during the acutal
period of service. Registers are in the National Archives arranged
in two major groups; those for the period 1789-1821-1912.
IV. Pension Files of other Early Wars
The "Old Wars" series of pension application files relate to claims
for service rendered between the end of the Revolution (11 April
1782) and the beginning of the Civil War (4 March 1861). The files
are currently in the National Archives. An alphabetical name index
has been reproduced on seven rolls of microfilm and is availabl34
at Salt Lake City and Brigham Young University.
The War of 1812 Pension Records are also in the National Archives.
The records related to service between 1812 and 1815 and are
similar to those of the Revolutionary War. The face side of each
jacket or envelope has been reproduced on 102 rolls of microfilm.
Indian Wars Pension Records and Mexican War Pension Records are
also in the National Archives. Indians War Pension Records related
to service between 1817 and 1898 and are indexed on 12 rolls of
microfilm,. Mexican War Pension records related to service between
1846-48 and are indexed also.
V. Civil War Records
Service and pension files relating to Union forces are in the
National Archives and are well indexed.
Service and Pension files relating to Confederate forces are in
their respective states though "A Consolidated Index to Confederate
Veteran's Compiled Military Service Records" has been created.
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ This file is carried by The Source of Magic BBS, Ridgefield CT │
│ at 203-431-4687, 300-2400 bps, 23 hours daily, specializing in │
│ genealogy, ham and shortwave radio, and programs for writers. │
└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘