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→Step 5 - Search for Pension Files and Bounty Land Warrants
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| link3=[[Mexican_War,_1846_to_1848|Mexican War]] | |||
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| link5=[[Beginning US Mexican War Research|Beginning US Mexican War Research]] | |||
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==Mexican War, 1846-1848== | |||
The Mexican War (also known as the Mexican-American War, the First American Intervention, and the U.S.–Mexican War) resulted from the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. Thirty-five thousand U.S. Army troops and 73,000 state volunteers fought in this war. Most volunteer regiments were from southern states, such as Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas. The war took place from April 25,1846 to February 2, 1848. | The Mexican War (also known as the Mexican-American War, the First American Intervention, and the U.S.–Mexican War) resulted from the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. Thirty-five thousand U.S. Army troops and 73,000 state volunteers fought in this war. Most volunteer regiments were from southern states, such as Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas. The war took place from April 25,1846 to February 2, 1848. | ||
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Regular Army units included the 1st Regiment of Dragoons, 2nd Regiment of Dragoons, 3rd Regiment of Dragoons, Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, 1st Regiment of Artillery, 2nd Regiment of Artillery, 3rd Regiment of Artillery, 4th Regiment of Artillery, 1st through 16th Regiments of Infantry, Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen. | Regular Army units included the 1st Regiment of Dragoons, 2nd Regiment of Dragoons, 3rd Regiment of Dragoons, Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, 1st Regiment of Artillery, 2nd Regiment of Artillery, 3rd Regiment of Artillery, 4th Regiment of Artillery, 1st through 16th Regiments of Infantry, Regiment of Voltigeurs and Foot Riflemen. | ||
=== Step 1 | === Step 1 - Identify an ancestor who may have served in the Mexican War === | ||
Look at your ancestors' information to determine which match the following criteria: | Look at your ancestors' information to determine which match the following criteria: | ||
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:- '''Family Members:''' Check with other members of your family to see if they have and records of records of information of Mexican War service. | :- '''Family Members:''' Check with other members of your family to see if they have and records of records of information of Mexican War service. | ||
=== Step 2 | === Step 2 - Identify the county and state where your ancestor lived between 1845-1848 === | ||
If you do not know the county and state where your ancestor lived at the start of the war, check the following: | If you do not know the county and state where your ancestor lived at the start of the war, check the following: | ||
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*The {{RecordSearch|1786457|United States Census, 1840}} for his family. | *The {{RecordSearch|1786457|United States Census, 1840}} for his family. | ||
=== Step 3 Find your Ancestor's Military Unit | === Step 3 - Find your Ancestor's Military Unit or Naval Service === | ||
Your soldier's military unit are often needed to find his records and to recognize him in the records. | Your soldier's military unit are often needed to find his records and to recognize him in the records. | ||
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{{HR Tip|Copies of compiled military service records are available from the National Archives. To request copies see: [http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/pre-ww-1-records.html Requesting Pre-WWI Service Records]}} | {{HR Tip|Copies of compiled military service records are available from the National Archives. To request copies see: [http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/pre-ww-1-records.html Requesting Pre-WWI Service Records]}} | ||
Some published sources that can help to identify an ancestors' volunteer military unit are: <br> | Some published sources that can help to identify an ancestors' regular and volunteer military unit are: <br> | ||
*William Hugh Robarts. ''Mexican war veterans : a complete roster of the regular and volunteer troops in the war between the United States and Mexico, from 1846-1848; the volunteers are arranged by states, alphabetically'' Washington, D.C. : Brentano's, 1887 Reprint. {{FSDL|444164}} | *William Hugh Robarts. ''Mexican war veterans : a complete roster of the regular and volunteer troops in the war between the United States and Mexico, from 1846-1848; the volunteers are arranged by states, alphabetically'' Washington, D.C. : Brentano's, 1887 Reprint. {{FSDL|444164}} | ||
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*For naval enlistments search the | *For naval enlistments search the {{FSC|573176|item|disp=Index cards to rendezvous reports, before and after the Civil War, 1846- 1861, 1865-1884, NARA, T1098.}} | ||
*Marine Corps enlistments see the FamilySearch Historical Records Collection{{RecordSearch|1916228|United States Muster Rolls of the Marine Corps, 1798-1937}} or Rolls 26- 32 cover enlistments from 1846-1848 of National Archives Microfilm Publication Muster rolls of the United States Marine Corps, 1798-1892, T1118 | *Marine Corps enlistments see the FamilySearch Historical Records Collection{{RecordSearch|1916228|United States Muster Rolls of the Marine Corps, 1798-1937}} or Rolls 26- 32 cover enlistments from 1846-1848 of National Archives Microfilm Publication Muster rolls of the United States Marine Corps, 1798-1892, T1118 | ||
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=== Step 4 Search Online Databases === | *A helpful source on naval operations is K. Jack Bauer. ''Surfboats and Horse Marines. U.S. Naval Operations in the Mexican War, 1846-48.'' Annapolis, Maryland: United States Naval Institute, 1969. Appendixes include Vessels of the Home Squadron and the Pacific Squadron, 1846-1848, pp. 253-259. | ||
=== Step 4 - Search Online Databases === | |||
'''National Park Service US Mexican War Soldiers and Sailors database''' | '''National Park Service US Mexican War Soldiers and Sailors database''' | ||
*[https://www.nps.gov/paal/learn/historyculture/search-usmexwar.htm#sort=Title%20asc National Park Service US Mexican War Soldiers and Sailors Database] | *[https://www.nps.gov/paal/learn/historyculture/search-usmexwar.htm#sort=Title%20asc National Park Service US Mexican War Soldiers and Sailors Database] | ||
=== Step 5 Search for Pension Files and Bounty Land Warrants === | === Step 5 - Search for Pension Files and Bounty Land Warrants === | ||
If your ancestor survived the war he may have applied for a pension or a bounty land warrant. His widow may also have applied after his death. The National Archives has a card index to pension applications, 1887-1926. | If your ancestor survived the war he may have applied for a pension or a bounty land warrant. His widow may also have applied after his death. The National Archives has a card index to pension applications, 1887-1926. | ||
Service pensions were first granted to [https://www.archives.gov/research/military/mexican-war Mexican War] veterans and widows based on the act of January 29, 1887. Eligibility requirement included 60 day service, or were actually engaged in battle, honorably discharged and at least 62 years of age. The act included widows who had not remarried. Veterans may also have received bounty land. [https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1104361 The pension files are located at the National Archives.] The soldiers served between 1846 and 1848. The records are a part of Record Group 15 Records of the Veterans Administration and is NARA microfilm publication T317. The event date and place represent the earliest filing of either the veteran or widow. | Service pensions were first granted to [https://www.archives.gov/research/military/mexican-war Mexican War] veterans and widows based on the act of January 29, 1887. Eligibility requirement included 60 day service, or were actually engaged in battle, honorably discharged and at least 62 years of age. The act included widows who had not remarried. Veterans may also have received bounty land. [https://catalog.archives.gov/id/1104361 The pension files are located at the National Archives.] The soldiers served between 1846 and 1848. The records are a part of Record Group 15 Records of the Veterans Administration and is NARA microfilm publication T317. The event date and place represent the earliest filing of either the veteran or widow. | ||
*The card index to available on FamilySearch see {{RecordSearch|1979390|United States Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926}} | *The card index to available on FamilySearch see {{RecordSearch|1979390|United States Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926}} | ||
*The Old War Pension Index may also have some Mexican War applications. {{RecordSearch|1979425|United States Old War Pension Index, 1815-1926}} | *The Old War Pension Index may also have some Mexican War applications. {{RecordSearch|1979425|United States Old War Pension Index, 1815-1926}} | ||
{{HR Tip|Copies of pension files are available from the National Archives. To request copies follow the instructions in the following link. http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/pre-ww-1-records.html Requesting Pre-WWI Service Records}} | {{HR Tip|Copies of pension files are available from the National Archives. To request copies follow the instructions in the following link. [http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/pre-ww-1-records.html Requesting Pre-WWI Service Records]}} | ||
See also [https://catalog.archives.gov/id/567388 Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, ca. 1800–ca. 1900 also located at the National Archives] | |||
=== Step 6 | === Step 6 - Decide what else you want to find. === | ||
Focus your research by deciding to find just one or two things, such as age, death date and place, pension record, or service record. | Focus your research by deciding to find just one or two things, such as age, death date and place, pension record, or service record. | ||
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You should also contact the state archives or historical society in the state your ancestor served form for any additional Mexican War records. | You should also contact the state archives or historical society in the state your ancestor served form for any additional Mexican War records. | ||
=== Step 7 Check sources listed on the following Wiki pages === | === Step 7 - Check sources listed on the following Wiki pages === | ||
*[[Mexican War, 1846 to 1848]] | *[[Mexican War, 1846 to 1848]] | ||
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=== Bibliography === | === Bibliography === | ||
*[http://www.dmwv.org/research.htm Research Guide: Mexican War Veteran Research Descendants of Mexican War Veterans] | *[http://www.dmwv.org/research.htm Research Guide: Mexican War Veteran Research Descendants of Mexican War Veterans] | ||
* | *Steve R. Butler How to find your Mexican War veteran ancestor 2nd rev. ed. Richardson, Texas: Descendants of Mexican War Veterans, 1994. {{FSC|712164|item|disp=FS Library 973 M27bu 1994}} A list of where this booklet can be found at [https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Butler%2C+Steven+R&qt=results_page WorldCat] | ||
*Steven R. Butler. ''Mexican War Records: A Genealogical Gold Mine.'' Genealogical Helper 45 (May-June 1991): 8-8. FS Library 292.05 G286. | *Steven R. Butler. ''Mexican War Records: A Genealogical Gold Mine.'' Genealogical Helper 45 (May-June 1991): 8-8. FS Library 292.05 G286. | ||
*Craig R. Scott, '' Researching US Servicemen in the Mexican War'' NGS Magazine 48 #3 (July-September, 2022): 50-55 FS Library 973 D25ngs | *Craig R. Scott, '' Researching US Servicemen in the Mexican War'' NGS Magazine 48 #3 (July-September, 2022): 50-55 FS Library 973 D25ngs | ||