West Virginia Military Records: Difference between revisions

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''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United States Military Records|U.S. Military]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[West Virginia|West Virginia]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[West_Virginia_Military_Records|Military Records]]''
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| link3=[[West Virginia, United States Genealogy|West Virginia]]
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== Online Resources ==
Many military records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Wiki article provides more information about federal records. For information on records from the colonial period to 1863, see the [[Virginia|Virginia]] Wiki article.  
*''See [[United States Military Online Genealogy Records]] for more resources.''
*'''1861-1865''' {{RecordSearch|1932429|West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865}} at FamilySearch - [[West Virginia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Index and images.
*'''1866-1990''' {{RecordSearch|4166146|West Virginia, Military Discharge Records, 1866-1990}} at FamilySearch — [[West Virginia, Military Discharge Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
*'''1940-1945''' {{RecordSearch|2659405|West Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945}} at FamilySearch - [[West Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images.
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=48445 West Virginians in the American Revolution] ($)
*[http://www.archives.gov/research/military/korean-war/casualty-lists/wv-alpha.pdf U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Korean War for Home-State-of-Record: West Virginia]
*[http://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-lists/wv-alpha.pdf U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War for Home-State-of-Record: West Virginia]
*[http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/vet.aspx West Virginia Veterans Memorial Database Search - West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History]
*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/military.html West Virginia Volunteer Infantry].


== Forts  ==
The Archives and History Library has the original adjutant general's records for the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars, Civil War (Union and Confederate), and Spanish-American War. These include muster and descriptive rolls, enlistment records, and correspondence.


*[http://www.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh1-2.html Fort Fincastle]
=== Forts  ===
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Henry_(West_Virginia) Fort Henry]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Randolph_(West_Virginia) Fort Randolph]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Van_Meter Fort Vanmetre]


== Revolutionary War (1775-1783)  ==
Fort Fincastle,


Two particularly helpful sources for West Virginia ancestors who participated in the Revolutionary War are:
Fort Henry,


Johnston, Ross B. ''West Virginians in the American Revolution''. 1959. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1977. {{FSC|49792|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6087736 (1959 edition); FS Library book 975.4 M2j}}. Online at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/48445/ Ancestry] ($). This includes sketches of over 1,300 soldiers who lived in West Virginia at some time in their life.
Fort Vanmetre


Reddy, Anne Waller. ''West Virginia Revolutionary Ancestors Whose Services were Non-military''. 1930. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1963. {{FSC|49221|item|disp=FS Library 1321057 item 6; book 975.4 N2r}}. Online at: [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/48447/ Ancestry] ($); {{WorldCat|988151206|disp=At various libraries (WorldCat)}}. This book lists persons in the Revolutionary Public Claims records who gave aid and support, “provisions and other necessaries”, to the revolutionary forces. Most of these patriots do not appear in other Revolutionary War sources.
=== Revolutionary War (1775-1783)  ===


== Mexican War (1846-1848)  ==
Two particularly helpful sources for West Virginia ancestors who participated in the Revolutionary War are:


The Mexican War was caused by the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. Most volunteer regiments were from southern states. Records of Mexican War veterans might exist in a state where the veteran later resided. <br>
Johnston, Ross B. ''West Virginians in the American Revolution''. 1959. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1977. (Family History Library {{FHL|49792|title-id|disp=book 975.4 M2j; the 1959 edition is on fiche 6087736}}). This includes sketches of over 1,300 soldiers who lived in West Virginia at some time in their life.  


*''Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1887–1926''. (NARA T317). {{FSC|0537000|item|disp=FS Library films 0537000–13}} Alphabetically arranged and includes the veteran’s name, rank, and unit; names of dependents; date of filing and application; certificate numbers; act filed under; and state from which application was made. Also available at:<br>
Reddy, Anne Waller. ''West Virginia Revolutionary Ancestors Whose Services were Non-military''. 1930. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1963. (Family History Library {{FHL|49221|title-id|disp=book 975.4 N2r; film 1321057 item 6}}.) This book lists persons in the Revolutionary Public Claims records who gave aid and support, “provisions and other necessaries”, to the revolutionary forces. Most of these patriots do not appear in other Revolutionary War sources.  


:*'''1887-1926''' {{RecordSearch|1979390|United States, Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Index to Mexican War Pension Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Free digital copy. <br>
=== Civil War (1861-1865) ===


*Robarts, William Hugh. ''Mexican War Veterans&nbsp;: A Complete Roster of the Regular and Volunteer Troops in the War Between the United States and Mexico, from 1846-1848…'' Washington, D.C.&nbsp;: Brentano’s, 1887. {{FSC|1854496|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 M2rwh}} Digital version available at [http://archive.org/details/mexicanwarvetera00roba Internet Archive].<br>
[[Image:{{Harpers Ferry 1865}}]] See [[West Virginia in the Civil War|West Virginia in the Civil War]] for information about West Virginia Civil War records, web sites, etc. with links to articles about the West Virginia regiments involved in the Civil War. The regimental pages often include lists of the companies with links to the counties where the companies started. Men in the companies often lived in the counties where the companies were raised. Knowing a county can help when researching more about the soldiers and their families.  


Click on these links to learn more about the [[Mexican War, 1846 to 1848|Mexican War]] and about [[US Mexican War Pension Records|Mexican War pension records]].
The [http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/ Civil War Soldiers and Sailors&nbsp;System] allows name searching for soldiers. The result set gives the regiments for the soldiers. Then you can check the Wiki regiment pages to determine counties. Often knowing the counties that had men in a regiment will help you determine if a soldier was your ancestor.  


== Civil War (1861-1865) ==
<br>[[West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers (FamilySearch Historical Records)|West Virginia, Civil War &nbsp;Service Reciords of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]


[[Image:{{Harpers Ferry 1865}}]] See [[West Virginia in the Civil War|West Virginia in the Civil War]] for information about West Virginia Civil War records, websites, etc. with links to articles about the West Virginia regiments involved in the Civil War. The regimental pages often include lists of the companies with links to the counties where the companies started. Men in the companies often lived in the counties where the companies were raised. Knowing a county can help when researching more about the soldiers and their families.
=== World War I (1917-1918)  ===


The [https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm Civil War Soldiers and Sailors&nbsp;System] allows name searching for soldiers. The result set gives the regiments for the soldiers. Then you can check the Wiki regiment pages to determine counties. Often knowing the counties that had men in a regiment will help you determine if a soldier was your ancestor.
'''Draft Registration Cards'''


*'''1861-1865''' {{RecordSearch|1932429|West Virginia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865}} at FamilySearch - [[West Virginia Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
World War I draft registration cards for men age 18 to 45 may list address, birth date, birthplace, race, nationality, citizenship, and next of kin. Not all registrants served in the war. For registration cards for West Virginia, see:


A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:<br>[[West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records|West Virginia, Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 - FamilySearch Historical Records]]
United States. Selective Service System. West Virginia, ''World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918''. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988. (On Family History Library films beginning with film 1992327.)


*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4148 West Virginia 5th Cavalry Roster] at Ancestry ($)
To find an individual's draft card, it helps to know his name and residence at the time of registration. The cards are arranged alphabetically by county, within the county by draft board, and then alphabetically by surname within each draft board. Most counties had only one board; large cities had several.  
*U.S. Southern Claims Commission Master Index, 1871-1880 [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1216 Index only $]


== Spanish-American War (1898)<br>  ==
These are online at a subscription website:


The Spanish-American War was largely fought in Cuba and the Philippines. Spanish-American War records might exist in the state from which the soldier served or in a state where the veteran later resided.  
[http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=6482&ti=0 http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&amp;dbid=6482&amp;ti=0]


'''Indexes'''  
'''West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database'''  


*'''1861-1934''' {{RecordSearch|1919699|United States, General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, General Index to Pension Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; (NARA T288) Free digital copy. The index covers veterans of the Civil War, '''Spanish‑American War,''' Philippine Insurrection, Boxer Rebellion (1900 to 1901), and the regular Army, Navy, and Marine forces.
The [http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/wvvetmem.html West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database] contains information on deceased veterans from West Virginia that served in wars from WWI, WWI, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.  
*'''1898''' {{RecordSearch|1919583|United States, Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Index to Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers in the War with Spain - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Free digital copy.


Click on the link to learn more about the [[Spanish-American War, 1898|Spanish American War]].
=== World War II (1941-1945)  ===


== World War I (1917-1918)  ==
'''West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database'''


World War I was a global war fought on multiple continents with several nations involved. Over four million men and women served from the United States.
The [http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/wvvetmem.html West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database] contains information on deceased veterans from West Virginia that served in wars from WWI, WWI, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.  
 
*United States. Selective Service System. West Virginia, ''World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918''. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988. {{FSC|378717|item|disp=FS Library film 1992327 (first film).}} Also available at:
 
*'''1917-1918''' {{RecordSearch|1968530|United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images — free
 
*'''1917-1919''' {{RecordSearch|2513098|United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images
 
*'''1917-1919''' {{RecordSearch|2996059|United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index
 
See [[United States World War I Draft Records|WWI Draft Records]] for more information.
 
*[https://archive.org/details/revisedlistofdec00west West Virginia Revised List of Deceased Soldiers World War]
*[http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/vet.aspx West Virginia Veterans Memorial Database Search]
 
*'''Record of service of officers and enlisted men in the war of 1917'''
*{{FSC|447251|item|disp=Fayette County}}
*{{FSC|518051|item|disp=Greenbrier County}}
*{{FSC|772462|item|disp=Hancock County}}
*{{FSC|185794|item|disp=Mineral County}}
*{{FSC|772228|item|disp=Ritchie County}}
 
== World War II (1941-1945)  ==
 
''' Draft Registrations '''
 
On 16 September 1940, President Roosevelt signed into law the first peacetime Selective Service Act. During WWII, the Selective Service System conducted '''six draft registrations'''; these records are held collectively in two groupings at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, MO. The registrations are part of Record Group 147 [https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/147.html Records of the Selective Service System.] From December, 1942 to August, 1945 no enlistments were allowed. The  Selective Service became the only way men entered the service for the remainder of the war.  


*'''1940-1945''' {{RecordSearch|2659405|West Virginia, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945}} at FamilySearch
=== Additional Military Records  ===


''' Fourth Registration'''
Various rosters of soldiers for the French and Indian War, Indian Wars, Lord Dunmore's War, Revolutionary War, Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, War of 1812, Mexican War, and the Civil War, are in Virgil A. Lewis, ''The Soldiery of West Virginia''. 1911, Reprint (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1978; Family History Library book 975.4 M2L). A separate index has been published. This book has also been reprinted (and updated through the Vietnam War) as Volume 9 of ''The West Virginia Historical Encyclopedia: Supplemental Series'' (see [[West Virginia History]]).  
*On April 27, 1942, the Selective Service conducted the fourth of six draft registrations related to WWII. The "World War II Selective Service Draft Cards: Fourth Registration, 1942" is often referred to as the “Old Man’s Registration” or the “Old Man’s Draft" because it included men with a date of birth from April 28, 1877 to February 16, 1897. Since there is overlap in the WWI and WWII Selective Service registration, men born in the years 1877 to 1900 may have registered twice and have both WWII and WWI draft records.  


*'''1942''' {{RecordSearch|1339071|United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (Image Browse)}} at FamilySearch) - [[United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; free
=== Web Sites  ===
*'''1942''' {{RecordSearch|1861144|United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; images with partial index - free


:Also available at:<br>
=== References  ===


*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1002 Ancestry] ($)
West Virginia Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.  
*[http://www.fold3.com/title_765/wwii_old_mans_draft_registration_cards Fold3] ($).
 
A series of books entitled "[[United States World War II Biographies#Young_American_Patriots|Young American Patriots]]", published shortly after the war, documented the service of soldiers from different states including West Virginia. The series of books included photos and a short biography of some of the soldiers from the state.
 
[[World War II United States Military Records, 1941 to 1945|World War II United States Military Records]] provides additional information.
 
== Korean War (1950–1953)  ==
 
The Korean War was a conflict between North Korea (and its communist allies) and South Korea (with support of the United Nations, primarily the United States). See the [[United States Korean War 1950 to 1953|Korean War ]] wiki article for information on records and their availability.
 
== Vietnam War (1964–1972)  ==
 
The Vietnam War was a conflict between North Vietnam (and its communist allies) and South Vietnam (with support of its anti-communist allies, including the United States). See the [[United States Vietnam War 1964 to 1972|Vietnam War]] wiki article for information on records and their availability.
 
== Militia - National Guard ==
*{{FSC|379096|item|disp=West Virginia. Adjutant General. ''Report of the Adjutant General of West Virginia, 1897-98.'' Charleston, W.Va. : West Virginia Adjutant General, 1898.}}
*{{FSC|784949|item|disp=Militia commission papers,  Virginia Governor's Office, 1784-1856}}
 
== Additional Military Records  ==
 
Various rosters of soldiers for the French and Indian War, Indian Wars, Lord Dunmore's War, Revolutionary War, Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, War of 1812, Mexican War, and the Civil War, are in Virgil A. Lewis, ''The Soldiery of West Virginia''. 1911, Reprint (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1978. {{FSC|49215|item|disp=FS Library}}. '''Online at:''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/48631/ Ancestry] ($). A separate index has been published. This book has also been reprinted (and updated through the Vietnam War) as Volume 9 of ''The West Virginia Historical Encyclopedia: Supplemental Series'' (see [[West Virginia History]]).
 
==Finding Records==
Many military records are found at the FamilySearch Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Wiki article provides more information about federal records. For information on records from the colonial period to 1863, see the [[Virginia, United States Genealogy|Virginia]] Wiki article.
 
The Archives and History Library has the original adjutant general's records for the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars, Civil War (Union and Confederate), and Spanish-American War. These include muster and descriptive rolls, enlistment records, and correspondence.
 
 
== Websites  ==
 
The [http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvmemory/wvvetmem.html West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database] contains information on deceased veterans from West Virginia that served in wars from WWI, WWI, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.  


:NOTE: All of the information from the original research outline has been imported into this Wiki site and is being updated here, as time permits.


{{West Virginia|West Virginia}} {{State Military Records}}  
{{West Virginia|West Virginia}} {{State Military Records}}  


[[Category:West_Virginia_Military_Records]]
[[Category:West_Virginia|Military]]

Revision as of 12:47, 22 January 2012

United States Gotoarrow.png U.S. Military Gotoarrow.png West Virginia Gotoarrow.png Military Records

The United States Military Records Wiki article provides more information on federal military records and search strategies.

Many military records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Wiki article provides more information about federal records. For information on records from the colonial period to 1863, see the Virginia Wiki article.

The Archives and History Library has the original adjutant general's records for the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars, Civil War (Union and Confederate), and Spanish-American War. These include muster and descriptive rolls, enlistment records, and correspondence.

Forts[edit | edit source]

Fort Fincastle,

Fort Henry,

Fort Vanmetre

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)[edit | edit source]

Two particularly helpful sources for West Virginia ancestors who participated in the Revolutionary War are:

Johnston, Ross B. West Virginians in the American Revolution. 1959. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1977. (Family History Library book 975.4 M2j; the 1959 edition is on fiche 6087736). This includes sketches of over 1,300 soldiers who lived in West Virginia at some time in their life.

Reddy, Anne Waller. West Virginia Revolutionary Ancestors Whose Services were Non-military. 1930. Reprint. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1963. (Family History Library book 975.4 N2r; film 1321057 item 6.) This book lists persons in the Revolutionary Public Claims records who gave aid and support, “provisions and other necessaries”, to the revolutionary forces. Most of these patriots do not appear in other Revolutionary War sources.

Civil War (1861-1865)[edit | edit source]

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 1865

See West Virginia in the Civil War for information about West Virginia Civil War records, web sites, etc. with links to articles about the West Virginia regiments involved in the Civil War. The regimental pages often include lists of the companies with links to the counties where the companies started. Men in the companies often lived in the counties where the companies were raised. Knowing a county can help when researching more about the soldiers and their families.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System allows name searching for soldiers. The result set gives the regiments for the soldiers. Then you can check the Wiki regiment pages to determine counties. Often knowing the counties that had men in a regiment will help you determine if a soldier was your ancestor.


West Virginia, Civil War  Service Reciords of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 (FamilySearch Historical Records)

World War I (1917-1918)[edit | edit source]

Draft Registration Cards

World War I draft registration cards for men age 18 to 45 may list address, birth date, birthplace, race, nationality, citizenship, and next of kin. Not all registrants served in the war. For registration cards for West Virginia, see:

United States. Selective Service System. West Virginia, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988. (On Family History Library films beginning with film 1992327.)

To find an individual's draft card, it helps to know his name and residence at the time of registration. The cards are arranged alphabetically by county, within the county by draft board, and then alphabetically by surname within each draft board. Most counties had only one board; large cities had several.

These are online at a subscription website:

http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=6482&ti=0

West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database

The West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database contains information on deceased veterans from West Virginia that served in wars from WWI, WWI, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.

World War II (1941-1945)[edit | edit source]

West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database

The West Virginia Veterans Memorial Archives Database contains information on deceased veterans from West Virginia that served in wars from WWI, WWI, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.

Additional Military Records[edit | edit source]

Various rosters of soldiers for the French and Indian War, Indian Wars, Lord Dunmore's War, Revolutionary War, Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, War of 1812, Mexican War, and the Civil War, are in Virgil A. Lewis, The Soldiery of West Virginia. 1911, Reprint (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1978; Family History Library book 975.4 M2L). A separate index has been published. This book has also been reprinted (and updated through the Vietnam War) as Volume 9 of The West Virginia Historical Encyclopedia: Supplemental Series (see West Virginia History).

Web Sites[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

West Virginia Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc., Family History Department, 1998, 2001.

NOTE: All of the information from the original research outline has been imported into this Wiki site and is being updated here, as time permits.