Pennsylvania Military Records: Difference between revisions
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<div id="fsButtons"><span class="online_records_button">[[United States Military Online Genealogy Records]]</span></div> | |||
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==Online Resources== | |||
[[U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records]] provides more links for nationwide military record collections. | |||
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/pennsylvania-list-of-british-prisoners-in-the-american-war-of-independence Pennsylvania, List Of British Prisoners In The American War Of Independence] at Findmypast - index & images ($) | |||
*'''1775-1783''' {{RecordSearch|2068326|United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Revolutionary War Rolls - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images | |||
*[http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp Pennsylvania Archive Military Indexes and Records]. | |||
*'''1777-2012''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1967 Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012]($), index/images | |||
*[http://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/Revolutionary-War-Militia-Overview.aspx Pennsylvania Historical and Museum, Commission, Revolutionary War Militia Battalions and Companies] | |||
*'''1775-1783''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2591 Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index, 1775-1783] ($) | |||
*'''1775-1783''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-records/pennsylvania-american-revolution-patriot-militia-index Pennsylvania, American Revolution Patriot Militia Index] at Findmypast - index & images ($) | |||
*'''1775-1783''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=26217 Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution: battalions and line, 1775-1783] ($) | |||
*'''1775-1783''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4282 U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls for Pennsylvania, 1775-1783] ($) | |||
*'''1775-1916''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62200/ Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans Card Files, 1775-1916] at Ancestry - index and images ($) | |||
*'''1812''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3325 Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1812] ($) | |||
*'''1812-1815''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=4281 U.S., War of 1812 Service Records for Pennsylvania, 1812-1815] ($) | |||
*'''1861-1865''' {{RecordSearch|3048335|Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865}} at FamilySearch - [[Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index | |||
*'''1866-1879''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2394 Pennsylvania, War of 1812 Pensions, 1866-1879]($), index/images | |||
*[http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm Pennsylvania Civil War Soldiers Service Records]. | |||
*[https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/united-states-pennsylvania-civil-war-veterans-card-file United States, Pennsylvania, Civil War Veterans' Card File] at Ancestry ($), index/images | |||
*'''1860-1869''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=9040 Pennsylvania, Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869]($), index/image | |||
*'''1861-1866''' [https://search.findmypast.com/search-world-Records/united-states-pennsylvania-civil-war-veterans-card-file United States, Pennsylvania, Civil War Veterans' Card File] at Findmypast - index ($) | |||
*'''1866-1956''' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2207723 Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1866-1956] at FamilySearch - index/images; ''also at [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61877/ Ancestry] ($)'' | |||
*'''1898-1934''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2392 Pennsylvania, Spanish War Compensation, 1898-1934] ($) | |||
*'''1898''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=28239 Record of Pennsylvania volunteers in the Spanish-American War, 1898] ($) | |||
*[http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/1pa/military/ww1/haulsee/wwi.html Soldiers of the Great War, Fallen Pennsylvanians of World War I] | |||
*'''1917-1919; 1934-1948''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60884 Pennsylvania, WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948]Index and Images.($) | |||
*'''1917-1940''' {{RecordSearch|2968245|United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Veterans Administration Master Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index | |||
*'''1942''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1002 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards for Pennsylvania, 1942] ($) | |||
*'''1950-1959''' [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3147 Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950-1959]($), index/images | |||
*'''1941-1945''' {{RecordSearch|2127320|United States World War II Prisoners of War of the Japanese, 1941-1945}} at FamilySearch - [[United States World War II Prisoners of War of the Japanese - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index | |||
*[http://www.archives.gov/research/military/korean-war/casualty-lists/pa-alpha.pdf Korean Conflict State-Level Casualty Lists - Pennsylvania] | |||
*[http://www.vietvet.org/statewall/penn/pa.htm The Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Pennsylvania] | |||
*[http://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-lists/pa-alpha.pdf U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War for Home-State-of-Record: Pennsylvania] | |||
==Introduction== | |||
Many military records are found at the FamilySearch Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. | |||
A helpful bibliography is John B. B. Trussell, ''Pennsylvania Military History ''(Carlisle Barracks, PA: [s. n.], 1974; {{FSC|258531|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 B4ua no. 10}}. It includes items from the colonial period through World War II. | |||
Many volumes of the Pennsylvania Archives (see [[Pennsylvania Genealogy|Pennsylvania Genealogy]]) contain transcripts of military records, such as rosters and muster rolls. The appropriate volumes and series are referred to below. | |||
==Forts== | |||
Fort Mifflin -- Textual records of this fort, 1841-1901, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in [http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/393.html Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920], under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7). | *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlisle_Barracks Carlisle Barracks] -- Textual records of this fort, 1829-1879, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in [http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/393.html Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920], under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7). | ||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Cumberland_(Maryland) Fort Cumberland] | |||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Duquesne Fort Duquesne] | |||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Granville Fort Granville] | |||
*[http://sites.rootsweb.com/~pamhhdar/thestoryofforthand.htm Fort Hand] | |||
*[http://fortligonier.org/ Fort Ligonier] | |||
*[https://beaverheritage.org/fort-mcintosh-historic-site/ Fort McIntosh] 1778-91 | |||
*[http://www.fortmifflin.us/ Fort Mifflin] -- Textual records of this fort, 1841-1901, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in [http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/393.html Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920], under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7). | |||
*[https://www.nps.gov/articles/prelude-to-war.htm Fort Necessity] | |||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Pitt_(Pennsylvania) Fort Pitt] | |||
*[http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Venango Fort Venango]<br> | |||
==Colonial Wars (1744-1775)== | |||
*The earliest documents appear to be ''Records of 17th Century Soldiers in New Sweden: 1637-1655 ''(microfilm of originals at the Gloucester County Historical Society, Woodbury, New Jersey; {{FSC|322984|item|disp=FS Library film 1510234 item 4}}. It contains mainly lists of soldiers and is written in German and Swedish. | |||
*Names of soldiers and their companies in the colonial period, 1744-1765, are in the 5th series, volume 1 of the Pennsylvania Archives [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/493538 FS Library book 974.8 A39p]; {{FSC|493538|item|disp=FS Library film 844572 item 2}}; {{FSC|52176|item|disp=FS Library fiche 6019913}}. These records often give the state or country of birth. Sometimes even a more specific locality is indicated. | |||
*"Register of the Pennsylvania Society of the Colonial Dames of America" published in 1907 ([http://books.google.com/books?id=DWUUAAAAYAAJ Google Books]) ([http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=Register+Pennsylvania+Society+Colonial+Dames Worldcat]) - lists women who are members of the society and a description of the ancestors military or political service. | |||
==Revolutionary War (1775-1783)== | |||
[[Image:220px-Valley Forge cabin.jpg|thumb|right|220x210px]] A man born between 1730 and 1765 who lived in Pennsylvania is probably listed in some form of military record. If he supported the Revolution, he may be mentioned in records as a rebel, patriot, or Whig. Those who opposed the Revolution were called Loyalists or Tories. Read more in the [[Pennsylvania in the Revolutionary War]] article.<br> | |||
'''Loyalists or Tories''' | |||
Few, if any, Scotch-Irish settlers fought for the British.<ref>Wayland F. Dunaway, ''The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania'' (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1944), 155-156. Free digital version at [http://collection1.libraries.psu.edu/u?/digitalbks2,18370 PA's Past: Digital Bookshelf at Penn State].</ref> Names of Loyalists may be found in: | |||
== | *Pennsylvania, Supreme Executive Council, Forfeited Estates File, 1777-1790 (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, [1978?]; {{FSC|685427|item|disp=FS Library film 1759092 item 2}} {{FSC|685427|item|disp=FS Library film 1759093 item 1}}. Records are alphabetically arranged by name of the estate holder with some files arranged by county. | ||
*Records of forfeited estates are also found in Pennsylvania Archives, series 6, volumes 12-13. See Guide to the Microfilm of the Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790 in [[Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries|Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries]] section for a list of the names in these records. | |||
Another list of these names is: | |||
*Anne M. Ousterhout, ''Opponents of the Revolution Whose Pennsylvania Estates Were Confiscated'', Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 30 (1976): 237-53. See [[Pennsylvania Periodicals|Pennsylvania Periodicals]]. | |||
A small list of these individuals is: | |||
*''Black List: A List of Those Who Took Part With Great Britain in the Revolutionary War, and Were Attainted of High Treason, Commonly Called the Black List'' microreproduction of original published: Philadelphia: [s. n.], 1802; {{FSC|523154|item|disp=FS Library film 1688885}}. | |||
'''Patriots or Revolutionaries''' | |||
To understand how the Pennsylvania militia system worked, including why units composed of the same men from the same area were renumbered, see "[http://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/Revolutionary-War-Militia-Overview.aspx Revolutionary War Militia Battalions and Companies, Arranged by County]." Few of these men, of course, received pensions. For the men who did receive pensions from the state, see the index of Pennsylvania Revolutionary pensioners prepared by Pennsylvania State Archives. It is available for free [http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/RevolutionaryWarPensionersIndex/RevolutionaryWarPensionersIndex_MainInterface.htm online]. | |||
For patriot records of the Revolutionary War, see: | For patriot records of the Revolutionary War, see: | ||
*Pennsylvania State Archives. [ | *Pennsylvania State Archives. [https://digitalarchives.powerlibrary.org/psa/ ''Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File'']. ''Enter "Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File" in search field.'' Arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier. The abstract card file contains transcriptions of data extracted from original records in the custody of the State Archives concerning Revolutionary War service in the Pennsylvania Militia, Pennsylvania Line, and the Navy. Note that duty after November 1783 is not considered Revolutionary War service. Information provided is name and rank of soldier, whether active or inactive duty, county of residence, battalion in which served, and record from which information was extracted. Also noted are whether soldier was delinquent and fined or whether militia fines were abated. | ||
*Pennsylvania State Archives. [ | *Pennsylvania State Archives. [https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/Militia-Resource-Guide-1682-1815.aspx#MilitiaOfficersIndexCardsRW ''Militia Officers Index Cards, 1775-1800'']. Index card file of the names of Pennsylvania militia officers who served during the American Revolution, in Indian campaigns in northwestern Pennsylvania, and in quelling the Whiskey Rebellion. The cards are arranged alphabetically by surname of officer. Information provided is name, county, rank, company or battalion, dates of service, township, and occasionally district within township. In rare cases, other pertinent information is provided such as place of burial, wounds received, names of children, names of any expeditions or campaigns, name of person whom they succeeded, and date discharged. | ||
*White, Virgil D. ''Genealogical Abstracts of the Revolutionary War Pension Files''. 4 vols. Waynesboro, | *White, Virgil D. ''Genealogical Abstracts of the Revolutionary War Pension Files''. 4 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1990. {{FSC|476517|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 M28g}}. May include the soldier's name, unit, dates and places of service and application, age, birth date, marriage date, residences, and names of relatives. These abstracts are mainly from the United States, Veterans Administration, ''Selected Records from Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files'' (Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969; FS Library films {{FSC|213057|item|disp=FS Library films 840256-406}}. The FamilySearch Library only has microfilms for surnames starting with A or B. The National Archives has microfilm for all surnames. | ||
*White, Virgil D. ''Index to Revolutionary War Service Records''. 4 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1995. | *White, Virgil D. ''Index to Revolutionary War Service Records''. 4 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1995. {{FSC|745712|item|disp=FS Library film 973 M22wv}}. Shows the name, rank, and unit of over 390,000 patriots. Transcripts of United States, Adjutant General's Office, ''General Index to Compiled Military Service Records of Revolutionary Ward Soldiers'' (Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1942; FamilySearch Library {{FSC|317653|item|disp=FS Library films 882841-98}}. | ||
The service records and pension files for Revolutionary War patriots are available at the | The service records and pension files for Revolutionary War patriots are available at the FamilySearch Library. | ||
You can also use NATF Form 80 to obtain copies of the original records from the National Archives. You can also go online to order these records at http://www.archives.gov/ | You can also use NATF Form 80 to obtain copies of the original records from the National Archives. You can also go online to order these records at http://www.archives.gov/ | ||
The | The FamilySearch Library has copies of many service records and the complete federal pension files from the National Archives. For example, see United States, War Department, ''Revolutionary War Rolls 1775- 1783, Pennsylvania Jackets 1-93'' {{FSC|274550|item|disp=FS Library films 830359-63}}. These rolls are filed by military unit. Published rosters of soldiers are in the following volumes of the Pennsylvania Archives, FS Library books 974.8 A39p and microfilms listed below: | ||
*2nd series, vols. 10-11 {{FSC|485590|item|disp=FS Library film 908829 item 2}} and {{FSC|485590|item|disp=FS Library film 908830 item 1}} | |||
*2nd series, vols. 13-15 {{FSC|485590|item|disp=FS Library film 823997 item 2}} and {{FSC|485590|item|disp=FS Library film 823998 items 1-2}} | |||
*3rd series, vol. 23 {{FSC|481905|item|disp=FS Library film 824434 item 2}} | |||
*5th series. vols. 2-8 {{FSC|481914|item|disp=FS Library films 844573-77 item 1}} | |||
*6th series, vols. 1-2 {{FSC|481917|item|disp=FS Library films 844562-63}} | |||
An index to volumes 10, 11, 13, and 14 of the 2nd series is also at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Index to Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution: Battalions and Line, 1775-1783; Associated Battalions and Militia, 1775-1783 {{FSC|277133|item|disp=FS Library film 539073 (first of 10 films)}}. | |||
*Another useful printed source is Harry E. Cope, ''Soldiers and Widows of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War Granted Pensions by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania'' {{FSC|278066|item|disp=FS Catalog book 974.8 M2c}} and {{FSC|278066|item|disp=FS Library film 1036819 item 26}}. Some of the names in this book are also found in the federal pension records. See [[United States Military Records]] for information about those records. Records for some individuals in the above title are also in Pennsylvania, Auditor General's Office, ''Revolutionary War Pension File, 1809-1893'' {{FSC|283665|item|disp=FS Library films 1016413-15}}. The films include names that are not in the book. | |||
'''The 1813 Pension List: ''' | |||
*[http://www.newhorizonsgenealogicalservices.com/1813-pension-list/1813-pension-list-pennsylvania.htm 1813 Pension List] (New Horizons Genealogy) | |||
'''The 1818 Pensioners of the United States: ''' | |||
*[http://www.newhorizonsgenealogicalservices.com/1818-pensioners/1818-pensioners-pennsylvania.htm 1818 Pensioners of the United States] (New Horizons Genealogy) | |||
'''The 1820 Pension List: ''' | |||
*[http://www.newhorizonsgenealogicalservices.com/1820-pension-list/1820-pension-list-pennsylvania.htm 1820 Pension List] (New Horizons Genealogy) | |||
'''The 1835 Pension Roll''' | |||
On June 5, 1834, the U.S. Senate required the Secretary of War to submit a statement showing the names of pensioners who were on the pension rolls or had previously been on the pension rolls. For more information on the 1835 Pension Roll see [[Revolutionary War Pension Records and Bounty Land Warrants|Revolutionary War Pension Records]]. The 1835 Pension Roll for Pennsylvania is available online. | |||
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=LYQFAAAAQAAJ Report from the Secretary of War... Vol. II] (Google Books) | |||
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60514 The Pension Roll of 1835, Vol. II] (Ancestry) ($) | |||
The following sources from the Pennsylvania State Archives are also available at the FamilySearch Library: | |||
For early payment records, see Pennsylvania, Comptroller General, ''Revolutionary War Pension Accounts, 1785-1809, 1834-1838'' {{FSC|51772|item|disp=FS Library film 295743 items 4-9}}. | |||
For an account of the payments to pensioners, see Pennsylvania, Auditor General, ''Revolutionary War Pension Accounts, 1807-1883'' (FamilySearch Library {{FSC|432573|item|disp=FS Library films 1027856-9}}. The soldier's death date may be found in these records. | |||
For a list of burials, see Daughters of the American Revolution, Lycoming Chapter (Williamsport, Pennsylvania), ''Revolutionary War Veterans Interred in Pennsylvania, volume 1 ''{{FSC|308910|item|disp=FS Library film 441387}}. This is a micro-reproduction of an original typescript at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It often just lists the name of the soldier and the cemetery. | |||
''Military Abstract Card File for the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783''. [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/110813 FS Library films 1205961 (first of 42 films)]. This file has been abstracted from original documents in the custody of the Pennsylvania State Archives and is arranged alphabetically by soldier's name in four file units. | |||
Pennsylvania. Comptroller General. ''Military Accounts, Line, 1775-1809''. {{FSC|25687|item|disp=FS Library films 1027962-70}}. The Military Abstract Card File is an index to these records. It includes clothing allowances, letters of attorney, probate actions, military rolls, documents regarding payment, affidavits, etc., filed by military unit. | |||
Additional records that could prove helpful are Pennsylvania, Comptroller General, ''Militia Military Accounts, 1777-1794'' [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/58509 FS Library films 1023007 (first of 38 films)]. They are arranged by county, militia period, and battalion and include many lists of names, etc., such as why a person was unable to serve in the military. | |||
For information about the federal soldiers from Pennsylvania (the Pennsylvania Line), see John B. B. Trussell, Jr., ''The Pennsylvania Line, Regimental Organization and Operations, 1776-1783'' (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1977; {{FSC|387401|item|disp=FS Catalog book 974.8 M2tp}}. | |||
==War of 1812 (1812-1815)== | |||
The War of 1812 between Britain and the United States confirmed the separate existence of the United States and the future Canada.<br><br>See the Wiki article, [[Pennsylvania in the War of 1812|Pennsylvania in the War of 1812]], for information concerning military records, histories, links to relevant websites, etc. for Pennsylvania.<br> | |||
There are helpful nationwide records for soldiers of the War of 1812. For more information, see [[United States in the War of 1812|United States in the War of 1812]]''.'' | |||
==Mexican War (1846-1848)== | |||
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> | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/631065 Randy W. Hackenburg ''Pennsylvania in the war with Mexico.'' Shippensburg, Pennsylvania : White Mane Pub. Co., c1992 FS Library 974.8 M2h] | |||
*'''1846-1848''' {{RecordSearch|1987567|United States Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Mexican War Index and Service Records - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images | |||
*''Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1887–1926''. (NARA T317). [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/172771 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> | |||
*'''1887-1926''' {{RecordSearch|1979390|United States, Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, Mexican War Pension Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images | |||
<br> | |||
*Robarts, William Hugh. ''Mexican War Veterans : A Complete Roster of the Regular and Volunteer Troops in the War Between the United States and Mexico, from 1846-1848…'' Washington, D.C. : Brentano’s, 1887. {{FSC|1854496|item|disp=FS Catalog book 973 M2rwh}} Digital version available at [http://archive.org/details/mexicanwarvetera00roba Internet Archive].<br> | |||
*An alphabetical list of soldiers enrolled in Pennsylvania is in ''Pennsylvania Archives, series 6, volume 10, pp. 249-458''. Volumes 36-38 of the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine (see the "[[Pennsylvania Periodicals|Periodicals]]" section) also has a list of names. | |||
The FamilySearch Library has the following records and an index to pensions, but the actual pension records are at the National Archives. | |||
* | *United States. Record and Pension Office. ''Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the Mexican War in Organizations from the State of Pennsylvania''. {{FSC|36131|item|disp=FS Library films 1314139-51}}. | ||
*Pennsylvania. Adjutant General's Office. ''Mexican Service Index, 1846-1848''. {{FSC|17958|item|disp=FS Library film 1032842 item 2}} This contains muster rolls of the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers. | |||
* | *Pennsylvania. Bureau of Audits. ''Mexican War Military Accounts, 1846-1880''. {{FSC|432586|item|disp=FS Library films 1020496-500}}. | ||
*An excellent history is Randy W. Hackenburg, ''Pennsylvania in the War with Mexico'' (Shippensburg, PA: White Mane Pub. Co., 1992; {{FSC|631065|item|disp=FS Catalog book 974.8 M2h}}. It includes the rosters and brief biographies of the men who served. | |||
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]]. <br> | |||
==Civil War (1861-1865)== | |||
[[Image:{{Template:Gettysburg1863}}]] | |||
See [[Pennsylvania in the Civil War|Pennsylvania in the Civil War]] for information about Pennsylvania Civil War records, websites, etc. with links to articles about the Pennsylvania 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 [https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/soldiers-and-sailors-database.htm 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. <br><br> | |||
'''''Online Records''''' | |||
*'''1861-1865''' {{RecordSearch|3048335|Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865}} at FamilySearch - [[Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images | |||
==Veterans of Multiple Eras (1867-1921)== | |||
*Pennsylvania State Archives. [http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp Pennsylvania National Guard Veterans' Card File, 1867-1921.] Arranged alphabetically by surname of veteran. Names generally read from left to right: Last, Middle, First. Consists of 4" x 6" cards originally maintained by the Office of the Adjutant General. Data generally shown about each veteran includes name, rank, age, physical description (height, complexion, hair and eye color), occupation and residence; the date and place of enlistment; the date and reason for discharge; and the unit (company and regiment) to which assigned. Information about federal service rendered by the veteran and the date of death or first appearance in the military records also routinely appears. | |||
*CarnegieCarnegie has an online manuscript collection of the [http://carnegiecarnegie.org/civil-war-room/manuscript-collection/ Capt. Thomas Espy Post 153 Department of Pennsylvania.] They have the following: | |||
* | :*[http://carnegiecarnegie.org/civil-war-room/manuscript-collection/completed-membership-forms/ Completed Membership Forms] | ||
* | :*[http://carnegiecarnegie.org/civil-war-room/manuscript-collection/5598-2/ Transfer Cards] | ||
* | :*[http://carnegiecarnegie.org/civil-war-room/manuscript-collection/deceased-members/ Adjutant's Report of Deceased Members] | ||
:*[http://carnegiecarnegie.org/civil-war-room/manuscript-collection/ Personal War Sketch Questionnaires] | |||
==Spanish-American War (1898)== | |||
The | 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. | ||
Pennsylvania. | *Pennsylvania. Department of Military Affairs State Veteran's Compensation Division. ''Spanish American War Veteran's Compensation File.'' {{FSC|19436|item|disp=FS Library films 1032848 (first of 46 films)}} ([http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2392 Ancestry]) ($). | ||
Pennsylvania. | *Pennsylvania. Adjutant General's Office. ''United States Volunteers of the Spanish American War, 1893-1901''. {{FSC|242458|item|disp=FS Library film 1266814}} | ||
'''Indexes''' | |||
*'''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]]; index & images 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. ([[United States, General Index to Pension Files - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to use this collection.]]) | |||
*'''1898''' {{RecordSearch|1919583|United States, Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898}} at FamilySearch - [[United States Index to Service Records, War with Spain - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images | |||
'''Service Records:''' | |||
*A card file of veterans who participated in the Spanish-American war is Pennsylvania State Archives. [http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp ''Spanish American War Veterans' Card File of United States Volunteers.''] These records were created by the Office of the Adjutant General in 1941 from information taken from the official records of the United States War Department. Information found about each veteran includes name, race, residence, place and date of birth, date and place of enlistment, military organization to which attached, rank, and dates serving overseas in either Cuba or the Philippines. Sometimes extensive comments at the bottom of the cards provide information on the reasons for, and the type of, discharge as well as a record of prior military service. | |||
*A published roster of soldiers, listing name, residence, and muster-in and muster-out dates, is Thomas J. Stewart, ''Record of Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Spanish-American War, 1898'', 2nd ed. (Harrisburg, PA: Wm. Stanley Ray, 1901; {{FSC|233992|item|disp=FS Catalog book 974.8 M2r}} and {{FSC|233992|item|disp=FS Library film 982200 item 1}}. | |||
''' Veteran Records''' | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/19436 Spanish American War Veterans Compensation File, FS Library 46 rolls] | |||
Click on the link to learn more about the [[Spanish-American War, 1898|Spanish American War]]. | |||
== | ==Philippine Insurrection (1899–1902)== | ||
Service Records: | |||
*A card file of veterans who participated in the Spanish-American war is available online from the Pennsylvania State Archives. The [http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp ''Spanish American War Veterans' Card File of United States Volunteers''] includes records for soldiers that served during the Philippine Insurrection. | |||
Pension Records: | |||
*Pennsylvania. Department of Military Affairs State Veteran's Compensation Division. ''Spanish American War Veteran's Compensation File.'' {{FSC|19436|item|disp=FS Library film 1032848}} ([http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2392 Ancestry]) ($) - includes veterans of the China Relief Expedition and the occupation of the Philippines or Guam from 1898 to 1902. | |||
==Mexican Border Campaign (1916)== | |||
*Pennsylvania State Archives. [http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp ''Mexican Border Campaign Veterans' Card File.''] These cards, bearing the title "Mexican Emergency, Call of President, June 18, 1916," contain the following information about veterans: name and rank, regiment and company, age and place of birth, a physical description (height, complexion, hair and eye color), date of commission or enlistment into service, home station and date of rendezvous, and date of acceptance into United States service. Additional remarks may indicate the date that the soldier's enlistment was to expire and the name and address of a person to be contacted in case of an emergency. All of the cards also bear a stamp indicating that a Mexican Service Medal was issued to the veteran, along with a corresponding number. | |||
==World War I (1917-1918)== | |||
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. | |||
''' | '''Draft Registration Cards''' | ||
*United States, Selective Service System, Pennsylvania, ''World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918'' (Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988; {{FSC|746997|item|disp=FS Library films 1852246 (first of 319 films)}}. 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 | ||
*'''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 | |||
See [[United States World War I Draft Records|WWI Draft Records]] for more information. | |||
Pennsylvania State Archives. | '''Pennsylvania State Archives.''' | ||
*Service Medal Applications. [http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp ''World War I Service Medal Application Cards.''] These cards were originally submitted by veterans and their survivors who applied for service medals in accordance with the Act of April 21, 1937 P.L. 331, sections 1 and 2. Information provided about each veteran consists of name and serial number, place of residence at time of entry into service, date and place the veteran entered into service, rank, military unit to which attached, place and date of honorable discharge, and the signature of the applicant. Also present are the initials of the person by whom the remittance was received and of the person acting on behalf of the Adjutant General, and each card is stamped with the date of approval. The reverse side of each card shows the name of the veteran or survivor applying for the medal, and the residence to which the medal was to be mailed. | |||
*[https://archon.klnpa.org/psa/?p=collections/controlcard&id=9014 World War I Veterans Service and Compensation File, 1917-1948] | |||
*[https://archon.klnpa.org/psa/?p=collections/controlcard&id=8760 World War I Muster Rolls for the Pennsylvania Reserve Militia, 1918-1921] | |||
*[https://archon.klnpa.org/psa/?p=collections/controlcard&id=8812 General File, Pennsylvania War History Commission, 1915-1920] | |||
'''Casualties''' | |||
*'''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 & images | |||
==World War II (1941-1945)== | |||
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. | |||
*'''1940-1945''' {{RecordSearch|2603579|Pennsylvania, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945}} at FamilySearch — [[Pennsylvania, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; index & images | |||
*'''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]]; images | |||
*'''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]]; index & images | |||
*[https://archive.org/details/pennsylvaniasele00penn/mode/2up Pennsylvania. Selective Service Local Board Areas.] | |||
*[https://archive.org/details/report00penn_2 First Report of the Selective Service System in Pennsylvania, September 16, 1940 to November 30, 1941] | |||
:Also available at:<br> | |||
= | *[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1002 Ancestry] ($) | ||
*[http://www.fold3.com/title_765/wwii_old_mans_draft_registration_cards Fold3] ($). | |||
For a brief history of Pennsylvania's involvement, see S. K. Stevens, Marvin W. Schlegel, and Joseph T. Kingston, ''Pennsylvania's Second Year at War; December 7, 1942 - December 7, 1943'' (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1945); {{FSC|648166|item|disp=FS Catalog book 974.8 M2sk}}. It includes biographies of Pennsylvanians who won the Medal of Honor and a list of Pennsylvania generals, admirals, and commodores. | |||
A series of books entitled "[[United States World War II Biographies#World War II, 1941 to 1945|Young American Patriots]]", published shortly after the war, documented the service of soldiers from different states including Pennsylvania. The series of books included photos and a short biography of some of the soldiers from the state. | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2729926 Pennsylvania, World War II photo collection and casualty cards, 1943-1945. FamilySearch Catalog] Historical Society of Pennsylvania. | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2341535 ''Honor roll : military and naval service, World War II, Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, 1941-1945'' Pennsylvania : Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, 1945?] | |||
United States | [[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 (1964–1975)== | ||
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 == | ||
*Pennsylvania National Guard Museum, Annville | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/743709 Samuel J. Newland. ''The Pennsylvania militia; the early years, 1669-1792.''Annville, Pennsylvania : Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, c1997. FS Library 974.8 M2n] | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2740725 Samuel J. Newland. ''The Pennsylvania militia : defending the Commonwealth and the nation, 1669-1870.''Annville, Pennsylvania : Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs, ©2002. FS Library 974.8 M2] | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/685519 Militia returns, 1775-1790] | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/432575 Military accounts, militia, 1793-1809] | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/432589 War of 1812 militia accounts, 1812-1827] | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/58509 Militia accounts, 1777-1794] | |||
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/481917 Thomas Lynch Montgomery, ed. Pennsylvania archives. Sixth series. 15 volumes. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania : Harrisburg Pub. Co., 1906-1907] | |||
==Other Military Records== | |||
*The [http://www.phmc.pa.gov/archives/pages/default.aspx State Archives] has limited draft and muster records for World War I (not available online). The FamilySearch Library has copies of other files from the State Archives. These include militia files, accounts, claims, and other records created during and between wars. | |||
==Websites== | |||
The | *The [http://www.phmc.pa.gov/archives/pages/default.aspx Pennsylvania State Archives] (one needs to register to use this site) has digitized a number of [http://www.digitalarchives.state.pa.us/archive.asp military records] (does not need to register to access the military records) | ||
*[http://www.americanwars.org/ American Wars] | |||
*[http://www.newhorizonsgenealogicalservices.com/ New Horizons Genealogy] | |||
{{Template:Pros-PA}} | |||
== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | |||
<br>{{Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania}} {{State Military Records}} | |||
[[Category: | [[Category:Pennsylvania_Military_Records]] |
Latest revision as of 08:46, 29 April 2024
Pennsylvania Wiki Topics |
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Beginning Research |
Record Types |
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Pennsylvania Background |
Cultural Groups |
Local Research Resources |
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Online Resources
U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records provides more links for nationwide military record collections.
- Pennsylvania, List Of British Prisoners In The American War Of Independence at Findmypast - index & images ($)
- 1775-1783 United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Pennsylvania Archive Military Indexes and Records.
- 1777-2012 Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012($), index/images
- Pennsylvania Historical and Museum, Commission, Revolutionary War Militia Battalions and Companies
- 1775-1783 Pennsylvania, Revolutionary War Battalions and Militia Index, 1775-1783 ($)
- 1775-1783 Pennsylvania, American Revolution Patriot Militia Index at Findmypast - index & images ($)
- 1775-1783 Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution: battalions and line, 1775-1783 ($)
- 1775-1783 U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls for Pennsylvania, 1775-1783 ($)
- 1775-1916 Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans Card Files, 1775-1916 at Ancestry - index and images ($)
- 1812 Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1812 ($)
- 1812-1815 U.S., War of 1812 Service Records for Pennsylvania, 1812-1815 ($)
- 1861-1865 Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1866-1879 Pennsylvania, War of 1812 Pensions, 1866-1879($), index/images
- Pennsylvania Civil War Soldiers Service Records.
- United States, Pennsylvania, Civil War Veterans' Card File at Ancestry ($), index/images
- 1860-1869 Pennsylvania, Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869($), index/image
- 1861-1866 United States, Pennsylvania, Civil War Veterans' Card File at Findmypast - index ($)
- 1866-1956 Pennsylvania, Grand Army of the Republic Membership Records, 1866-1956 at FamilySearch - index/images; also at Ancestry ($)
- 1898-1934 Pennsylvania, Spanish War Compensation, 1898-1934 ($)
- 1898 Record of Pennsylvania volunteers in the Spanish-American War, 1898 ($)
- Soldiers of the Great War, Fallen Pennsylvanians of World War I
- 1917-1919; 1934-1948 Pennsylvania, WWI Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948Index and Images.($)
- 1917-1940 United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1942 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards for Pennsylvania, 1942 ($)
- 1950-1959 Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950-1959($), index/images
- 1941-1945 United States World War II Prisoners of War of the Japanese, 1941-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- Korean Conflict State-Level Casualty Lists - Pennsylvania
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Pennsylvania
- U.S. Military Fatal Casualties of the Vietnam War for Home-State-of-Record: Pennsylvania
Introduction
Many military records are found at the FamilySearch Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives.
A helpful bibliography is John B. B. Trussell, Pennsylvania Military History (Carlisle Barracks, PA: [s. n.], 1974; FS Catalog book 973 B4ua no. 10. It includes items from the colonial period through World War II.
Many volumes of the Pennsylvania Archives (see Pennsylvania Genealogy) contain transcripts of military records, such as rosters and muster rolls. The appropriate volumes and series are referred to below.
Forts
- Carlisle Barracks -- Textual records of this fort, 1829-1879, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
- Fort Cumberland
- Fort Duquesne
- Fort Granville
- Fort Hand
- Fort Ligonier
- Fort McIntosh 1778-91
- Fort Mifflin -- Textual records of this fort, 1841-1901, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).
- Fort Necessity
- Fort Pitt
- Fort Venango
Colonial Wars (1744-1775)
- The earliest documents appear to be Records of 17th Century Soldiers in New Sweden: 1637-1655 (microfilm of originals at the Gloucester County Historical Society, Woodbury, New Jersey; FS Library film 1510234 item 4. It contains mainly lists of soldiers and is written in German and Swedish.
- Names of soldiers and their companies in the colonial period, 1744-1765, are in the 5th series, volume 1 of the Pennsylvania Archives FS Library book 974.8 A39p; FS Library film 844572 item 2; FS Library fiche 6019913. These records often give the state or country of birth. Sometimes even a more specific locality is indicated.
- "Register of the Pennsylvania Society of the Colonial Dames of America" published in 1907 (Google Books) (Worldcat) - lists women who are members of the society and a description of the ancestors military or political service.
Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
A man born between 1730 and 1765 who lived in Pennsylvania is probably listed in some form of military record. If he supported the Revolution, he may be mentioned in records as a rebel, patriot, or Whig. Those who opposed the Revolution were called Loyalists or Tories. Read more in the Pennsylvania in the Revolutionary War article.
Loyalists or Tories
Few, if any, Scotch-Irish settlers fought for the British.[1] Names of Loyalists may be found in:
- Pennsylvania, Supreme Executive Council, Forfeited Estates File, 1777-1790 (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, [1978?]; FS Library film 1759092 item 2 FS Library film 1759093 item 1. Records are alphabetically arranged by name of the estate holder with some files arranged by county.
- Records of forfeited estates are also found in Pennsylvania Archives, series 6, volumes 12-13. See Guide to the Microfilm of the Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790 in Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries section for a list of the names in these records.
Another list of these names is:
- Anne M. Ousterhout, Opponents of the Revolution Whose Pennsylvania Estates Were Confiscated, Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 30 (1976): 237-53. See Pennsylvania Periodicals.
A small list of these individuals is:
- Black List: A List of Those Who Took Part With Great Britain in the Revolutionary War, and Were Attainted of High Treason, Commonly Called the Black List microreproduction of original published: Philadelphia: [s. n.], 1802; FS Library film 1688885.
Patriots or Revolutionaries
To understand how the Pennsylvania militia system worked, including why units composed of the same men from the same area were renumbered, see "Revolutionary War Militia Battalions and Companies, Arranged by County." Few of these men, of course, received pensions. For the men who did receive pensions from the state, see the index of Pennsylvania Revolutionary pensioners prepared by Pennsylvania State Archives. It is available for free online.
For patriot records of the Revolutionary War, see:
- Pennsylvania State Archives. Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File. Enter "Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File" in search field. Arranged alphabetically by surname of soldier. The abstract card file contains transcriptions of data extracted from original records in the custody of the State Archives concerning Revolutionary War service in the Pennsylvania Militia, Pennsylvania Line, and the Navy. Note that duty after November 1783 is not considered Revolutionary War service. Information provided is name and rank of soldier, whether active or inactive duty, county of residence, battalion in which served, and record from which information was extracted. Also noted are whether soldier was delinquent and fined or whether militia fines were abated.
- Pennsylvania State Archives. Militia Officers Index Cards, 1775-1800. Index card file of the names of Pennsylvania militia officers who served during the American Revolution, in Indian campaigns in northwestern Pennsylvania, and in quelling the Whiskey Rebellion. The cards are arranged alphabetically by surname of officer. Information provided is name, county, rank, company or battalion, dates of service, township, and occasionally district within township. In rare cases, other pertinent information is provided such as place of burial, wounds received, names of children, names of any expeditions or campaigns, name of person whom they succeeded, and date discharged.
- White, Virgil D. Genealogical Abstracts of the Revolutionary War Pension Files. 4 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1990. FS Catalog book 973 M28g. May include the soldier's name, unit, dates and places of service and application, age, birth date, marriage date, residences, and names of relatives. These abstracts are mainly from the United States, Veterans Administration, Selected Records from Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files (Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969; FS Library films FS Library films 840256-406. The FamilySearch Library only has microfilms for surnames starting with A or B. The National Archives has microfilm for all surnames.
- White, Virgil D. Index to Revolutionary War Service Records. 4 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1995. FS Library film 973 M22wv. Shows the name, rank, and unit of over 390,000 patriots. Transcripts of United States, Adjutant General's Office, General Index to Compiled Military Service Records of Revolutionary Ward Soldiers (Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1942; FamilySearch Library FS Library films 882841-98.
The service records and pension files for Revolutionary War patriots are available at the FamilySearch Library.
You can also use NATF Form 80 to obtain copies of the original records from the National Archives. You can also go online to order these records at http://www.archives.gov/
The FamilySearch Library has copies of many service records and the complete federal pension files from the National Archives. For example, see United States, War Department, Revolutionary War Rolls 1775- 1783, Pennsylvania Jackets 1-93 FS Library films 830359-63. These rolls are filed by military unit. Published rosters of soldiers are in the following volumes of the Pennsylvania Archives, FS Library books 974.8 A39p and microfilms listed below:
- 2nd series, vols. 10-11 FS Library film 908829 item 2 and FS Library film 908830 item 1
- 2nd series, vols. 13-15 FS Library film 823997 item 2 and FS Library film 823998 items 1-2
- 3rd series, vol. 23 FS Library film 824434 item 2
- 5th series. vols. 2-8 FS Library films 844573-77 item 1
- 6th series, vols. 1-2 FS Library films 844562-63
An index to volumes 10, 11, 13, and 14 of the 2nd series is also at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Index to Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution: Battalions and Line, 1775-1783; Associated Battalions and Militia, 1775-1783 FS Library film 539073 (first of 10 films).
- Another useful printed source is Harry E. Cope, Soldiers and Widows of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War Granted Pensions by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania FS Catalog book 974.8 M2c and FS Library film 1036819 item 26. Some of the names in this book are also found in the federal pension records. See United States Military Records for information about those records. Records for some individuals in the above title are also in Pennsylvania, Auditor General's Office, Revolutionary War Pension File, 1809-1893 FS Library films 1016413-15. The films include names that are not in the book.
The 1813 Pension List:
- 1813 Pension List (New Horizons Genealogy)
The 1818 Pensioners of the United States:
- 1818 Pensioners of the United States (New Horizons Genealogy)
The 1820 Pension List:
- 1820 Pension List (New Horizons Genealogy)
The 1835 Pension Roll
On June 5, 1834, the U.S. Senate required the Secretary of War to submit a statement showing the names of pensioners who were on the pension rolls or had previously been on the pension rolls. For more information on the 1835 Pension Roll see Revolutionary War Pension Records. The 1835 Pension Roll for Pennsylvania is available online.
- Report from the Secretary of War... Vol. II (Google Books)
- The Pension Roll of 1835, Vol. II (Ancestry) ($)
The following sources from the Pennsylvania State Archives are also available at the FamilySearch Library:
For early payment records, see Pennsylvania, Comptroller General, Revolutionary War Pension Accounts, 1785-1809, 1834-1838 FS Library film 295743 items 4-9.
For an account of the payments to pensioners, see Pennsylvania, Auditor General, Revolutionary War Pension Accounts, 1807-1883 (FamilySearch Library FS Library films 1027856-9. The soldier's death date may be found in these records.
For a list of burials, see Daughters of the American Revolution, Lycoming Chapter (Williamsport, Pennsylvania), Revolutionary War Veterans Interred in Pennsylvania, volume 1 FS Library film 441387. This is a micro-reproduction of an original typescript at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It often just lists the name of the soldier and the cemetery.
Military Abstract Card File for the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. FS Library films 1205961 (first of 42 films). This file has been abstracted from original documents in the custody of the Pennsylvania State Archives and is arranged alphabetically by soldier's name in four file units.
Pennsylvania. Comptroller General. Military Accounts, Line, 1775-1809. FS Library films 1027962-70. The Military Abstract Card File is an index to these records. It includes clothing allowances, letters of attorney, probate actions, military rolls, documents regarding payment, affidavits, etc., filed by military unit.
Additional records that could prove helpful are Pennsylvania, Comptroller General, Militia Military Accounts, 1777-1794 FS Library films 1023007 (first of 38 films). They are arranged by county, militia period, and battalion and include many lists of names, etc., such as why a person was unable to serve in the military.
For information about the federal soldiers from Pennsylvania (the Pennsylvania Line), see John B. B. Trussell, Jr., The Pennsylvania Line, Regimental Organization and Operations, 1776-1783 (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1977; FS Catalog book 974.8 M2tp.
War of 1812 (1812-1815)
The War of 1812 between Britain and the United States confirmed the separate existence of the United States and the future Canada.
See the Wiki article, Pennsylvania in the War of 1812, for information concerning military records, histories, links to relevant websites, etc. for Pennsylvania.
There are helpful nationwide records for soldiers of the War of 1812. For more information, see United States in the War of 1812.
Mexican War (1846-1848)
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.
- 1846-1848 United States Mexican War Index and Service Records, 1846-1848 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Mexican War Index to Pension Files, 1887–1926. (NARA T317). 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:
- 1887-1926 United States, Mexican War Pension Index, 1887-1926 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Robarts, William Hugh. Mexican War Veterans : A Complete Roster of the Regular and Volunteer Troops in the War Between the United States and Mexico, from 1846-1848… Washington, D.C. : Brentano’s, 1887. FS Catalog book 973 M2rwh Digital version available at Internet Archive.
- An alphabetical list of soldiers enrolled in Pennsylvania is in Pennsylvania Archives, series 6, volume 10, pp. 249-458. Volumes 36-38 of the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine (see the "Periodicals" section) also has a list of names.
The FamilySearch Library has the following records and an index to pensions, but the actual pension records are at the National Archives.
- United States. Record and Pension Office. Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the Mexican War in Organizations from the State of Pennsylvania. FS Library films 1314139-51.
- Pennsylvania. Adjutant General's Office. Mexican Service Index, 1846-1848. FS Library film 1032842 item 2 This contains muster rolls of the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers.
- Pennsylvania. Bureau of Audits. Mexican War Military Accounts, 1846-1880. FS Library films 1020496-500.
- An excellent history is Randy W. Hackenburg, Pennsylvania in the War with Mexico (Shippensburg, PA: White Mane Pub. Co., 1992; FS Catalog book 974.8 M2h. It includes the rosters and brief biographies of the men who served.
Click on these links to learn more about the Mexican War and about Mexican War pension records.
Civil War (1861-1865)
See Pennsylvania in the Civil War for information about Pennsylvania Civil War records, websites, etc. with links to articles about the Pennsylvania 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.
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Pennsylvania, Register of Military Volunteers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Veterans of Multiple Eras (1867-1921)
- Pennsylvania State Archives. Pennsylvania National Guard Veterans' Card File, 1867-1921. Arranged alphabetically by surname of veteran. Names generally read from left to right: Last, Middle, First. Consists of 4" x 6" cards originally maintained by the Office of the Adjutant General. Data generally shown about each veteran includes name, rank, age, physical description (height, complexion, hair and eye color), occupation and residence; the date and place of enlistment; the date and reason for discharge; and the unit (company and regiment) to which assigned. Information about federal service rendered by the veteran and the date of death or first appearance in the military records also routinely appears.
- CarnegieCarnegie has an online manuscript collection of the Capt. Thomas Espy Post 153 Department of Pennsylvania. They have the following:
Spanish-American War (1898)
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.
- Pennsylvania. Department of Military Affairs State Veteran's Compensation Division. Spanish American War Veteran's Compensation File. FS Library films 1032848 (first of 46 films) (Ancestry) ($).
- Pennsylvania. Adjutant General's Office. United States Volunteers of the Spanish American War, 1893-1901. FS Library film 1266814
Indexes
- 1861-1934 United States, General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images 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. (How to use this collection.)
- 1898 United States, Index to Service Records, War with Spain, 1898 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Service Records:
- A card file of veterans who participated in the Spanish-American war is Pennsylvania State Archives. Spanish American War Veterans' Card File of United States Volunteers. These records were created by the Office of the Adjutant General in 1941 from information taken from the official records of the United States War Department. Information found about each veteran includes name, race, residence, place and date of birth, date and place of enlistment, military organization to which attached, rank, and dates serving overseas in either Cuba or the Philippines. Sometimes extensive comments at the bottom of the cards provide information on the reasons for, and the type of, discharge as well as a record of prior military service.
- A published roster of soldiers, listing name, residence, and muster-in and muster-out dates, is Thomas J. Stewart, Record of Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Spanish-American War, 1898, 2nd ed. (Harrisburg, PA: Wm. Stanley Ray, 1901; FS Catalog book 974.8 M2r and FS Library film 982200 item 1.
Veteran Records
Click on the link to learn more about the Spanish American War.
Philippine Insurrection (1899–1902)
Service Records:
- A card file of veterans who participated in the Spanish-American war is available online from the Pennsylvania State Archives. The Spanish American War Veterans' Card File of United States Volunteers includes records for soldiers that served during the Philippine Insurrection.
Pension Records:
- Pennsylvania. Department of Military Affairs State Veteran's Compensation Division. Spanish American War Veteran's Compensation File. FS Library film 1032848 (Ancestry) ($) - includes veterans of the China Relief Expedition and the occupation of the Philippines or Guam from 1898 to 1902.
Mexican Border Campaign (1916)
- Pennsylvania State Archives. Mexican Border Campaign Veterans' Card File. These cards, bearing the title "Mexican Emergency, Call of President, June 18, 1916," contain the following information about veterans: name and rank, regiment and company, age and place of birth, a physical description (height, complexion, hair and eye color), date of commission or enlistment into service, home station and date of rendezvous, and date of acceptance into United States service. Additional remarks may indicate the date that the soldier's enlistment was to expire and the name and address of a person to be contacted in case of an emergency. All of the cards also bear a stamp indicating that a Mexican Service Medal was issued to the veteran, along with a corresponding number.
World War I (1917-1918)
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.
Draft Registration Cards
- United States, Selective Service System, Pennsylvania, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988; FS Library films 1852246 (first of 319 films). Also available at:
- 1917-1918 United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1917-1919 United States, YMCA World War I Service Cards, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
See WWI Draft Records for more information.
Pennsylvania State Archives.
- Service Medal Applications. World War I Service Medal Application Cards. These cards were originally submitted by veterans and their survivors who applied for service medals in accordance with the Act of April 21, 1937 P.L. 331, sections 1 and 2. Information provided about each veteran consists of name and serial number, place of residence at time of entry into service, date and place the veteran entered into service, rank, military unit to which attached, place and date of honorable discharge, and the signature of the applicant. Also present are the initials of the person by whom the remittance was received and of the person acting on behalf of the Adjutant General, and each card is stamped with the date of approval. The reverse side of each card shows the name of the veteran or survivor applying for the medal, and the residence to which the medal was to be mailed.
- World War I Veterans Service and Compensation File, 1917-1948
- World War I Muster Rolls for the Pennsylvania Reserve Militia, 1918-1921
- General File, Pennsylvania War History Commission, 1915-1920
Casualties
- 1917-1919 United States, World War I American Expeditionary Forces Deaths, 1917-1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
World War II (1941-1945)
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.
- 1940-1945 Pennsylvania, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1942 United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 (Image Browse) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; images
- 1942 United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- Pennsylvania. Selective Service Local Board Areas.
- First Report of the Selective Service System in Pennsylvania, September 16, 1940 to November 30, 1941
- Also available at:
For a brief history of Pennsylvania's involvement, see S. K. Stevens, Marvin W. Schlegel, and Joseph T. Kingston, Pennsylvania's Second Year at War; December 7, 1942 - December 7, 1943 (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1945); FS Catalog book 974.8 M2sk. It includes biographies of Pennsylvanians who won the Medal of Honor and a list of Pennsylvania generals, admirals, and commodores.
A series of books entitled "Young American Patriots", published shortly after the war, documented the service of soldiers from different states including Pennsylvania. The series of books included photos and a short biography of some of the soldiers from the state.
- Pennsylvania, World War II photo collection and casualty cards, 1943-1945. FamilySearch Catalog Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
- Honor roll : military and naval service, World War II, Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, 1941-1945 Pennsylvania : Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, 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 Korean War wiki article for information on records and their availability.
Vietnam War (1964–1975)
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 Vietnam War wiki article for information on records and their availability.
Militia - National Guard
- Pennsylvania National Guard Museum, Annville
- Samuel J. Newland. The Pennsylvania militia; the early years, 1669-1792.Annville, Pennsylvania : Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, c1997. FS Library 974.8 M2n
- Samuel J. Newland. The Pennsylvania militia : defending the Commonwealth and the nation, 1669-1870.Annville, Pennsylvania : Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs, ©2002. FS Library 974.8 M2
- Militia returns, 1775-1790
- Military accounts, militia, 1793-1809
- War of 1812 militia accounts, 1812-1827
- Militia accounts, 1777-1794
- Thomas Lynch Montgomery, ed. Pennsylvania archives. Sixth series. 15 volumes. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania : Harrisburg Pub. Co., 1906-1907
Other Military Records
- The State Archives has limited draft and muster records for World War I (not available online). The FamilySearch Library has copies of other files from the State Archives. These include militia files, accounts, claims, and other records created during and between wars.
Websites
- The Pennsylvania State Archives (one needs to register to use this site) has digitized a number of military records (does not need to register to access the military records)
- American Wars
- New Horizons Genealogy
References
- ↑ Wayland F. Dunaway, The Scotch-Irish of Colonial Pennsylvania (Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1944), 155-156. Free digital version at PA's Past: Digital Bookshelf at Penn State.
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