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Step 1. Identify an Ancestor You Wish to Find in Military Records | == Step 1. Identify an Ancestor You Wish to Find in Military Records == | ||
Begin your research with family and home sources. You may already know of ancestors who were in the military. You may find evidence that an ancestor served in the military from family traditions, census records, naturalization records, biographies, cemetery records, or records of veterans’ organizations. | |||
You may find an ancestor in a federal military record if he: | You may find an ancestor in a federal military record if he: | ||
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If you do not know if your ancestor served in the military, the year of birth may indicate the possibility. Most people who were in the military were between 18 and 30 years of age. Use the war chronology below to see if your ancestor could have served during wartime. | If you do not know if your ancestor served in the military, the year of birth may indicate the possibility. Most people who were in the military were between 18 and 30 years of age. Use the war chronology below to see if your ancestor could have served during wartime. | ||
The major wars of the colonial period are: | |||
King William’s War (War of the League of Augsburg), 1689 to 1697 Queen Anne’s War (War of the Spanish Succession), 1702 to 1713 King George’s War (War of Austrian Succession), 1744 to 1748 French and Indian (Seven Years) War, 1754 to 1763 | King William’s War (War of the League of Augsburg), 1689 to 1697 Queen Anne’s War (War of the Spanish Succession), 1702 to 1713 King George’s War (War of Austrian Succession), 1744 to 1748 French and Indian (Seven Years) War, 1754 to 1763 | ||
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The major wars of the national period are: | The major wars of the national period are: | ||
Revolutionary War, 1775 to 1783 War of 1812, 1812 to 1815 Indian Wars, 1780s to 1890s Mexican War, 1846 to 1848 Civil War, 1861 to 1865 Spanish-American War, 1898 Philippine Insurrection, 1899 to 1902 World War I, 1917 to 1918 World War II, 1941 to 1945 Korean War, 1950 to 1953 Vietnam War, 1965 to 1973 | |||
People who did not serve during a war may have served during peacetime. During the colonial period, most able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60 were expected to participate in a local militia unit. These units were organized either by town, county, or province. The militia’s main role was local defense. | People who did not serve during a war may have served during peacetime. During the colonial period, most able-bodied men between the ages of 16 and 60 were expected to participate in a local militia unit. These units were organized either by town, county, or province. The militia’s main role was local defense. | ||
After the Revolutionary War, each state retained some form of militia, though in the years before the Civil War, many of these organizations fell into disuse. These volunteer units were the forerunners of today’s National Guard. | |||
Write down what you already know, including the following: | Write down what you already know, including the following: | ||
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In most cases, you can learn the unit from sources at the Family History Library, such as service and pension indexes, regimental or unit histories, county histories, or tombstone inscriptions. Home sources, such as photographs, discharge papers, pension records, or records of membership in a veteran organization, may also provide clues. | In most cases, you can learn the unit from sources at the Family History Library, such as service and pension indexes, regimental or unit histories, county histories, or tombstone inscriptions. Home sources, such as photographs, discharge papers, pension records, or records of membership in a veteran organization, may also provide clues. | ||
== Step 2. Decide What You Want to Learn == | |||
Decide what information you want to know about your ancestor, such as his or her birth date and place, spouse, marriage date, or burial place. | |||
Step 3. Select a Record to Search | == Step 3. Select a Record to Search == | ||
Several factors can affect your choice of which records to search. This outline can help you evaluate which specific military record would be most helpful. If you know the unit, it is usually best to begin with pension files, since they usually have the most information on the soldier’s family. If you do not know your ancestor’s military unit, you may need to first identify the ancestor in service records. | |||
See the section “Types of Military Records,” to learn about the various military records used for family history research. The “Records | See the section “Types of Military Records,” to learn about the various military records used for family history research. The “Records | ||
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Selection Table” below can also help you decide which records to search. | Selection Table” below can also help you decide which records to search. | ||
Step 4. Find and Search the Record | == Step 4. Find and Search the Record == | ||
This section describes the major archives that have U.S. military records. When one of these institutions is referred to elsewhere in this outline, return to this section for the address. | |||
If you plan to visit one of these archives, contact them and ask for information about their collections, restrictions, hours, services, and fees. | If you plan to visit one of these archives, contact them and ask for information about their collections, restrictions, hours, services, and fees. | ||
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Many of the records discussed in this outline are from the National Archives. Several major indexes and some collections are on microfilm and available for use at the National Archives regional centers and at other research libraries. Those available on microfilm are referred to by their title and publication number (“M” or “T” series number). Most of the original military records have not been microfilmed, however, and are available only at the National Archives. Those not on film are sometimes referred to in this outline by the record group number in which they are located. Record groups contain the records of a bureau, agency, or department of the federal government. | Many of the records discussed in this outline are from the National Archives. Several major indexes and some collections are on microfilm and available for use at the National Archives regional centers and at other research libraries. Those available on microfilm are referred to by their title and publication number (“M” or “T” series number). Most of the original military records have not been microfilmed, however, and are available only at the National Archives. Those not on film are sometimes referred to in this outline by the record group number in which they are located. Record groups contain the records of a bureau, agency, or department of the federal government. | ||
The National Archives does not perform research for patrons. When exact identifying information is given, the Archives can furnish photocopies of records for a fee. You can obtain photocopies of compiled service records, pension application files, and bounty land warrant application files by using NATF form 80, “National Archives Order for Copies of Veteran Records,” available from the National Archives. The address is: | |||
General Reference Branch (NNRG) <br>National Archives and Records Administration <br>8th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. <br>Washington, D.C. 20408 <br>Telephone: 202-501-5400 <br>Internet: http://www.nara.gov <br>The archives staff will copy only selected documents unless you request copies of all the documents in a file. | General Reference Branch (NNRG) <br>National Archives and Records Administration <br>8th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. <br>Washington, D.C. 20408 <br>Telephone: 202-501-5400 <br>Internet: http://www.nara.gov <br>The archives staff will copy only selected documents unless you request copies of all the documents in a file. | ||