United States, Union Provost Marshal's File of Papers Relating to Civilians - FamilySearch Historical Records: Difference between revisions

The collection was digitized from microfilm and is arranged alphabetically by the first two or three letters of the surname. It consists of correspondence, provost court papers, lists of transportation permits, claims for compensation for property used or destroyed by military forces, affidavits, oaths of loyalty and other lists. Although the records were kept by the Union Army, they primarily deal with information about confederate citizens and union citizens who were suspected of supporting the confederate cause. itary police of the Union army. They dealt with a wide range of individuals including those who were suspected of disloyalty or of giving aid to the enemy, who violated military orders, were prisoners, were authorized to travel in or to enter the Confederate states, and others. During the war each division, brigade, and corps of the Union Army had a provost marshal. 

This collection covers the years from 1861 through 1866. 

<br>[[United States, Union Provost Marshal's File of Papers Relating to Civilians (FamilySearch Historical Records)#Citation_Example_for_a_Record_Found_in_This_Collection|Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.]]  

<gallery perrow="3" heights="120px" widths="160px">

To search the collection <br> ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page <br> ⇒Select "Select a surname range" which takes you to the images.  

Provost marshal records can be used to place an individual in a specific location at a specific time. They can show how individual citizens were involved in the Civil War. They may also indicate the profession of the civilian, as well as other biographical information.

When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct. These records may give initials rather than full names so you should use caution in determining if the record is for your ancestor. If you are unable to find the ancestors you are looking for, check for variant spellings of the surnames.  

When you have located a document about your ancestor, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example, use the residence or locality listed to find the family in census, church and land records.