The genesis of CMSRs can be traced back to the 1890s when the War Department envisioned a systematic documentation of the military service of each Volunteer soldier. These records, transcribed meticulously from original muster and pay rolls, regimental returns, and other sources, were used as to verify the claims that soldiers were making in their pension applications. Instead of pulling out the muster rolls, medical records, and prisoner of war records over and over again, these packets were created to help the clerks process the pension applications quicker. This sped up the process of approving pension applications, but also helped to preserve the original records by limiting the number of times those needed to be accessed.
Initially crafted for Union veterans of the Civil War, CMSRs later expanded to encompass state Volunteers from various conflicts, creating a comprehensive archive spanning the Revolutionary War through the Philippine Insurrection. The National Archives now stands as the custodian of these historical documents, waiting to unveil the untold stories of your ancestors.
At the core of the CMSR is an envelope (jacket) housing numbered cards, each representing a mention of the soldier in official documents. These cards provide a chronological account of a soldier's military engagements, indicating presence or absence during specific periods. But the richness of these records extends beyond mere attendance logs; they could potentially unveil personal details such as:
Additionally, CMSRs may contain what’s known as "personal papers,” offering a fascinating glimpse into the soldier's life. From enlistment papers to records of capture and release as a prisoner of war, these extra documents add layers to your ancestor's story. However, it's essential to note that CMSRs do not often disclose parentage or next-of-kin details, and details about battles are often absent, requiring additional research.
For those beginning this historical journey, the good news is that CMSRs for the Revolutionary War, the Post-Revolutionary period, and the Civil War (including both Confederate and some Union organizations) are available online at www.ancestry.com and www.fold3.com. However, not all CMSRs have been digitized in full, with some residing exclusively at the National Archives.
As a dedicated service, we at Civil War Records provide an avenue for you to access these records efficiently and cost-effectively. Leveraging our expertise, we streamline the process, ensuring quicker retrieval from the National Archives. Complied Military Service Records are just the tip of the iceberg – our services extend to abundance of records available at the National Archives in Washington D.C.
Imagine uncovering the tales of resilience, sacrifice, and heroism embedded in your family's military legacy. The journey begins with understanding and ordering records such as Compiled Military Service Records. Let Civil War Records be your guide to unlocking the past. Visit us today to begin your historical journey to connect with those courageous ancestors who helped shape your family's narrative.
In conclusion, the Compiled Military Service Records housed at the National Archives are indispensable resources for genealogists. They offer a window into the past, allowing us to piece together the stories of our ancestors who served in various conflicts. As we navigate the labyrinth of historical documents, one question emerges: What untold stories will you discover as you delve into these military records of your ancestors?
]]>Unlike service records from major conflicts, peacetime enlistment papers are not as readily accessible. They are not available online and can only be obtained from the National Archives in Washington, D.C. However, the effort required to obtain these records is well worth it, as they can provide a wealth of information that is not found elsewhere.
In addition to the standard information such as the soldier’s name and regiment, peacetime enlistment papers often include:
In some cases, enlistment papers may also include additional information such as:
The unique value of peacetime enlistment papers lies in their firsthand nature. These are not simply records created by government bureaucrats; they are documents that were signed (or marked) by the soldiers themselves. As such, they offer a tangible connection to an ancestor's past.
For example, a researcher might find an enlistment paper that includes a detailed description of their ancestor's physical appearance. This information can be used to create a more vivid image of the ancestor in the researcher's mind. Additionally, the signature or mark on the enlistment paper can provide a sense of the ancestor's literacy level and handwriting style.
Some points of clarification:
If you have found an ancestor who served in the Regular Army during peacetime, I encourage you to consider ordering their enlistment papers from the National Archives. These unique documents can provide valuable insights into your ancestor's life and military service.
If you’re looking for these enlistment papers for your soldier, you can order them here. I’m on site at the National Archives on a regular basis and would be happy to help you find your ancestor’s papers!
Directly below: Abraham Tilford, a 22 year old boatman born in Rye, New York, enlisted in the Regular Army in 1820. He was six feet tall with light complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He left his mark instead of signing the paper, indicating that he may have had limited literacy skills.
Further below: Twenty year old John Dilford from Harrodsburg, Kentucky enlisted in the Regular Army when he was 20 years old Because he was under the age of 21, his mother Sarah had to sign off and give her permission.
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This was the case when I stumbled upon a new direct ancestor of mine from the Civil War, a revelation that shed light on the incredible value of pension files and the indirect evidence they contain.
For years, I had proudly stated that I was the direct descendant of six Civil War veterans. I thought that I had found all of my Civil War ancestors in my family tree. Little did I know, an elusive seventh ancestor was waiting to be uncovered, concealed behind what seemed like an impenetrable brick wall.
My new found ancestor's pension file is a prime example of the indirect evidence that can lead to remarkable revelations. My journey to unearth this ancestor began with my unknown fourth great-grandfather. The only real clue I had was a death certificate for his daughter in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He was recorded as “Elie Conn,” with a wife named Nancy Cunningham. He remained a mystery for some time, because none of my searches revealed anyone named Elie Conn who fit his description.
(Death certificate of my ancestor Anna (Susannah) Rankin, showing parents Elie Conn and Nancy Cunningham)
One candidate I found was a man named Abner Conn (not Elie) married to Nancy, living in Fayette county. He was the right age to have served in the Civil War, so on a hunch, I searched through the pension index cards on Ancestry.com. Sure enough, there was a man with that name in the index from Pennsylvania.
I was so anxious to figure this out that on my very first visit back to the National Archives after Covid, I scanned the pension file for Abner Conn. I was hoping there would either be something in there that listed his children’s names, or some kind of direct evidence showing that he was, in fact, the right person. Unfortunately, no such direct evidence existed in that file. He was from Fayette county, Pennsylvania, but other than that, I couldn’t match him to my ancestor.
The file was put aside for a year or two before I looked at it again. There was a clue in there that I did notice at first, but hadn’t looked at it carefully: One of the affidavits in the pension file was from a man named Henry Cunningham.
Cunningham…does that name sound familiar? I knew that Abner's wife’s name was likely Nancy Cunningham, so that affidavit held the key. Henry Cunningham detailed his long-standing acquaintance with Abner Conn, stretching back to their Civil War days. The clue that I had missed at first was that he explained that he and Abner Conn had even shared a residence for several years after the war.
(Henry Cunningham's affidavit, stating that he not only knew Abner Conn, but lived with him, a clue that proved vital to establishing a family connection)
Given my belief that Nancy Cunningham was my ancestor's wife, this revelation held tremendous weight. Reading between the lines, Henry Cunningham's assertion of cohabitation hinted towards a familial connection rather than a mere camaraderie formed on the battlefield. This piece of the puzzle illuminated the path ahead, inspiring me to explore the Cunningham lineage further.
More research into the Cunningham family confirmed what I had suspected: Henry Cunningham does appear to be my ancestor Nancy's brother, and Abner Conn does seem to be the father of my ancestor. The affidavit, seemingly innocuous at first glance, held the key to dismantling a longstanding brick wall within my family tree. It underscored the genealogical value of military pension files, with their affidavits and insights, in unlocking ancestral connections.
(1850 Census record in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, showing Nancy Cunningham with a brother Henry. Henry's connection to both Nancy and her future husband Abner Conn helped link the two together)
This discovery marked my seventh direct ancestor with ties to the Civil War, a milestone that underscored the importance of embracing every available resource in genealogical research. Beyond the thrill of expanding my family tree, this journey highlighted the significance of indirect evidence, showcasing that even the smallest clue can set in motion a series of revelations that ultimately reshape our understanding of the past.
The tale of my newfound Civil War ancestor serves as a testament to the hidden treasures that pension files can hold. It's a reminder that these documents are not mere bureaucratic records; they are windows into the lives, relationships, and stories of those who came before us. While they might not always offer direct answers, they possess the potential to guide us toward the truths we seek.
The moral of the story is this—don’t overlook the indirect evidence these files can contain! Embrace the breadcrumbs of information within these files, for they have the potential to illuminate entire branches of your family tree. Every affidavit, every testimony, and every piece of correspondence carries the potential to bridge gaps and dissolve uncertainties, offering a clearer view of your ancestors' lives.
So excuse me while I update my bio now—I’m now the direct descendant of SEVEN Civil War soldiers!
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The Homestead Acts allowed any adult citizen or head of household to claim 160 acres of public land. To claim a homestead, the applicant had to file a claim with the government and live on the land for five years. After five years, the applicant could then file for a patent, which gave them full ownership of the land.
The Homestead Acts were passed for a number of reasons. One reason was to encourage settlement of the western United States. Another reason was to provide land for former slaves and other marginalized groups. The Homestead Acts were also seen as a way to promote economic development and self-sufficiency.
The records created during the process of homesteading can be a valuable resource for family historians. By searching the Bureau of Land Management - General Land Office Records database, you can determine whether your ancestors claimed homesteads. The information in the database will include the name of the individual, the location of the homestead, and the date the homestead was claimed. That index can be found here: https://glorecords.blm.gov/search/default.aspx#
If you find an ancestor who homesteaded, you will want to examine their complete homestead file from the National Archives, because it often contains a wealth of information that would be of interest.
For example, you can learn more about their age, marital status, occupation, and financial resources. You can also learn about the home they lived in at the time, the way they were managing their land, and other information related to their socio-economic status.
In addition to this basic information, homestead records can also provide insights into your ancestors' values and beliefs. For example, if your ancestor chose to homestead in a remote area, this suggests that they may have valued self-sufficiency and independence. If your ancestor homesteaded with their family, this suggests that they may have valued family and community.
Although some homestead records have been digitized, the majority can be found only at the National Archives (NARA).
Not only are homestead records a valuable resource for family historians, but they also offer a unique glimpse into the lives of homesteaders and the challenges they faced and can provide us with a valuable record of the history of the American landscape.
If you’re interested in learning more about your homesteading ancestors, contact me today so I can help you get your ancestor’s homestead file from the National Archives. www.CivilWarRecords.com
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(Letters in these pension files often would have the crucial parts of the letter underlined by the pension bureau. Since the purpose of including this letter was to prove the affection that Newman had toward his father, you can see what the pension bureau thought were the important lines.)
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Looking for your ancestor's Civil War records? Contact us and let us help you out! We're on site at the National Archives and have helped hundreds of people find their Civil War soldiers there. We go to DC so you don't have to!
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A common misconception out there is that most of the military records from the National Archives are online already. This is far from being accurate though. I’m doing a series of posts, explaining what records are online and what ones are only available at the National Archives for Civil War and War of 1812 soldiers. You may be surprised!
Military pension files can be some of the best genealogical sources you can access for your ancestors. Often times there are details about the soldier, his service, his friends and neighbors, and his family. For this reason, pension files are the go-to resource when it comes to researching a War of 1812 soldier. But are they online?
I’m happy to say that this is one of the few record groups out there that are, in fact, online. Most of them, at least. It’s still a work in progress, but many of these pensions are digitized on Fold3.com. When Covid hit, they were in the middle of digitizing the S names. Once things get back to normal, that project should resume.
If your ancestor falls alphabetically T-Z, those pension files are only going to be available at the National Archives. So you’ll have to wait until they finish the project in order to view those. (If you don’t want to wait that long, let me know and I can get the file for you.)
The other piece of good news is that even if you don’t have a paid subscription to Fold3, you can access all of the War of 1812 pensions. They made an agreement that those files would be available free of charge to anyone, regardless if they have a membership there or not. You can access those at https://www.fold3.com/browse/h5iT6dgqR?military.conflict=War+of+1812
Not all War of 1812 soldier got pensions though. Many people are surprised to find out that most of the War of 1812 pensions weren’t issued until 1871, which was 56 years after the war ended. Many soldiers and/or their widows didn’t live long enough to be eligible for a War of 1812 pension.
(By the way, if you’ve never found a pension for your military ancestor in the indexes on Ancestry or Fold3, check out the Old War pension index https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1979425. Those pension files aren’t online, but I can help you get those files from the National Archives too.)
Looking for information about your military ancestors? Let us help! We make regular trips to the National Archives (once they reopen from Covid, that is...) and have helped hundreds of people get their ancestor’s military records in their hands.
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What stories are in your ancestor's Civil War records at the National Archives? Contact us to help us get your ancestor's records in your hands! www.CivilWarRecords.com
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