We’ve talked generally about the laws behind Civil War Pension records, and outlined how to order copies of them. Once you receive your ancestor’s pension file, a new challenge arises. Many at this point find themselves sitting before a large, intimidating stack of papers all shuffled together, unorganized and difficult to decipher. The next fewContinue reading “Interpreting Your Ancestor’s Civil War Pension File: The Pension Certificate”
Tag Archives: Civil War
Thanksgiving Links
While you are digesting your Thanksgiving dinner, here are some interesting genealogy and history related articles from around the web this month:
How to Order Your Ancestor’s Civil War Pension File (Union Side)
We’ve talked about how to find out whether or not your ancestor fought in the Civil War. We’ve also talked about how to discover their military unit, and even how to find their card in a pension index. We’ve even talked a bit about what pensions are and what you might expect to find inContinue reading “How to Order Your Ancestor’s Civil War Pension File (Union Side)”
My Ancestor’s Struggles with the Civil War Pension Office
As I write our series of tips about how to do Civil War genealogy, I think regularly about my own ancestors in the Civil War. My great great grandfather, Newell Elijah Gile, comes to my mind very often. He fought hard to receive an adequate pension for wounds he received during the conflict. I imagineContinue reading “My Ancestor’s Struggles with the Civil War Pension Office”
Fold3 Offering Free Access to Civil War Records Until April 15!
Great news! Fold3 is offering free access to Civil War records in its database until April 15. Fold3 is an excellent site for researching ancestors who may have been a part of the U. S. Military. You can access these records at https://go.fold3.com/civilwar/ You can get further help finding your Civil War ancestors by looking atContinue reading “Fold3 Offering Free Access to Civil War Records Until April 15!”
Researching Civil War Ancestors, Part II: What Was Your Ancestor’s Military Unit?
This is Part II of a series on finding and researching your Civil War ancestors. See “Part I: Did Any of Your Ancestors Fight?” here. Once you have set aside ancestors of yours who are likely to have fought in the Civil War, the next step is to discover their military unit. When you haveContinue reading “Researching Civil War Ancestors, Part II: What Was Your Ancestor’s Military Unit?”
Researching Civil War Ancestors, Part I: Did Any of Your Ancestors Fight?
(This post is the first in a multi-part series that will outline how to research your Civil War ancestors.) No war in US history caused more American deaths than the Civil War. Hardly a family survived it without being touched by it in a profound and painful way. I have a number of ancestors whoContinue reading “Researching Civil War Ancestors, Part I: Did Any of Your Ancestors Fight?”
Healing Through Stories
I have ancestors on both sides of my family tree who fought against each other in the American Civil War. My Dad’s family was from the South, my mom’s family was from the North. My ancestors fought against each other in this gruesome, brutal war. Stories about wars often paint one side as heroes andContinue reading “Healing Through Stories”
Research Summary: Andrew
Featured image: John Wesley Andrew sitting on his porch in Geneva, Nebraska Surname summary: I have decided to devote my research time each month to one direct line surname that exists in my five-generation pedigree. My surname for the month of November was Andrew. This is one of the few lines on my grandmother’s sideContinue reading “Research Summary: Andrew”
Discovering Allen and my Slave Owner Ancestor
My brother recently uncovered the will for my ancestor, William Calvin Ray in Murray County, Georgia. In it he mentions “my yellow boy slave Allen.” this is my first encounter with a slave owner ancestor. I have a lot of ancestors in the South, so I figured a slave owner would turn up, but thisContinue reading “Discovering Allen and my Slave Owner Ancestor”