Like probate records, church records often provide some of the earliest genealogical information available through baptismal records, marriage records, church membership information, and death records.
To determine the religious affiliations of your ancestors, review the documents that you have gathered including obituaries, cemetery records, and marriage records.
Look for the name of the minister, priest, or rabbi who conducted the wedding or funeral
for a family member.
FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG (FHLC)
If you know your ancestor's religious affiliation, search the Family History Library Catalog (FHLC) to locate microfilms of original church records.
DEMONSTRATION PRACTICE
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MILITARY RECORDS
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NATIONAL ARCHIVES & RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington, DC
has military records beginning with the Revolutionary War.
Essentially, two types of military records are of interest to genealogists: service records and pension application records.
Service records provide very little genealogical information.
They are used primarily to prove military service. They provide information on rank, military unit, dates of service, and discharge.
The National Archives maintains service records pertaining to the Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783), post-Revolution (1784 - 1811), the War of 1812 (1812 - 1815),
the Mexican War (1845 - 1848), the Civil War (1861 - 1865), and the Spanish-American War (1898).
Pension application records are the most valuable military records for family history information.
The National Archives has pension files for veterans and widows from the Revolutionary War, Mexican War, Indian Wars, and Civil War (Union only).
Confederate pension files are maintained by the eleven former Confederate states and Kentucky, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
Because persons applying for military pensions had to prove their service, these records contain valuable genealogical information such as vital statistics, family relationships, marriage information, and children's names.
You can order copies of military service records and pension application files online with a credit card.
However, if you prefer to order through the mail with a check or money order, you must first order the appropriate forms.
For pension application records, order NATF Form 85. For military service records, order NATF Form 86.
Because each request must be completed on an original form, be sure to order a couple of forms (limit 5) for each type of record.
DEMONSTRATION PRACTICE
The charge for military service records is $ 25.00.
To order a complete pre-Civil War pension file, the charge is $ 50.00. For complete Civil War pension files (Union only), the fee is $ 75.00.
If your ancestor was a Confederate soldier, you can order the military service records from NARA. However, NARA does NOT have pension files for service in the Confederate Army.
For information on obtaining pension files for Confederate soldiers,
click here.
In addition to the military records at NARA, some
state libraries & archives maintain military records.
MILITARYINDEXES.COM
Like DeathIndexes.com in Module III, MilitaryIndexes.com links to dozens of free and fee-based searchable databases for military records from the Revolutionary War up through the Vietnam War.
For example, you can search and view the Florida World War I Service Cards for men and women who either resided in Florida or who entered service in the state of Florida.
DEMONSTRATION PRACTICE
DAR LOOKUP SERVICE
If you have identified an ancestor living in the United States at the time of the American Revolution, you can use the free Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
lookup service to determine if the DAR recognizes your ancestor as a Revolutionary Patriot.
If the DAR confirms your ancestor as a Revolutionary Patriot,
click here
to download the form for ordering a copy of the most recent DAR application on file for your patriot ancestor.
INDEX TO REVOLUTIONARY WAR SERVICE RECORDS
If the DAR is unable to confirm your ancestor as a Revolutionary Patriot, it simply means that no one has filed a DAR application claiming descent from your ancestor.
Your ancestor may have served in some capacity in the Revolutionary War.
To confirm your ancestor's Revolutionary service, you can either complete NATF Form 86 to request your ancestor's service record from NARA or visit your local Family History Center.
For a nominal fee ($5.00 - $7.00), you can order the "General Index to Compiled Military Service Records of Revolutionary War Soldiers" from the Family History Library.
This alphabetical index includes soldiers, sailors, members of Army staff departments, and civilian employees of the Army and Navy (e.g., teamsters, carpenters, cooks, etc.).
For each soldier or civilian, the index gives the name, rank, unit, and profession or office.
The table below lists the 58 microfilms in this series. Order the film number that corresponds to your ancestor's surname.
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| Name |
Film # |
Name |
Film # |
| A - Ange |
882841 |
Kinley - Langden |
882870 |
| Angi - Ballan |
882842 |
Langdon - Lillie |
882871 |
| Ballar - Bearne |
882843 |
Lillin - Lyon |
882872 |
| Bearnh - Biso |
882844 |
Lyone - Matthews |
882873 |
| Biss - Box |
882845 |
Matthewson - McGinta |
882874 |
| Boy - Brown, Joh |
882846 |
McGinte - Merrill |
882875 |
| Brown, John - Bur |
882847 |
Merrills - Moore |
882876 |
| Bus - Cartel |
882848 |
Mooree - Nc |
882877 |
| Carter - Chp |
882849 |
Ne - Olk |
882878 |
| Chr - Cold |
882850 |
Oll - Pato |
882879 |
| Cole - Corm |
882851 |
Patr - Ph |
882880 |
| Corn - Cul |
882852 |
Pi - Pri |
882881 |
| Cum - Cy |
882853 |
Pro - Q |
882882 |
| D - Delone |
882854 |
R - Richard |
882883 |
| Deloney - Dougg |
882855 |
Richards - Rolend |
882884 |
| Dough - Eccles |
882856 |
Rolens - Sanders |
882885 |
| Ecclest - Fargei |
882857 |
Sanderso - Shanna |
882886 |
| Farger - Fond |
882858 |
Shanne - Sits |
882887 |
| Fonda - Fyk |
882859 |
Sitsl - Souse |
882888 |
| Fyl - Glascoe |
882860 |
Sousl - Steward |
882889 |
| Glascoe - Grego |
882861 |
Stewart - Swil |
882890 |
| Gregr - Hamle |
882862 |
Swim - Thorn |
882891 |
| Hamli - Hawkin |
882863 |
Thoro - Tur |
882892 |
| Hawkis - Hilk |
882864 |
Tus - Voe |
882893 |
| Hill - Hop |
882865 |
Vog - Wats |
882894 |
| Hor - Hur |
882866 |
Watt - White, F. |
882895 |
| Hus - Johnson, N. |
882867 |
White, G. - Willsi |
882896 |
| Johnson, O. - Jw |
882868 |
Willso - Wright, J. |
882897 |
| K - Kinler |
882869 |
Wright, L. - Z |
882898 |
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NEWSPAPERS
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Newspapers often contain valuable genealogical information including marriage notices, obituaries,
and news items.
Many state libraries and archives allow patrons to review microfilmed copies of newspapers at the library's facilities.
In addition, some libraries lend the microfilm to individuals outside the area through interlibrary loan.
Contact the
state library or archive in your state of interest for more information.
LIBWEB
Another option for locating newspapers is to contact the local public library in your research area.
Many public libraries maintain microfilmed copies of local newspapers.
If you know the exact date of your ancestor's death or marriage, a librarian may be willing to research your article and print a copy for you for a nominal fee.
Libweb provides links to local library Web sites throughout the U.S.
DEMONSTRATION PRACTICE
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MODULE IV ACTIVITIES
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- Search Sampubco for wills if your ancestors lived in any of the following states: AL, GA, ID, IA, KS, MD, MA, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, VA, WI.
- Search the Family History Library Catalog for microfilms of probate records for your ancestors.
Most probate records are located at the county level. However, some microfilms may be categorized at the state level (e.g., Connecticut).
- Search the Family History Library Catalog for microfilms of church records that may pertain to your ancestors.
Church records provide valuable documentation of baptisms, marriages, and deaths. Look for church records at the county and town levels.
To determine the county in which a town is located, use the
Town to County Database.
- Visit your local Family History Center and order the microfilms.
- Explore the Web sites of state libraries and archives for the states where your ancestors resided.
Become familiar with the genealogical resources and services available there.
- Order several copies of NATF Form 85 and NATF Form 86 from the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA).
Use these forms to order military pension records (Form 85) and service records (Form 86) for your ancestors.
NARA has pension records for veterans and widows from the Revolutionary War, Mexican War, Indian Wars, and Civil War (Union only).
NARA maintains service records for soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War, post-Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War.
- If you find an ancestor who was born prior to 1765 and who was alive after 1775, send a request to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Lookup Service to find out whether the ancestor is in the DAR Patriot Index.
- If the ancestor is found in the Index, complete the form to request a copy of the DAR application for that ancestor.
- If the ancestor is not found, order the appropriate Family History Library Catalog microfilm from the "General Index to Compiled Military Service Records of Revolutionary War Soldiers" series. (See table above for microfilm numbers.)
- Search the Libweb Web site to find the local public libraries in your ancestral counties and towns.
If you know the death date and location for an ancestor, contact the library and request an obituary.
- Update your Ancestor Charts and Family Group Sheets.
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Contact Us
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Copyright © 2004 - 2008 by Debbie Duay, Ph.D., Fort Lauderdale, FL. All Rights Reserved.
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IV - Exploring Further