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Military Records
| War | Years | Between |
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| King Philip's War | 1675-1676 | Indians and the English in the New England Colonies |
| King William's War | 1689-1697 | French and English Colonies |
| Queen Anne's War | 1702-1713 | France and Spain and England |
| King George's War | 1744-1748 | France and England |
| French and Indian War | 1754-1763 | England and France |
| Revolutionary War | 1775-1783 | England and the colonies |
| Post Revolutionary War Period | 1784-1811 | Indian campaigns |
| War of 1812 | 1812-1815 | England and America |
| Indian Wars | 1815-1858, 1865-1890 | America and the Indians |
| Mexican War | 1846-1848 | US and Mexico |
| Civil War | 1861-1865 | America |
| Spanish American War | 1898-1899 | Spanish and America |
| Philippine Insurrection | 1899-1902 | Philippine and America |
Colonial Military Records
Mostly militia lists and usually located in the state archives. Some of these have been published. It is possible that an ancestor's service during this period was in an English or another foreign power military unit.
Revolutionary War Military Records
Information found in the compiled military service records includes rank, unit, state served, and dates his name appears on various rolls. Not all information is included, sometimes additional information is found. Many records have been destroyed or lost. The compiled military service records have been microfilmed. An index has also been microfilmed.
The Revolutionary War Invalid Series were early pension applications filed by the soldiers based on disability. These were distroyed by fire. Reports were submitted to Congress during 1792-1795 and these records have been published. They usually provide the rank, unit or ship, place of residence, date and nature of disability and the action on the claim.
The Revolutionary War Service Series are the pension applications based on acts of Congress from 1818-1853. These were filed by the veterans and their widows. The file contains the rank, unit, and period of service. It may also include much more information. These have been microfilmed in two series.
Bounty Land Warrant Records contain approved applications. These records contain the age, residence, unit, and period of service. It also provides the name, age, and place of residence of his widow or other claimant. It will show the warrant number, number of acres granted, date and the assignee. The veterans many times sold their warrants, it is possible that the warrant was passed to their heirs. The records are filed with the pensions and are available on microfilm.
Post Revolutionary War Period
The compiled military service records provides the rank, unit, state served, and dates mustered in and out. These records have been microfilmed. A name index is also available on microfilm.
War of 1812
The compiled military service records includes the rank, unit, date of enlistment and discharge, if a member of a state organization, and state served. These records have not been microfilmed, except for those who served from the Teritory of Mississippi. A consolidated index to the records are available on microfilm. The only state indexes on microfilm are for Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
The pension applications may show the veteran's age, place of residence, date and place of marriage, maiden name of wife, rank, unit, dates and places of service. A widow will provide this information and additional information. These records have not been microfilmed. An index is available on microfilm.
Indian Wars
The compiled military service records include these and other disturbances:
Seminole or Florida Wars (1817-1818, 1835-1842, 1855-1858)
Winnebago War (1827)
Sac and Fox War (1831)
Black Hawk War (1832)
Creek War (1836-1837)
Indian wars in Texas (1849-1851)
Cherokee removal (1835-1841)
These records have not been microfilmed, except for those who served from Florida during the Florida Wars and soldiers from Michigan and Illinois during the Winnebago War. A consolidated index is available on microfilm and some state indexes have been microfilmed.
Mexican War
The compiled military service records include the rank, unit, state of residence, dates mustered in and out, sometimes age. The records have not been microfilmed, except for those who served in Mormon organizations and from Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. A consolidated index is available on microfilm.
The pension may include more information, especially if a widow's pension. These records have not been microfilmed. An index is available on microfilm.
Civil War - Union
The compiled military service records are the first to include personal information and more information about the soldier's service. Many of these records have been microfilmed. There is not a consolidated index, one must know the state they served from.
Civil War - Confederate
The compiled military service records include the state, military unit and rank. These records have been microfilmed by state. A consolidated indcex and separate state indexes are available on microfilm.
Spanish American War
The compiled military service records include rank, unit, dates and places mustered in and out, place of birth, residence, occupation, physical description, and if single, the name and address of a parent.
Philippine Insurrection
The compiled military service include the same information as the Spanish American War. The records have not been microfilmed. An index is available on microfilm.
Misc. Records
Many states have records on military service and veterans benefits by the state. Most of the thirteen original states provided pensions for their Revolutionary War soldiers and some also provided bounty land. Many of the Confederate states provided pensions to the veterans and widows residing in that state.
Old War Series
Contains pension applications based on death or disability incurred in service between the end of the Revolutionary War and 14 April 1862, not including the War of 1812. These records include the rank, unit, and period of service. The records may also provide additional information. These records have not been microfilmed. An index is available on microfilm.
Post Revolutionary Bounty Land Warrants
Contains warrant application for service between 1790-1855. The information includes age, residence, rank, unit, period of service and sometimes additional information. A widow application may show more information. Some of the War of 1812 records have been filed with the pensions. None have been microfilmed. The index to the War of 1812 pension applications include some bounty land warrant application files.
Civil War and Later Series
These pension applications include service between 1861 and 1934, excluding some of the Indian wars and World War I. The Civil War pensions are for Union soldiers only. The information varies depending on the act at the time. These records have not been microfilmed. There is an index to this series known as the General Index to Pensions available on microfilm.
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