Posted on Mar 23, 2017
Does anyone have experience with becoming a member of the Sons of Union Veterans?
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If you have read some of my other posts, it should be obvious that I love genealogy. I have had experiences with the Sons of American Revolution and Sons of Confederate veterans.
What I wanted extra help with (from you gurus) is where to go find Civil War documents and pensions. My ancestor was in the National Guard and only served 100 days. It's making it much harder.
http://www.suvcw.org/
What I wanted extra help with (from you gurus) is where to go find Civil War documents and pensions. My ancestor was in the National Guard and only served 100 days. It's making it much harder.
http://www.suvcw.org/
Civil War
Genealogy
American History
Military History
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 9
I had a Civil War cap stone project in college and found that most of the Civil War records were maintained by the local municipality - either in the clerks offices or the historical society. If the town also had a GAR (likely now a donated building) see who runs that and then ask them. It could be a private non-prof organization or even the library. But your ancestor was likely part of the GAR and thus someone in the town would know what happened to those records.
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It can be a bit more difficult to obtain Civil War records for a National Guard Soldier, especially one who served such a short time. Unless he was wounded, he probably doesn't have a Pension File or Military Service Record on file with the National Archives (https://www.archives.gov/research/military/civil-war/resources.html).
Identify the unit in which he served, then see what records are held by the State Archives and whether the state has a military museum. Also look for the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) lodge in the area where your ancestor lived. Their records may be available - either at a local town historian's office or at the State Archives or state military museum. Search Fold3, Ancestry, and FamilySearch to start, but also search the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm) and FindAGrave.com. Also, search for your ancestor in his local newspaper(s) to see if his service or GAR membership was ever mentioned.
Identify the unit in which he served, then see what records are held by the State Archives and whether the state has a military museum. Also look for the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) lodge in the area where your ancestor lived. Their records may be available - either at a local town historian's office or at the State Archives or state military museum. Search Fold3, Ancestry, and FamilySearch to start, but also search the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-soldiers.htm) and FindAGrave.com. Also, search for your ancestor in his local newspaper(s) to see if his service or GAR membership was ever mentioned.
Our website was redesigned, and many items have moved during the transition. But we have some ways of helping you locate the information you're looking for:
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Give me his name, Sgt William Biggs, and I'll rummage around for what I can find. Email it if you don't wish to post his name in this thread. Cheers.
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Sgt William Biggs
Maj William W. 'Bill' Price - Thank you. I'm definitely trying to make sure I'm squared away before applying
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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
You are quite welcome Sgt William Biggs. You need to post a photo for us here when you are inducted.
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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
Sometimes the stars line up, SSG Carlos Madden. Other times they don't. Thanks for the update.
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