Posted on Feb 20, 2017
Have you ever done genealogical research and found out that you have veterans from the Civil or Revolutionary War?
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How did you do the research?
I am a current member of the Sons of the American Revolution and have also traced my family through almost every engagement our country has had (all the way back to 1648)
Do you have any special veteran members or members of prominence in your lineage?
Also, if you need help I can point you in the right direction for research.
https://www.sar.org/
I am a current member of the Sons of the American Revolution and have also traced my family through almost every engagement our country has had (all the way back to 1648)
Do you have any special veteran members or members of prominence in your lineage?
Also, if you need help I can point you in the right direction for research.
https://www.sar.org/
Civil War
Warfare
Genealogy
American History
Military History
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 29
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Sure, Sgt William Biggs. I've been a member of the SAR since 1981. My mother's family can be traced back to Anthony Holland who migrated from northern Ireland and arrived in the Maryland area in the 1650s. I have a genealogical chart somewhere with the exact year.
At least six of my eight great, great grandfathers served in the CSA during the War of Northern Aggression.
At least six of my eight great, great grandfathers served in the CSA during the War of Northern Aggression.
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LTC Stephen C.
Sgt William Biggs, I don't have much more to add except that Abraham Holland and Reason (Reezin) Holland are both credited with Revolutionary War service and all eight great, great grandfathers are buried in AL and all are memorialized on Find A Grave.
I could also claim SAR membership on my father's side via the Putnam family, but I had already utilized the Holland family so I didn't pursue it.
I could also claim SAR membership on my father's side via the Putnam family, but I had already utilized the Holland family so I didn't pursue it.
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Sgt William Biggs
LTC Stephen C. - I did that as well. I used the Gardenhire side of mine because it was better documented.
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Both sides of the Civil War, War of 1812, Revolutionary War. Unsure about the French and Indian War, but two ancestors were part of one of the first artillery companies in Massachusetts. Five-greats grandfather was one of GW's drummer boys and played Major John Andre's funeral march in 1780. That bit in particular I learned from one of my great grandfather's numerous documents.
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SGT Aaron Atwood
PO2 Robert M. - My family history knowledge spans far more than what I said in the comment. I can name ancestors generation to generation w/o skips up to the late 12th century (something I find most Charlemagne chimers can't do), and I also rely on the research/records of historical churches (Sanderstead Parish was a big help for my pre-American ancestors) and independent folks like R. Potts. Between all the knowledge the significance still lies with that drummer boy ancestor because what he did is what got me interested in my family history in the first place, and also had a major influence in me joining the Marine Corps as a musician.
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SGT Aaron Atwood
UPDATE: I found out a little over a year ago that the same Revolutionary War drummer boy was also one of two drummers present at the Battle of Bunker Hill on the American side. According to an ancestor who was a combat correspondent during the Spanish-American War: Isaac Orgin (name of the drummer) learned how to play the drum by watching closely the rudiments performed by the drummers of the British garrison in Boston. After the war he turned to life as a tavern cook, and had an Irish temper to match his height; as witnessed by locals when his cows refused to cooperate while walking them home through a muddy path.
At some point he applied for a pension that all Revolutionary War-era soldiers rated, but I have no idea if he ever received it. Under that application his billet was labeled as "Drum Major" so either by the time of Maj Andre's death or before war's end he got a promotion.
At some point he applied for a pension that all Revolutionary War-era soldiers rated, but I have no idea if he ever received it. Under that application his billet was labeled as "Drum Major" so either by the time of Maj Andre's death or before war's end he got a promotion.
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Over the last year, my wife and I researched our family trees back to the first person on each side of the family to come to the US. We used Family Tree Maker software and Ancestry.com plus two Coe Family books by Robert Coe and a small book my Uncle John Clark Coe.
On the Coe side: Benjamin E. Coe, Jr, served in the Army, Frontier Rangers, PA, as a LT during the Revolutionary War; James Riggs Coe enlisted for 1 year in 1832; James Charles Coe, Corporal, North Dakota Army National Guard, served in WW I, discharged in 1919 after being deployed to France.
On the Fertig (my mother) side: Robert Simins Fertig served 8 Jul 1864-8 Feb 1867, 15th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Harrisburg, PA, discharged as a Sergeant (Union Army)
On the Higgins (my wife) side: Col Robert Higgins served under Lafayette, and was wounded and captured at Brandywine. He was in the 8th Virginia Regiment. Spent most of the Revolutionary war on a prison ship.
On the Butler (wife's mother) side: Eleazer Butler served in the French and Indian War, 1757, 1st Company, 5th Connecticut.
The research was pretty easy because most of the documentation is available on line. Seeing the old documents recording military service was quite interesting. We have considered applying for membership in Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution.
On the Coe side: Benjamin E. Coe, Jr, served in the Army, Frontier Rangers, PA, as a LT during the Revolutionary War; James Riggs Coe enlisted for 1 year in 1832; James Charles Coe, Corporal, North Dakota Army National Guard, served in WW I, discharged in 1919 after being deployed to France.
On the Fertig (my mother) side: Robert Simins Fertig served 8 Jul 1864-8 Feb 1867, 15th Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Harrisburg, PA, discharged as a Sergeant (Union Army)
On the Higgins (my wife) side: Col Robert Higgins served under Lafayette, and was wounded and captured at Brandywine. He was in the 8th Virginia Regiment. Spent most of the Revolutionary war on a prison ship.
On the Butler (wife's mother) side: Eleazer Butler served in the French and Indian War, 1757, 1st Company, 5th Connecticut.
The research was pretty easy because most of the documentation is available on line. Seeing the old documents recording military service was quite interesting. We have considered applying for membership in Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution.
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Sgt William Biggs
It's a great organization to be apart of and your children (if you have any) can get an expedited membership through you.
I agree with you on seeing documents. When I saw my 4th great grandfather's muster sheet from the Arkansas Calvary . . . Wow!
I agree with you on seeing documents. When I saw my 4th great grandfather's muster sheet from the Arkansas Calvary . . . Wow!
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CWO3 Dennis M.
I too am a member of the SAR through the Vermont Society. My Patriot was my 5th Great Grandfather William MacClure, b 1738. He was at Valley Forge with Washington's army. He served in the NY 2nd Regiment of the Continental Line Capt Charles Graham's Company under Col Philip Van Cortlandt. I have copies of nine months of his muster sheets! Which showed him as On Command.
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