Geneology
 

Please note that these articles have been compiled into one page.

Geneology:
By this time, you have probably gone back far enough in your genealogical research to have a Rev. War and/or Civil War Veteran.  He might even have his regiment and company engraved on the tombstone.  Now what can you do?
You may want to send for his pension records (or the widow's pension record).  The National Archives has a lot of these records.  First, write to:  Military Service Records, National Archives, Washington, DC  20408.  Ask for a copy of "NATF form 80" and include a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope, standard letter size).  When you receive the form, read the directions carefully!  They ask for unit of service, in which war served, etc.  Sometimes you can get the pension files without the unit of service.  They also ask for birth and death dates and places, places lived after service, widow's name and a few other things.  The more information you can supply, the more liekly you'll get some pension records. Cost is usually $10 (unless there is a whole lot) and you pay only if there are records found.  In some cases, for Civil War service, a pension was granted by the state for which the soldier served.  The place to write, cost, information received, etc., varies from state to state. 
How can you find the unit of service if it's not on the tombstone? This varies from state to state.  In Pennsylvania, there is a five-volume set (each volume about 3" thick) called PA Volunteers by Bates, which lists everyone by company.  There is no index, but for the most part, the regiments are by counties.  Just look at the beginning of each regiment for which county it includes.  Other states may have something similar.
Another help I found was a multi-volume set on 1883 pensioners.  Anyone receiving a military pension in that year is listed, within their state.  I found my husband's ancestor this way.  It gave me his unit of service and file number.  I have also used an 1820 list of Rev. War pensioners in PA.  This listed everyone in PA receiving a military pension in that year.  It did not give a unit of service, but it gave from which state they served.  This, with birth and death dates and places was enough for me to obtain the pension record from the National Archives.  Check your local historical society for these pensioners lists and lists of soldiers from the various wars.
Pension records often give some military service records, and may give family information (spouse, date and place of marriage, children).  From this, you'll have a good idea of what your ancestor experienced in his tour of duty and in what battles he participated.

In this issue, we are looking at the Red Book.  This is the title of the book, and it is published by Ancestry Publishing of Salt Lake City, UT.  It is a handy guide for doing out-of-the-area USA research. It is arranged by states, which are arranged alphabetically.  For each, a brief history of the state is given.  It lists the first year that vital records were kept, where they can be found, whom to write, etc.  Some information on each county is given, including addresses of county seats.  It explains each states' arrangement of handling wills, orphan's court records, deeds, etc., and whom to write.  Also explained are any military records held by the state and who to approach about getting them.  Also listed are various state and local historical and genealogical societies to whom you can write for help.  For each state, a map is given showing county lines, all labeled.  If you have been going to your local historical society already, they have probably shown you this book.  If you write to any government office or historical society, always be polite, and always enclose a SASE.
Another publication that may help you is the "Genealogical Helper."  It is a magazine published six times a year.  They have "how to" articles, family trees of subscribers, queries from all over the country, and lots of ads.  The ads might help you find someone to hire to do some research for you in a particular location (that would take some of the fun out of it for me).  You may also find an ad for a published family history or a local history for sale.  You might find information on a historical or genealogical society you would like to join.
You might want to check your public library for these publications.  Our local library lends out the "Genealogical Helper."  Speaking of libraries, sometimes you can order published family histories or other published genealogical research helps through inter-library loan.  Your library may charge a fee for this, but it might be the cheapest and most convenient way for you to view the material.

We are still at the historical library and we already looked at the published family histories.  Now we want to look at church records.  
Remember when you started your research and great-aunt Sally told you that g-g-grandfather was buried at the Lutheran church in Smithville?  You probably thought you had to go there to see the church records.  Well, sometimes you do, but in many cases, area churches have allowed the historical society to photocopy their records.  Some older churches in my area have had their records published.  
What will you find in the church records?  It varies.  The churches of the Protestant Reformation (Lutheran, Reformed a.k.a. the United Church of Christ) and the Episcopal and Methodist churches (and others) would have infant baptism records.  This would list the child's birth date, and/or baptism date, parents, and sponsors (often they were relatives; write them down as a clue).  The Anabaptist churches (Baptist, Mennonite, Brethren, and others) do not baptize infants.  However, they often have baby dedication services which may be in the records.  All the above-mentioned churches would have marriage records.  That would give you maiden names.  Some churches were more meticulous than others in their record keeping through the years.  You never know what you're going to find until you look.
I have not worked with Roman Catholic records myself, but I understand the church is reluctant to open such records to the public.  However, it never hurts to ask.  I don't know anything about Jewish records.  Ask at the Synagogue or at the local historical society.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) have a particular doctrine on account of which all members are encouraged (or required) to pursue their roots.  More on this later, but in the next issue, we'll look at courthouse records.  

This month, we will consider the use of the Family History Center (FHC).  This is a genealogical research library of the Mormon Church, a.k.a. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Because of a particular doctrine, all members of this church are encouraged (required) to research their ancestry.  To assist them, the church has been microfilming civil and church records with a zeal.
The FHC is located in a Mormon church.  Not every church has a FHC, though.  Look in the phone book for one in your area.  One does not have to be a Mormon to use the FHC.  They do not charge admission for use of their library, neither will they come knock on your door to convert you.  You will not receive church literature, but they may send you notice of genealogy seminars.
FHC libraries each have certain records that stay at the library.  One is the International Genealogical Index (IGI).  These are microfiche records for each state and many foreign countries.  The IGI is a compilation of birth, baptism, and/or marriage dates of people (generally pre-1900) who have been baptized by proxy by a Mormon descendant.  By the way, some local historical libraries have a set of the IGI.
Also at the FHC is a catalogue of records available on microfilm and microfiche for rent from Salt Lake City.  The cost is $3 per roll of microfilm.  It arrives 2 or 3 weeks later, and you have 3 weeks to view it.  For $4.50, you can view it for 6 months.  All microfilm must be viewed at the FHC.  Microfiche is 15 cents a page and is never returned to Salt Lake City.  It stays at the FHC from which it was ordered.  This means they have a variety of resources on microfiche at each FHC.  Check their file on what they have; it may be just what you want to see.  
Also on microfiche is the Accelerated Index System (AIS).  This is a compilation of Indexes from census and tax records, mostly by decade.  So if you don't know where William Jenkins lived before he moved to Kentucky, look up the appropriate decade and all the William Jenkins from every state are listed together, indicating place of residence.
We are still at the Family History Center (FHC), the genealogical research library of the Mormon church.  Besides the IGI, the AIS, and the catalogue, the FHC has a computer.  The program is easy to run (even I can follow the directions given to me on the screen).  The program uses compact disks which are all labeled and in a box next to the computer.  Some disks are the IGI (same information as the microfiche).  Some are various military records, Social Security index, and other things.  My favorite is the Ancestral File (AF).  This gives vital statistics on people and can also construct ancestral charts (pedigrees) and/or descendants charts.  It is limited, of course, to whatever information was submitted to the Mormon church by a researcher.  Your ancestor might not be listed, but he might be!  It is worth checking.  Remember that this is not a primary source; you'll probably want to check church records, wills, etc. to make sure it is so.
The FHC has other resources that may interest you and probably has things of particular interest to the area in which they are particularly located.
I would like to say a word about computer programs for organizing your genealogical data.  I have Family History System, a share ware program, which I like.  I can "connect" people in any way.  It is set up to record birth and death dates, places, and times (!), marriage date and place, and a way to connect spouse, parents, and children.  I can't print out charts for use in my notebook, though, because of the limits of my printer (daisy wheel).  
                               [[ Can you tell how long ago this article was written!]]
There are other programs available.  I've heard a lot of good about Roots III and My Brother's Keeper.  Before purchasing a program, ask around.  Ask your historical society library for published reviews of programs now available.  If you are hooked up into prodigy, you may want to use the Bulletin Board to connect with "cousins."  Perhaps someone else would like to elaborate on the use of computers in genealogical research.
Well, this is my last planned article.  I had fun and I hope I helped you in your genealogical research.  Does any body know when Horace Hersh died and where he is buried?  He was born in 1855 in Montgomery County, PA and I think he died in Philadelphia after 1925.