Researching Your Military Ancestors

1. Interview relatives and write down family stories related to military ancestors.
2. Collect home sources of information such as photographs of soldiers in uniform, correspondence, diaries/journals, medals, patches, military papers, and memorabilia.
3. Obtain obituaries – often give military information.  Click here to read about searching for obituaries in Buffalo newspapers.
4. Visit gravestones – may include military details such as war fought in and regiment.  A list of cemetery records in the Grosvenor Room is available at this link.
5. Consider which of your ancestors were eligible for military service during times of war.
6. Learn details about potential military ancestors such as birth date and place, family member names, and residence at wartime.  This will help identify your ancestor in records and will help you learn where to look for records.
7. Census records – the 1840, 1890 veteran’s schedule, 1910, and 1930 censuses ask for military service information.  Learn what census resources are available in the Grosvenor Room by clicking here.   To read census questions, click here.
8. Newspapers often wrote profiles on local soldiers and/or listed those who died in service.
9. Local history books usually include details of local soldiers and regiments that fought in times of war.
10. Check lineage and fraternal society publications such as Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the American Revolution, Grand Army of the Republic, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and others.
11. Military discharge papers – these are often kept at the county clerk’s office where the soldier was discharged.
12. Military rosters – usually name the soldiers who enlisted, where and when they enlisted, and their regiment and company.
13. Military pension files – are usually rich in genealogical detail because those who applied for pensions had to prove their identity and their relationship to the soldier.  You may find documents such as bible records; birth, death, and marriage records; and affidavits of witnesses to military service or life events.
14. Military histories – often list servicemen and detail battles fought in.
15. Genealogy databases – The Library subscribes to Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest Online (HQ) which both include military records.   Ancestry includes resources such as the Civil War Pension index, World War I Draft Registration Cards, Revolutionary War Compiled Military Service Records, World War II “Old Man’s Draft” Registration Cards, and other records.  HQ includes Revolutionary War Pension Files and a book collection which includes some military histories, lineage/fraternal society publications, and local histories.  HQ also includes a genealogy/local history periodicals index, which could lead to transcribed military records or how-to articles on military research.

Click here to see select lists of military resources available in the Grosvenor Room.

Researching Shipwrecks in the Grosvenor Room

If you’re interested in researching shipwrecks this summer, here are some great resources in the Grosvenor Room.

• Great Lakes File – Lists books, newspaper articles, and facts dealing with a wide variety of Great Lakes topic.

 Look under topic headings:

Great Lakes.  Disasters

Great Lakes. Vessels

•  Local History File – Cites newspaper articles, local magazines and journals, books, scrapbooks, and vertical files dealing with Buffalo and Erie County people, places, events, and history.

Look under topic heading:

Shipwrecks

•  Vertical File – Includes article clippings from newspapers and magazines, pamphlets, brochures, flyers, and other ephemera related to Buffalo and Erie County topics.

 Look under topic heading:

Ships and Shipwrecks

•  Books

GRO Ref 551 .M28 v.1. History of the Great Lakes. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1899.  The Chronology section covers 1812-1898 and covers wrecks as well as other events.

GRO Ref F555 .W42. Wachter, Georgann & Michael. Erie Wrecks: A Divers Guide. Avon Lake, OH: CorporateImpact, 1998.

GRO Ref F555 .W43 2000. Wachter, Georgann & Michael. Erie Wrecks East: A Guide to Shipwrecks of Eastern Lake Erie. Avon Lake, OH: CorporateImpact, 2000.  

GRO Ref F555 .W433 2007. Wachter, Georgann & Michael. Erie Wrecks & Lights. Avon Lake, OH: CorporateImpact, 2007.

GRO Ref VK1271 .B68. Bowen, Dana Thomas. Shipwrecks of the Lakes. Cleveland, OH: Freshwater Press, 1952.

More Recent Church Record Additions in the Western New York Genealogical Society Collection, Located in the Grosvenor Room

First Congregational Church, Jamestown, NY.  Births/baptisms: 1816-1983;  Communicants: 1816-1890; Marriages:  1835-1876, 1925-1926, 1958-1983; Deaths/burials: 1873-1876, 1958-1967, 1969-1983;  Members received & removed :1894-1983 ; (other records are included).

German Evangelical Friedens Buffalo, NY.  Births/baptisms: 1880-1931; Confirmations: 1881-1930; Communicants:1880-1930; Marriages: 1880-1931; Deaths/burials: 1880-1930;  New members: 1930.

Saint Matthew German United Evangelical Protestant Church Buffalo, NY. Births/baptisms: 1871-1956; Confirmations/communicants: 1870-1955; Marriages: 1868-1954 (some early gaps); Deaths/burials: 1870-1956.

New Materials in the Grosvenor Room

Anderson, Robert Charles.  The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Vol. V, M-P – GRO Ref F7 .G738 1999 v. 5

Anderson, Robert Charles.  The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-1635, Vol. VI, R-S – GRO Ref F7 .G738 1999 v. 6

DeWhitt, Benjamin L., National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C. Records Relating to Personal Participation in World War II: American Casualties and Burials – GRO Ref D797 .U7 D49 2009

Dobson, David. Ships from Ireland to Early America 1623-1850 – GRO Ref E49.2 .I6 D672 2004 v.2

Dobson, David. Ships from Ireland to Early America 1623-1850 – GRO Ref E49.2 .I6 D672 2010 v.3

Durie, Bruce.  Scottish Genealogy – GRO Ref CS463 .D87 2010

New York State Council of Genealogical Organizations.  Naturalization Records of New York State – GRO Ref F118 .N37 2010

O’Donnell, Michael J.  An Ordinary Family: a survey of the history and lineage of a Family O’Donnell: Ireland, Canada and the United States 1785-2002 – GRO CS71. O26 2004

Quinn, Bill. The Rectenwalds of Winterbach: a history of a German American Family - Buffalo CS71 .R29 Q56 2004

Sgovio, Thomas. Dear America! : emigrati pugliesi tra Buffalo e Mosca : Guiseppe e Thomas Sgovio nei gulag staliniani  - Buffalo E184 .I8 D437 2009

New Additions to the Western New York Genealogical Society Collection (Located in the Grosvenor Room)

Books

Dobson, David.  Transatlantic Voyages 1600-1699, Second Edition - 929.4 dob

Dunford, Fraser.  Municipal records in Ontario, history and guide – 971.3 ONT dun

Fackler, Francis. The Ancestral History of Forrest Louis Fackler Baird Book; Introduction My Baird ancestors, the descendants of Aaron Baird and hannah Glover in Boston, New York, Ohio, Iowa, Colorado and California – 929.2 BAIRD fac

Gunnell, Art. Index to land settlement in Thunder Bay district Vol. 1 February 1787-December 1797 – 971.3 ONT gun

Hansen, Kevan M.  Map Guide to German Parish Registers, vol. 33 – Imperial Province of Alsace-Lorraine I (Elsass-Lothringen) District of Unterelsass French Department of Bas-Rhin Kreise (Arrondissements) Hagenau, Molsheim, Weissenberg and Zabern with full index of included towns – 943 han vol 33

Hansen, Kevan M.  Map Guide to German Parish Registers vol. 34 – Imperial Province of Alsace-Lorraine II (Elsass-Lothringen) District of Unterelsass French Department of Bas-Rhin Kreise (Arrondissements) Erstein, Schlettstadt and Strassburg with full index of included towns – 943 han vol 34

Siepel, Kevin H.  Joseph Bennett of Evans and the Growing of New York’s Niagara Frontier – 974.7

Smart, Susan, ed. Index to the Upper Canada Land Books. Vol. 1 Feb. 1787-Dec. 1797 – 971.3 ONT sma

Church Records on Microfilm

Holy Family  Roman Catholic Church, Buffalo – Baptisms 1902-1990, Marriages 1902-1989, Burials 1902-1990, Communions, Confirmations.

St. Francis Xavier  Roman Catholic Church, Black Rock, Buffalo – Baptisms 1850-1982 (indexed 1850-1952), Marriages 1851-1981 (gap 1884-1893, partially reconstructed in 1914), Burials 1850-1982 (gap 1875 to 1889, partially reconstructed), Parish history, Communions, Confirmations, Sick calls.

St. John the Baptist  Roman Catholic Church, North Buffalo – Baptisms 1884-1982, Marriages index only 1868-1902, Marriages 1902-1981, Burials 1902-1982.

Visitation  Roman Catholic Church, Buffalo – Baptisms 1898-1989, Marriages 1898-1989, Burials 1899-1989, Communions, Confirmations.

All Saints  Roman Catholic Church, Buffalo – Baptisms 1911-1989, Marriages 1912-1989, Burials 1946-1989, Communions, Confirmations.

St. Joseph’s  Roman Catholic Church, Snyder (New Germany), Ontario – Baptisms 1849-1983, Marriages 1849-1986, Burials 1853-1889, 1892-1914, 1946-1983, Confirmations, Communions, Society records, Tombstone inscriptions 1848-1862.

First Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church of Buffalo (Michigan St.) – Baptisms 1841*-1982, Marriages 1840*-1982, Burials 1841*-1982 (*records 1840-1853 are transcripts from another register), Founding members’ signatures, Constitution, History, Families, Communions, Confirmations.

Atonement (The English Ev. Lutheran Church of the Atonement) of Buffalo – Baptisms 1894-1968, Marriages 1895-1969, Burials 1894-1969, Constitution, Pastors, Church officers, History, Members rolls, Communions, Confirmations.

St. Paul’s Evangelical Church, Wendelville – Baptisms 1848-1988, Marriages 1849-1854, 1866-1988, Burials 1849-1869, 1871-1988, Parish history, Subscribers to first church building, Early list of heads of households.

St. Paul’s Evangelical & Reformed Church of South Buffalo – Baptisms 1895-2007, Marriages 1895-2007, Burials 1896-2007, Pastors, Officers, List of members, Communions, Confirmations, Statistics.

Plymouth Congregational Church of Buffalo – founded in 1891, no vital records before 1944. Baptisms 1944-2001, Marriages 1947-2000, Burials 1964-2000 (earlier deaths noted in passing in membership rolls), Pastors, Officers, Members rolls (some back to 1891 through 2006).

Concordia Ev. Lutheran Church of Buffalo (Northampton St.) – Baptisms 1892-1949, Marriages 1892-1949, Burials 1892-1949, Confirmations, Communions, Members. 

Christ Ev. Lutheran Church of Buffalo – Baptisms 1885-1988, Marriages 1885-1989, Burials 1885-1988, Communions, Confirmations, Charter, History.

Redeemer (The English Ev. Lutheran Church of the Redeemer) at Buffalo – Baptisms 1895-1973, Marriages 1895-1973, Burials 1895-1973, Pastors, Officers, Members, Communions, Transfers, Admissions, Charter, Constitution, History.

Kensington Ev. Lutheran Church of Buffalo – (partial records from the archives in Philadelphia, as found, 1959-1993). Baptisms 1959-1991, Marriages 1959-1970, Burials 1959-1993, Pastors, Council, Members 1919-1993, Communions.

Holy Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, 1080 Main St., Buffalo – Baptisms 1879-1929, Marriages 1879-1930, Burials (not found), Confirmations, Communions, Membership lists.

Clarence Church of Christ, Clarence, N.Y. – Records 1834-1953, Baptisms (adult) 1858, 1940-1950, Marriages 1923-1924, Membership lists (1834-77, 1877, 1887-1907, 1909-21, c.1948), Meeting records 1843-1953, Ministers, Officers, Incorporation.

North Lancaster Church of Christ, Lancaster, N.Y. – Baptisms (adult) 1836-1839 and passim, Marriages 1889-1890 (many women’s subsequent married names added in member lists), Burials 1889-1902, 1934, (many others added to the member lists), History of church 1833-1840, Members lists 1833, 1834-1929; Meetings 1834-1934, Ministers, Officers.

First Hungarian (Magyar) Reformed Church, Buffalo – (two versions, one in Magyar and one in English). Baptisms 1906-1978, Marriages 1906-1978, Burials 1907-1978.

Buffalo Poetry

April is National Poetry Month. Check out some of these poetic treasures we found in the Buffalo Collection!

From top to bottom:

PS549.B9 J7 The Poets and Poetry of Buffalo.  Ed. James N. Johnston. Buffalo: Matthews-Northrup, 1904.

PS549.N5 P9 Poetry of Niagara. Comp. Myron T. Pritchard. Boston: Lothrop Pub. Co., 1901.

PS572.B9 F4 The Buffalo Book of Poetry. Ed. Steven Ferrini. Buffalo: Les Livres, 1974.

Early U.S. Federal Census Records, 1790-1840

How Can Early Census Records Help Us Study and Research Our Ancestors?

• They provide key genealogical data:  Name of the head-of-household.
• Details of their lives are given.
• They provide a location of residence: Locate them, locate other records!
• They can help estimate important dates.  If someone from an age category is missing, it could indicate a death or marriage.
• They offer clues  on what other types of records should be searched for.
• They give data for family profiling: Build a family profile by age and sex categories.
• Information for theory building is provided.

Early Census Facts

• 1790-1840 censuses did not count Native Americans living on reservations or as nomad tribes.
• 1790-1820 – There were no preprinted forms.  Enumerators were given sample copies and they were to make all their own copies, ruling lines on the forms himself.
• The census was public through the 1840 census. They were posted publicly to catch omissions and errors.  Currently, the information is private until 72 years after the records are taken.

Select Household Details Given Year by Year, 1790-1840 U.S. Federal Census

To view a complete list of questions asked for 1790-1840 click here. 

1790

• The head-of-household is named.
• Number of white females and broad age categories for white males.
• Number of slaves – could lead to estate, property or tax records, which may give a slave’s names and age.
• Number of “other” free persons is a category.  This means nonwhite racial/ethnic groups.  Heads of households are named in this category.

1800

• More detailed age categories for free white males and females help you build a more detailed profile.
• “Other” free persons and slave categories are the same.
• Some 1800 census records were rearranged in alphabetical order instead of visitation order.

1810

• Same details as 1800 except:
  •  Enumerators were instructed to obtain information about manufacturing, but were not told what questions to ask.  This meant that data varied widely.
  • Manufacturing information is listed with the population data, at the end of the specified population data.
  • Many enumerators did not ask these questions.

 1820

• An age category for free white males between 16-18 years old is added.
  • This is to identify young men available for military service.
  • The men in this category are also listed in the “of 16 and under 26” category.  Be sure not to count them twice.
  • This shortened age category helps narrow down ages.
• Age categories are added for slaves and “free colored.”   
  • “Colored” most likely denotes African Americans, but may mean those of a darker skin tone – i.e. someone from Spain, Barbados etc.
• Number of foreigners not naturalized. 
  • This is a clue to search for naturalization records
  • The family may have recently immigrated.  This is a clue to check passenger lists.
• Number of persons engaged in agriculture, commerce and manufactures.
  • Gives clues to occupation.
•  A non-population schedule was taken for manufacturing.
  • This schedule is separate from the population schedules.  It is available on microfilm from NARA.
  • Some questions asked were: owner’s name, location of business, type of business, number employees, capital invested, annual production, general remarks.
  • Irregularities with this schedule – some persons listed as manufacturers were not listed, some listed as “engaged in agriculture” were listed, some persons not listed as a head of household were listed in the manufacturing schedule.

 1830

• Age categories are expanded.  This helps narrow ages.
• The census day change between 1820 and 1830 may give clues to birth dates.
  • The 1830 census was taken less than 10 years after the 1820 census.  The 1820 census day was August 7.  The 1830 census day was June 1.
  • This could narrow a birth date to a 2 month period.
  • A person listed in the “to 10 years old” category in 1820, and listed in the “of 5 and under 10” would have been born between June 2 and August 6.
  •  Remember to consider child deaths and errors when thinking about this possibility.

1840

• Pre-printed forms provided by the government were used for the first time.
• Categories for “deaf and dumb” and “blind” white and slaves or free colored were added.
  • This indicates that there may be records related to guardianship or institutional records.
• White aliens not naturalized is repeated.
  •  Clue to possible naturalization papers.
• Age categories remain the same.
• Clues to occupation:
  • Lists persons employed in: mining; agriculture; commerce; manufacturing and trades; navigation of the oceans; navigation of lakes; canals and rivers; learned professions and engineering.
• Clues to education:
  • Number of scholars at: universities, colleges, academies, grammar schools, primary, common schools; public charge are recorded.  Search for school yearbooks and alumni directories, as well as school records.
  • Number of white males over 21 who could not read or write.
• The names and ages of Revolutionary War Pensioners were listed.  Search for the individual’s pension file.  Pension files are usually rich in genealogical detail.
• “Deaf and dumb” and “blind” categories remain the same.  Search for institutional records in the area.
• Number of insane and idiotic whites at private and public charge categories are added.
  • These can be clues to possible institutional records.

To view a list of New York State Census holdings in the Grosvenor Room click here.

A Genealogy Website Jumble

Cousins Connect – http://www.cousinconnect.com/ - Post and search genealogy queries for free.

In Search of Your Past: The Canadian County Atlas Digital Project – http://digital.library.mcgill.ca/Countyatlas/  – Search for property owners listed on Canadian county atlases.

Mocavo Genealogy Search – http://www.mocavo.com/ – A brand new search engine!  It searches only genealogy web sites.  When searching for an ancestor, you will get the best results if you put the name in quotation marks.

FamilySearch Research Courses – https://familysearch.org/learn/researchcourses - The Family History Library offers free online classes covering United States and foreign genealogy topics.

David Rumsey Historical Map Collection – http://www.davidrumsey.com/ - Thousands of online maps.

Genealogy Webinars by Ancestry.com – http://learn.ancestry.com/LearnMore/Webinars.aspx - An archive of genealogy webinars given by Ancestry.com. The focus is on resources available in Ancestry, but general concepts and ideas can be learned as well.

Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers – http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ – This site gives full-text access to hundreds of historic newspapers. It also includes a newspaper directory that gives background information on thousands of titles. The directory can be searched by location, date, language, as well as ethnicity and labor press categories.

Jamboree Extension Series Webinars – http://www.scgsgenealogy.com/JamboreeExtensionSeries2011.htm- Free online courses by the Southern California Genealogical Society.  The webinars are general in focus, not specific to California.

BYU Family Archives Immigrant Ancestor’s Project.  – http://immigrants.byu.edu/  – This site may help you locate an immigrant’s place of birth.

New York State Military Museum – http://dmna.state.ny.us/historic/mil-hist.htm - This site has many useful features including a unit history project, Adjutant General reports, and a Civil War units newspaper file.

Roots Television – http://www.rootstelevision.com/  – Online genealogy videos.

For more great sites, see the genealogy links on the Grosvenor Room web page.