Tracing Our Women
Through Their Military Records
From FamilySearch: Tracing Women Using Military Records
Military and Pension RecordsContrary to popular belief, women did serve in early wars and many women are documented in later ones. But you may also find documentation about a woman from her husband’s pension applications and military service records. Here are a few places to look for these records.
U.S. World War I Draft CardsEvery man born from 1872 to 1900 and living in the United States in 1917 and 1918 had to fill out a WWI draft registration card. The card typically lists the name, birthplace (including town, state, and country), country of citizenship, and whether he was naturalized.
Where to find them: . . .
Military and Pension RecordsContrary to popular belief, women did serve in early wars and many women are documented in later ones. But you may also find documentation about a woman from her husband’s pension applications and military service records. Here are a few places to look for these records.
U.S. World War I Draft CardsEvery man born from 1872 to 1900 and living in the United States in 1917 and 1918 had to fill out a WWI draft registration card. The card typically lists the name, birthplace (including town, state, and country), country of citizenship, and whether he was naturalized.
Where to find them: . . .
Military Draft Registration Card Example
- Ancestry.com
- Libraries:subscribing to Ancestry Library Edition
- National Archives regional facilities
- Family History Library and branch FamilySearch Centers
U.S. 1942 World War II Draft Registration Cards
The Fourth Registration—the only one currently open to the public (the others are restricted by privacy law)—happened April 27, 1942, and registered men born between April 28, 1877 and February 16, 1897 who were not already enlisted. Because the registrants were 45 to 64 years old, this is commonly referred to as the “old man’s registration.” In these records you will find such clues as town or country of birth and the name and address of a person, usually the wife, who will always know the registrant’s residence.
Search the cards online at:
The Fourth Registration—the only one currently open to the public (the others are restricted by privacy law)—happened April 27, 1942, and registered men born between April 28, 1877 and February 16, 1897 who were not already enlisted. Because the registrants were 45 to 64 years old, this is commonly referred to as the “old man’s registration.” In these records you will find such clues as town or country of birth and the name and address of a person, usually the wife, who will always know the registrant’s residence.
Search the cards online at:
- Ancestry.com
- Libraries subscribing to Ancestry Library Edition
- FamilySearch Historical Record Collections (This website is being updated frequently; check back often.)
U.S. Revolutionary War and Civil War Records
Service and pension records from these wars contain details about early ancestors. If your ancestor served in a military unit (company or regiment), you should be able to find him on muster (attendance) rolls, which will give his name, and the date and place he enlisted and mustered in. Some records may show age, physical description, marital status, occupation, and place of birth or residence. Pension records usually contain more genealogical information than service records (but keep in mind that not all veterans applied for or received a pension).
Check these guides for more information:
Where to find U.S. Revolutionary Service Records:
Where to find U.S. Revolutionary War Pensions:
Fold3 has images of Revolutionary War pension and bounty-land warrant application files. These records are also on NARA microfilm M804.
Where to find U.S. Civil War Pensions:
Service and pension records from these wars contain details about early ancestors. If your ancestor served in a military unit (company or regiment), you should be able to find him on muster (attendance) rolls, which will give his name, and the date and place he enlisted and mustered in. Some records may show age, physical description, marital status, occupation, and place of birth or residence. Pension records usually contain more genealogical information than service records (but keep in mind that not all veterans applied for or received a pension).
Check these guides for more information:
- Online Revolutionary War Indexes and Records
- Handy Index Online Civil War Indexes, Records and Rosters: A Genealogy Guide
Where to find U.S. Revolutionary Service Records:
- National Archives and Records Administration (microfilm or order copies online)
- Major genealogical libraries (microfilm)
- FamilySearch (Library Catalog - Keyword: Revolutionary War)
- Ancestry.com
- Fold3
Where to find U.S. Revolutionary War Pensions:
- National Archives and Records Administration (microfilm or order copies online)
- Major genealogical libraries (microfilm)
- Family History Library (microfilm)
- HeritageQuest Online (subscribing libraries only)
Fold3 has images of Revolutionary War pension and bounty-land warrant application files. These records are also on NARA microfilm M804.
Where to find U.S. Civil War Pensions:
Where to find U.S. Civil War Pensions:
Where to find U.S. Civil War Pensions: (Blue means it is a live link)
Pension records can provide extencive family inforamtion besides the information about the person who served in the war.)
- National Archives and Records Administration: 1861-1917 index cards and applications (these records haven’t been microfilmed; order online or hire local researcher to obtain a copy)
- Fold3 - index cards and applications of some veterans’ widows (Fold3 is digitizing the un-microfilmed National Archives records)
- FamilySearch Record Search - Civil War Pension Index Cards
Where to find U.S. Civil War Pensions: (Blue means it is a live link)
Pension records can provide extencive family inforamtion besides the information about the person who served in the war.)
- Ancestry.com - Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934
- For more on obtaining copies of U.S. military service records, see NARA’s website.
- Information about women can also be found through other war societies. For example:
- Daughters of the American Revolution
- Society for Women and the Civil War
- During World War II, many military men married women from the countries they were fighting in. These “War Brides” returned to their military husband’s home country to start a new life after the war ended. To find more information about War Brides see:
- Canadian War Brides
- Data Marine’s War Brides
- Plymouth City Council - Australian War Brides
- American War Bride Experience - GI Brides of World War II