Margaret Lewis Today's Speaker and Educator for Genealogy

Identifying & Researching Your Ancestors' who Served in the Military

Margaret Lewis, was our speaker today.  She always has some new insight to offer to make you think and rethink your research.
Her table stating when a soldier potentially born indicates what war he may have been able to serve in is such a great no brainer.  So why hadn't I figured that out.

 Her talk was on finding the service men in your family. She starts Rev War and pre and then on to and through Vietnam.  

She gave clues on what to look for for each War and the Draft Registration.  She talked about Bounty lands that were used as payment for Rev War, War of 1812 Veterans.

She talked of the 1890 Veterans Census, Pension Records,  History books, Lineage Societies, Confederate and Union Military Records, and Draft Registrations.  The list goes on.

 Maybe because I am a by product of the Military I am aware of these things and where to look but she did
 help me to learn more about the Confederate side of the family data and where to look.

 She mentioned that most Death Certificates state whether the deceased had fought in a war.

 She listed many things to look for when looking at Census, More than just name, age, on the line, occupation, served in service, birth place & marriage date. Census also shows if owned or rented land.

 She mentioned Church Records, Cemetery Records, Newspapers, Local Historical data, Regimental Data, and Land Bounty Warrants, Military Enlistment records, homes for Disabled Veterans, Civil War Draft registration and WW1 Draft Registration and the Old Man's Draft (WW2).

 As always she was informative, articulate, easy to listen to and so much to absorb. She brings the information to the front of mind and makes it stick there so easily.

 Marti thanks for such a great presentation and sharing time with us today.