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The Importance of Military Records
An ancestor's military record often gives you a lot of information. A military record can provide such details as the date of birth, age at enlistment, and the city, county, and state of residence.
An ancestor may have enlisted in the military for a number of reasons, including the following:
- To gain citizenship/li>
- To be perceived as an adult and to get away from home.
- To receive an original land bounty or warrant (deed to property)
- To earn money during hard times
- To gain a specific skill or specialized training
- Because he was drafted
- Because he wanted either medical or Veterans Administration benefits or to qualify
as a property/home buyer
- For personal reasons such as getting away from a bad situation or a bad relationship.
Although you may not think an ancestor served in the military, a little research may prove you wrong. Consider the circumstances in your ancestor's life and the financial and social situation surrounding him. If there's a chance he might have participated in military service, search for a military record.
They often give the following information:
- Age at enlistment
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Physical description
- Whether the person could sign his own checks
- Nativity or county of origin if person was a foreigner
- City, county and state of residence
- Company and Unit
- Rank
- Date of enlistment
- Battles participated in
- Wounds (if any)
- Discharge date and place
- Retirement benefits
- Spouse and heirs (if widow applied for a pension)
- Names of dependents on military insurance or benefits
- Health issues due to military service
- Place of burial
- Information placed on person's headstone (if provided by the military)
- Military honors and awards<
Above all, don't forget that women served in the military, too.........
Revolutionary War Veterans Buried in Effingham County
- Charles Moore
Charles Moore was born in Hanover County, Virginia on January 11, 1763. He enlisted in the Continental Army from Rowan County, North Carolina and served in various capacities from 1775 through 1780. He was in the Battle of King's Mountain. Charles came to Illinois, and settled in Sangamon County. He built a cotton gin (Linda's note: cotton gin in central Illinois?????) near Buffalo Hart Grove somewhere around 1823. Then he moved to McLean County (an area that is now part of Woodford County). He died on September 19, 1839 as a result of a stagecoach accident which caused his death. He was traveling through Effingham County on his way to draw a pension. One story is that he was buried at Ewington in Effingham County. Another story is that he was returned to Woodruff County and is buried there. However.....the DAR did put a stone with his name on it in Ewington Cemetery in Effingham County.
(Thanks to Audrey Garbe and Andy Verdeyen for helping gather this information). <
- Thomas Green
Thomas Green was born in 1763 and died in 1851. He is buried in Gilmore Cemetery (sometimes called Green Cemetery) in Union Township. The DAR has put a stone there although they are not sure where exactly he is buried in the cemetery.
(Credit goes to Audrey Garbe for submitting this information).<
Civil War
Civil War Companies Organized in Effingham County, IL (1,202 served)
Civil War Veterans Buried in Effingham County
Is Your Effingham County Civil War Ancestor Listed Here?
USGenWeb Civil War Project has Illinois Civil War Rosters, History, Photo Albums, Scrapbook, Cemetery Listing and other Civil War Related Information and other Helpful Information on the Civil War Project
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