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GeneaPress
The 150th Anniversary of the United States Colored Troops
by Thomas MacEntee •
On May 22, 1863, the War
Department issued General Orders 143, establishing a Bureau of Colored Troops
in the Adjutant General’s Office to recruit and organize African American
soldiers to fight for the Union Army. With this order, all African American
regiments were designated as United States Colored Troops (USCT).
Department issued General Orders 143, establishing a Bureau of Colored Troops
in the Adjutant General’s Office to recruit and organize African American
soldiers to fight for the Union Army. With this order, all African American
regiments were designated as United States Colored Troops (USCT).
Today marks the 150th
anniversary of the USCT, and the National Archives is pleased to announce the
completion of the USCT Service Records Digitization Project. In partnership
with Fold3, the project provides online access to all service records—more than 3.8 million images—of Union
volunteers in USCT units.
anniversary of the USCT, and the National Archives is pleased to announce the
completion of the USCT Service Records Digitization Project. In partnership
with Fold3, the project provides online access to all service records—more than 3.8 million images—of Union
volunteers in USCT units.
From May 22 to 31, the digital
collection will be free on www.Fold3.com. (All National Archives collections on Fold3.com can
always be viewed for free at any National Archives facility nationwide.)
collection will be free on www.Fold3.com. (All National Archives collections on Fold3.com can
always be viewed for free at any National Archives facility nationwide.)
Compiled military service
records (CMSRs) are part of Record Group 94, the Records of the Adjutant
General’s Office. They contain card abstracts of entries related to an
individual soldier such as muster rolls and regimental returns.
records (CMSRs) are part of Record Group 94, the Records of the Adjutant
General’s Office. They contain card abstracts of entries related to an
individual soldier such as muster rolls and regimental returns.
Many CMSRs also contain original
documents called “personal papers,” which are especially valuable to
researchers looking for documentation on former slaves. These papers include
enlistment papers, correspondence, orders, prisoner-of-war memorandums,
casualty reports, or final statements. Unique to the records of the USCT are
deeds of manumission, proofs of slave ownership, and bills of sale.
documents called “personal papers,” which are especially valuable to
researchers looking for documentation on former slaves. These papers include
enlistment papers, correspondence, orders, prisoner-of-war memorandums,
casualty reports, or final statements. Unique to the records of the USCT are
deeds of manumission, proofs of slave ownership, and bills of sale.
Starting in October 1863, a
slave owner could offer his slave for enlistment in military service and be
entitled to compensation up to $300 upon filing a valid deed of manumission and
release, and making satisfactory proof of title. These forms offer researchers
rare information and document the life of a slave person in the absence of
other vital records.
slave owner could offer his slave for enlistment in military service and be
entitled to compensation up to $300 upon filing a valid deed of manumission and
release, and making satisfactory proof of title. These forms offer researchers
rare information and document the life of a slave person in the absence of
other vital records.
Edmund Delaney was a slave who
served in Company E of the 117th USCT Infantry. He was 25 years old when he
enlisted in August 1864. Delaney’s owner, Harvey C. Graves of Georgetown,
Kentucky, filed a compensation claim for his military service in December 1866.
Graves stated that he “purchased [Delaney] at private sale when he was quite a
small boy and owned him at the time of his enlistment.”
served in Company E of the 117th USCT Infantry. He was 25 years old when he
enlisted in August 1864. Delaney’s owner, Harvey C. Graves of Georgetown,
Kentucky, filed a compensation claim for his military service in December 1866.
Graves stated that he “purchased [Delaney] at private sale when he was quite a
small boy and owned him at the time of his enlistment.”
The claim form was accompanied
by a proof of ownership form to which Graves attached a rare “likeness,” or
photo of Delaney, and several of Delaney’s letters written to him while serving
in Brownsville, Texas. The letters offer us a rare glimpse into his lonely
soldier’s life, especially when he laments that no friends have written back to
him:
“somehow most of them seem to be very much afraid of their pens and
ink.”
by a proof of ownership form to which Graves attached a rare “likeness,” or
photo of Delaney, and several of Delaney’s letters written to him while serving
in Brownsville, Texas. The letters offer us a rare glimpse into his lonely
soldier’s life, especially when he laments that no friends have written back to
him:
“somehow most of them seem to be very much afraid of their pens and
ink.”
The USCT service records also
reveal the social issues faced by free blacks, such as the story of
Fortune Wright, a soldier of the 96th USCT Infantry. Wright was a free black
man before the Civil War began, and he enlisted in Louisiana in July 1862.
reveal the social issues faced by free blacks, such as the story of
Fortune Wright, a soldier of the 96th USCT Infantry. Wright was a free black
man before the Civil War began, and he enlisted in Louisiana in July 1862.
On October 23, 1865, a white doctor and another man thought
they observed Wright beating a black woman on a street in Jefferson, Louisiana.
When they attempted to reprimand Wright, a fight ensued. Wright—fearing for his
life—stabbed the doctor, who was beating him with a cane. The doctor
died.
they observed Wright beating a black woman on a street in Jefferson, Louisiana.
When they attempted to reprimand Wright, a fight ensued. Wright—fearing for his
life—stabbed the doctor, who was beating him with a cane. The doctor
died.
Wright pleaded not guilty at
his court-martial trial but was found guilty of murder and sentenced “to be
hanged by the neck until dead” on January 5, 1866.
his court-martial trial but was found guilty of murder and sentenced “to be
hanged by the neck until dead” on January 5, 1866.
The accused offered his
explanation while in prison in New Orleans. He stated that he was approached by
an “immoral colored woman” who put her hand on his shoulder and was “acting her
willingness to prostitute her person.” The woman told him to give her a dime.
Wright said that he didn’t have a dime, and that if he did have a dime, he
would give it to his wife. Wright stated that he was angry with the woman for
her insulting conduct and language. If she repeated her language, Wright told
her, he would slap her. She did repeat herself, and Wright slapped her.
explanation while in prison in New Orleans. He stated that he was approached by
an “immoral colored woman” who put her hand on his shoulder and was “acting her
willingness to prostitute her person.” The woman told him to give her a dime.
Wright said that he didn’t have a dime, and that if he did have a dime, he
would give it to his wife. Wright stated that he was angry with the woman for
her insulting conduct and language. If she repeated her language, Wright told
her, he would slap her. She did repeat herself, and Wright slapped her.
The two white men appeared on the scene at this point
without knowing how the argument began. As Wright walked away, the doctor
followed and struck Wright on the head with a walking cane. Wright reeled
around and grabbed the stick while the doctor cursed at him to let go. The
doctor grabbed Wright by the collar of his coat and then punched him in the
face. The second white man yelled to “kill the damned black yankee [since]
there is no law for him.” Wright warned that if they both jumped him, he would
cut one with his knife. When he was attacked, Wright stabbed the doctor with
his knife.
without knowing how the argument began. As Wright walked away, the doctor
followed and struck Wright on the head with a walking cane. Wright reeled
around and grabbed the stick while the doctor cursed at him to let go. The
doctor grabbed Wright by the collar of his coat and then punched him in the
face. The second white man yelled to “kill the damned black yankee [since]
there is no law for him.” Wright warned that if they both jumped him, he would
cut one with his knife. When he was attacked, Wright stabbed the doctor with
his knife.
Wright’s captain and his attorney sent pleas for a
postponement of the sentence to Maj. Gen. Edward Canby of the Department of the
Gulf. They were hoping for time to appeal to President Andrew Johnson for a
pardon based on self-defense.
postponement of the sentence to Maj. Gen. Edward Canby of the Department of the
Gulf. They were hoping for time to appeal to President Andrew Johnson for a
pardon based on self-defense.
Several postponements were granted. The series of the
documents leading to President Johnson’s final decision reads like the ultimate
page-turner. On February 24, 1866, General Canby received a telegram from the
War Department in Washington, DC, stating that President Johnson has ordered
that “the [death] sentence be duly carried into execution.” A copy of this
message on American Telegraph Company letterhead survives in the service
record.
documents leading to President Johnson’s final decision reads like the ultimate
page-turner. On February 24, 1866, General Canby received a telegram from the
War Department in Washington, DC, stating that President Johnson has ordered
that “the [death] sentence be duly carried into execution.” A copy of this
message on American Telegraph Company letterhead survives in the service
record.
Wright was not notified of his fate until the evening before
his hanging. A week earlier, Provost Marshal A.M. Jackson was warned in a
letter from Eastern District headquarters in Louisiana that “Precaution must be
taken that the office of hangman be confided to a capable person so that no
disagreeable results may ensue, and that the body be not disturbed until the
hangman has pronounced life to be entirely extinct.”
his hanging. A week earlier, Provost Marshal A.M. Jackson was warned in a
letter from Eastern District headquarters in Louisiana that “Precaution must be
taken that the office of hangman be confided to a capable person so that no
disagreeable results may ensue, and that the body be not disturbed until the
hangman has pronounced life to be entirely extinct.”
Jackson’s report of the execution dated the next day describes quite a
different scene.
The knot on the rope was not soaped properly and the knot
slipped as Wright fell from the platform. Though he was suspended, his neck was
not broken and he could still breathe. Wright was taken down and put on the
platform a second time. It took fifteen more minutes of strangulation before
death took Fortune Wright. Jackson claimed that though the circumstance was
“unpleasant,” Wright did not suffer “as he remained insensible from the time of
the first fall.”
slipped as Wright fell from the platform. Though he was suspended, his neck was
not broken and he could still breathe. Wright was taken down and put on the
platform a second time. It took fifteen more minutes of strangulation before
death took Fortune Wright. Jackson claimed that though the circumstance was
“unpleasant,” Wright did not suffer “as he remained insensible from the time of
the first fall.”
The stories of the USCT soldiers will be available free to
non-subscribers on www.Fold3.com from May 22
to 31, and can be accessed for free at any time on computers at the National
Archives.
non-subscribers on www.Fold3.com from May 22
to 31, and can be accessed for free at any time on computers at the National
Archives.
GeneaPress
FamilySearch Adds More Than 1.1 Million Records and Images to Illinois County Marriages
by Thomas MacEntee •
FamilySearch has added more than 2.25 million index records and images this week from Argentina, Austria, Italy, Paraguay, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. Notable collection updates include the 1,152,830 index records and images from the U.S., Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934, collection, and the 244,523 images from the Spain, Province of Valencia, Municipal Records, 1611-1935, collection. See the table below for the full list of updates. Search these diverse collections and more than 3.5 billion other records for free atFamilySearch.org.
Searchable historic records are made available on FamilySearch.org through the help of thousands of volunteers from around the world. These volunteers transcribe (index) information from digital copies of handwritten records to make them easily searchable online. More volunteers are needed (particularly those who can read foreign languages) to keep pace with the large number of digital images being published online at FamilySearch.org. Learn more about volunteering to help provide free access to the world’s historic genealogical records online at FamilySearch.org.
FamilySearch is the largest genealogy organization in the world. FamilySearch is a nonprofit, volunteer-driven organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Millions of people use FamilySearch records, resources, and services to learn more about their family history. To help in this great pursuit, FamilySearch and its predecessors have been actively gathering, preserving, and sharing genealogical records worldwide for over 100 years. Patrons may access FamilySearch services and resources for free at FamilySearch.org or through more than 4,600 family history centers in 132 countries, including the main Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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GeneaPress
MyHeritage Offers Free Access to US Military Records through May 28th
by Thomas MacEntee •
In honor of this special day, we are proud to provide free access – through May 28 – to our most popular collections of US military records.
Search now
Journey back in time to some of the most important conflicts in world history that not only i…
GeneaPress
Ancestry.com and TLC Team Up for New Season of “Who Do You Think You Are?”
by Thomas MacEntee •
World’s Largest Online Family History Resource Sponsors TV Series with Personal Look Inside the Ancestry of Beloved Celebrities
PROVO, Utah, May 21, 2013– Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online family history resource, announces it has teamed up with TLC, Shed Media US and Is or Isn’t Entertainment as an integrated sponsor of the upcoming season of the “Who Do You Think You Are?” television series, premiering July 23.
“We are thrilled to be teaming up with TLC, Shed Media US and Is or Isn’t Entertainment to bring this entertaining and inspiring series back for another season,” said Rob Singer, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Ancestry.com. “Charting one’s family history helps each of us better understand who we are. Through the journeys of these celebrities, we hope millions of Americans will see just how life-changing and rewarding genealogy can be and begin researching their own family history to make discoveries that tell them who they are and where they came from.”
“Who Do You Think You Are?” explores the roots of celebrities who embark on an intense personal journey to discover their family’s past. Some of the celebrities to be featured in these all-new episodes include Christina Applegate, Cindy Crawford, and Zooey Deschanel. Each of the 8 hour-long episodes reveal the real person behind the celebrity as they come to understand the lives their ancestors lived that helped shape the person they are today. As part of the show sponsorship, Ancestry.com provides important family history research on each of the featured celebrities, which is used to build out the story of each episode.
Produced by Lisa Kudrow and Dan Bucatinsky, the show is based on an original format created by Wall to Wall Media. An earlier version of the series previously aired on NBC for three seasons.
For those interested to discover who they think they are, Ancestry.com offers a 14-day free trial for all new members.
About Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com LLC is the world’s largest online family history resource with approximately 2.7 million paying subscribers across all its websites. More than 11 billion records have been added to the Ancestry.com sites and users have created more than 47 million family trees containing more than 5 billion profiles. In addition to its flagship site www.ancestry.com, the company operates several Ancestry international websites along with a suite of online family history brands including Archives.com, Fold3.com and Newspapers.com, all designed to empower people to discover, preserve and share their family history.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include our ability to find appropriate opportunities to publicize our products and services and to satisfy customer expectations. Information concerning additional factors that could cause events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements is contained under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2012, and in discussions in other of our Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date and we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements.
GeneaPress
Genealogical Speakers Guild Leadership for 2013-2014 Announced
by Thomas MacEntee •
The Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG) is pleased to announce the following officers and chairmen for 2013-14, announced at the GSG Annual Meeting in conjunction with the NGS Conference in Las Vegas.
2013- 2014 Officers and Standing Committees
Pres…