Rockdale County GaArchives Photo Document.....Newsletter-Rockdale County Genealogical Society October 28, 2008 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Larry C. Knowles http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002854 October 28, 2008, 2:55 pm Source: Larry C. Knowles Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/rockdale/photos/documents/newslett15467gph.gif Image file size: 250.9 Kb ROCKDALE COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY-NEWSLETTER, November 2008 [page 2 of 3] <<>> Newton County Library has a large set of the wide-spread "OR", or Official Records of the Union Army, but the US Congress did not authorized the first collection of a "Rebel Archives" until 1903, and southern soldiers were not identified on the US Census until 1910. If you can't find your soldier in the State Archives, The National Archives next door has numerous Civil War records on microfilm. Georgia Units are found in series M226(67 rolls with index). Compiled Service records are in series M266(607 rolls). The earliest records of Revolutionary War service in Georgia came through land grants-so-called bounty lands, given in appreciation of aid, or war service(a century old practice when the war began). The first efforts made in Georgia were by Archibald Bullock, as President and Commander-in-Chief, of the provincial government on July 12, 1776, but no land was granted because the war was ongoing. As early as 1781, grants of 250 acres were approved for citizens who had aided the American cause-verified by their local militia officers. After Cherokee and Creek Indian land cessions in 1783, applications were made by soldiers, to the Governor and Council for grants to the bounty lands-so reserved(for a year)in newly formed Franklin and Washington counties (Land Court records in the latter are intact). These 2000-plus "Certificates of Service" were sponsored by senior officers, and offer the best documented proof of military service within Georgia. After these areas were opened to citizens and militia, fraud became a major problem, and very often even members of the Continental Line received less land than locals. The State grants were not just limited to Georgia patriots-but a period of residency was generally required, as with the State Land Lotteries which began in 1805. Only the the third(1820), fifth(1827), and sixth (1832)lotteries provided two additional draws for veterans, who made verbal oaths regarding war service before judges in courts where they resided, to the certain knowledge of friends and neighbors, a fact taken as accepted proof of service. Over two thousand "Rev. Sol"s were identified as winners in these three lotteries- perhaps the easiest way to find your soldier, as the lotteries are widely published. [Marion Hemperly-"The Georgia Surveyor General Department"-NCL] On the Federal level, Aug. 26, 1776, the Continental Congress made 1/2 pay pensions available to officers-and to enlisted who were wounded and incapable of earning a living. On April 10, 1806, the new government extended the law to included State troops & militia units. Prior to 1818, except for the half-pay- and widows provisions, all pensions were awarded based on disability, indigence, or death. Payments were made semi-annually and widows were entitled to money after the soldiers' death. An 1820 law required proof of "need", but another revision soon did away with this, and made awards based purely on war service. Still, another law was enacted in 1828, but a major liberal revision occurred on May 15, 1832. Many of the detailed "declaration letters" of war service[battles, chain-of-commands, etc.]made by veterans applying for these pensions, were filed in their local courts following enactment of this law, and copies forwarded to the War Department. In 1940, the Bureau of Pensions- War Dept., relinquished custody of more than 80,000 applications for pensions and bounty-land grants to the National Archives. The local National Archives branch has the complete 1800-1900-"Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications" on microfilm-Series M804-2670 rolls. NCL has a bi-centennial edition- "Index of Revolutionary War Pension Applications in the National Archives"-as well as an earlier 1300+ page edition(1966) which lists all of these applicants. These microfilmed files may contain "declarations", bible pages, marriage licenses, or even letters from descendants doing research. Some original envelopes contained as many as two hundred pages! ________________ During our library renovation, our Genealogical Society meetings will be held at the LDS Church-1275 Flat Shoals Rd. Conyers, GA File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/rockdale/photos/documents/newslett15467gph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb