Country of Arrival Records - Military Records It's been estimated that thousands of immigrants served in the US Army in the 19th century. Consider the Civil War alone and the sheer numbers of Irish and German immigrants who served on both sides! Some military records may lead you to a place of origin in Ireland. The most informative records are: Pension Applications: These records usually give name, rank, military unit, date and place of birth, among other information. Service Records: These records are the actual documentation of the soldier's or sailor's military service. The rolls or the enlistment papers are the most likely places to find a place of origin. You can find all military records at the National Archives or the National Personnel Records Center - depending on the time period you are interested in. If your ancestor served in the military, it's a good idea to learn as much as you can about the unit itself. Some units consisted of certain immigrant groups, such as New York's famed 'Fighting 69th' - also known as the 'Irish Brigade.' Some units also consisted of people from certain areas. New York's 27th Division in WWII consisted of a large majority of Brooklyn boys. Don't forget to check National Cemetery records and veterans' organizations! How do you know if your ancestor served in the military? Certain censuses specifically asked for veterans to be identified. The 1930 federal census asks if the person being enumerated is a veteran and if so, of which war. There is also a separate schedule for merchant seamen who served on US vessels. The 1910 federal census asks for identification of Civil War veterans - Union and Confederate. By far, the most informative is the 1890 Civil War Union Veterans and Widows Schedule. Information recorded included name, rank, company, regiment or ship, dates of enlistment and discharge and length of service or disability. We will discuss naturalizations of 19th century veterans in the Naturalizations post. Take care, Tracy