Utah, Indian War Service Affidavits - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The collection consists of images of service affidavits of veterans who served in the militia during the Indian Wars. The collection is numerical by box and folder, then alphabetical by surname. There are three types of affidavit forms:


 * Soldier
 * Widow or child
 * Witnesses

In most cases, there will be two images per affidavit.

The collection covers the years 1909 to 1917.

The Indian War lasted between 1865 and 1890. Nineteen years after the war ended, the legislature created a Board of Commissioners of Indian War Records. The board was responsible for collecting the names of war veterans. Veterans completed affidavits of service while two witnesses also completed supporting affidavits. The affidavits were then filed in the office of the chairman of the board, the Adjutant General of the State, and were used to verify pension claims. These records are generally reliable, but depend on the memory of the veteran or the knowledge of the wife or children.

For a list of records by surnames currently published in this collection, select the Browselink from the collection landing page.

Record Content
The affidavits are written on a preprinted form and may provide:


 * Veteran's name
 * Age
 * Residence
 * Name of the county in which he took oath
 * Date of enrollment
 * Type of company
 * Captain's name
 * Length of service
 * Transfer dates
 * Description of duties
 * Date of release
 * Names of two witnesses

If a veteran was deceased, his wife or children could fill out an affidavit in his place.

How to Use the Record
To begin your search you will need to know the following:


 * Full name
 * Approximate dates of service

Search the Collection
To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "Surname Range, Box Number and Folder Number" category which takes you to the images

Search the collection by image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor’s given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence and age, and family relationships. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. This information will often lead you to other records. For example:


 * Use the age to calculate an approximate birth date.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of birth of the deceased to locate census, church, and land records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the deceased; this is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been seeking the pension.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * If you are having difficulty finding your ancestor, look for variations in the spelling of the name. If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names.

Related Websites

 * Ancestry.com: About Utah Index to Indian War Service Affidavits
 * Commissioner of Indian War Records Indian War Service Affidavits

Related Wiki Articles

 * Utah Military Records
 * US Military Pension Records
 * Utah

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.