Utah, Territorial Militia Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
The records cover the years 1849 to 1877.

Record Description
The collection consists of papers from the Utah State Archives containing various militia records from the Utah Territory. It includes records of the territorial militia, called the Nauvoo Legion, with reference to the Walker and Black Hawk Wars, the Overland Trail, and Johnston's army. Also of interest are records of the only Civil War company from Utah. Papers include muster rolls, military correspondence, payroll sheets, service reports, and journals.

Record Content
The information varies with each type of record. Any of the following may be included:




 * Name
 * Birth date
 * Birth place
 * Mustering in date and place
 * Discharge date and place
 * Details of service such as: companies served in, battles fought in, or injuries sustained
 * Captures and confinements in prison
 * Unit, Rank, and offices held
 * Pensions, bounties, and payments received
 * Death date and place
 * Burial date and place
 * Names of close relatives and/or friends
 * Photographs
 * Date war sketch was made
 * Author of sketch
 * Injuries, illnesses, disabilities, and any nature of disability
 * Salary paid

How to Use the Record
To search for your ancestorsyou will need to know the following:


 * Full name
 * Residence

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. Compare the information in the record to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.

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 estimated age to calculate a birth date.
 * Use the age and location of the military unit to find the soldier’s family in census, church, and land records.
 * Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have served in the same unit or a nearby unit.
 * Death dates may lead to death certificates, mortuary, or burial records.
 * 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.

You may also find these search tips helpful:


 * 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.

Record History
It has been customary to keep service records for soldiers since the founding on the earliest militias were organized.

Why the Record Was Created
The records were created as proof of service and to track the service of each soldier.

Record Reliability
The records are fairly reliable; however, the records are only as accurate as the knowledge of the individual who provided the information and the accuracy of the individual who recorded it.

Related Websites

 * Access Genealogy
 * Utah Genealogy Records
 * Ancestor Hunt

Related Wiki Articles
Utah Military Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection

 * “Delaware Marriage Records,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 4 March 2011), entry for William Anderson and Elizabeth Baynard Henry, married 23 November 1913; citing marriage certificate no. 859; FHL microfilm 2,025,063; Delaware Bureau of Archives and Records Management, Dover.
 * “El Salvador Civil Registration,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 21 March 2011), entry for Jose Maria Antonio del Carmen, born 9 April 1880; citing La Libertad, San Juan Opico, Nacimientos 1879-1893, image 50; Ministerio Archivo Civil de la Alcaldia Municipal de San Salvador.

Sources of information for This Collection
"Utah, Territorial Militia Records, 1849-1877." FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org). Utah State Archives Record Series 2210. Salt Lake City, Utah. FHL digital images, 255 digital folders. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The suggested format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections is found in the following article: How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.