a3Genealogy: Southern Militia Ancestors Hiding in the Bush

Friday, July 12, 2024

Southern Militia Ancestors Hiding in the Bush

The Militia - A Forgotten Resource to Solving Brickwalls
How can we forget the center? In the Bush Family episode of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen we cover with our guest Bonnie the importance of tying land deeds to the Cherokee Removal Act military service in Indiana and Missouri. If you are overlooking these records in researching your ancestors from Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, you may be overlooking exactly what you need.

I mean really, was there ever a time when the military or militia did not exist in America's history? Wars, conflicts, or "Indian Removal" (1795-1846) records, such as the Cherokee Removal efforts, often undertaken by the military or the state militia, hold the ties needed to break through our brickwall. Remember, even in the midwestern states of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, land grants were issued to those who served in the militia.

We know the state militias joined the federal troops in efforts to remove the Cherokee from their ancestral lands. Militias were not granted land explicitly as payment for their services, but the broader context of land redistribution and economic gain was a significant motivating factor the removal of the Cherokee people. Just know, it’s possible that the state or federal government offered lands as part of a larger strategy to populate and develop the western territories following the removal of the Cherokee and other tribes. This would align with the broader goals of westward expansion and consolidation of U.S. territory during the 19th century.

Brickwall? Where Else to Look?

Keep in mind that early guard units merged with the states' milita. These records can be located at the State level.

Yes, he was in the North Carolina Militia,
but the land granted for the military warrant was in Missouri.

Land Applications

National Archives Catalog: Land Patents, 1789 - 2012
Eastern States Land Patents

Although the land patents 1789 - 2012 Eastern States are not yet avaialable online, they are located in RG 49:Records of the Bureau of Land Management. Here is a great place to start Indian Bounty Land Applications

Land Lotteries and Distribution
In states like Georgia, land that was formerly occupied by the Cherokee was redistributed through land lotteries. These lotteries allowed citizens, including militia members, to acquire parcels of land at little or no cost. This redistribution of land served as an indirect reward for those who supported or participated in the removal process.