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Illinois muster roll database - wish there were more search options

Illinois muster roll database - wish there were more search options

Posted: 16 Jun 2015 3:53PM GMT
Classification: Query
A great resource:
http://www.ilsos.gov/isaveterans/civilmustersrch.jsp

however, I'm interested in data that can't be searched for, therefore I have to go through the database page by page. I've managed to figure out a few short cuts, but still it's slow going. I've contacted the Archives in the past about this but received no reply. Any ideas on how to extract the data more quickly?

Re: Illinois muster roll database - wish there were more search options

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 3:00AM GMT
Classification: Query
I'm not sure what information you are trying to search for. If you are interested in finding lists of soldiers who served in various regiments during the Civil War, you can go to the soldiers' and sailors' website, which is:

www.itd.nps.gov/cwss

This is an index to the compiled military service records at NARA, which were made from muster rolls, pay rolls, etc... You can search by soldier's name, or search for a particular regiment and get a list of the soldiers who served in that regiment. For more detailed information, you would need to order the service record and/or the pension file itself.

Re: Illinois muster roll database - wish there were more search options

Posted: 26 Jun 2015 4:24AM GMT
Classification: Query
I'm familiar with the CWSS, however my issue is with the Illinois Archive transcribing all of the information on the muster rolls yet only allowing a couple fields to be searched. I'm interested in men who were born in certain places, so I would like to be able to pull up a complete list of them. I would prefer to spend my time actually researching them rather than having to spend so much time just finding them.

Re: Illinois muster roll database - wish there were more search options

Posted: 30 Jun 2015 2:19AM GMT
Classification: Query
In Genealogy "researching"or search for ancestors and "having to spend so much time just finding them" are the same. I take it you have never been a musty court house basement looking through book ledgers pages for the information you seek and used vacation time from work and paid travel expenses for the privilege.

Not all persons filling out forms are completely truthful with places of births back then. They would report thier birth as in the USA instead of a different county if they could. Made life easier for them and their children. Or they were born in one state but the family moved to another state while they were a toddler and they were never told into adulthood of the fact. A place of birth search with any records prior to 1900 is a wild goose chase, either the old fashioned travel or snail mail way or just using the interent and free state websites.

Look at the 1860 census for the men you are looking for, then use the IL website "Residence" search. IL has a state census but the years are 1825 to 1865 and years 1855 and 1865 are to early or late to be much help but it is always worth taking the time looking. That is the fun of it for most of us. The harder and longer the hunt the greater the thrill in finding the ancestor. Embrace the hunt, especially with the ease the internet now has made it.

This website may be of some help...USGenWeb.org...you can search records of the state and county actually located in same, donated by others as is the IL Civil War database.

You do realize people took the time and made the effort to reseach the paper records, transcribe them, create a software program, upload and maintain this website, for you to sit at home at a computer and complain the way you have to search and wishing it were different?

Re: Illinois muster roll database - wish there were more search options

Posted: 30 Jun 2015 3:39AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 30 Jun 2015 3:46AM GMT
Which is EXACTLY why I'm asking why the database can't have more search options.

"people took the time and made the effort to reseach the paper records, transcribe them, create a software program, upload and maintain this website"

All I'm asking for is the ability to quickly overcome one needlessly tedious aspect of "the hunt" so I can actually focus on researching each individual.

"Embrace the hunt, especially with the ease the internet now has made it."

I've spent many thousands of hours research, compiling, transcribing, databasing genealogical and historical information. At my own expense. Over the years I've made the information freely available to others and have freely assisted other people in their research. You see, my "complaining" is motivated by the desire to make MY researching a little easier so I can perhaps help others.

"I take it you have never been a musty court house basement looking through book ledgers pages for the information you seek and used vacation time from work and paid travel expenses for the privilege."
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