A family's military ancestors through the years | Powered by THE GENE MAN – Genealogy Research Services & Family History
About
Who We Are
Our family seeks to find and recognize ancestors who served in the military with a focus on those from all British & American wars in North America from the 1600s and colonial times, through the War for Independence, War of 1812, the War Between the States, and includes foreign wars from WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam and the War on Terrorism (Iraq and Afghanistan).
Our ancestors go back some 12 generations with surnames that include: Clark, Blevins, Greer, Taylor, Chrisman, Ward, Dickson (Dixon), Sizemore, Osborne, Delp, Ham, Hampton, Hite, Lewis, Morris, Potter, Woodie, Morgan, Watterson, Wilcoxson, Boone, Pennington, Black, Charlton, Wyatt, Laws, Hart, Bare, Edmondson, Curd, Rice, Claiborne, Haga (Hagey) – and more.
Some of these ancestors trace their ancestry to the earliest times of the British colonies in America. From one generation to the next, military service is commonly passed down from grandfather to father to son. That is the case with these ancestors.
In the War Between the States, for example, it is not uncommon to see four or five brothers fighting in the same company, or uncles and cousins fighting alongside each other in the same regiment. In several instances there are brothers fighting on opposite sides of the war – one Union and one Confederate. There are ancestors who served in every rank, from privates to generals.
The ancestors who served are not always men. One example of a notably famous patriot woman from the War of Independence is Nancy Morgan.
Other famous military figures include Daniel Boone, General Daniel Morgan, William Claiborne and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. A few are pioneers of the West, including a few who made the journey on the Oregon Trail or who settled California.
Our descendants are primarily from Scotland, England, Wales, Germany and Ireland, but a few are native Cherokee or have origins in Scandinavia, Spain, France, Belgium and Portugal.
What We Do
We recognize and honor our family’s military veterans. In every American war we try to locate long-lost or forgotten names or bring to light new information. We search thousands of databases and service records, unit histories, letters, family stories and photographs.
We locate cemeteries and grave sites across the United States, and if necessary, anywhere in the world. For each military veteran, we provide details on where the person was buried, the location of the cemetery, and information on the gravestone, if found. If the veteran was laid to rest in an unmarked grave, or the burial place is unknown, we will try and place a headstone in remembrance near where they were known to have died so that the ancestor is not forgotten.
Unfortunately, some of the older cemeteries might be in poor condition and no longer maintained or simply may be lost to time. Some cemeteries have been plowed over by farmers or destroyed, and some are found in very remote areas that no longer appear on maps. Others contain only field stones to mark where an ancestor was laid to rest. We actively encourage the preservation of all of the cemeteries we find.
Some veterans laid to rest at a church or town cemetery contain no headstone at all or their name might appear on a historical marker or plaque at places like Gettysburg, Fort Delaware, Point Lookout or Arlington National Cemetery.
We order and provide Veterans Administration headstones to eligible military ancestors no matter where they are buried. All work we do is volunteer.
Inspired by his grandfathers, who were WW2 Army vets, and driven by a personal interest in genealogy and U.S. history, the author set out to learn more about other family members who served over the years.
In 2004, the author Paul Clark, an Army veteran himself, discovered an ancestor who served in the Civil War by the name of “Haga”, thanks to information provided by his aunt. About 10 years later, starting with that little bit of information, a search for the lost Soldier’s identity began. That search turned into a passion.
In 2016, the Haga ancestor was finally found. His full name was James Noah Haga. He served as a private in the 51st Virginia Infantry during the War Between the States. His record states he was 18 when he enlisted in 1863 and served through the war. He was born in Grayson County, Virginia and died there in 1927.
But how many other military ancestors were out there? Who were they? Where did they serve? When did they serve? As one stone was overturned in the search, more and more discoveries were made. Before long, there were too many military ancestors to count — dozens turned into hundreds; now there are thousands.
It is hoped this informational and historical site can be used as a reference for others to learn more. Perhaps anyone who visits will be encouraged to research their own family’s military ancestors. One thing’s for certain, many amazing stories and details await the curious!
Most of the military ancestors come from the Appalachian mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Special Note: This site is a continual work in progress. It is not a perfect project. The search goes on for ancestors. If you know of an ancestor to add, or you have updated information you’d like to contribute, or you have a correction to the list of military ancestors, please contact the author.
Our Military Ancestors 