Naval Records

[Republican Blues]

Got a buddy of mine that is tracing a mutual friends ancestor, that was in the 24th Mich. The record on Fold3 says "See Navy" but nothing after that... now, correct me if I am wrong, but did the US Navy still enlist by the length of cruise or did they start to enlist by the say "three years or the war" model... I thought it was by the length of cruise

 

[AndyHall]

I believe at that point naval enlistees were no longer signing aboard specific vessels for the length of a commission (voyage), but in to the Navy generally for a specific term. As an example, see this enlistment record for John Cleary, one of the two men killed aboard U.S.S. Hatteras on 11 January 1863. His enlistment at Philadelphia, like the others on the roster, was for "General Service" for a period of three years:

Expired Image Removed

 

[Republican Blues]

Thank YOU! Huge help Mssr Hall... I do so appreciate the assist.

 

[AndyHall]

Happy to. I don't know when the shift occurred.

 

[Republican Blues]

Right now, this helps immensley, because at least it would show his prior enlistment in the Navy or transfer to the Navy from the Army, once we track down the Navy documents.

 

[M E Wolf]

Got Navy History to which lists some musters--got a name?

M. E. Wolf

 

[Republican Blues]

M.E.,

Sorry too so long, I thought I had posted a reply but I guess it didnt take....

Individuals name was Benjamin H. Conwell from Wyandotte, Mich.

 

[Michael O'Neil]

Hi from a Limey's perspective.

As Andy said you might get an Enlistment Record (sometimes referred to as Rendezvous) to the Navy rather than a specific ship. After that you might try the Navy pensions at fold3. My ancestor died and I found his obit in the NY Heralds naming his ship, I found the Enlistment Record and his mother applied for a Navy Widow's pension and he was there. The pension does however state that he "appears on a muster roll from the USS Port Royal" - I've never found where these are. A kind chap at NARA did look for me and say that they only had the "Rendezvous Report" which I mentioned at the beginning. So where the "muster rolls" for individual ships are I've no idea but at least I know for sure about my ancestor by other records. Lastly, given your buddy's ancesor's army credentials, could he have transferred to the Marines? I say this because I know that either ancestry/fold3/lds have the marine muster rolls and you can search these monthly and by individual vessel.

 

[Republican Blues]

Hmmm the Marine angle is interesting... I'll bring that up to him