Review – Genealogy at a Glance: War of 1812 Research (Updated Edition)

By the War of 1812 Preserve the Pensions Project and Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL
Genealogical Publishing Company: 2020
Laminated; 4 pp. folded
$6.95 – $10.95 USD

Genealogy at a Glance: War of 1812 Research – Updated Edition

One of my favorite types of genealogy research is in military records. And some of my favorite military records are from America’s “forgotten war,” the War of 1812.

I think my interest in this particular conflict began in 2012, which was the bicentennial of the beginning of the War of 1812. That year, I decided that I would finally apply to join the National Society United States Daughters of 1812. While preparing my application, I became fascinated by the records I had found for my ancestors who participated in the War of 1812, and I was happy to finally begin to tell their military story.

If you are just beginning your War of 1812 research – or even if you’ve been researching your War of 1812 ancestors for a while – you should definitely grab a copy of the updated edition of Genealogy at a Glance, War of 1812 Research by the Preserve the Pensions Project and Rebecca Whitman Koford, CG, CGL. This guide is loaded with tips on how to get started, how to access records that are available online, and other resources to move your War of 1812 research ahead.

What is a Genealogy at a Glance Guide?

The popular Genealogy at a Glance publications from the Genealogical Publishing Company are a series of fact sheets designed to help family historians quickly get up to speed on a particular topic of family history research.

Each guide is focused on a specific area of genealogical research. Topics include the research of various cultural and ethnic groups including Ukrainian, Mexican, African American, and French Canadian ancestors, as well as research in various U.S. states, genetic genealogy, military research, census records, cemeteries, and more. There are currently more than 50 different Genealogy at a Glance guides available.

Made from 11″ x 17″ laminated card stock that is folded in half to create 4 pages, the guides are easy to read, with a clear typeface, colorful headings, and information divided into digestible nuggets. They are sturdy in design and should withstand many years of use.

Description

The official description of Genealogy at a Glance: War of 1812 Research – Updated Edition from the publisher’s website:

Over 250,000 men served in the War of 1812, some for as little as a month. Their service records are found mostly in the National Archives, but also in various other archives and repositories. Many are now available online. Therefore, a researcher needs a guide containing the most current information on how and where to access these War of 1812 records, which is precisely what this updated At a Glance guide is designed to do.

The vast majority of War of 1812 records consist of (1) pension records, (2) compiled military service records, and (3) bounty-land warrant application files. There are other records, of course, but these are the three main entry points in genealogical research. The purpose of this guide is to show you where these records are located, what they contain, and whether they are indexed, microfilmed, digitized, or found online. Regular army and navy records, prisoner of war records, lineage societies, state records, and published sources are also highlighted here.

With an updated and expanded list of online resources and record sources, and a handy checklist for finding militiamen, this updated edition of Genealogy at a Glance: War of 1812 Research is the best, and most current, guide for those wishing to trace their War of 1812 ancestors.

Contents

Genealogy at a Glance: War of 1812 Research – Updated Edition is packed with useful information in 4 short pages. The following topics are included:

• A table of contents to help you find what you need
• A section of Quick Facts about the War of 1812
• Tips for finding a War of 1812 soldier in your ancestry
• A detailed section on War of 1812 pensions and the Preserve the Pensions Project
• A discussion of original record sources that are – and are not – available online
• Other record source types
• A list of books and online resources for additional research
• PLUS: a research checklist for militiamen

About the Author

Rebecca Whitman Koford holds credentials as a Certified Genealogist^® and as a Certified Genealogical Lecturer^SM. Her focuses are Maryland and military records at the National Archives, especially the War of 1812. She has spoken for the National Genealogical Society Conference (NGS), Association of Professional Genealogists Conference (APG), Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference (FGS), RootsTech, and webinars for Legacy Family Tree Webinars. She has published articles in the NGS Magazine, APG Magazine, SAR Magazine, Maryland Genealogical Society Journal, and is co-author of the recently released NGS Research in the States series book on Maryland.

Rebecca is the Course I coordinator for The Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR) and has instructed at SLIG and GRIP. She serves on the Board of Directors for the ProGen Study Group, an online peer-led study program based on the book Professional Genealogy. Rebecca currently works as Executive Director of the Board for Certification of Genealogists^® and as Director of the Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed) held annually at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Wrap Up

War of 1812 military research may not be easy, but it is definitely worth the effort. If you aren’t sure how to get started, the Genealogy at a Glance: War of 1812 Research – Updated Edition guide can help. I keep my copy within arm’s reach of my desk!

The guide’s author, Rebecca Whitman Koford, is an experienced genealogist and researcher of military records. This guide does an excellent job of helping genealogists of any level learn how and where to begin researching, which records may or may not be available online, and it even provides a research checklist for finding War of 1812 militiamen.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of Genealogy at a Glance: War of 1812 Research – Updated Edition from the publisher for review. All comments and opinions are my own.

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