Utah, Indian War Service Affidavits - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
The collection covers the years 1909 to 1919.

Record Description
The collection consists of images of service affidavits of veterans who served in the militia during the Indian Wars. The collection is numerical by box and folder, then alphabetical by surname. There are three types of affidavit forms:


 * Soldier
 * Widow or child
 * Witnesses

In most cases, there will be two images per affidavit.

Record Content


The affidavits are written on a pre-printed form and may provide:


 * Veteran's name
 * Age
 * Residence
 * Name of the county in which he took oath
 * Date of enrollment
 * Type of company
 * Captain's name
 * Length of service
 * Transfer dates
 * Description of duties
 * Date of release
 * Names of two witnesses

If a veteran was deceased, his wife or children could fill out an affidavit in his place.

How to Use the Record
Use these records to learn more about your ancestor's experiences during the Indian War. These records can also provide genealogical information not found in any other available source.

Record History
The Indian War lasted between 1865 and 1890. Nineteen years after the war ended, the legislature created a Board of Commissioners of Indian War Records. The board was responsible for collecting the names of war veterans. Veterans completed affidavits of service while two witnesses also completed supporting affidavits. The affidavits were then filed in the office of the chairman of the board, the Adjutant General of the State, and were used to verify pension claims.

Why This Record Was Created
The affidavits were created to assist in validating pension claims.

Record Reliability
These records are generally reliable, but depend on the memory of the veteran or the knowledge of the wife or children.

Related Wiki Articles
Utah Military Records

US Military Pension Records

Pensions

Related Websites
Ancestry.com: About Utah Index to Indian War Service Affidavits

Commissioner of Indian War Records Indian War Service Affidavits

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Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the Wiki Article: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection

 * United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71.
 * Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023.

Sources of information for This Collection
Utah, Indian War Service Affidavits, 1909-1919. Series 2217. Utah State Archives. Salt Lake City, Utah.