Research Irish Battalion:Mexican-American War

Men of the San Patricio Battalion

 Translation: "In memory of the Irish Soldiers of the heroic battalion of San Patricio Maritres that gave their life for the Mexican cause during the unjust North American invasion of 1847." (names) "With gratitude from Mexico to the 112 years of your sacrifice. Sept 1955

The Saint Patrick’s Battalion (San Patricios) was a group of 700+ mostly Irish immigrant soldiers who defected from the U.S. Army to fight for Mexico in the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). Driven by nativism, anti-Catholic sentiment, and better pay, they fought fiercely but were captured at the Battle of Churubusco; 50 were executed by hanging in September 1847, making it the largest mass execution in U.S. history. These men were hung in three different locations. The courts-martial were held in Mexico shortly after capture in Tacubaya and San Ángel and during the Battle of Chapultepec. The hangings were held from 10 - 13 Sep 1847

Seventy-two to eighty-five prisoners were court-martialed. Some were considered not-guilty. Fifty were hanged. Those executed below agree with the plaque above. are listed were to include those sentenced to death.

The 1847 court martial records can be found: 

• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army), Record Group 153.
  
• Be sure to check the Regular Army muster rolls for 1846–1847

Charlotte. Newspapers 1845

Researchers can reconstruct the events from:

• court-martial summaries
• military orders
• correspondence
• newspaper accounts
• Mexican archival sources

There are also records in the: 

• Mexican archives (Archivo General de la Nación)
• Published trial summaries in military histories
• Chapultepec campaign records

Why This Post? Shameless Plug

a3Gen Publishing is readying the historical and genealogical research guidebook by Kathleen Brandt of TracingAncestors.org. Volume I, The Early Wars, is the first relief of Behind the Uniform: Every soldier has a story.

We have mentioned its upcoming release on the Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen podcast. This guidebook covers not only how and where to research your ancestral veterans, but also facts proven using case studies and supporting documents. So much was missing from our History classes.

Volume I of Behind the Uniform: Every soldier has a story covers the French and Indian War to the Civil War (Union and Confederates).

Who were the Irishmen of the San Patricio Battalion?

These Irish ancestors deserted the U.S. Army in 1846 to fight on the Mexican side in the U.S. Mexican War (1846-1848). Where are the records go these Irishmen who deserted the American side to join and serve with their Mexican "Catholic brothers.""

The Fraternalist, Missouri Valley Independent, 1 Oct 1955. St. Joseph, MO

A popular novel by Carl Kreuger, "Saint Patrick's Battalion" may also be of interest: 

The Solano-Napa News Chronicle, 19 Feb 1962, pg. 10

More References:

• The San Patricios: the Irish Heroes of Mexico
• The San Patricio Battalion: Irish and German Deserters in the Mexican-American War
• 30 HANGED AND 11 BRANDED, The Story of the San Patricio Battalion, Tom Mahoney 

Mexicans Became USA Citizens

Mexico had abolished slavery by 1829, and this war was viewed as an attempt by the U.S. to reintroduce slavery on "free" Mexican soil. It did succeed in expanding slave land by way of the annexation of Texas.

Brainerd Dispatch, 31 Jul 2018, pg. 6

Approximately 80,000 to 100,000 Mexican citizens (California and New Mexico) became "free persons" under U.S. law. This was not extended to enslaved American persons.

This War ushered in the Civil War.

6 RESEARCH TIPS: FRENCH & INDIAN WAR

If you’ve hit a brick wall before 1776, this conversation is for you.
Before asking who your ancestor fought for, ask what shaped their life first. For many families, the answer lies in the French & Indian War.

The French & Indian War (1754–1763) shaped migration, land ownership, military experience, and family survival long before independence. Ignoring it can leave entire chapters of your ancestor’s life unexplored.

WHY THIS WAR MATTERS FOR GENEALOGISTS

This conflict occurred before the United States existed. As a result, it produced no federal pensions, no centralized service files, and no standardized documentation.

Those fragments explain:

• sudden migrations into frontier regions

• unexplained land ownership

• gaps in tax, church, or court records

• later Revolutionary War service

For genealogists, this war is not optional context; it is foundational.

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

“My ancestor wasn’t old enough.”
If your ancestor served in the Revolution, they were often shaped by this earlier war.

“There are no records.”
There are records, just not where most people look.

“It only involved soldiers.”
The war affected civilians, families, Native nations, and enslaved people alike.

6 RECORD SETS THAT CAN BE LOCATED:

Muster Rolls

1. Colonial Muster rolls
2. Payroll  (see below)
3. Council Records
4. Orderly books
5. Diaries, Officers
6. Pension Records, which may be found in Revolutionary records or local repositories

PLACES TO BEGIN WITHOUT BECOMING OVERWHELMED

You don’t need to become a military historian to research this war effectively. However, start by adjusting your expectations:

• Look beyond traditional “military records”

• Expand timelines backward

• Read later records carefullyespecially pension narratives

• Consider land and migration as consequences of service

Note: Recognize service when it isn’t labeled.

1. State Archives & Libraries (i.e. MA State Archives)

2. Library of Congress: Letters, George Washignton Papers, etc.

3. FamilySearch: keyword "French and Indian War" 

4.  Historical and Genealogical Societies: family genealogies, records and community compilations

The key is learning how to recognize service when it isn’t labeled.

AFRICAN AMERICANS  AND INDENTURED SERVANTS ALSO SERVED 

"Father or Master," Massachusetts

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR RESEARCH

The French & Indian War explains why many ancestors seem to appear “out of nowhere.”
It accounts for silence, movement, and transformation in colonial families.

Once you understand this war, Revolutionary War research becomes clearer, not harder.

This topic is explored further in the latest episode of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen, where we discuss:

• why this war is overlooked

• where evidence hides

• how genealogists can reset expectations

2022 Speaker Series

These are just a few titles offered by Kathleen Brandt as a conference Keynote Speaker or seminar Presenter. All are tailored to your conference theme or celebration. If you don't see what you want here, know I offer custom designed presentations and workshops. Presentations are chocked full of actual historical images and  real life short case studies.

Now scheduling for 4thQ 2022 - 2023.  I can also be called upon as a last minute substitute, because we can never plan for those unplanned "life" events. 

Be sure to review the Experience/Qualifications page. 

Kathleen BrandtKeynote Speaker/Pres

816-729-5995

Presentation Titles for Your Conference or Workshops

DNA

• Our Love Hate Relationship with DNA
• DNA: Spit or Swab?  (Beginner)
• Why DNA: Determine Kinship, Non-Paternal Event, Adoption (all levels)
• DNA for Genealogists: Who? What?, When? Where? (Intermediate)
• From History to Present: DNA Research (Case Studies)
• DNA All Day Workshop (all levels)
• Using DNA for your Brickwalls (Intermediate)
• DNA for Private Investigators (How It's Done)
• Connecting Biological Families (As Seen On TV)

Military 

Revolutionary War

• Finding Your Revolutionary War Soldier
• Identifying Revolutionary War Era Parents
• 7 Best Revolutionary War Resources
• Your Blacksheep: Courts-martial and Courts of inquiry records

War of 1812

• War of 1812 Records: 10 Places to Research
• Researching Your War of 1812 Impressed Seamen
• Revolutionary War and War of 1812
• African Americans Served Too – Finding Records

Civil War

• 10 Best Bets for Civil War Research 
• 7 Tips to Researching Slaves and Slaveholders
• Finding Your Elusive Civil War Veteran
• Claim It!  Southern Claims Commission Records and Slave Claims Commission Records
• Researching Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and other Association Records
• Civil War POW Records

Modern Wars (WWI - WWII)

• Military Records Were Destroyed? What to Do?
• 7 Easy Tips to WWI and WWII Research
• Forgotten Records -  WWI and WWII

Other Wars

• French Indian War
• Spanish American War
• Philippine American War
• Tracing State Militia Records

Research, Brickwalls & Court Records

• Leaping Over Brickwalls
• The Changing Surname - How to Trace It?

Regional Research & Settlers

Local Topics and Custom Designed Presentations

Have a unique topic?  Due to our vast client base and experience, presentation just for your local group can be customized. Of course actual images of documents and relevant research tips are shared and often accompanied by a case study.

 

Immigrants and Migration

• Researching Germans from Russia Ancestors
• Pioneer Trail From to California: How to Trace Them?
• Tracing Huguenots – From There to Here
• Tops to Tracing Your Irish Ancestor - From Immigration to Emigration
• When They Came to America Where Did They Go?
• Did Your Ancestor Become a US Citizen? Where to find Records and Documents

African American Research

• 7 Tips to Researching Slaves and Slaveholders (with MO. Case Study)
• Researching the Road to Freedom (Prior to the Civil War)
• 7 Resources to Researching Missouri Ex-Slaves and Free-Coloreds.
• Using Ship Manifests for Slave Research
• African Americans Served Too: Finding Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Records
• A History of Military Service by African Americans (Learn about these Veterans and the Records)
• “Delegation of Colored Men” 7 Resources to Researching Western-North Carolina Ex-Slaves and Free-Coloreds

Be Historically Correct

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy.com
Accurate Accessible Answers

a3genealogy@gmail.com 

Why Would White Ancestors Identify as Black?

1909 Virginia

Racial Confusion in Ancestors?

We have all heard of black people passing for white. This more-frequent-than-thought practice was usually to take advantage of otherwise closed doors. That closed door may have been a a railcar door, a front door, a job door, the door to the nearby loo…you get the picture. In passing as white a person who chose to do so often lost as much as they gained. They no longer could associate with the family they left behind. Their new family, presumably white, would never know about their childhood, their life experiences were not shared, and they lived with a secret that would eventually become generational. Of course, DNA is revealing some of those generational secrets.

But, why would a white person identify as black? Through the years, this discussion has risen. Most curious is when the someone "white" is enumerated on early census records as "white" but on a later military record as “black.” Through genealogy, the newly “black” person can be proven as the white son or brother of a white family from a different parish or a different state. The practice of reclassifying one's race in America can be seen as early as the 1740's.

One Drop Rule

One of the more common reasons of racial identity change was due to the one drop rule. Due to the one drop rule ancestors who were once white were newly classified by a codified state law as black. Yes, this was one of the many new laws imposed during the Jim Crow Era: 1910 in Tennessee, and Virginia before spreading to other states. But as we know, this was not new. Laws that forbade sex across color line laws existed in 1662 (Virginia). And, 12 of the 13 colonies forbade racial intermarriage by 1776.

So regardless of appearance, one drop of black blood, inherited from a faraway ancestor, would result in "Black"(Negro) classification. Read Who is Black? One Nation’s Definition by F. James Davis, PBS.

This leaves us today with  cases of descendants who appear to belong to the “white” race; yet, identify as black. And, their self-identification, despite their several generations of white ancestors, have maintained and asserted their identity as “black.”

The story of Clarice Shreck, one of Thomas Byrd’s ancestors, reveals Thomas was “the last known full blooded black person in her family.” Her parents, like themselves, identified her as “Negro” on the birth certificate.” Byrd’s descendants, like any other identity-fluid family, are divided into fractions;  one first cousin identifies as Native American, the other as Black. The eight children of one descendant do not agree on their racial identity: only three identify as Black. Four identify as Catawba Indian, and one as White. Read about this East Jackson, OH family and residents in the Guardian: They look white but say they’re black: a tiny town in Ohio wrestles with race.

Plaçage and miscegenation

1911 Miscegenation

Another reason a white ancestor may have begun identifying as black was due to outlawing the practice of Plaçage. Plaçage was tolerated in colonial America where European men, especially the French and Spanish, freely joined in civil unions with people of color. But later this practice became frowned upon. Researchers will very often see these civil unions in the Louisiana Territory and Missouri Territory; but also noted in  Illinois Country.  Although this practice was once tolerated, new state laws against miscegenation may have forced otherwise white Americans to identify as black. Identifying as black would allow one to stay with their mixed-race family in the community where miscegenation was illegal.  In addition to white men in civil unions with women of color, Paul Heinegg’s study identifies court documents where mixed-race children were born to free colored men and a white women. These early practices can be seen from the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, to Delaware. Again, researchers may find proof of these unions in colonial and territorial records to include the Territory of Missouri.   

If you have traced creole families in Louisiana using parish records, or analyzing Father Hebert's Acadian - Cajun church records, researchers will identify racial generational changes supported by court records and legal document research. Outlawing interracial unions and cohabitation were mandated by state laws resulting in severe penalties if violated. It is presumably due to this law and its associated penalties that an otherwise white ancestor would identify as black. Later mixed-race children from these unions left children not only light enough to pass for white; but tanned enough to marry black. This may again resulted in some of the children identifying as black as siblings identified as white. 

Census Record Issues

And remember, if a white man was cohabitating with a woman of color (legally or not) genealogical researchers may find the entire family remarked as “black/Negro/colored” in the census. Consider a teenage child or wife of color who answered the census taker's knock. The question of "is the whole family colored?" was not asked. Census takers were instructed to note color. In most cases it was assumed to be a "one race family." 

Where to Research to Solve Race Confusion?
If a conflict of family racial origin arises, be sure to become familiar with 1) the law 2) the community racial tolerance 3) the various repositories in your state of interest. Researchers may begin with the State Historical Society and the County Courthouse.

1. Court Records will reveal community complaints, county court cases, legal bonds, and penalties.
2. Census Analysis. Most of our ancestors made mistakes along the way. A census record may denote one race, whereas a military record may state another. 
3. DNA.  Family secrets may be revealed by tying DNA with good genealogical research
4. Church records.  Especially in early territory and colonial records, racial answers can be uncovered. 
5. Bastardy Bonds. These can be revealing.  Of course, if there is an associated court record, not just the warrant, be sure to pull the originals. (Will blog about these later.)
   

   

   1802 Plaçage: County Court Records: Will - Esther with Jacques Clamorgan for abt. 14 years; 
   Bequeathed money and land to mixed-race son "blue eyed" Tom with "strait white hair "
   Siblings chose black or white
   
   

6. Wills.  Amazing how many openly bequeath land, property and assets to their mixed race children.  But the key is to trace backward.  Was this land passed down by a white family to a child who years later identified as black? Read the Clamorgan story.
   
7. Land deeds. Tracing property and land deeds may prove racial changes if supported by other documents and research (i.e. family correspondence, city directories, sale of land, etc). 

Be Historically Correct 

Kathleen Brandt
a3genealogy@gmail.com

Jamaica - How to Research Ancestors

“De more yu luk, de less yu si”

Translation: The more you look, the less you will see.

Explanation: It is impossible to know every single detail about any matter.
Also, the more you find out, the less you know.

 I have visited Westmoreland Parish, Jamaica (#5), and a small bit of St. Elizabeth Parish (#2). Like most I flew into Montego Bay which is in St. James Parish (#3).

Jamaica is best known to tourists as having great sandy beaches, and beautiful turquoise water with spa resorts, and “ya mon” being share with the heartfelt “one love” attitude. But the culture, practices and historical residue is what kept me in the constant process of interviewing and digging a bit deeper.  As the proverb says, “De more yu luk, de less yu si.”

So What is Commonly Known

Typical tourists go to the spa resorts by assigned transport.  They see the small shanties for residence, large mansion styles in the hills, and food stands. There are the myriad of students and workers waiting on the road for “Route Taxi’s” to transport to school or work.  And of course, no one can miss the churches. They literally overshadow every community, roadside driveways, and poorly kept main roads.

Most have a bit of the Spanish, French and British slave history of the island. We’ve even learned through songs the rebellions that lead to emancipation.  But as genealogists we need to dig a bit deeper to learn about our ancestors. We must understand the history to understand the records.

Quick Genealogical Tips 

1. Slave emancipation by the British was in 1838, leading to some records that may reveal your ancestor as a having a subsistence farm vs. working on plantations. Or being a free maroon - the maroons were Africans who escaped slavery (mostly run-aways) and set up communities of freemen in the mountains mostly in the eastern parishes.
2. Your maroon family line may also reveal a connection to the indigenous Taino people as they joined to formed protected communities.  
3. Your Jamaican ethnic origin may include that of ancestors of Chinese and Indian descent as by 1840 British used both as indentured servants on plantations.  
4. Your Jamaican bloodline may include J1 or J2 Jewish Haplogroups on DNA results due to the European-expelled Jews who fled to Jamaica as early as 1510 but records may say “Portugals” as to not stir the wrath or mistreatment by the antisemetic. Good news is this information not only proffers your Jewish ancestry, but also perhaps their earlier homeland. But, remember this is just a hint. A totally different conversation is understanding the confusion of Sephardic vs Ashkenazic Jewish haplogroups.
5. The facts and history of Jamaica settlement and slavery have been researched and recorded since the beginning of settlement, but the location of originals are not centralized.  A good place to start is in A History of Jamaica; From it’s discovery by Christopher Columbus to the Present Time, Wm. James Gardner, 1873.

Key Research Resources

• Jamaican Family Search, Genealogy Research Library.  A virtual genealogy library.
• Library of the Institute of Jamaica - National Library of Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica
• Carlye’s Letters of Oliver Cromwell of 1655 have been preserved. 
• Acts of Assembly from the year 1681-1769, and 1786, 2vols, published in St. Jago de la Vega.
• Journals of Assembly of Jamaica, Alexander Aikman, 12 vols, 1797-1816.
• The History of Jamaica,( Vol 1 -3) by Edward Long proffers a bibliography list of interest as well as analysis and facts.  

A Solved Case

Slave Law of Jamaica, and other Hathitrust.org collections are quite useful in tracing your Jamaican ancestors. The a3Genealogy research team recently traced a Philadelphia free-colored descendant to his Jamaican slave ancestor emancipated in 1795 using the An Account of the Emancipation of the Slaves of Unity Valley Pen, in Jamaica, Barclay, 2^nd edition, 1801 and of course other resources to include in-country sources.

Kathleen Brandt
Series, Jamaica 2018
a3Genealogy@gmail.com
Accurate, accessible answers

Analyze Lands of Virginia and Kentucky

Virginians Granted Kentucky Land
Have you ever analyzed your Kentucky ancestors? If you get back far enough, you will find that many came from Virginia. Did you know that Kentucky was part of the Virginia Commonwealth? By following wars and the laws, you may be led to your early Virginian and Kentucky ancestors.

Looking at early Kentucky maps, it becomes apparent that south of the Green River is consistently designated as reserved territory. This is really obvious when researching the Mammoth Cave area in south central Kentucky, which is now a National Park, but at one point this massive set-aside land was the home of about 13 or more churches, residences and many cemeteries (few still remaining). Our research of this Mammoth Caves National Park and a few targeted early residents carried us back to the Revolutionary War and the French and Indian War. Yet Kentucky did not become a state until 1792.

War Impact

An often forgotten war in our genealogy research is the French and Indian War, 1754-1763. Perhaps you haven’t traced that far back yet, but it will probably prove to be significant in your Kentucky ancestors’ research. This war between British American and New France colonies left a paper trail since Virginia soldiers’ were awarded land grants in lieu of pay; leaving the researcher a wonderful collection of early Virginia-Kentucky ancestors’ land records. (The same is for Virginia-Ohio ancestors).

What are Bounty Land Warrants?

Our early military-active ancestors were enticed to join war efforts by the promise of “bounty land warrants.” Soldiers were able to first apply for the coveted warrants. If granted, the warrants on file confirmed the soldier and the number of bounty land acres he was entitled to based on his rank and other useful genealogical data is provided. 

Bounty land acres were reserved specifically for the purpose to pay for military service. For Virginia militia, land was set-aside in “Kentucky” for the soldiers (or heirs) to claim. Between about 1773 - 1792, Virginia soldiers, or their heirs, received warrants for bounty land. The land was located in what is Kentucky today. After the Revolutionary War, Kentucky was formed and designated from Virginia. Virginia Revolutionary War soldiers were also offered bounty land in Kentucky and Ohio. At least 4748 bounty land warrants were issued by Virginia to Revolutionary War veterans. The warrants authorized surveys of the soldiers’ land. A soldier was able to surrender his bounty land warrant for a land patent, resulting in ownership of the land.

Where are the Records?

The original warrants are held at the Kentucky Land Office, in Frankfort, KY and have been microfilmed by the Family History Library (FHL): Virginia Grants, 1782-1792. Be sure to also review the Old Kentucky Grants (1793-1856) microfilms held at the FHL. 

A vital resource to our Mammoth Caves area research was the FHL microfilm rolls of the Grants South of the Green River, 1797-1866. The land south of the Green river was also reserved for Virginia soldiers. 

Top research resources:

1. Kentucky Land Office, Frankfort, KY 
2. County Tax List,  held at Frankfort, KY also reference ancestry.com
3. Preemption Receipts and Warrants from the VA Land Commission from the Library of Virginia, Richmond VA.  
4. Kentucky Land Office Online Database: Virginia and Old Kentucky Patent Series 

For More Information

The process of Warrants to Patents has been simplified in this article. Much deeper understanding of the law is necessary for a successful search. Here are two places to begin:

• The Library of Virginia
• Kentucky Land and Property Family Search Wiki

Kathleen Brandt
Website: a3genealogy.com
a3genealogy@gmail.com

Accurate Accessible Data