Can You Help James H. Hall, the Mexican-American War Project and Collaborative Profile of the Week?

Question

The Mexican American War Project and the Collaborative Profile of the Week Present

James H Hall

James H Hall was born in Ireland in 1828, served in the Mexican-American War in 1847, then settled in Pennsylvania. This one may be a challenge to find anything more than basics, and his common name is going to complicate things.

1. Immigration Records? Do they exist prior to 1847?
2. Can we locate him in the 1850 Census? Who was he living with?
3. Other Census data? The 1880 Census, especially, will tell us who he was living with and what their relationship to him was.
4. Unfortunately, pension documents for this war are not yet online. Can someone find the correct index card?
5. What did Co D 5th US Infantry do during the War?
6. Was the Company recruited basically in one place?

It’s helpful to the collaboration and to save duplication of work, if you post an answer here before working on some aspect of the profile. But please feel free to simply add to the profile whatever you’ve found out with it’s source.

Mexican American War Project

Do you have an ancestor who fought in the Mexican-American War?  The war occurred during the years 1846-1848, and was fought between the United States and the Centralist Republic of Mexico (which became the Second Federal Republic of Mexico during the war). This followed the USA accepting the Republic of Texas into the Union as a state.  Once annexed, the Mexican government did not accept the boundary in south Texas that had been agreed upon by General [[Santa Anna-1|Antonio de Padua María Severino (Antonio) Santa Anna aka López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón]]. (General Santa Anna).

Thank You. 

 

Comments

Added a bit of background on the army situation at the time of this war

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Excellent Mary. I didn't know about state laws that forbid service.

Answer 1

It would be helpful if his wife and his son George also had Open profiles, in order to add sources to them as well.

Comments

Added:

• Find A Grave
• 1880 US Census
• Pension Index Card
• Marriage of his son George
• Children from 1880 US Census
• Cemetery category
• Line in biography about occupation

Note that the Profile Manager looks to be the same as the Find A Grave page owner. If so, then it would be great if he could also copy photos of the gravestone over to WikiTree (as well as for others in this family). That would be a great addition.

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• 1860 Census
• Son, John, from Census
• 1870 Census

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Thanks Eric. I've emailed him about opening the profiles. I also have a copy of his pension docs from the manager.

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And thank you for the sources.

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The profiles in question are now open.

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Sources added to those profiles too.

Answer 2

My Great-great-grandfather was Capt. George W. West of St; Louis, Mo, we served in the Mexican war and briefly in the Civil War.  He was captured at the Camp Jackson massacre.  We could find no immigration records for that time, but we were able to use newspaper accounts and church records.  We can trace him back to his parents, but no further.

Comments

Thank you Tim, for the information on lack of immigration records

Answer 3

I now have a copy of James pension application. I will summarize and add the information to the profile.