Seeking information on a sailor aboard Ship of the Line North Carolina in 1861.

My ancestor was Charles Blancha__, probably Blanchard. I have a bible which was presented to him on the North Carolina in 1861. How can I find any personal information about him? Like rank, home town, etc. I'm trying to trace how he was related to me. I tried to find muster rolls but did not succeed. Also, about the bible presentation: Who would have done this? Is this a tradition of some sort? Thank you!

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    Thank you for posting your question on History Hub!

    We searched the series of Civil War Era Muster Rolls, in Record Group 24, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, but did not locate muster rolls for the USS NORTH CAROLINA. It is possible that these rolls were not transferred to the National Archives, lost, or still with the Navy Department.

    However, we did some additional searching using the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and located the following entry for the USS NORTH CAROLINA, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/north-carolina-i.html 

    As you will note the vessel served as a Receiving Ship at the New York Navy Yard during the Civil War. These were ships that were used to hold new recruits, for training, and for sailors in transit. This allowed personnel to be more easily transported to vessels and stations.

    Since this vessel was located at the New York Navy Yard, there may be more information under that station. Unfortunately, the muster rolls for the New York Navy Yard are not in our holdings for the period of time you noted. You should note that the muster rolls usually provide a listing of the personnel aboard a vessel or station. The listings often included the date and place of enlistment, age at enlistment, civilian occupation, and the state and country of birth. They do not give information on the enlistee's family or name all of the vessels on which he served.

    You may consider checking with a local museum or historical society as they often have materials donated to them by private individuals. They may have more genealogical information than the official records of the Federal government.

    For more specific information about the Navy records, please feel free to reach out to our office directly via email at archives1reference@nara.gov 

    We wish you success with your research!

    Sincerely,
    Archives 1 Reference Branch (RR1R)
    [RR1R-25-10057-AA]

Reply
  •  

    Thank you for posting your question on History Hub!

    We searched the series of Civil War Era Muster Rolls, in Record Group 24, Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, but did not locate muster rolls for the USS NORTH CAROLINA. It is possible that these rolls were not transferred to the National Archives, lost, or still with the Navy Department.

    However, we did some additional searching using the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships and located the following entry for the USS NORTH CAROLINA, https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/n/north-carolina-i.html 

    As you will note the vessel served as a Receiving Ship at the New York Navy Yard during the Civil War. These were ships that were used to hold new recruits, for training, and for sailors in transit. This allowed personnel to be more easily transported to vessels and stations.

    Since this vessel was located at the New York Navy Yard, there may be more information under that station. Unfortunately, the muster rolls for the New York Navy Yard are not in our holdings for the period of time you noted. You should note that the muster rolls usually provide a listing of the personnel aboard a vessel or station. The listings often included the date and place of enlistment, age at enlistment, civilian occupation, and the state and country of birth. They do not give information on the enlistee's family or name all of the vessels on which he served.

    You may consider checking with a local museum or historical society as they often have materials donated to them by private individuals. They may have more genealogical information than the official records of the Federal government.

    For more specific information about the Navy records, please feel free to reach out to our office directly via email at archives1reference@nara.gov 

    We wish you success with your research!

    Sincerely,
    Archives 1 Reference Branch (RR1R)
    [RR1R-25-10057-AA]

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