Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Civil War Look for your ancestors in this PA genealogy database of American Civil War soldiers - infantry, cavalry & artillery rosters, histories, biographies, draft, journals, letters, medal of honor recipients, prisoners of war (POWs), & pensions of our Pennsylvania military ancestors. Use this free Pennsylvania database to help with your genealogy search.
Home Rosters Regiments Bates Bios Newspapers Diaries Flags Draft MOH POWs Pensions Deaths Counties

Find your ancestor in our military collections.   

Enter a grandparent's name to get started.

Start Now
Start your Family Tree

Pennsylvania Civil War
Conscientious Objectors Database



The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania has compiled a database of names of Pennsylvania men who refused military service during the American Civil War for reasons of conscience - generally religious convictions. Volunteers transcribed these entries from the 'Register of Aliens & Persons Having Conscientious Scruples Against Bearing Arms, 1862,' (entry #3168); Records of State and District Offices, 1861-72, Pennsylvania (Part IV), Western Division; Records of the Provost Marshal General's Bureau, Record Group 110; National Archives Building, Washington, DC.

This register is an index to original requests for exemption on file as "Conscientious Objector Depositions, 1862" (Series #19.15); Records of the Adjutant General; Records of the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, Record Group 19; Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA. Each one is signed by the man seeking exemption.

Pennsylvania Civil War Conscientious Objectors -- by surname (A-L)
Pennsylvania Civil War Conscientious Objectors -- by surname (M-Z)

Pennsylvania Civil War Conscientious Objectors -- by county (Adams-Juniata)
Pennsylvania Civil War Conscientious Objectors -- by county (Lancaster-York)


Copies of the "Conscientious Objector Depositions" may be obtained for a fee from the Reference Section, Pennsylvania State Archives, 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120-0090


Background information
Further background information on Pennsylvania's Civil War Conscientious Objectors by Jonathan R. Stayer, Head, Reference Section, Pennsylvania State Archives

Discover your
family's story.

Enter your name to start your discovery.

Start Now



Ancestry.com Civil War Databases

  • U.S. Civil War Soldiers
    6.3 million soldiers who served in the American Civil War.

  • Civil War Collection
    Search all the Civil War databases




    • Civil War Research

    Civil War Research
    Want to find out if your ancestor was a Civil War soldier? Follow these research ideas.




    Search PA Civil War
    Loading





    Home | Search | Privacy Policy | Site Map | Want to Help?

    Copyright © Pennsylvania Civil War Volunteers 1997-2012 All rights reserved.