Use this article to help find and use soldier records for ancestry research.
Researching and writing about military service and war experiences before 1900 will be very challenging but not impossible. This article will help provide insights and direction on finding records to help you build and write a narrative about a Mexican War soldier. Civil War soldier stories can be about the individual who served in the military and the individuals who stayed home, such as spouses, children, extended family, and friends.
See these articles to help you find articles for other military records.
| How to Find Other U.S. Military Records | ||
| WWII 1939-45 |
WWI 1914-1918 |
Civil War 1861-1865 |
| Mexican War 1846-1848 |
Early Indian Wars 1815-1858 |
War of 1812 1812-1814 |
| Revolutionary War 1776-1783 |
||
The following categories and additional resources are provided to aid your research and finding of military records for the Revolutionary War 1776-1783:
- Revolutionary War Overview
- Searching for Revolutionary War Records
- Search the Cemetery
- Department of Veterans Affairs National Gravesite Locator
- Historical Society Headstone Symbolism
Revolutionary War Overview
Fought between the years of 1774-1783, the American Revolution was when the British colonists in the Americas rebelled against the rule of Great Britain. Of the colonies, 13 rebelled, which included: Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island. One of the main reasons for rebellion was representation. The British government was making new laws and levying taxes without representation of the colonies in the government. At first, the war was protests and arguments, which over time escalated to war. The colonies each had their governments, and in 1774 each sent elected officials to the “First Continental Congress” to unite and make a single government. The “Second Continental Congress” declared independence for the United States from Great Britain. Unlike British rule, the new government would be a democratic government with leaders elected by the people with balances of power.
During the Revolutionary War, the American colonies (United States) had an estimated population of 2.7 million, of which 20% were loyal to the British government (Loyalists). Best estimates suggest that 175,000 men served in the war. About 5,000 free men and enslaved people served with many more in support roles as waggoners, drovers, and laborers. The age range for soldiers/militia was between 15 and 50 (some were as young as ten and as old as 60). The following are a few facts related to the war:
- 1 of every 5 soldiers was killed, wounded, or missing in action
- American battle casualties 6,824
- American wounded 8,4,45
- Disappeared with no knowledge of whereabouts 1,500
- Deaths from disease 10,000 (approximate)
- Americans who died in British prisons 8,500
- Americans captured 18,152
- Total British casualties from battle 24,000 (approximate)
If your ancestor was 15 to 60 years of age between 1774-1783, there is a good chance he served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. The birth year would have been between 1715 and 1767.
Searching for Revolutionary War Records
I have made it a practice to search for military records head of households for the 1790-1840 U.S. Federal census and if they were explicitly mentioned in the 1840 census question “Pensions for Revolutionary or Military Services.”
Pension applications
Search for pension applications and records of pension payments for veterans, their widows, and other heirs. There are over 80,000 such records. The pension applications usually provide the most information. They can include supporting documents such as marriage, birth, and death records/certificates, pages from family Bibles, family letters, dispositions of witnesses, affidavits, discharge papers and other supporting documents. Even if your ancestor did not receive a pension, see if his pension request was denied, which can provide good information. When I haven’t found any information about my direct ancestor, I have researched other family members like fathers, brothers, uncles and even neighbors to see any information related to family connections.
Bounty Land Warrant Applications
Bounty land applications are also related to wartime service. The federal government provided bounty land for those who served in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Indian wars between 1775 and 1855. Bounty lands were offered as an incentive to serve and as a reward for service. Veterans or their heirs claimed bounty land. The federal government reserved tracts of land for this purpose. New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia also set aside tracts of bounty land for their Revolutionary War veterans.
If your ancestor served as a soldier, searching these records can be fruitful. The bounty land records contain documents like those of the pension files. Many bounty land applications for 1789-1800 were destroyed by fire. Most bounty land application files of the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 service have been combined with pension files. Federal bounty land applications and warrants for the Revolutionary War have been microfilmed. Revolutionary War rolls 1775-1783. These rolls were maintained by the American Army to provide basic information about the identities, numbers, conditions, equipment, and pay status of the men and units.
Locating records
Revolutionary War records can be found in online databases such as FamilySearch and Ancestry.com military collections.
Microfilm versions are available at LDS Family History Centers/Library, federal depository libraries, and many university libraries throughout the United States.
In the World cat search engine, you can locate the records at a library using Worldcat (Note: Use the search term, “Revolutionary war pension and bounty-land warrant application files” in the World cat search engine. ” The pension files have been reproduced in NARA microfilm publication M804, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (2,670 rolls). Military service records are also available on microfilm; for more information, see listings for Record Group 93, War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, in Microfilm Resources for Research: A Comprehensive Catalog (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1996), which is available online or for purchase.
I have worked with the historical societies of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). For the DAR, do a Google search on” DAR Genealogical Research System and Genealogy and DAR Library” to learn details. Do a Google search on “SAR Genealogical Library and SAR Revolutionary War Patriots Index and Graves Registry for the SAR.”
Also, check with state and county historical societies to see what information they have or provide guidance to expand your research. Many Revolutionary War soldiers fought for state militias, and those records are at the state level. See if these records have been put online with a Google search that includes Revolutionary War and state (e.g., “Revolutionary War” +Virginia). Many states have put online a variety of documents related to the Revolutionary War. Do a Google search on the category names to find related websites:
Loyalists
About 20% (500,000) of the U.S. population during the Revolutionary war were Loyalists, individuals who supported or were sympathetic to the British government. Over 100,000 left the United States following the war and moved to Canada, England, Florida, Jamaica, West Indies, and other British lands. If you think your ancestor might have been Loyalist, do a Google search for “Institute for Advanced Loyalist Studies,” “United Empire Loyalists,” and “Loyalists and Patriots.”
Hessians
England hired over 30,000 German troops (mercenaries) to fight for the British during the Revolutionary War. After the war, 6,000 remained behind to live and establish families. Do a Google search on “Johannes Schwam Historical Association” and “Hessian Descendants.”
To start your research.
Search the Cemetery
Finding graves of your ancestors is hit and miss, but a few resources may provide value.
Department of Veterans Affairs National Gravesite Locator
Search for burial locations of veterans and their family members in VA National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, various other military and Department of Interior cemeteries, and for veterans buried in private cemeteries when the grave is marked with a government grave marker using the Gravesite Locator.
Headstones Provided for Deceased Union War Veterans circa 1879-1903
Congress of February 3, 1879, extended the privilege of government-provided gravestones to soldiers buried in private cemeteries. One hundred sixty-six thousand cards are recording these headstones has been reproduced on microfilm (NARA microfilm M1845-22 rolls). You can find the film at LDS Family History Library/Centers, National Archives, and regional record services. These records consist of 3-inch by 4-inch cards arranged alphabetically by surname, thereunder by the first name. The cards include some or all of the following information about each soldier: rank, company, and regiment; place of burial, including the cemetery’s name, and the city or town, county, and state in which it is located; grave number if any; date of death; the name of the contractor who supplied the headstone and the date of the contract under which the stone was provided. Most of the burials occurred in private cemeteries, probably in the soldier’s last residence county. Some occurred in cemeteries at National Homes for Disabled Volunteers Soldiers.
Historical society headstone symbolism
Also, be on the lookout for symbols on graves of family members of the historical societies: Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Each organization required the person to provide genealogical proof that their ancestor did indeed fight in the Revolutionary War. Knowing that family members were members of these societies provides clues that your family may have copies of the research and applications used to apply for membership or that one of your ancestors did fight the Revolutionary War. You should be searching for military records.
