Collection Information
The "Rolls and Lists" description of this category can be misleading in some cases. Where some of the collections are lists that may be leaner in detail, some of the records in this category can include helpful information like birth date and place, marital status, names of spouse and/or parents, religion, rank, military unit, residence, any injuries sustained, and other details related to military service. Injury and casualty lists may include the circumstances, and prisoner of war records can tell you whether your ancestor died, escaped, was paroled, exchanged or released, and when.
This category includes a wide variety of military records, including muster rolls, enlistment records, military directories, prisoner and casualty lists, records from veterans’ homes, and published extracts and compilations.
The information included in these records varies depending on the collection, so check the descriptions for each collection for more information.
Sample Images
Search Tips
- Start by searching for your ancestor’s name. If you find too many results, try adding a residence or military service location to narrow the list.
- If you’re not sure whether your ancestor served in the military, you may find a hint in census records. The U.S. federal censuses of 1840, 1910, and 1930 identified military veterans.
- The "Military Service" year field is a useful tool to help limit your search. Enter a year in which the veteran might have enlisted or served, then select an option from the +/- field to cover a range of years. For example, if you’re looking for a World War I veteran, try the year 1915 and select a range of +/- 5 years. Your search will cover the years 1910-1920.