U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783

This database is a collection of records kept by the National Archives listing men who fought for the colonies in the American Revolutionary War. Record types contained in this collection include:

• Muster rolls
• Payrolls
• Strength returns
• Misc., personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units
• Manuscript register of the series (roll 1)

Who is Included?

Revolutionary War American Forces included various organizations formed by the Continental Congress as well as individual states, counties, and towns. Regular military units created by the Continental Congress comprised the Continental Army. Often this Army was reinforced with units created by individual states. The records contained in this database regard only the Continental Army, and state and other units that served with them. Therefore, not all individuals who served in the Revolutionary War will be found in this database.

How to use this Database:

An index to the names of individuals contained in these records was created by Direct Data Capture. You can search this index by using the search template above. Information available in the index includes:

• Soldier’s name
• Category (explained below)
• Rank
• NARA microfilm roll number

Use this information to then find the corresponding image of the record on which the soldier appears. Clicking on the “View Image” icon on the search results or record level pages will take you to the first image of the roll that the individual is on. You will then need to “scroll” through the images until you find the correct image. It is important to view the image of the original record as additional information about the individual will likely be listed.

Arrangement of Records:

Records in this collection are arranged into three categories –

• Individual states (Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia) – includes records for Continental Army units raised in the state; state militia and volunteer units
• Continental Troops - includes records for Continental Congress specialized units; Continental Congress infantry regiments organized from resolutions of 1776; Continental Army units raised in multiple states
• Miscellaneous – includes records for units larger than a regiment; special returns not easily classified into another category

Within each category the records are arranged as follows:

States:

• Numbered units (arranged numerically)
• Named units (arranged alphabetically)

Continental Troops:

• Calvary, artillery, and artificer units
• Numbered units (arranged numerically)
• Named units (arranged alphabetically)
• Infantry regiments of 1776
• Numbered units (arranged numerically)
• Additional regiments
• Named units (arranged alphabetically)
• Miscellaneous units
• Named units (arranged alphabetically)

Miscellaneous:

• Returns of the French Army under Count Rochambeau
• Arranged chronologically
• Brigade, division, and army returns
• Arranged by organization, then chronologically
• Returns of Washington’s Army
• Arranged chronologically
• Special returns
• Arranged by department, then chronologically
• Guard reports
• Prisoner of war lists