United States, War of 1812 Index to Service Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
This is a consolidated index to the compiled military service records for soldiers who served in the War of 1812, located in the National Archives. The index is arranged in alphabetical order by surname.

The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and the British Empire, including Great Britain, Canada, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. The Treaty of Ghent, which became effective on February 18, 1815, ended the war. With the signing of the treaty the U.S. and Britain recognized the pre-war boundaries between the United States and Canada, and gave the United States fishing rights to the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

This index covers records for the years 1812 to 1815. It was created as a rapid access to individuals who served during the War of 1812. These records are generally reliable.

 Related Articles 
 * Stuart L. Butler.  Genealogical Records of the War of 1812. Prologue 23 (Winter 1991): 420-425. FHL 973 B2p.
 * Ruth Dixon.  Genealogical Fallout from the War of 1812. Prologue 24 (Spring 1992): 973 B2p.
 * Claire Prechtel-Kluskens. Researching Volunteer Soldiers of the War of 1812. NGS Magazine 37 # 1 (January-March 2011): 36-41. FHL 973 D25ngs.'''
 * Marie Varrelman Melchiori. War of 1812 records at the National Archives. NGS Magazine 35 (April-June 2009): 24-29.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Service
 * Name of soldier
 * Rank, position or job
 * Military unit in which served
 * State of enlistment
 * References and notes

How Do I Search This Collection?
To search for your ancestors in the index it is helpful to know:
 * The full name of the solider
 * The approximate dates of service
 * The state and county where the soldier resided

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the  Select Surname Range

Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?
When you have located your ancestor in the War of 1812 Index to Service Records, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. This information will often lead you to other records.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the regiment and state to locate other military records such as enlistment or pension records
 * Use the regiment and state to locate census, church, and land records
 * Compile a list of other personnel with the same surname. This is especially helpful if the surname is unusual
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Look for another index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties
 * Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals that may be your ancestor

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning War of 1812 Research
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

Related Digital Books

 * Kentucky Veterans of the War of 1812
 * Massachusetts Militia Roster
 * Maryland Roster of the War of 1812
 * North Carolina Militia Muster Rolls: Internet Archive
 * Ohio Soldiers of the War of 1812
 * Pennsylvania Archives Series 2, Volume 12 Muster Rolls Soldiers of the War of 1812
 * Vermont Soldiers of the War of 1812
 * Citizen Soldiers at North Point and Fort McHenry: Internet Archive

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.