North Carolina Revolutionary Pay Vouchers - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection includes images of State Treasurer Revolutionary War Pay Vouchers issued in lieu of cash for military service or supplies furnished. The records are arranged alphabetically covering the years 1779-1782 and was acquired from the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh. Vouchers that were redeemed have holes punched through the center of the document. Most vouchers include name, certificate number and amount due. It may also include the date and place it was issued. The collection is part of the Office of State Comptroller and Office of State Treasurer Military Papers - Revolutionary War Army Accounts, 1780-1795. MARS id 13.30(Series)

From the years 1776 to 1783, approximately 36,000 men from North Carolina served in the American Revolution. Men between the ages of 16 and 60 may have served during the war in either the Continental Army, State Line Troops, or local militia mustered to help the Continental Troops.

Vouchers rather than cash payments were issued to soldiers for military service performed. Soldiers then presented vouchers for payment received in either cash, food or other goods. Payment was made only after an auditor had validated the claim and an oath was created to verify the claim.

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

Revolutionary Pay Voucher • 2

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The names of other family members
 * The county of residence

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’s revolutionary pay voucher, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

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

 * Use the voucher location to find family in census, church, and land records
 * Use the information found to search for additional military records
 * Use the information found to search for the family in additional state and county records

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities
 * A boundary change could have occurred and the record of your ancestor is now in a neighboring locality
 * Consult the North Carolina Record Finder to find other records

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of North Carolina.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * North Carolina Guided Research
 * North Carolina Record Finder
 * North Carolina Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step North Carolina Research, 1880-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * North Carolina State Archives. North Carolina revolutionary pay vouchers, 1779-1782
 * North Carolina Secretary of State. North Carolina and Tennessee; revolutionary warrants, 1783-1837. 15 rolls
 * A brief history of the North Carolina Troops of the Continental establishment, in the War of the Revolution : with a register of officers of the same Philadelphia, Pa. : [s.n., 1896]
 * Hugh F. Rankin, The North Carolina continentals Chapel Hill, North Carolina : University of North Carolina Press, c1971 FS Library 975.6 M2r

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * James C. Neagles and Lila L. Neagles, Locating your Revolutionary War ancestor : a guide to the military records Logan, Utah : Everton Publishers, c1983
 * Daughters of the American Revolution. Roster of the soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution : with an appendix containing a collection of miscellaneous records. NCDAR, 1932. FS Library Digital Book
 * Robert K. Wright, Jr. The Continental Army Washington, D.C. : Center of Military History, U.S. Army, 1983
 * Hugh F. Rankin, North Carolina in the American Revolution Raleigh, North Carolina : State Dept. of Archives and History, 1959
 * Benson John Lossing,Field-book of the American Revolution : published under the patronage of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution ... 2 volumes. Reprint of the 1850-1852 ed. published in New York, Harper and Brothers. Cottonport, Louisiana : Polyanthos, 1972

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.