Pennsylvania Military Records

Forts
Fort Cumberland

Fort Duquesne

Fort Granville

Fort Hand

Fort Ligonier

Fort Necessity

Fort Vanango

U.S. Military Records provides more information on federal military records and search strategies. Many military records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives.

A helpful bibliography is John B. B. Trussell, Pennsylvania Military History(Carlisle Barracks, PA: [s. n.], 1974; FHL book 973 B4ua no. 10). It includes items from the colonial period through World War II.

Many volumes of the Pennsylvania Archives (see Pennsylvania Genealogy) contain transcripts of military records, such as rosters and muster rolls. The appropriate volumes and series are referred to below.

Colonial Wars (1744-1775)
The earliest documents appear to be Records of 17th Century Soldiers in New Sweden: 1637-1655(microfilm of originals at the Gloucester County Historical Society, Woodbury, New Jersey; FHL film 1510234 item 4). It contains mainly lists of soldiers and is written in German and Swedish.

Names of soldiers and their companies in the colonial period, 1744-1765, are in the 5th series, volume 1 of the Pennsylvania Archives (FHL book 974.8 A39p; film 844572 item 2; fiche 6019913). These records often give the state or country of birth. Sometimes even a more specific locality is indicated.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
A man born between 1730 and 1765 who lived in Pennsylvania is probably listed in some form of military record. If he supported the Revolution, he may be mentioned in records as a rebel, patriot, or Whig. Those who opposed the Revolution were called Loyalists or Tories.

Names of Loyalists may be found in Pennsylvania, Supreme Executive Council, Forfeited Estates File, 1777-1790 (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, [1978?]; FHL films 1759092 item 2-1759093 item 1). Records are alphabetically arranged by name of the estate holder with some files arranged by county.

Records of forfeited estates are also found in Pennsylvania Archives, series 6, volumes 12-13. See Guide to the Microfilm of the Records of Pennsylvania's Revolutionary Governments, 1775-1790 in Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries section for a list of the names in these records.

Another list of these names is in Anne M. Ousterhout, Opponents of the Revolution Whose Pennsylvania Estates Were Confiscated, Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 30 (1978): 237-53. See Pennsylvania Periodicals.

A small list of these individuals is Black List: A List of Those Who Took Part With Great Britain in the Revolutionary War, and Were Attainted of High Treason, Commonly Called the Black List (microreproduction of original published: Philadelphia: [s. n.], 1802; FHL film 1688885).

For patriot records of the Revolutionary War, see:

White, Virgil D. Genealogical Abstracts of the Revolutionary War Pension Files. 4 vols. Waynesboro, Tennesse: National Historical Publishing, 1990. (FHL book 973 M28g.) May include the soldier's name, unit, dates and places of service and application, age, birth date, marriage date, residences, and names of relatives. These abstracts are mainly from the United States, Veterans Administration, Selected Records from Revolutionary War Pension &amp; Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files (Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969; FHL films 840256-406). The Family History Library only has microfilms for surnames starting with A or B. The National Archives has microfilm for all surnames.

White, Virgil D. Index to Revolutionary War Service Records. 4 vols. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1995. (FHL book 973 M22wv.) Shows the name, rank, and unit of over 390,000 patriots. Transcripts of United States, Adjutant General's Office, General Index to Compiled Military Service Records of Revolutionary Ward Soldiers (Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1942; FHL film 882841-98).

The service records and pension files for Revolutionary War patriots are available at the Family History Library.

You can also use NATF Form 80 to obtain copies of the original records from the National Archives. You can also go online to order these records at http://www.archives.gov/

The Family History Library has copies of many service records and the complete federal pension files from the National Archives. For example, see United States, War Department, Revolutionary War Rolls 1775- 1783, Pennsylvania Jackets 1-93 (FHL films 830359- 63). These rolls are filed by military unit. Published rosters of soldiers are in the following volumes of the Pennsylvania Archives (FHL book 974.8 A39p and microforms listed below):


 * 2nd series, vols. 10-11 (FHL films 908829 item 2 and 908830)
 * 2nd series, vols. 13-14 (FHL film 823997)
 * 2nd series, vol. 15 (FHL film 823998 item 2)
 * 3rd series, vol. 23 (FHL film 824434 item 2)
 * 5th series. vols. 2-8 (FHL films 844573-77)
 * 6th series, vols. 1-2 (FHL films 844562-63)

An index to volumes 10, 11, 13, and 14 of the 2nd series is also at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Index to Pennsylvania in the War of the Revolution: Battalions and Line, 1775-1783; Associated Battalions and Militia, 1775-1783 (on 10 FHL films beginning with 539073).

Another useful printed source is Harry E. Cope, Soldiers and Widows of Soldiers of the Revolutionary War Granted Pensions by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (n.p.; FHL book 974.8 M2c; film 1036819 item 26). Some of the names in this book are also found in the federal pension records. See the U.S. Military Records Research Outline (34118) for information about those records. Records for some individuals in the above title are also in Pennsylvania, Auditor General's Office, Revolutionary War Pension File, 1809-1893 (FHL films 1016413-15). The films include names that are not in the book.

The following sources from the Pennsylvania State Archives are also available at the Family History Library:

For early payment records, see Pennsylvania, Comptroller General, Revolutionary War Pension Accounts, 1785-1809, 1834-1838 (FHL film 295743 items 4-9).

For an account of the payments to pensioners, see Pennsylvania, Auditor General, Revolutionary War Pension Accounts, 1807-1883 (FHL films 1027856- 5). The soldier's death date may be found in these records.

For a list of burials, see Daughters of the American Revolution, Lycoming Chapter (Williamsport, Pennsylvania), Revolutionary War Veterans Interred in Pennsylvania, volume 1(FHL film 441387). This is a micro-reproduction of an original typescript at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. It often just lists the name of the soldier and the cemetery.

Military Abstract Card File for the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. (On 42 FHL films beginning with 1205961.) This file has been abstracted from original documents in the custody of the Pennsylvania State Archives and is arranged alphabetically by soldier's name in four file units.

Pennsylvania. Comptroller General. Military Accounts, Line, 1775-1809. (FHL films 1027962- 70.) The Military Abstract Card File is an index to these records. It includes clothing allowances, letters of attorney, probate actions, military rolls, documents regarding payment, affidavits, etc., filed by military unit.

Additional records that could prove helpful are Pennsylvania, Comptroller General, Militia Military Accounts, 1777-1794 (on 38 FHL films beginning with 1023007). They are arranged by county, militia period, and battalion and include many lists of names, etc., such as why a person was unable to serve in the military.

For information about the federal soldiers from Pennsylvania (the Pennsylvania Line), see John B. B. Trussell, Jr., The Pennsylvania Line, Regimental Organization and Operations, 1776-1783 (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1977; FHL book 974.8 M2tp).

War of 1812 (1812-1815)
Muster rolls published in the Pennsylvania Archives (FHL book 974.8 A39p and the films listed below) are in:


 * 2nd series, vol. 12 (FHL film 823997)
 * 4th series, vol. 5 (FHL film 824418)
 * 6th series, vols. 7-9 (FHL film 844566-68)

The muster rolls are also published in Muster Rolls of the Pennsylvania Volunteers in the War of 1812-1814, 1895, (reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing, 1967; FHL book 974.8 M2m; film 844514 item 2). This was reprinted from Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, vol. 12.

The Family History Library also has the following records. The original documents are at the state archives.

Pennsylvania. Auditor General. War of 1812, List of Soldiers. (FHL films 1027855 item 6 through 1027856 item 1.)

Pennsylvania. Bureau of Audits. War of 1812 Militia Accounts, 1812-1827. (On 8 FHL films beginning with 1020490.)

Pennsylvania. Auditor General's Office. War of 1812 Pension Records, 1866-1896. (FHL films 1018554- 80.)

For a brief history of Pennsylvania's involvement in the war see Harold L. Myers, Pennsylvania and the War of 1812 (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1964; FHL book 974.8 A1 no. 12).

Mexican War (1846-1848)
An alphabetical list of soldiers enrolled in Pennsylvania is in Pennsylvania Archives, series 6, volume 10, pp. 249-458. Volumes 36-38 of the Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine (see the "Periodicals" section) also has a list of names.

The Family History Library has the following records and an index to pensions, but the actual pension records are at the National Archives.

United States. Record and Pension Office. Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served During the Mexican War in Organizations from the State of Pennsylvania. (FHL films 1314139-51.)

Pennsylvania. Adjutant General's Office. Mexican Service Index, 1846-1848. (FHL film 1032842 item 2.) It contains muster rolls of the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Pennsylvania. Bureau of Audits. Mexican War Military Accounts, 1846-1880. (FHL films 1020496-500.)

An excellent history is Randy W. Hackenburg, Pennsylvania in the War with Mexico (Shippensburg, PA: White Mane Pub. Co., 1992; FHL book 974.8 M2h). It includes the rosters and brief biographies of the men who served.

Civil War (1861-1865)
An important bibliography for this war is Dan A. Nettling, ''Pennsylvania Military History: A Bibliography. Part II, The Civil War''(Carlisle Barracks, PA: U. S. Army Military History Institute, 1992; FHL book 974.8 M23p). It is organized by regiment and lists personal papers of some men in the regiment that are in the U.S. Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

The library has indexes to service and pension records, but the service and pension records are only available at the National Archives. See the U.S. Military Records Research Outline (34118) for more information about these records. A published roster of soldiers and regiments is Samuel Penniman Bates, History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65, 5 vols. (Harrisburg, PA: B. Singerly, 1869-71; FHL book 974.8 M2b; on 5 FHL films beginning with 824366). For an index see Civil War Veterans Card File, 1861-1866, at the Pennsylvania State Archives (on 80 FHL films beginning with 1205205). The card file originally indexed the History of the Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-65. Later the Adjutant General's office included data found in the original documents. Information on the cards depended on the extractor, but soldier's name, unit, age, physical description, residence, birthplace, date of discharge, etc., may have been extracted.

A more recent edition is Samuel P. Bates, History of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-5, 10 vols. (Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Pub. Co., 1993-1994; FHL book 974.8 M2b 1993). An index is Janet Hewett, History of Pennsylvania Volunteers 1861-5, 4 vols. (Wilmington, North Carolina: Broadfoot Pub. Co., 1994; FHL book 974.8 M2b index).

The same rosters, which contain more information, are found in Pennsylvania, Adjutant General's Office, Register of Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1861-1865. (FHL films 295744-58.) They list the age, when and where joined, when and where mustered, sometimes the residence, and remarks that may include more details than in the published versions above.

Each source should be checked for names that are not in the other sources. For additional names, refer to Pennsylvania, Auditor General's Office, Board of Military Claims, Military Claims Settled, 1862-1905 (on 63 FHL films beginning with 1018582, the index is on 1018581); and Pennsylvania, Auditor General's Office, Military Claims not Settled, 1862-1905, (on 5 FHL films beginning with 1021415).

See also United States, Adjutant General's Office, Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of Pennsylvania(FHL films 882336-471). The index lists names that are not in some of the above sources.

From the state archives, the library has obtained copies of other manuscript sources, such as lists of wounded soldiers, substitutes, deserters, and veterans in soldiers' homes.

The state archives has many other sources not at the Family History Library, such as Descriptive Books of the G.A.R. [Grand Army of the Republic], 1866-1933. Here entries are arranged by post and may contain the soldier's name, age, birthplace, residence, and details of his Civil War military service.

Spanish-American War (1898)
A published roster of soldiers, listing name, residence, and muster-in and muster-out dates, is Thomas J. Stewart, Record of Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Spanish-American War, 1898, 2nd ed. (Harrisburg, PA: Wm. Stanley Ray, 1901; FHL book 974.8 M2r; film 982200 item 1).

Additional sources at the library include:

Pennsylvania. Department of Military Affairs State Veteran's Compensation Division. Spanish American War Veteran's Compensation File. (On 46 FHL films beginning with 1032848.)

Pennsylvania. Adjutant General's Office. United States Volunteers of the Spanish American War, 1893-1901. (FHL film 1266814.)

World War I (1917-1918)
World War I draft registration cards for men ages 18 to 45 may list address, birth date, birthplace, race, nationality, citizenship, and next of kin. Not all registrants served in the war. For Pennsylvania's cards, see United States, Selective Service System, Pennsylvania, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987-1988; on 317 FHL films beginning with 1852246). The records are also indexed and searchable online at ancestry.com.

To find an individual's draft card, it helps to know his name and residence at the time of registration. The cards are arranged alphabetically by county, within the county by draft board, and alphabetically by surname within each draft board.

Most counties had only one board; large cities had more. Finding an ancestor's street address in a city directory will help you determine the board number if he lived in a large city. Draft board addresses can be found in Second Report of the Provost Marshall General to the Secretary of War on the Operations of the Selective Service System to December 20, 1918 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1919; not at FHL). There are maps that show the draft board registration district boundaries in Allegheny, Luzerne, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Reading, and Westmoreland. For a copy of these maps, see:

United States. Selective Service System. List of World War One Draft Board Maps. Washington, D.C.: National Archives. (FHL film 1498803.)

World War II (1941-1945)
For a brief history of Pennsylvania's involvement, see S. K. Stevens, Marvin W. Schlegel, and Joseph T. Kingston, Pennsylvania's Second Year at War; December 7, 1942 - December 7, 1943 (Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1945; FHL book 974.8 M2sk). It includes biographies of Pennsylvanians who won the Medal of Honor and a list of Pennsylvania generals, admirals, and commodores.

Other Military Records
The State Archives has limited draft and muster records for World War I (not available online). The Family History Library has copies of other files from the State Archives. These include militia files, accounts, claims, and other records created during and between wars.

Military Records Websites
The Pennsylvania State Archives has digitized a number of military records.

The National Archives has many military records.