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

Record Description
This is a consolidated name 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.

The index was created as a rapid access to individuals who served during the War of 1812.

These records are generally reliable.

For a list of records by surnames currently published in this collection, select the Browse link from the collection landing page.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
The index includes the following information:




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

How to Use the Record
To search the collection, select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the "Surname Range" which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

To search for your ancestors in the index you will need to know the following:


 * Full names
 * Approximate dates of service

If you are having difficulty finding your ancestor, look for variations in the spelling of the name. If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names. Remember that these indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings and misinterpretations.

Compare the information in the record to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.

When you have located your ancestor’s record, 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.

The following suggestions may help you in your search:


 * 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.

Related Websites

 * National Archives Waltham, MA
 * National Archives Laguna-Niguel, CA

Related Wiki Articles

 * United States, Index to War of 1812 Pension Application Files (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * United States in the War of 1812
 * US Military Service Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"United States, War of 1812 Index to Service Records, 1812-1815" images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 15 September 2011). Alexander J. Erwin; citing Military Records, En-Eu, image 1241; Federal Archives and Records Center, Washington D.C., United States.