Connecticut Military Records

The U.S. Military Records Research Outline 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. The United States Research Outline provides more information on the federal records.

An important source of military records is the Connecticut State Library. Their records include extensive militia records, orderly books, private papers, and other military records from the colonial period to World War I. Many of these are also at the Family History Library.

Colonial Wars (1675-1775)
Selected papers of the wars between 1675 and 1775 have been filed at the Connecticut State Library. Microfilm copies are at the Family History Library. The index is on FHL film 003590. For rolls of Connecticut men in the French and Indian War, see Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society, Volumes 9 and 10 (Hartford: Connecticut Historical Society, 1905; FHL book 974.6 B4c; films 897070 item 3 and 897071). This is listed in the Family History Library Catalog under CONNECTICUT - HISTORY.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783) to Mexican War (1846-1848)
A major published source is ''Connecticut Adjutant General, Records of Service of Connecticut Men in the I. War of the Revolution, II. War of 1812, III. Mexican War'' (Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood &amp; Brainard Company, 1889; FHL book 974.6 M2ca; film 1036328 item 4; fiche 6046698).

Supplementary sources for the Revolutionary War are volumes 8 and 12 of Collections of the Connecticut Historical Society (FHL book 974.6 B4c; volume 8 is on FHL film 897070 item 2; volume 12 is on film 897072). These are listed in the Family History Library Catalog under CONNECTICUT - HISTORY.

The Connecticut State Library and the Family History Library have a 37-volume set of service rolls for the Revolutionary War on microfilm. Indexes to service records of each war between 1775 and 1848 are at the Family History Library. The pension files for the Revolutionary War are also at the National Archives and the Family History Library.

Civil War (1861-1865)
An index to compiled military service records is at the National Archives and the Family History Library (FHL films 821909-25). The service and pension records have not been microfilmed and are only at the National Archives. A published roster is Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army and Navy of the United States During the War of the Rebellion (Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood &amp; Brainard Co., 1889; FHL book 974.6 M2c; film 982124). Item 2 on film 982124 is a supplement.

Spanish-American War (1898)
A helpful source is Connecticut Adjutant General, Record of Service of Connecticut Men in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States in the Spanish-American War (Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood &amp; Brainard Co., 1919; FHL book Q 974.6 M2co; film 1036755).

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 registration cards for Connecticut, see:

United States. Selective Service System. Connecticut World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications, M1509. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1987-1988. (On FHL films beginning with 1561876.)

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 then alphabetically by surname within each draft board.

Most counties had only one board; large cities had several. A map showing the boundaries of individual draft boards is available for most large cities. Finding an ancestor's street address in a city directory will help you in using the draft board map. There is an alphabetical list of cities that are on the map. For a copy of this map, see:

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