The only service records that have been microfilmed are those for Mississippi. National Archives Microfilm Publication M678. (FHL films 882819–40; computer number 325956.) The compiled service records for other states are available only at the National Archives.

Pension Records

Pensions were first granted to soldiers who were disabled while in the service and to heirs of soldiers who died during the war. The first pension acts based on service was not passed until 1871 and a second was passed in 1878. The files have not been filmed and are available only at the National Archives. The following is an index to pension applications:

Index to War of 1812 Pension Application Files. National Archives Microfilm Publication M313. (FHL films 840431–500 and 847501–32; computer number 113898.) This index has the veteran’s name, widow’s name, rank, unit, dates of enlistment and discharge, application and certificate numbers, and bounty land warrant numbers.

The information from this index has been published in the following source:

White, Virgil D., comp. Index to War of 1812 Pension Files. 2 vols. Waynesboro, Tenn.: National Historical Publishing, 1992. (FHL book 973 M22i; computer number 690247.) Vol. 2, pages 1888–2109, contains a cross-reference index to wives, widows, and other family members listed in the main index.

Bounty Land Warrants

Veterans were offered a total of 6 million acres of bounty land in Arkansas, Illinois, Michigan, and later, Missouri. Starting in 1852 bounty land warrants were also awarded outside these assigned districts. Warrants for the acts of 1812, 1814, and 1842 (excluding the general bounty land acts of 1850, 1852, and 1855) are reproduced in the following:

War of 1812 Military Bounty Land Warrants, 1815–1858. National Archives Microfilm Publication M848. (FHL films 983163–77; computer number 174912.) The records usually contain the veteran’s name, rank, company, and regiment; the date the warrant was issued; and the date the warrant was exchanged for a specific parcel of land. The warrants are arranged numerically by warrant number and then chronologically.

The following sources are also helpful:

Christensen, Katheren, comp. Arkansas Military Bounty Grants (War of 1812). Hot Springs, Ark.: Arkansas Ancestors, 1971. (FHL book 976.7 R2c; computer number 244364.) Contains the name of the veteran, date, and warrant number.

Dunaway, Maxine, comp. Missouri Military Land Warrants, War of 1812. Springfield, Mo.: Maxine Dunaway, 1985. (FHL book 977.8 R2d; computer number 419171.) Indicates the name of purchaser, section, township, range, warrant number, patent date, book, and page.

Military Land Warrants in Missouri, 1819: An Alphabetical Index of Missouri Patentees. 1858. Reprint, n.p., 1988. (FHL book 977.8 R2ml; computer number 548919.) Indicates the date, name of patentee, land warrant number, regiment, and land description.

War of 1812 Bounty Lands in Illinois. Thomson, Ill.: Heritage House, 1977. (FHL book 977.3 R2w; film 1035624 item 7; fiche 6051272; computer number 0007616.) A reprint of Lands in Illinois to Soldiers of Late War. (26th Congress, 1st Sess., 1840. House Doc. 262.) These records are arranged by date and include number of warrant, name of patentee, rank, description of the tract, and to whom delivered.

Prisoner of War Records

The following are general entry books for Americans incarcerated on ships and in prisons:

Records Relating to American Prisoners of War, 1812–1815, from the Public Record Office, London. (FHL films 1454583–93; computer number 414773.) The books give each prisoner’s name; ship; date and place of capture; rank; birthplace; age; physical description; and details of discharge, death, or escape.

A guide to this collection is listed below:

Records Relating to American Prisoners of War, 1812–1815. Yorkshire, Eng.: EP Microform, Ltd., 1980. (FHL book 973 M2dye; computer number 488641.)

Additional prisoner of war records include:

Index to War of 1812 Prisoner of War Records. National Archives microfilm publication M1747.

Records Relating to War of 1812 Prisoners of War. National Archives Microfilm publication M2019.

Cemetery Records

Only about 2,000 soldiers and sailors were killed during the War of 1812. A list of those who died is in the following source:

Peterson, Clarence Stewart. Known Military Dead during the War of 1812. Baltimore: Clarence Stewart Peterson, 1955. (FHL book 973 M23p; fiche 6051255; computer number 271263.) Includes the name, rank, place where enlisted, whether the soldier died or was killed, and the date of capture, if he was taken prisoner.

Additional burial records include:

Finnell, Arthur Louis. Known War of 1812 Veterans Buried in Minnesota. Roseville, Minn.: Park Genealogical Books, 1997 (FHL book 977.6 V3f; computer number 803593.) Includes the name, place of birth and death, name of spouse, and where married. Also includes the soldier’s service record with dates and his residence at time of death.

Miller, Alice Turner, comp. Soldiers of the War of 1812 Who Died in Michigan. Ithica, Mich.: A.T. Miller, 1962. (FHL book 977.4 M23m; film 844961 item 3; computer number 265879.) Each entry lists the soldier’s birth and death dates, his wife’s name, and the place where he is buried.

McCown, Mary Harbin, and Inez E. Burns. Soldiers of the War of 1812 Buried in Tennessee. Typescript, 1959. (FHL book 976.8 M23m; computer number 255484.) Alphabetically arranged. Name entries include birth and death dates or notations if the soldier was still living when the records were compiled.

Miller, Phyllis Brown, ed. Index to the Grave Records of Servicemen of the War of 1812, State of Ohio. Brockville, Ohio: Dillon’s Princely, 1988. (FHL book 977.1 V22u 1988; film 496718 item 5; computer number 489088.) (1969 edition FHL film 496718 item 15; computer number 219441.) This index includes the name, rank, unit, birth and death dates of each soldier and his wife, sources of information, and year of entry of the graves registration form into Daughters of 1812 records. This source indexes 5,197 grave registration forms submitted between 1937 and 1987 by members of the United States Daughters of 1812 in the state of Ohio.

Veterans’ and Lineage Society Records

National Society United States Daughters of 1812. This society was organized in 1892. A list of 20,000 soldiers who rendered service between 1784 and 1815 is the following:

Galvin, Eleanor Stevens, comp. and ed. 1812 Ancestor Index: 1892–1970: National Society United States Daughters of 1812. Norcross, Ga.: Harper Printing, 1970. (FHL book 973 C4sd; computer number 265008.) Lists approximately 20,000 soldiers whose service between 1784 and 1815 has been established by the society. Records include name, rank, state and type of service, and usually give state and date of birth and death, spouse, and the name of the child through whom the applicant is descended.

Trolinger, Patricia Scruggs, comp. 1812 Ancestor Index 1970–1992. Marceline, Mo.: Walsworth Publishing, 1992. (FHL 973 C4sd 1970–92; computer number 687737.) Lists soldiers whose service between 1784 and 1815 has been established by the society. Records include name, rank, state and type of service, and usually give state and date of birth and death, spouse, and the name of the child through whom the applicant is descended.

For more information about the society, write to:

National Society, United States Daughters of 1812
1461 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Telephone: 202-745-1812