Massachusetts Revolutionary War Index Cards to Muster Rolls - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
Index card abstracts of accounts, muster and pay rolls, descriptive lists and accounts, etc. of soldiers who served in Massachusetts companies and regiments during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783. The records were acquired from the Massachusetts State Archives in Boston. During the Revolutionary War Maine was a part of Massachusetts and was known as the Province of Maine. It consisted of Cumberland, Lincoln and York Counties. In 1780 the province became the District of Maine.

The collection consists of card abstracts from original records of muster and pay rolls, accounts, warrants, descriptive lists, Continental Army Pay Accounts, Lexington Alarm Rolls, etc. with volume number and page references to the collections that were abstracted.

Examples of Card Abstract Types • 3

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

Muster and Pay Roll
 * Name
 * Rank
 * Company Commander
 * Regimental Commander
 * Length of Service
 * Residence
 * Remarks

Descriptive List
 * Name
 * Age
 * Stature
 * Complexion

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Your Ancestor’s Name
 * Your Ancestor's Residence
 * Your Ancestor's Military Unit
 * Your Ancestor's Age

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the Surname Range to view the images.

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 record, 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?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name as your ancestor and that your ancestor may have used nicknames or different names at different times
 * Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have served in the same unit or a nearby unit
 * If your ancestor used multiple names throughout their life, look for all their names
 * Titles may be clues to property ownership, occupations, rank, or status within the community

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
 * An ancestor could also have enlisted multiple times serving in more than one military unit
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Massachusetts.


 * Massachusetts Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies

Related Digital Books

 * Massachusetts. Secretary of the Commonwealth. Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War. 17 volumes. Boston, Massachusetts : Wright & Potter, 1896-1908.

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.