United States, Index and Service Records of Volunteer Soldiers - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection contains an index and compiled service records of volunteer soldiers who served from 1784 to 1811. The index is a National Archive Microfilm publication M694 and service records are M905. The records are part of Record Group 94, Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917.

Record Content
The content varies by individual record. They may contain any of the following:


 * Soldier's name
 * Company name
 * Rank
 * Place of enlistment or residence
 * Place of service
 * Service dates
 * Pay dates
 * By whom paid
 * Amount of pay

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know the following:


 * Name
 * Date of service
 * Place of enlistment or service

Search the Collection
To search the collection by name fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life.

For tips about searching on-line collections, see the wiki article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors. The following examples show ways you can use the information:


 * Use the estimated age to calculate a birth date.
 * Use the age and location of the military unit to find the soldier’s family in other records such as church, and land records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * 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.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Search the records of nearby military units.
 * You may need to compare the information of more than one family or person to make this determination.
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Check for variant spellings of the names.
 * Look for a different index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.
 * Search the records of nearby counties.

Related Websites
Fold3: Service Records of Volunteers, 1784-1811

Related Wiki Articles

 * United States
 * United States, National Homes For Disabled Volunteer Soldiers (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.