United States Muster Rolls of the Marine Corps - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This collection covers the years 1798 through 1892.

Record Description
This collection consists of images of muster rolls of the United States Marine Corps located at the National Archives. The rolls are arranged chronologically by month, then by post, station, or ship.

Record Content


Muster Roll volumes include indexes to ship names, stations, and units. A muster roll generally shows:


 * Name of officer or enlisted man
 * Rank
 * Date of enlistment or reenlistment
 * Name of ship
 * Station
 * Unit

In some cases, muster rolls also contain the following:


 * Injuries or illness and type of treatment
 * Date of death or discharge
 * Date of desertion or apprehension
 * Sentence of court-martial

How to Use the Record
These records are a valuable source of information for those wishing to learn more about ancestors who served in the Marines, particularly if only limited military information is known. To search for your ancestors you will need to know their full name. It is also helpful to know their approximate dates of service and the vessel served on.

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. Comparing the information in the records to what you already know about your ancestors will help you determine if you have found the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.

If your surname is unusual, you may also find it helpful to compile the entries for every person who has the same surname. If the Marine had a common surname, be sure to check all records for the name before deciding which record is correct.

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.

For example:


 * Death dates may lead to death certificates, mortuary, or burial records.
 * Use the age to calculate an approximate birth date.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of birth of the deceased to locate census, church, and land records.

Record History
The Continental Marines were founded in 1775 to aid the original 13 colonies in their fight for independence. The Marine Corps was created in 1798. It was part of the Navy Department from 1834 until 1952, when it became a distinct branch of the military.

During the Civil War, muster rolls grew to include personal information including:


 * Nativity (state or country)
 * Date and place joined
 * Age when enlisted
 * Date and place mustered in
 * Place and date mustered out

Records of Marine Corps soldiers and officers are available at the National Archives in Record Group 127 for the years 1798 to 1904.

Why the Record Was Created
Muster rolls were used to record an idividual's service and pay.

Record Reliability
These records are generally accurate.

Related Websites

 * National Archives
 * Archives
 * Records Base
 * Civil War Soldier Search: Muster Rolls

Related Wiki Articles

 * U.S. Marine Corps
 * Muster Rolls of the United States Marine Corps Film Notes

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 citing FamilySearch Historical Collections, including how to cite individual archives is found in the following link: How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record in This Collection

 * United States. Bureau of the Census. 12th census, 1900, digital images, From FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: September 29, 2006), Arizona Territory, Maricopa, Township 1, East Gila, Salt River Base and Meridian; sheet 9B, line 71
 * Mexico, Distrito Federal, Catholic Church Records, 1886-1933, digital images, from FamilySearch Internet (www.familysearch.org: April 22, 2010), Baptism of Adolfo Fernandez Jimenez, 1 Feb. 1910, San Pedro Apóstol, Cuahimalpa, Distrito Federal, Mexico, film number 0227023

Sources of Information for This Collection
United States. Muster Rolls of the United States Marine Corps, 1798-1892. Record Group 127, NARA publication T1118. Federal Archives and Records Center. Washington D.C.