Connecticut Military Records

Portal:United States Military Records>Connecticut

United States 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. 

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.

Forts

Fort Mystic

Fort Saybrook

Fort Trumbull 1812-

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 Family History Library 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; Family History Library book 974.6 B4c; films 897070 item 3 and 897071). This is listed in the Family History Library Catalog under CONNECTICUT - HISTORY.

• Roll and Journal of Connecticut Service in Queen Anne's War, 1710-1711 (digitized book)

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 & Brainard Company, 1889;Family History Librarybook 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 (Family History Library book 974.6 B4c; volume 8 is on Family History Library 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 (Family History Library 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 & Brainard Co., 1889; Family History Librarybook 974.6 M2c; film 982124). Item 2 on film 982124 is a supplement.

• Civil War Pension Index Cards - A free Internet index to pension applications of veterans who served in the US Army between 1861-1917 is available on FamilySearch Record Search. Each card gives the soldier’s name, application and certificate numbers, state of enlistment, and might include rank and death information. Other wars, of that time period, may be included.

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 & Brainard Co., 1919; Family History Library 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 Family History Library 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. (Family History Library film 1498803.)

References

Connecticut Research Outline. Salt Lake City, Utah: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.Family History Department, 1998, 2001.