New York Military Records

United States New York Military Records
United States Military Records

Many military records are at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Military Records Wiki article provides more information on federal military records and search strategies.

Forts

Fort Alden

Fort Bull

Fort Columbus 1806-

Fort Dayton

Fort Edward

Fort Frontenac

Fort George

Fort_Hamilton -- Textual records of this fort, 1835-1919, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).

Fort Lafayette -- Textual records of this fort, 1861-1867, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).

Fort Niagra -- Textual records of this fort, 1849-1919, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).

Fort Ontario -- Textual records of this fort, 1848-1911, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).

Fort Orange 1624

Fort Oswego

Fort Pitt

Fort Porter -- Textual records of this fort, 1864-1917, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).

Fort Schlosser

Fort Schuyler

Fort Stanwix

Fort Ticonderoga (Fort Carillon)

Fort Totten (Willett's Point) -- Textual records of this post, 1866-1914, including registers, reports, and correspondence, are in the National Archives and are described in Records of United States Army, Continental Commands, 1821-1920, under the section entitled Records of Posts, 1820-1940 (Record Group 393.7).

Fort Wildmeet

Fort William Henry

Colonial Wars (1664–1775)

New York residents participated in King William's War (1689–97), Queen Anne's War 1702 to 1713, King George's War (1744–48), and the French and Indian War (1756–63). Nearly all original muster rolls for colonial wars were destroyed in the 1911 fire at the state library. Before the fire, however, muster rolls from 1664–1775 were published with a name index:

New York Secretary of State. Muster Rolls, 1664–1775. These are in the Second Annual Report of the State Historian of the State of New York, 1896 and Third Annual Report of the State Historian of the State of New York, 1897 (Albany and New York, New York: Wynkoop, Hallenbeck, & Crawford County, 1897–98; Family History Library book 974.7 M2nyc; films 924818 and 924819; 2nd annual report also on fiche 6088376). Sometimes lists ages and country or town of birth.

A book which is not as complete as the above source, but which may be helpful is Carol M. Meyers, Early Military Records of New York, 1689–1738 (Saugus, California: RAM, 1967; Family History Library book 974.7 M2m; fiche 6105194). Lists counties where units were raised.

Revolutionary War (1775–1783)

Nearly one-third of all Revolutionary War battles took place in New York, including the battles of Long Island, Oriskany, Bennington, and Saratoga. The British occupied New York City during the war.

Patriots

New York contributed at least 51,972 rebel soldiers, more than any province except Massachusetts and Virginia. Some rosters are:

• Roberts, James A. New York in the Revolution as Colony and State. Second Edition. Volume 1. Albany, New York: Press of Brandow Printing, 1898; Volume 2. Edited by Frederic Gregory Mather. Albany, New York: J. B. Lyon, 1904. (Family History Library book 974.7 M28n 1898; Volume 1 on film 940048 item 2; Volume 2 on 1035618 item 14; Volume 1 on fiche 6046684.) The first volume lists some 45,000 names from regimental rosters. The second volume has lists of bounty land recipients, refugees, naval lists, prisoner of war lists, lists of suspected Loyalists, claimants for damages, and information about confiscated estates.
• Fernow, Berthold. New York State Archives. New York in the Revolution. Volume 1. Documents Relative to the Colonial History of the State of New York. Volume 15. 1887. Reprint, New Orleans, Louisiana: Polyanthos, 1972. (Family History Library book 974.7 H2d vol. 15; film 824391 item 1.) Indexed. Lists name, regiment, company, rank, and sometimes residence.
• DeLancey, Edward F., editor. Muster and Pay Rolls of the War of the Revolution, 1775–1783. Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Years 1914–15. Two volumes. Volumes 47–48. 1916. Reprint, Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1990. (Family History Library book 974.7 B4n v. 47–48; film 845303 items 2–3; v. 2 also on 547506 item 2; fiche 6078201, Volumes 47–48.) Lists name, regiment, company, rank, residence, and sometimes service dates.
• Wilson, Thomas B., editor. Inhabitants of New York 1774–1776. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1993. (Family History Library book 974.7 X4w.) This book contains names from various sources of residents in New York County, Queens County, and Suffolk County.
• New York. Secretary of State. Calendar of Historical Manuscripts Relating to the War of the Revolution, in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1638–1801. Two volumes. Albany, New York: Weed, Parsons and Company, 1868. (Family History Library film 1550750.) Volume 1 includes lists of patriots and loyalists for Charlotte, Cumberland, Dutchess, Orange, Suffolk, and Ulster counties in 1775. Index in Volume 2.

Guides to more sources are:

• Bielinski, Stefan, editor. A Guide to the Revolutionary War Manuscripts in the New York State Library. Albany, New York: New York State American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, 1976. (Family History Librarybook 974.4 A3r.) 
• Klein, Milton M., compiler. New York in the American Revolution: A Bibliography. Albany, New York: New York State American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, 1974. (Family History Library book 974.7 H23k; film 928293 item 2.)

Pension Records. A man born between 1730 and 1765 who lived in New York is probably listed in some form of military record. If he supported the Revolution, he may be mentioned in records as a rebel, patriot, or Whig. Those who opposed the Revolution were Loyalists or Tories. For patriot records of the Revolutionary War, see:

• White, Virgil D. Genealogical Abstracts of the Revolutionary War Pension Files. Four Volumes. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1990. (Family History Library book 973 M28g.) May include name, unit, service and application dates and places, age, birth date, marriage date, residences, and names of relatives. These abstracts are mainly from:
• United States. Veterans Administration. Selected Records from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969. (Family History Library films 840256–406.)
• United States. Veterans Administration. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1969. (Family History Library films 970001–2670.) 80,000 complete pension files alphabetical by surname.
• White, Virgil D. Index to Revolutionary War Service Records. Four Volumes. Waynesboro, Tennessee: National Historical Publishing, 1995. (Family History Library book 973 M22wv.) Shows the name, rank, and unit of over 390,000 patriots. Transcripts of:
• United States. Adjutant General's Office. General Index to Compiled Military Service Records of Revolutionary Ward Soldiers. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1942. (Family History Library films 882841–98.)

The 1835 Pension Roll of New York is available twice online at Ancestry.com ($):

1. New York Pensioners, 1835
2. The Pension Roll of 1835, Vol. II

The service records and pension files for Revolutionary War patriots are available at the Family History Library. For more information, see United States Military Records Wiki article. You can also use NATF Form 80 to obtain copies of some records from the National Archives for a fee. Copies of records are also available online at http://www.archives.gov/.

Federal Service and Pension Records. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of almost all the Revolutionary War service, pension, and miscellaneous records at the National Archives. These are further described, along with other nationwide indexes in the U.S. Military Records Wiki article.

Loyalists

New York had one of the highest percentages of Loyalists, and many enrolled in Loyalist military units. The majority of emigrant Loyalists from New York moved to Nova Scotia or New Brunswick after the war. The American Loyalist Claims record information about property lost by loyalists. The claims are at the Public Record Office in London and on microfilm at the Family History Library. See the Canada and the United States Military Records Wiki articles for more information.

Some published sources of importance include:

• Yoshpe, Harry Beller. The Disposition of Loyalist Estates in the Southern District of the State of New York. New York, New York: Columbia University Press, 1939. (Family History Library book 974.7 R2y.) The appendices include lists of the names of Loyalists whose estates were confiscated. Lists county of residence, date of sale, and awards paid.
• New York. Commission for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies. Minutes of the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies in the State of New York. Albany County Sessions, 1778–1781. Three Volumes. Edited by Victor Hugo Paltsits. Albany, New York: J. B. Lyon, 1909–1910. (Family History Library film 1705179.) Volume 3 includes the index to all volumes. May show names, dates, residence, military service record, and occupation.

Hereditary Society Records

Several lineage societies have been organized for descendants of Revolutionary War veterans. In addition to those described in the United States Societies Wiki article, the following register helps locate compiled genealogies for descendants of New York patriots:

• Sons of the American Revolution. Empire State Society. Register of the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. New York, New York: the Society, 1899. (Family History Library book 974.7 C4r; film 238380 or 1673276 item 22.) Lists soldiers and descendants. Gives clues for finding SAR applications.

Burial Records. The New York State Library has a special card index called Revolutionary War Soldiers Grave Card Index. It indexes Daughters of the American Revolution, Graves of Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in New York, 15 Volumes. (Typescript, 1921–55; Family History Library films 860330–32). Each volume is also individually indexed.

The United States Military Records Wiki article lists several more nationwide indexes to Revolutionary War veterans' graves, including many from New York.

War of 1812 (1812–1815)

Many land and naval conflicts occurred along the New York-Canadian border during the War of 1812. The state archives has copies of payrolls and payroll card files. The National Archives at http://www.archives.gov/ has the service and pension records and muster rolls. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of indexes to service and pension records. They are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Place Search under:

UNITED STATES - MILITARY RECORDS

Applications and awards based on military service are at the New York State Archives. There are some 17,000 claims. A published index is Index of Awards on Claims of the Soldiers of the War of 1812 (1860; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969; Family History Library book Q974.7 M22i). The residences of those seeking claims are included.

Military commissions, arranged by year and then by county, have been published in Hugh Hastings, compiler and editor, Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of New York, 1783–1821, Four Volumes. (Albany, New York: James B. Lyon, 1901–02; Family History Library book 974.7 M2ny; films 1425595–96). Since militia were organized locally, knowing the unit a soldier served in can help you determine where he was from. Index in volume 4. Volume 3 shows which county each unit was from.

Mexican War (1846–1848)

Only two New York regiments participated in the Mexican War: the First and Seventh Regiments of New York Volunteers. The Family History Library has indexes to service and pension records found at the National Archives. They are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Place Search under UNITED STATES - MILITARY RECORDS and are described in the United States Military Records Wiki article.

Civil War (1861–1865)

The famous New York Seventh Militia, just after reaching Washington in April 1861

See New York in the Civil War for information about New York Civil War records, web sites, etc. with links to articles about the New York regiments involved in the Civil War.

The regimental pages often include lists of the companies with links to the counties where the companies started. Men in the companies often lived in the counties where the companies were raised. Knowing a county can help when researching more about the soldiers and their families.

The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System allows name searching for soldiers. The result set gives the regiments for the soldiers. Then you can check the Wiki regiment pages to determine counties. Often knowing the counties that had men in a regiment will help you determine if a soldier was your ancestor.

Spanish-American War (1898) and Philippine Insurrection (1899–1902)

The New York State Archives has 40 volumes of Abstracts of Muster Rolls for National Guard Units Mustered into Federal Service. For a published roster of soldiers see New York State Adjutant General, New York in the Spanish-American War, 1898, Three Volumes. (Albany, New York: James B. Lyon, 1900; Family History Library book 974.7 M2nys; fiche 6051368). Lists age, when and where enlisted, unit, and where mustered out. This was reprinted and indexed as Richard H. Saldaña, editor, Index to the New York Spanish-American War Veterans, 1898, Two volumes. (Bountiful, Utah: A.I.S.I. Publishers, 1987; FHL book 974.7 M2nys 1987).

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of service and pension indexes found at the National Archives. They are listed in the Family History Library Catalog Place Search under UNITED STATES - MILITARY RECORDS.

World War I (1917–1918)

A card index to World War I servicemen is available at the New York State Archives.

The New York State Archives has Abstracts of Service Records for New York National Guard and Naval Militia Units and Muster Rolls of New York National Guard Units. Veterans' discharge records have been filed with county clerks since 1909, and some have been microfilmed.

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 New York, see:

United States. Selective Service System. New York, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1987–1988. (On 441 Family History Library films.)

These Draft Registration cards can also be found online at http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/WWIdraft.html

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 determine the draft board number if he lived in a large city.

Draft board addresses for Buffalo and other New York cities can be found in Second Report of the Provost Marshall General to the Secretary of War on the Operations of the Selective Service System to December 20, 1918 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1919; not at Family History Library). A street map of Buffalo without draft board registration district boundaries is on FHL film 1498803.

Maps of Albany, Rensselear, Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Richmond, Rochester, Schenectady, and Syracuse have been prepared which show the draft board registration district boundaries. The cities of New York State (except Buffalo, which is alphabetical under "B") are at the end of the microfilm. For a copy of these maps see:

United States. Selective Service System. List of World War One Draft Board Maps. Washington, D.C.: National Archives. (Family History Library film 1498803.)

World War II (1941–1945)

The United States Military Records Wiki article describes where to write for service files for those who served in the two world wars. Information on World War II service records can also be accessed online at:

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/get-service-records.html

Militia (National Guard) (1832–1962)

Militia records are valuable for finding military personnel who may have served during peacetime. The New York State Library has the Annual Report of the Adjutant General. 192 Volumes. (Albany, New York: State printers, 1832–1962; 1868, 1886, and 1889 in Family History Library book 974.7 M2n; 1865 on film 1000223 item 3). The reports give the names of commissioned officers serving in the militia (later the National Guard). The reports do not list officers and men in the regular U.S. Army and Navy. They give name and rank. The lists of commissioned officers do not give residences. The published reports are not indexed.

The New York State Archives has Abstracts of Service Records for New York National Guard and Naval Militia Units and annual Muster Rolls of New York National Guard Units, 1876–1941. The National Guard muster rolls contain no information other than name, rank, and whether present or absent at muster. The records are not indexed and the State Archives will not search them unless the unit number and the year are provided.

Important Websites

• New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)