Delaware Military Records

Many military records are at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The U.S. Military Records Research Outline provides more information on federal military records and search strategies.

The Historical Society of Delaware has military manuscripts listed in their manuscript catalog. These include records of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, and World War I. Some militia units and veterans organizations are also included.

The Delaware Public Archives has original military records of the colonial wars, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, militia records for 1765 to 1841, Mexican Border dispute, some Adjutant General Civil War files, Spanish-American War, National Guard Card File, World War I, and World War II records. They have indexes to many of these records. Records to 1827 are described in:

Public Archives Commission of Delaware. Delaware Archives. Five Volumes. Wilmington, Delaware: [N.p.], 1911-16. (FHL book 975.1 M2d; Volume 1 is on FHL film 928150 item 1; Volume 2 is on FHL film 1033612 item 4; Volume 5 is on FHL film 599318 item 2; Volumes 3-5 are on FHL fiche 6051215.) This set contains colonial, revolutionary, and some post-revolutionary military records. The contents of the volumes are:

• Volume 1 - King George's War and Revolutionary War, 1746-1783
• Volume 2 - Revolutionary War militia and pensioners, 1780-1850s; index to Volumes 1-2
• Volume 3 - Revolutionary War militia and pensioners, 1776-1780s; index to Volumes 1-3
• Volume 4 - Militia; 1795-1813
• Volume 5 - Militia; 1813-1827, index to Volumes 4-5
• Colonial Wars (1638-1776)

A useful publication is:

Peden, Henry C. Colonial Delaware Soldiers and Sailors 1638-1776. Westminister, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1995. (FHL book 975.1 M2p.) This has an alphabetical list of names of soldiers who served between 29 March 1638 and 4 July 1776.

Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

A man born between 1730 and 1765 who lived in Delaware 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. (FHL 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 & Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1969. (FHL film 840256-406.)

United States. Veterans Administration. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land-Warrant Application Files. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1969. (FHL 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. (FHL 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 War Soldiers. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1942. (FHL film 882841-98.)

The service records and pension files for Revolutionary War patriots are available at the Family History Library. For more information, see U.S. Military Records Research Outline. You can also use NATF Form 80 to obtain copies of some records from the National Archives for a fee.

War of 1812 (1812-1815)

The Delaware Public Archives and the Delaware Historical Society have records of soldiers who served in this war.

War with Mexico (1845-1848)

The Delaware Public Archives and the Delaware Historical Society have records of soldiers who served in this war.

Civil War (1861-1865)

A roster of Delaware volunteers is given at the end of the following work:

Scharf, J. Thomas. History of Delaware, 1609-1888. Two Volumes. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: L.J. Richards, 1888. (FHL film 1000154 items 1-2.) Lists place mustered, officers, and casualties.

An index to compiled Delaware military service records is available at the Family History Library (FHL film 881617-20.) The service records have not been microfilmed yet and are available only at the National Archives. Service records may provide rank, unit, date of enlistment, length of service, age, residence, and death date.

World War I (1917-1918)

The Delaware Public Archives has a National Guard Card File and records concerning World War I soldiers. The Historical Society of Delaware has individual questionnaires filled out by or for returning veterans of World War I.

World War I draft registration cards for men age 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 Delaware, see:

United States. Selective Service System. Delaware World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. National Archives Microfilm Publications. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1987-1988. (On FHL films beginning with 1570621.)

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.

World War II (1941-1944)

The Delaware Public Archives has a National Guard Card File, and records concerning World War II soldiers. A helpful source is:

Conner, William H., and Leon DeValinger, Jr. Delaware's Role in World War II. Two Volumes. Dover, Delaware: Public Archives Commission, 1955. (FHL book 975.1 M2c.) This book has brief biographical sketches about persons who died in World War II.

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