The New York Revolutionary War Records, from 1775 to 1840, represent a significant collection of documents and archives that chronicle the participation and contributions of New York State’s soldiers and officers during the American Revolutionary War. This collection encompasses a wide range of materials, including muster rolls, pension applications, land bounty records, and various other documents generated by, or related to, New Yorkers’ service in the conflict against British rule.
These records are invaluable for several reasons:
Genealogical Research: Genealogical research provides crucial information for individuals tracing their ancestry to soldiers or patriots who lived in New York during the Revolutionary War. Details such as names, ranks, units, and service periods can help genealogists construct family histories and confirm lineage and military service.
Historical Insight: The documents offer insights into the Revolutionary War’s military, social, and economic aspects as experienced in New York. They reveal the extent of New Yorkers’ participation, the structure of the state’s military units, and the hardships and sacrifices endured by soldiers and their families.
Pension and Land Bounty Records: Pension applications and land bounty records are particularly valuable, shedding light on veterans’ post-war lives. These documents often contain narratives of service, wounds received, financial needs, and other personal details. Land bounty records highlight the government’s practice of compensating veterans with land grants, a critical aspect of how the new nation rewarded military service.
Educational Resource: These records serve as primary sources for educators and students to bring the Revolutionary War period to life. They offer tangible links to the past, allowing for a deeper understanding of the war’s impact on individuals and communities within New York.
The preservation and digitization of these records have made them more accessible to the public, researchers, and historians. Various archives, libraries, and online platforms now host New York Revolutionary War Records collections, enabling broader exploration and study of this pivotal period in American history. Through these documents, the legacy of New York’s Revolutionary War participants is honored and preserved for future generations, offering a window into the experiences of those who fought for independence.
Additional Resources:
- New York in the Revolution as Colony and State Volumes I and II
- Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution Volumes I and II
- Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Year 1914 Volumes I and II
- New York Revolutionary War Pensioners in the 1840 Census
- Hessian Troops in the American Revolution, Extracts from the Hetrina Volumes 1-6
- 1775 Articles of Association. Documented in Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, Relating to the War of the Revolution, in the Office of the Secretary of State, Albany, New York, Volume I
- Minutes of the Albany Committee of Correspondence 1775-1778, Volumes I and II
- Attendance record of German Camp Committee of Correspondence, 1775-1778. Documented in Settlers and Residents, Volume 3, Part 1, Town of Livingston, 1710-1899
- Minutes of the Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies in the State of New York, Albany County Sessions, 1778-1781, Volumes I, II, and Analytical Index
- The Balloting Book and Other Documents Relating to Military Bounty Lands in the State of New York
- 1783 Land Confiscations of Loyalists – Columbia County, Saratoga County, Tryon County
- 1784 Forfeiture Sales of Mohawk Valley Land
- Columbia County Loyalists, 1777-1778
- Census of Suffolk County, 1776
- Claverack District, West 1779
- Claverack District, East 1779
- Tax Lists
- German Camp, 1779
- Kinderhook District, 1779
- Livingston Manor, 1779
- Saratoga District, 1779
- Schenectady District, 1779
- Palatine District, 1787
- Canajoharie District, 1788
- Caughnawauga District, 1788
- German Flats District, 1788
- Harpers Field District, 1788
- Mohawk District, 1788
- Old England District, 1788
- Palatine District, 1789
- Kings Land District, 1789