Secretary, James F. Morrison at the above address -
or S. A. R. - online link for information
Submitted & Written by James F. Morrison:
SOURCES FOR TRACING YOUR ANCESTOR THAT SERVED FROM
NEW YORK STATE DURING THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
One of the best books to use for the early history for the Mohawk and Schoharie Valleys
was written by Jeptha R. Simms; THE FRONTIERSMEN OF NEW YORK, George C. Riggs,
Albany, 1883, 2 vols. Mr. Simms interviewed many of the surviving soldiers of the
War of Independence in the 1840's for his earlier books such as TRAPPERS OF NEW YORK
[1845] and BORDER WARS [1850]. Mr. Simms also quotes from several letters and
manuscripts that were in his possession during those years.
REVOLUTIONARY PENSION APPLICATIONS AND MILITARY RECORDS, National Archives and Records
Administration, Washington D. C.
For ordering Ship Passenger Lists and Military forms - send an email request here.
Also on microfilm one can purchase from the National Archives THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
ROLLS, 1775-1783, SERIES M246 which has the muster rolls ,etc. for the various regiments
arranged by state and then by regiment usually listed alphabetically by the commanding
officers' last name. i.e. Fisher, Frederick.
THE GEN. FREDERICK HALDIMAND PAPERS, BRITISH MUSEUM, ENGLAND which are also microfilmed
contain information on Americans that were taken prisoners during the war plus military
information. In the 1880'sthese were transcribed and they can also be obtained on
microfilm from the NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF CANADA, OTTAWA but there are some errors in the
transcribed Haldimand Papers.
THE NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY, EMPIRE PLAZA, ALBANY. There are many genealogical
records, county histories, printed diaries and journals [7th floor] and on the 11th floor
is where THE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS AND MANUSCRIPT DEPT. is located. here are
kept many of the original military records such as the AUDITED ACCOUNTS, 2 vols., which
contain requests for back pay owed to the soldier or his family, pay receipts, there are
some pension applications for Montgomery County, letters, [some diaries etc. are kept in
the vault and you have to request them in advance to your visit].
THE NEW YOUR STATE ASSOCIATION LIBRARY, COOPERSTOWN which has several documents,
letters, books, etc. [for example they have one kept by Jellis Fonda, a Merchant and a Capt.
in the Tryon County Militia].
THE NEW YORK STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY, NYC, has maps and documents related to Tryon County
County during the war.
THE NEW YORK STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, NYC, which also has muster rolls that go back to
the 1750's, documents, diaries, etc.
A book that can be most useful as a guide to find records in state libraries and
archives and at the National Archives is LOCATING YOUR REVOLUTIONARY WAR ANCESTOR - A
GUIDE TO MILITARY RECORDS, JAMES C. & LILA L NEAGLES, THE EVERTON PUBLISHERS,
INC., P.O. BOX 368, LOGAN, UTAH, 84321, 1983.
NYGenWeb
Copyright ©1999, Jeanette Shiel
All Rights Reserved.
Last updated Tuesday, 13-May-2008 13:37:27 PDT
