Many of the best resources to discover American Revolutionary-era family history lie within the specialized military, pension, and lineage collections that have been indexed and digitized to make them readily available to you. This material will help you locate those that served in the revolution throughout all colonies of early America.
Research Library
The SAR Genealogical Research Library at National Headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky is one of the premier genealogical libraries in the nation, housing extensive collections related to the American Revolution.
Floridas Role in the Revolutionary War
During the American Revolution, the British colonies of East and West Florida remained loyal to the British Crown. Florida served as a Loyalist stronghold and a base for British military operations.
- Loyalist Haven: Loyalists from Georgia and South Carolina fled to Florida to avoid persecution and organize military resistance against American forces.
- British Military Base: British regular soldiers were stationed in St. Augustine and Pensacola. St. Augustine also housed American prisoners of war, including several signers of the Declaration of Independence.
- Provincial Units: Local Loyalist militia units, such as the East Florida Rangers, were raised to protect the border with Georgia and conduct raids into Patriot territory.
- Spanish Involvement: Spain, allied with the American and French forces, eventually captured British West Florida (including Pensacola) in 1781.
Finding Soldier Records
To find an individual Revolutionary War soldiers records, work from the persons name and place of residence to specific federal and state record sets that have been indexed and often digitized.
Recommended Resources
- Fold3 – Military records including Revolutionary War pension files
- Ancestry.com – Extensive genealogical databases
- FamilySearch – Free genealogical records
- National Archives Catalog – Federal records including military service records
- SAR Patriot Research System – Search patriots already approved for membership
Getting Help
Contact your local chapter registrar or the Florida Society State Genealogist for assistance with your research. They can help you navigate the application process and identify documentation needed to prove your lineage.