Revolutionary War Service Records of MA Soldiers
17 Volume Series Provides Detailed Accounts
Aug 8, 2009
There are multiple sources of information on Revolutionary War soldiers. For family researchers who also wish to weave some history into their genealogies, this 17-volume work is a helpful resource.
American Revolution Records for Massachusetts Men
The 17-volume Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War was compiled between 1896 and 1908 from the Massachusetts Archives. Although the entries often describe a soldier’s physical attributes, they do not give much genealogical information. Most genealogists consult them to round out the profiles of their ancestors in already proven pedigrees.
Content of Revolutionary War Service Records
Many of the entries give a soldier or sailor’s hometown. The main content centers upon identifying the unit they served in, who their commanding officer was and valuable historical content about troop movements and the battles they fought in.
Entries range in size from about 30 words to more than 600. Some cover a short term, such as the Concord and Lexington alarms, when local militiamen marched off for one brief engagement and returned home within days of their departure. Others, such as that of Private Levi Rice of Brookfield, MA, cover multiple enlistments, he having served almost continuously from 1776, when he was about age 17, until 1783.
At the time of the American Revolution what is now the state of Maine was then part of Massachusetts and only by recognizing the names of the Maine towns can the Maine soldiers and sailors records be separated from those of Massachusetts men.
Sample Entries for Revolutionary War Soldiers
Here are some samples from the entries. Most of the actual entries are much longer. Only the first one is a complete listing.
- Asa Rice, private, Capt. Nahum Ward’s Co., Col. David Well’s Hampshire Co. Regt….company marched from Charlemont Sept. 22, 1777; service, 1 mo., at the time of taking Gen. Burgoyne, including travel (80 miles) home.
- Moses Rice, private, Capt. Ezra Whittelsey’s Company, 3rd Berkshire Co. Regt.; entered service Nov. 5, 1780; service, 2 days, on an alarm at Saratoga.
- Aaron Rice, Grafton, private…age 21 years, stature 5 ft., 8 in., complexion light, engaged for town of Grafton; arrived at Springfield July 12, 1780; marched to camp July 13, 1780, under command of Capt. Thomas Pritchard…
- Jonathan Rice, Sudbury, Lieutenant, Capt. Moses Stone’s Co. (He was commissioned on the historically significant date of July 4, 1776.)…official record of a ballot by the House of Representatives, dated Feb. 25, 1779, said Rice chosen 2d Major…(His appointment was confirmed the next day by the Council and he was immediately commissioned.)
Most of the Massachusetts militia soldiers served relatively short enlistments within about a 200 mile radius of their home. Those who enlisted for three-year terms in the Continental army went further and saw action in some of the war’s major campaigns. Both groups had multiple enlistments.
Access to Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War
This 17-volume set is available for consultation at numerous Massachusetts libraries and can usually be found in major genealogical collections throughout the United States. At any one time some used single volumes are available from online booksellers. The 17 volumes have been produced on a CD. It, too, is available online.
The volumes are also searchable online. Enough access to this collection is available that by entering the book’s title, Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, in a browser, several alternatives are presented.
Source:
The sample entries are taken from Rice Family Book One: Celebrating Our Diversity (2002: Quebec City, Canada).
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