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Revolutionary War

A collection of 8 posts

Revolutionary War

Loyalist Records in Pennsylvania: The Other Side of the Revolution

A significant minority of Pennsylvanians remained loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution. About three thousand Pennsylvania Loyalists left with General Howe when the British evacuated Philadelphia in June 1778. Many more stayed and faced legal consequences. If your Pennsylvania ancestor disappears from records around 1778, refuses a

Revolutionary War

Revolutionary War Pension Records for Pennsylvania Soldiers

Revolutionary War pension files are among the most valuable genealogical records in existence. A single pension file can contain a veteran's age, birthplace, residence, names of fellow soldiers, marriage information, and children's names and birth dates — information rarely found anywhere else for this period. If your

Revolutionary War

Pennsylvania Militia and Associator Records: What Survives

Most Pennsylvanians who served in the Revolution did not enlist in the Continental Army. They served in the militia or as Associators — the voluntary companies formed before formal military organization existed. Militia and Associator service was local, short-term, and far more common than Continental Line enlistment. If your ancestor served

Revolutionary War

How to Find Revolutionary War Service Records for Pennsylvania Ancestors

Pennsylvania Revolutionary War service records are scattered across multiple repositories — the Pennsylvania State Archives, the National Archives, and published volumes of the Pennsylvania Archives. No single source contains everything. If your ancestor served in the Revolution from Pennsylvania, you may need to check muster rolls, pay records, pension files, and

Revolutionary War

Pennsylvania in the Revolutionary Era: A Researcher's Overview

Pennsylvania was the political and military center of the American Revolution. The Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. The Declaration of Independence was signed here. Valley Forge, Brandywine, and Germantown were fought on Pennsylvania soil. If your ancestor lived in Pennsylvania between 1765 and 1790, the Revolution shaped their life — whether

Podcast Episode 88: Find your Patriot Ancestor at the SAR Library & Archives

Podcast Episode 88: Find your Patriot Ancestor at the SAR Library & Archives

Learn how to trace your Patriot ancestry with SAR resources. Explore library tips, research systems, and upcoming commemorations in this helpful guide.

Podcast Episode 87: Discover Camp Security, a Revolutionary War Prison Camp

Podcast Episode 87: Discover Camp Security, a Revolutionary War Prison Camp

Explore the history of Camp Security with Jonathan Stayer as he reveals the site's role in the Revolutionary War. Learn about ongoing excavations and its global significance.

Do You Know This Early Pennsylvania History?

Do You Know This Early Pennsylvania History?

If you have ancestors in Pennsylvania in the 17th & 18th century, knowing these four things will help your understanding of our records (and our history!).