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Virginia War of 1812 Records

Guide to researching Virginia military service in the War of 1812

Overview

Following the American Revolution, relations between the United States and Great Britain remained strained. The relationship deteriorated with the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars in 1803. Britain imposed a blockade on American ships trading with France and seized American sailors to impress them into the British navy. Congress approved a declaration of war in 1812, which President James Madison signed into law on June 18. 

By 1813, British forces responded by blockading the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and launching raids of coastal Virginia settlements. In mid-June, the British attempted to capture Norfolk but were repulsed by militia stationed on Craney Island. A week later, British forces occupied and sacked nearby Hampton.

During the conflict, enslaved African Americans took the opportunity to escape and join the British. One destination was Fort Albion, the British fort established in 1814 on Virginia's Tangier Island. After the war, formerly enslaved individuals who fought for the British were resettled in British territories.

In 1814, Britain continued its coastal raids, burned Washington D.C., and captured Alexandria. The continued threat of attack kept Virginia militia in the field throughout the war, which ended when the Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814.

Records concerning War of 1812 soldiers and sailors are scattered and fragmentary. Virginia did not grant bounty land or pensions for military service in the War of 1812. The federal government ultimately paid many of these soldiers, and records of their military service and benefits are held at the National Archives. 

Muster Rolls and Payrolls

Published Records

Most Virginia militia muster rolls and payrolls for the War of 1812 are transcribed in two books: 

  • Muster Rolls of the Virginia Militia in the War of 1812, Being a Supplement to the Pay Rolls Printed and Distributed in 1851 (not digitized)

Published to facilitate payment of federal pensions to veterans, these publications provide soldiers' names, ranks, dates of service, and militia regiment numbers and/or company commander’s names. They serve as the official record of War of 1812 military service for individuals in the Virginia Militia. Access is restricted to the fragile original records.

Index

To search a name index and obtain reproductions of undigitized materials, see the following guide:

Original Records

Two additional collections are fully transcribed, and access to the original records is restricted:

Related Resources

For general information about militia units, see the following book

State and Local Records

State Records

  • Account and Receipt Books, 1811–1816 (APA 248).
    Accounts with suppliers of goods and services and records of supplies received, including tents, linen, and bedding, and lists of horses and wagons impressed. 
  • Claims of Virginia Against the U.S. for War of 1812 Debts (Office of the Second Auditor, entry 17).
    Correspondence, receipts, and accounts; typed copies of acts, resolutions, and accounts; and printed acts and reports of the General Assembly concerning the cost of outfitting soldiers for the war. 
  • General Militia Records, 1811–1821 (APA 247).
    Records of disbursements to soldiers and civilians, including pay and muster rolls, accounts and vouchers concerning supplies, and claims for reimbursement for goods and services rendered. The records are not indexed. 
  • List of Articles Received at the Capitol, 1813 (APA 249).
    A list describing the types of supplies received by the superintendent of military stores, names of suppliers, and dates of receipt. 
  • List of Certificates Issued for Militia and War of 1812 Expenses, 1807–1808, 1812–1817, misc. reel 988 (APA 250).
    A list containing names of persons to whom certificates were issued, dates, and amounts. 
  • List of Depositions Relating to Slaves and Other Property Plundered by the Enemy During the Late War, 1812, Accession 36873.
  • A list containing the names of persons recording the deposition, the number of slaves, the property taken or plundered, the name of the enslaver, the value, and the county. 
  • Memoranda of Articles Received, 1815–1816 (APA 252).
    Lists of camp equipment, military stores, and ordnance returned by militia units at the end of the war, including musket cartridges, pistols, grape shot, saddles, bridles, great coats, and tent poles. 
  • Quartermaster’s Account Book, 1815 (APA 256).
    A list of payment claims for services such as transporting supplies, as well as lists of military stores returned and sold. 
  • Register of Applications for Appointments in the Force to be Raised for the Defense of the Commonwealth, ca. 1812 (War 13, miscellaneous reel 985).
    The Virginia militia was organized by county during the War of 1812, with each county producing one or more regiments. These records contain a list of applicants, their regiment, county, appointment solicited, and by whom recommended. 
  • Register of Claims, 1813–1814 (APA 257).
    Names of claimants, nature of services or supplies furnished, and accounts claimed. 
  • Register of Furloughs, 1814 (APA 258).
    A volume containing names of soldiers, dates and lengths of furloughs, regiment numbers, counties of residence, and reasons for furloughs. It also contains a list of soldiers discharged, including ranks, dates of discharges, regiments, counties of residence, and reasons for discharges. 

Local Records

Some county/city records contain militia induction and discharge papers.

Federal Records

Digital Collections

Federal Publications

Original Records at Library of Virginia

  • Bernard Peyton. Order Book, 20th Regiment, U.S. Infantry, 1812–1814, Accession 27776.
    An order book including accounts documenting the day-to-day business of the regiment, accounts of clothing delivered to recruits, and enlistments. The enlistments provide a variety of information for about thirty of the regiment’s members, including place of birth, age, height, complexion, hair and eye color, and profession.
  • Receipt Roll, 1813, Captain Arthur Emmerson's Company, Accession 22007.
    Receipt for a Virginia militia company in federal service in the Lower Tidewater.
  • Roster, 1813, Petersburg Volunteers, Accession 22199.
    Receipt for Virginia volunteers in federal service in Michigan. 

Published Indexes

Research Guides

Other Sources

Personal and Organizational Papers

  • John K. Martin Papers, Accession 12.
    Martin lived in Richmond and was a pension and claims agent for military veterans. His papers consist largely of claim files, arranged in a chronological series by wars, and alphabetical files by claimant within each series. 
  • Society of the Soldiers of the War of 1812. 2nd District. Record Book. 1854–1866, Accession 23308.
    A muster roll of War of 1812 soldiers residing in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Elizabeth City County, Norfolk County, Nansemond County, and Princess Anne County. Also included are meeting minutes and accounts.

Newspapers and Journals