MACY’s Genealogical Research

deep roots, not shaky leaves

You are here: Home / Uncategorized / Select Resource List for Colonial Militia Service

Select Resource List for Colonial Militia Service

An estimated 150,000 men served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Contrast that figure with the estimated 800,000 free men over the age of 16 who lived in the British American colonies at that time. Most colonies had required militia service for men, generally between the ages of 16-60. Statistically, it is more likely that your Revolutionary-era ancestors served in a colonial or state milita, than the Continental Army.

Militias were typically organized at the county-level, and their records (and the retention of those records) vary greatly by time and place. Below is a select list of resources, arranged by state, where you may find militia records, followed by a chart comparing how each state organized its militia and what benefits it offered. This is in no way a complete list, but a collection of resources I update as I find additional resources.

Militia Records and Sources by State

New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire. Provincial and State Papers. Vols. 14–17, Rolls of the Soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Edited by Isaac W. Hammond. Concord and Manchester, N.H.: State of New Hampshire, 1885–1889.
  • New Hampshire. Provincial and State Papers. Vol. 30, Miscellaneous Revolutionary Documents of New Hampshire. Manchester, N.H.: State of New Hampshire, [1910]. Digital images. University of New Hampshire Scholars’ Repository. https://scholars.unh.edu/propapers/30/
  • New Hampshire Historical Society. “New Hampshire Military Pension Records, 1797–1907.” New Hampshire Historical Society. https://www.nhhistory.org/object/266590/revolutionary-war-pensions

Massachusetts (including Maine)

Rhode Island

Connecticut

New York

New Jersey

Pennsylvania

Delaware

Maryland

Virginia

North Carolina

South Carolina

Georgia

Additional Records

Also, check the federal pension and bounty-land files. Militia veterans were left out of the 1818 pension act, but the act of 7 June 1832 covered anyone with six months’ service in any capacity, and the 1855 bounty-land act covered as little as 14 days. For many militiamen, a pension declaration is the only narrative of their service.

How the states compared

Laws changed periodically, so this chart as an overview.

StateMilitia originCompulsory? (changes)Ages1776 Congressional quotasState pensionState bounty landOther non-Continental service
New Hampshire1631; reorganized 1680Yes16–60 (colonial law)One militia regiment for CanadaNoneStark’s brigade (1777); rangers
Massachusetts13 Dec 1636Yes; new militia act 22 Jan 177616–602,000 for New York; four regiments for CanadaYesContinental only (1801 resolve: 200 acres in Maine or $20)Minutemen; state regiments
Rhode Island13 May 1638Yes; alarm companies 1776, senior classes 177916–50 train; 50–60 alarmNoneYesNoneIndependent chartered companies; 15- and 12-month state regiments
Connecticut1630s; regiments 1739Yes; alarm list 1776–178216–60 (1702) → 16–45 (by 1774)5,500 for New York; two regiments for CanadaYesNoneState regiments; coast guards; light horse
New YorkColonial; militia bill 22 Aug 1775Yes16–60 listed (1775)3,000 for New York; one regiment for CanadaYesLevies and classes (1781, 1782)Levies; rangers; Associated Exempts
New Jersey1668 lawRecommended June 1775; compulsory 25 Oct 1775; acts of 1777 and 177816–503,300 for New York; replaced Flying Camp men (July 1776)YesNoneMinute Men; state troops (1776, 1780)
PennsylvaniaNo militia law until 1777Voluntary Associators; compulsory from 17 Mar 177718–536,000 Flying CampYesPennsylvania Line onlyAssociators; rangers; PA Navy
DelawareFirst own act 1776Yes, from 177618–50600 Flying CampNoneFlying Camp battalion
MarylandEarly colony; Convention call 12 Dec 1774Voluntary 1774, then compulsory16–503,400 Flying CampYesMaryland Line only (Military Lots)State troops; independent companies
Virginia1607Yes; minute battalions 1775; militia act May 177716–50NoneYesNot for militia (State or Continental Line, 3 years’ service)State Line; State Navy; minutemen
North Carolina1667; county regiments 9 Sept 1775Yes; minutemen dropped 177616–60NoneYesContinental Line only (640 acres, in Tennessee)Minutemen; state troops; NC Navy
South Carolina1670–71Yes, from 167116–60NoneAnnuities via audited claimsAuthorized 1778; mainly regulars*State troops; partisan brigades
Georgia1733Yes16–60NoneNoYes, including militia and refugees (1781, 1784)State troops; refugee militia
The Flying Camp quotas come from Congress’s resolution of 3 June 1776, which set 6,000 from Pennsylvania, 3,400 from Maryland and 600 from Delaware, to serve until 1 December 1776. The same day, Congress asked Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey for 13,800 militia to reinforce New York.

Federal benefits that reached militiamen

  • 1806: federal invalid pensions opened to disabled state-troop and militia veterans.
  • 1818: service pensions for Continentals only, with need required. Militia were left out.
  • 1832: pensions for six months’ service in any capacity, militia included; full pay at two years.
  • 1836: widows’ pensions, if married before the war ended in 1783. Later acts relaxed the marriage date.
  • 1855: 160 acres of bounty land for as little as 14 days’ service or any battle. This was the first federal land for most militiamen, and widows and minor heirs could claim it.

Further reading

URLs checked October 5, 2026.

Subscribe to New Blog Posts

Privacy Policy

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

National Genealogical Society Member
Association of Professional Genealogists
ProGen
Some library data on this site is provided by WorldCat, the world's largest library catalog [WorldCat.org]

Affiliate Disclosure

Copyright © 2026 MACY’s Genealogical Research · Theme by 17th Avenue