Records for War of 1812 Soldiers
What records are available for War of 1812 soldiers at the National Archives?
There are four main record groups you’ll want to know about:
1. Compiled Military Service Records
These document a soldier’s service during the war itself. They are indexed on Fold3, but most of the actual records are not online and are only available onsite at the National Archives.
2. Bounty Land Applications
Starting in the 1850s, soldiers (or their widows) could apply for bounty land. These files often include details about service and family life. Most soldiers never lived on the land they were awarded—they often sold it for cash instead.
Many of these applications are indexed on Fold3, but the original applications are only at the National Archives. (The index is currently only complete through the L surnames, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a bounty application on file for the second half of the alphabet)
UPDATE: The Bounty Land Applications are currently being digitized. The project began in 2024 and will take several years, starting at the beginning of the alphabet and working forward. Our access to the beginning of the alphabet may be limited.
3. Bounty Land Warrants
When a bounty land application was approved, the soldier or widow received a colorful certificate called a warrant. These warrants could be redeemed at land offices, granting title to the land.
Many soldiers got two warrants and a total of 160 acres, so if you see less than 160 acres, keep looking for the second one!
They are indexed at the Bureau of Land Management website, but the original warrants remain at the National Archives.
Note: not everything in that index is bounty land. If you're looking for bounty land, check for entries that mention a "ScripWarrant Act" or if the index entry begins with MW (for military warrant).
4. Pensions
Most War of 1812 pensions didn’t begin until 1871. That means many soldiers never lived long enough to qualify. The pension files are indexed on Fold3, and many of the full files have also been digitized there.
If you were hoping to find a pension file for your soldier and the timing of these pensions is a disappointment to you, there is still hope. Check out the bounty land information (see above). Most bounty land was issued in the 1850s, and widows were allowed to apply on behalf of their deceased husbands. Soldiers who were still alive could apply, and there is likely a bounty land application documenting this process.
Also, check out this index for the Old War Pensions here. There are some War of 1812 soldiers indexed in here. These represent some soldiers who were killed or disabled during the war. If you find someone in this index, it's likely not online already.
UPDATE: The National Archives has pulled all War of 1812 pensions from the shelves to prepare for digitization. We no longer have access to any of these files onsite—including the ones not yet online. For now, we’ll all have to wait until they finish showing up digitally on Fold3.
Need help with War of 1812 records?
If you have a War of 1812 ancestor, let us know! We provide onsite research and record retrieval at the National Archives and can give you a free estimate on what’s available for your ancestor.
