A DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY

OF THE

CONTINENTAL ARMY

THAT WINTERED AT

VALLEY FORGE, PENNSYLVANIA,

1777-1778

HAROLD E. SELESKY

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT

1987

In recent years historians have learned more about the men who served

in the American army during the Revolution. Several excellent studies have

investigated who the soldiers were at certain times and in certain places,

and have established some basic demographic facts about them: their ages,

statures, physical descriptions, birthplaces, residences, and occupations. 1

However, though these studies are valuable, they provide a limited

understanding of the Revolutionary soldiers.. No one has yet attempted to

assemble data about soldiers in several states and to inquire how the

demographic profile of the troops evolved over what was after all a long

and complex war. The present report is a first attempt at creating a

dynamic portrait of service in the Revolution.

This study began as an investigation of the Continental Army troops

that wintered at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1777-1778. Let me hasten

to state clearly that the Valley Forge army remains the focus and center­

piece of my work. But it quickly became apparent that I could best

illuminate this segment of the Revolutionary army by setting it in a wider

context. Thus I have gathered information that allows me to do two things:

first, to provide a profile of the Valley Forge army, and, second, to see

how those troops compare with their colonial predecessors, with earlier and

later incarnations of the Revolutionary army, with their opponents, and

with troops from other wars.

There are good reasons to center this study around the Valley Forge

army, apart, that is, from the requf rements of my commission. Valley Forge

was the first winter encampment of troops that eleven states (all except

South CarGlina and Georgia) had raised for an extended period, generally a

term of three years or the duration of the war. No army 1 i ke it had ever

existed before in America, or would exist again. As the war dragged on,

fewer men would agree to serve for as 1 ong as three years.. Thus the Valley

Forge army was something of a landmark. It set a standard against which

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its predecessors and successors may be usefully compared.

Before considering the evidence and weighing the comparisons, the

reader must understand the inherent 1 imitations of this study. Demographic

evidence on Revolutionary soldiers is difficult to acquire. Lists of

soldiers are relatively plentiful, but few contain personal details. The

large collection of rolls held by the National Archives, and published on

138 reels of microfilm (M246), illustrate the problem. 2 Roughly three­

quarters of these rolls are monthly muster or pay rolls. Muster rolls

record how many officers and men were present for duty or otherwise accounted

for, as for instance sick, dead, deserted, or on detached service.

Subdivided by companies within regiments, they 1 i st the names of each

soldier, the date of his enlistment or commission, and his present status.

Occasionally they include place of enlistment and term of service. Pay

rolls certify that each soldier has received his wages for the preceeding

month.. The remaining quarter of Publication M246 contains all sort of

documents concerning the administration of the Continental Army, including

inspection reports, equipment rolls, receipt rolls for bounties, arms, and

clothing, and lists of deserters. Some of these rolls provide useful

information. For example, because receipt rolls were occasionally counter-

signed by the recipient, either by signing his own name or making his mark

where the company clerk wrote his name, it is possible to learn something

about the literacy of the soldiers.

The best demographic information is contained in the lists of deserters

and in the few descriptive muster rolls scattered among the documents.

Most demographic information is related in some way or other to the problem

of desertion. Indeed, the paucity of such information may be a product of

the clear link between recording facts about age, height, and color of

complexion, hair, and eyes and the use of that data to identify and recover

3.

absconded soldiers. Recruiters may have avoided recording personal data

because it was expected that Americans would not desert the defense of their

own liberties. Administrative inexperience and incompetence undoubtedly

also played a role in limiting the type and amount of information recorded.

Of course, not all of the lists that were created have survived. For

instance, the bulk of the rolls of the 1776 army were lost in the retreat

from New York City in August and September 1776. More rolls perished in

the fires that ravaged the War Department in 1800 and 1814.

The limited amount of demographic information raises questions about

the typicality and validity of conclusions drawn from such a small sample.

Deserters, for instance, may not be typical of soldiers who remained with

the regiment. Conclusions based on one or two companies may not be

representative of a ten-company regiment, let alone the troops of an entire

state. Moreover, the information that has survived may or may not be

accurate. Men did not always remember the day, or even the year, of their

births. One company clerk might term a man's hair "dark," while to his

successor it would appear as "black" or "brown." Words could have variable

meanings in the eighteenth-century. For instance, men whose complexions

were described as "black" were not invariably Negroes. In one Delaware

company, all the men with "black" complexions had been born in Ireland!

In all candor, not much can be done to expand or validate the sample

in the short term. A lifetime spent pouring over local records would add

depth, accuracy, and texture to our knowledge, but even this investment of

effort cannot overcome the inherent limitations of the evidence. Pension

records can supp 1 ement the contemporary rolls, but they too have their

drawbacks. Congress passed major pension acts in 1818 and 1832, respectively

41 and 52 years after some of the applicants had marched into camp at Valley

Forge. Many veterans were long dead, and it is by no means certain that the

4.

survivors were a representative selection of the entire Valley Forge army ..

Moreover, while pension applications do offer much information on the military

careers, and subsequent peregrinations, of each applicant, facts sometimes

are in dispute. For instance, the birthdates given by the applicants do ?

not always agree with those calculated from the contemporary rolls.~

Despite all these cautions and caveats, the reader should not be too

discouraged. The existing evidence does allow conclusions to be drawn about

the Valley Forge army. Though the degree of precision and level of confidence

are not as high as might be desired, the evidence does reveal some

interesting and important things about a significant episode in American

Revolutionary and military history.

I have organized my data under five topics: ages, physical descriptions,

birthplaces, occupations and literacy, and patterns of service, including

post-war mobility. The data on ages is arranged chronologica(ly, the rest

geographically from north to south. It must be emphasized that I present

information on non-commissioned officers and privates only. Officers have

been excluded for two reasons, first because there are too few of them for

comparisons to be meaningful, and, second, considerable attention has already

been paid to officers while the men they commanded have been left in the

shadows. This report seeks to throw some light on those hitherto neglected.

I have relied principally on three summary measures. The median is

the number at the numerical middle of the set of observations. The average

is the arithmetic mean of the sample. Because the average is susceptible

to outliers, that is, can be skewed by a few very o 1 d or very young

individuals, I have also calculated the midspan, the arithmetic mean of the

middle half of observations. When the midspan is lower than the average,

as is generally the case, it reflects a disproportionate number of

observations on the htgh end of the scale. Mention will also be made of

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the mode, that is, the number appearing most frequently in the sample; it

can be readily determined from the table itself. In all cases, I have

calculated the average and midspan out to two decimal places.. I must

emphasize that this is not because I believe the information to be so

precise, but merely to facilitate comparisons among sets of observations.

In the text that follows, I round off the figures as approporate. Thus,

an average age of 23.93 years becomes 24 years (Table 6), and a midspan

age of 21. 58 years becomes 21i, years (Table 1).

#1. AGES

Age is the most important single piece of information an historian

can know about a soldier in colonial and Revolutionary America. In the

absence of detailed evidence about an individual's economic and social

status, a man's age can serve as a rough index of his place in the community.

War was generally a young man's pursuit in eighteenth-century America.

Physical vigor and endurance, rather than intelligence, education, or

experience, were the soldier's prime qualifications, and they were more

often to be found among younger men than among their fathers and elder

brothers. Younger men, defined for our purposes as men in their late teens

through mid-twenties, were also less likely than older men to be married

or possessed of very much personal or rea 1 property. Thus society generally

was more willing to have them run the risks of military service than older,

more established family men. For their part, younger men were inclined to

see in military service an opportunity to explore the wider wo·rld beyond

their community, and to view the money they could earn as a soldier as a

good way of acquiring a stake in society. This is not to say that relatively

old men were not present in the ranks. Indeed, two hundred years ago there

was a much greater range of ages among soldiers than we are accustomed to

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in the twentieth-century. In most colonies, men served in the militia,

and were eligible for impressment, between the ages of fifteen and, roughly,

fifty-five. Still, while no one prevented a physically-fit older man from

volunteering for military service --and there are cases of men in their

sixties and even seventies serving as privates-- most soldiers were between

eighteen and twenty-five years of age.

Within this range, there was considerable variation, both year-to-year

and by region. In the mid-eighteenth-century, soldiers from the northern

colonies may have been younger than their counterparts in the middle and

southern colonies. In one Massachusetts company at Cape Breton in 1745,

for instance, the midspan age was 21Ja years, while the next year in four

Pennsylvania companies it was over 24 years (Tables 1 and 2). New England

soldiers in the next conflict, the French and Indian War waged from 1755

through 1762, were older. In 1756, privates in the six Massachusetts

regiments averaged nearly 26 years of age (Table 3), though this figure may

be inflated by a relatively small number of older men, a suspicion reinforced

by the much lower median and modal ages. The pattern in Massachusetts in

1756 may have been similar to the one seen in part of one New Hampshire

company in 1758 (Table 4), where the wide range of ages made the average age

three years higher than the midspan ..

The pitfalls of generalizing from limited information is apparent from

a comparison of the New Hampshire company in 1758 and soldiers from Groton,

Massachusetts, in 1760 (Table 5). More than seven years separate the midspan

ages of soldiers in these two samples, and the only way to reconcile them

without undermining their explanatory power is to view them as snapshots in

a larger mosaic. Seventeen-fifty-eight was the year of maximum effort for

the northernbolonies, and New Hampshire may have been as hard pressed as its

neighbors were to find enough soldiers. Two years later when the conquest

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of Canada was virtually assured but the demands for troops had not been

reduced, Groton filled out its contingent by enlisting men who were probably

younger than their counterparts in previous years,.

Pennsylvania and New York seem to have taken the demands of 1758 in

stride (Tables 6 and 7). Though the midspan ages of soldiers in both colonies

are close (24 for Pennsylvania, 2314 for New York), there are interesting

differences in the way that was achieved. Pennsylvania was pri nci pally

concerned with frontier defense and was attempting to bui 1 d stability and

continuity by recruiting men for more than a summer at a time; enlistments

ran for up to three years. These requirements were met by enlisting more

younger men than it had in 1746. New York's attention, on the other hand,

was focused on the expedition down the Champlain valley against Montreal.

Like their New England neighbors, New York's leaders chose not to attempt to

recruit troops for more than one campaign at a time. New York's soldiers

had a broader range of ages than Pennsylvania's, but this was balanced by

a lower modal age, 19 versus 22 for Pennsylvania.

Information on Colonel George Washington's company of the Virginia

Regiment in 1757 rounds out this survey of the colonial period (Table 8),.

The midspan age is relatively high, 26 years, probably because Virginia

was having difficulty in finding enough men to help defend the frontier.

It is tantalizing to theorize that the colony had to recruit more older

men when the military demands were increasing, as also seems to have

been the case in New Hampshire in 1758,. But we cannot be sure because we

do not know enough about the demographics of the adult male population, or

its local variations between and within colonies, to know if the Virginia

and New Hampshire soldiers were older than the male population from which

they were drawn or were just a cross-section of a male population that was

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older than elsewhere.

It is clear that the New England militiamen who responded to the

Lexington Alarm in mid-April 1775 were older than the typical New England

colonial soldier. For example, the 124 minutemen from Groton, Massachusetts,

had a midspan age of 27 1/4 years (Table 9), 7~ years older than the town's

expeditionary soldiers of 1760. Greater age gives a good indication that

Groton's militiamen were drawn from among substantial citizens, an impression

reinforced by the fact that over three-quarters of them were married men

(Table 10). The table also affords a good shorthand way of understanding

how the character of military participation changed during seven years of

war. The proportion of married men fell to one-quarter as the town shifted

the military burden away from substantial citizens to young unmarried men.

Those married men who joined up in 1781 and 1782 could reasonably be presumed

to be older men who were not able to prosper in civilian society.

Evidence from other colonies reinforces the picture ofa unique surge of

popular support for war in 1775. The minutemen from Fairfield, Connecticut,

were nearly as old as the minutemen from Groton, though, unlike their

Massachusetts counterparts, they included no one over 40 years of age

(Table 11). The midspan age of militiamen in one New Jersey company four

months later was even higher (Table 12). The militia seems to have continued

to attract older men through 1776, at least in Groton, Massachusetts, and

Newark, New Jersey (Tables 13 and 14). By that time,however, the ages of

the men recruited for Continental service had begun to decline to levels

below those of the colonial period.

In the days and weeks after the Lexington alarm, New England leaders

faced their greatest military challenge: transforming a crowd of militiamen

into a stable military force. They applied the precedents and experience

they had accumulated during the French and Indian War to this monumental

9.

task and, by dint of compromise, hard work, and enthusiasm, they hammered

out an army to last to the end of the year. ~ost militiamen went home by

early May; if the experience of Temple, New Hampshire, is typical --and it

seems to be broadly so-·- roughly a quarter of the militiamen enlisted for

the rest of the campaign (Table 15).

In its organization and field-grade officers, the army that gathered

around Boston in the summer of 1775 was a descendant of the armies raised

during the French and Indian War. It was much more the culmination of past

experience than the harbinger of the changes that the rebels would be forced

to make in 1775 and 1777. The soldiers, younger than the Lexington minute-·

men, were also younger than their French war predecessors. Evidence from

three towns in northeastern Massachusetts gives some indication of the

local variations that can be subsumed in broader samples. Across the towns,

the midspan age ranged from 23~ years in Groton, to 22 1/3 years in Chelms­

ford, to 22 years in Newburyport (Tables 15, 17, and 18); this was at least

a year younger than what was probably the inflated average of 26 years in

1756 (Table 3). New Hampshire troops also seem to have been younger than

during the French War, but the sample for 1758 is too small to permit a

firm conclusion (Table 19). Unlike their senior officers, few soldiers had

first-·hand experience of war. If there were veterans in the ranks, they

would be among the oldest soldiers; a twenty-year-old man who had served in

1752 would be 43 in 1775. Everyone under 25 years of age in 1775 had

either been a child or not yet born during the French and Indian War. The

point is important because part of the willingness of Americans to defend

their rights and restore their liberties was based on a naive exaggeration

of the ease and efficacy of a resort to arms. Surely, fewer Americans

would have rebelled against the imperial government if they had expected

it would be so hard to make their rebellion successful.

10.

The sample sizes are adequate to allow a comparison of New York troops

in 1758 and 1775. Although the median and midspan ages were identical

(23 and 23\ years, respectively), the age distributions were different

enough so that it seems that New York was not as hard pressed in 1775 as

it had been in 1758 {compare Tables 7 and 20). A full quarter of the soldiers

in 1758 had been 30 years old or older, versus only 16% in 1775. The modal

age in 1758 had been 19 years, versus 23 in 1775. From this comparison, it

appears that when New York society was at full stretch, its troops included

both a sizeable fraction of relatively older men and a cluster of relatively

young men. In other words, New York's manpower resources were stretched at

both ends in 1758 but not in 1775.

It is unfortunate that more information about the 1776 army has not

survived. Many interesting documents undoubtedly perished during the retreat

of Washington's army from Long Island to the west bank of the Delaware

between August and December 1776. The army in 1776 is so important because

it marked Congress's only attempt to create a single Continental Line by

renumbering the New England regiments in one numerical sequence. But the

e~periment was not a success. The states and their soldiers were unhappy

about relinquishing their historic identities, and in 1777 the New England

regiments were re·-rai sed as components of individua 1 state 1 in es. (Troops

from states south of New England never lost their separate identities.)

The evidence for 1776 is difficult to interpret. For instance, the

ages of sick and absent New Hampshire soldiers were higher than comparable

figures for 1775, but that was probably because older men were inclined to

be less physically fit (Table 21). On the other hand, the ages of soldiers

in the one Pennsylvania company are about two years younger than those for

troops in 1777, and there is no immediately evident reason why this should

be so (Table 22). The Connecticut sample agrees better with troops raised

11.

the next year, but it is clearly too small to be conclusive (Table 23). In

July 1776, 10,000 militiamen were drafted for six months of active service

with the Continental Army. It is therefore not surprising that the ages of

the soldiers in one nelaware company of the Flying Camp were lower than those

of militiamen who stayed home (Table 24). That the ages were also nearly

identical with those for Delaware Continentals in 1777 suggests that the

rage militaire of 1775 had already begun to dissipate by mid-1776.

The troops that the states began recruiting in late 1776 were intended

to form the first long-service interstate military force in American

history .. The desire to enlist men for several years at a time was nothing

more than a recognition that a revolutionary conflict could not be won by

short service troops --Continentals or militia-- alone. Nonetheless, it

was a substantial departure from the previous practice in almost all the

states, and in sum represented the most radical military innovation of

the war. This was the army that spent its first winter at Valley Forge,

and which lies at the heart of my report. Information on the ages of the

troops in the three-year army is arranged by state from north to south, and

includes ten of the eleven states whose men encamped at Valley Forge (all

except North Carolina).

The Pension Roll of 1835 is an important source of information on the

three-year army because it supplements in valuable ways the contemporary

muster rolls. This document lists all the men who received Federal pensions

since the 1780s, and includes the then-current age of Continental Army

veterans who had been on the Roll since 1818. It is the richest single

source of age data on Revolutionary soldiers, and, used carefully, it can

confirm and extend other descriptive rolls. Names of men who served at

Valley Forge have been drawn from muster rolls in the Nati ona 1 Archives, as

compiled for the Valley Forge State Park Commission in the 1940s, and

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compared with the names of pensioned veterans. Most names and ranks were

distinctive enough so that the probability of correct identification is high;

common names like William Smith and Thomas Jones have been excluded because

they could not be firmly correlated. The Pension Roll does have limitations.

It contains a few errors, most commonly the transposition of a digit which

makes a man seem ten years older or younger than other sources say he was.

The most significant drawback is the impossibility of determining precisely

the extent to which the Roll is biased toward younger men. It does seem to

under-represent the number of men who were, say, more than 30 years old in

1777-1778, simply because fewer of these older men were alive to apply for

a pension in 1818. This bias tends to lower the average age, but, as we

shall see, it has much less of an impact on the midspan age, a measure

which reports the central tendency of a group of observations.

Against this weakness in the Ro 11 can be set severa 1 major advantages ..

The Pension Roll allows 1 arge-scal e comparisons between states, comparisons

which are internally consistent even if the Roll itself is not a representative

sample of all Revolutionary veterans. In the following tables based on the

Pension Roll, I have distinguished between veterans who continued to live in

the state in whose troops they had served during the war, and veterans who

emigrated to other states. This division understates mobility, of course,

because it does not take into account intra-state migration. Nonetheless,

the remained-versus-emigrated breakdown does give some insight into whether

or not Continental Army veterans were able to return to the civilian society

they had 1 eft to go to war ..

It seems that the soldiers in the three-year army were collectively the

youngest yet seen during the Revolution. The New Hampshire troops, for

instance, had a midspan age of roughly 22 years (Table 25), a year and a

half younger than the 1775 troops (Table 19). Even the ages of absentees

13.

had declined, from a midspan age of 25 1/3 years in 1776 (Table 21) to 23 2/3

years in 1777-·1778 (Table 26). While the percentage of men age 30 and under

was the same in both years (23%), the drop in the modal age from 21 to 17

suggests that New Hampshire was having trouble finding soldiers. The men

known to have wintered at Valley Forge were younger still.. (While all three

New Hampshire regiments were present, apparently muster rolls survive only

for the 3rd Regiment for this period.) The midspan age of men in one company

was 20~ years (Table 27), a figure which agrees well with evidence from the

Pension Roll (Tables 28-1, -2, and -3). Having been comparatively plder in

previous years, New Hampshire's soldiers were now by most summary measures

the youngest in New England, with a midspan age of just 20 years among

pensioned veterans (Table 28-3).

According to the Pension Roll, soldiers in the other New England states

were not much older. Connecticut's were the oldest, with a midspan age of

only 20 2/3 years (Table 29-3). Indeed, the evidence suggests that many

Connecticut soldiers may have been, on average, extremely young, under 20

years of age in one company of an Additional Continental Regiment raised in

1777 (Table 30). Part of a list of deserters from one regiment, including

only those men who joined before the Valley Forge period, supports the

youthfulness of Connecticut soldiers, if one assumes that the ages given

were those in 1782 (Table 31). Lists of deserters are tricky, however; I

will continue to present the information they offer, but no point will be

considered to be proven if supported only by evidence from these sources ..

The Pension Roll paints much the same picture for Rhode Island as it

does for New Hampshire and Connecticut: a relatively narrow age range (not

many men age 30 and over) and midspan ages hovering between 19 and 22 years

(Table 32-3). Two points should be made here.. First, it seems that strain

on the manpower resources of New England societies produced a pattern which

14.

was different from the one observed in New York.. In times of stress, New

England relied less on older men than did its western neighbor. Second,

veterans who chose to emigrate from these three New England states after the

war were from six months to nearly 2~ years younger, on average, than the

veterans who chose to remain in their home states.. It would be interesting

to know if the same sort of wanderlust that they displayed in later life

had also inspired them to enlist in the Continental Army, but the records

are silent on that score.

I have saved consideration of Massachusetts for last in New England

because it poses some special challenges and offers some special rewards.

In the 1 ate ni neteenth-·century, the commonwea 1th compi 1 ed a 11 the ro 11 s in

the State Archives and between 1898 and 1908 published the resulting service

records in seventeen volumes of Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the

Revolutionary War. Evidence from these volumes can be crosschecked with

vital records, so that it is possible to backtrack individual soldiers ..

The results are not always comforting, as the following examples show.

The best that can be hoped for is a man like Benjamin Blossom. He was

born in Plympton in November 1746, married in April 1769, served in the

Lexington Alarm, enlisted in the eight-months' army in May 1775, and enlisted

again for eight months in March 1779, when his age was recorded as 31 years.

In 1779, he enlisted for a third time, for nine months, and gave his age as

32 years. This is a wonderful piece of evidence because a 11 three sources,

the last two enlistments in Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors and the date

of birth in the Plympton Vital Records, all agree. (This example also shows

how easy it is to introduce a variation of one year in the ages of the

soldiers. In most cases, the birth month is not known, so Blossom's age

would have been calculated here, in the absence of other evidence, as 32

years in 1778, rather than 31 years. Si nee it is very difficult to acquire

15.

the information needed to solve this problem, I have elected to believe that

a compensating reduction in age occurs frequently enough so that the summary

measures remain largely unaffected.)

Confidence in the accuracy of the records is eroded by a man like Isaac

Bonney. Born in Plympton in February 1758, he was still an unmarried man

when he enlisted for three years in April 1777, at age 19. When he enlisted

for six months in June 1780, his age was recorded as 25, rather than the 22

one would have expected. Even worse is Joseph Black of Kittery: age 18 in

June 1778, age 21 in June 1779.. Or Josiah Beal of York: age 40 in June 1778,

age 47 in June 1780. Somewhere, someone recorded inaccurate information.

Since it is profitless to try to tracR down every discrepancy (most will

dead-end quickly for want of adequate records), the historian must accept

a certain degree of imprecision in his conclusions.

The best evidence indicates that Massachusetts soldiers were older than

their counterparts in New England. As Table 33 shows, the midspan ages of

Continental Army recruits from Plymouth County in 1777-1778 was at least a

year and a half older (at 22 years) than the midspan ages of soldiers from

New Hampshire (20 years), Connecticut (20;, years), and Rhode Island (20!2

years) in the tables developed from the Pension Roll. The difference in

average ages is even greater, three years older for the Massachusetts recruits

(24;, years versus 21;, years), largely because contemporary descriptive rolls

include the older men who died before they could apply for a pension.

(Though contemporary rolls do give a more complete picture of age distribution

than does the Pension Roll, the midspan age affords a useful way of comparing

the two kinds of sources.) The midspan ages of Massachusetts soldiers from

other places and in other contexts were also around 22 years: at Groton

(Table 34), among both re-·enlistees and deserters from the 3rd Regiment

(Tables 34A and 35), and among short-service recruits from around the state

16.

in 1778 (Table 35A).

Moving south, it is clear that New York was hard pressed to find soldiers

in 1777. The age distribution in one regiment resembled the difficult year

of 1758 rather than the relatively easier situation of 1775 (Table 36). The

drop in the midspan age from 23~ years in 1758 and 1775 to 20\ years in 1777

probably means that raising the three-year army was the hardest recruiting

job of the war. The modal age dropped too, from 23 years in 1775 to 17 years

in 1777. A breakdown of ages by term of enlistment (Table 37) shows no

difference between those who enlisted for three years and those who joined

for the war, but reveals that men who joined for the shorter term of nine

months were substantially younger .. This difference bears further investigation

because it seems likely that the "older" young men who signed up for a long

term viewed their enlistment more as a choice of occupation than did the

"younger" young men who probably saw short-term enlistments, often repeated

annually, as a means of making quick money. Table 38 reminds us that, while

recruits may have been getting younger, veterans were inevitably growing

older ..

In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the ages of soldiers never dropped to

the level of New York or New England. New Jersey's soldiers at Valley ~·orge

had a midspan age of 23 years, higher among those who remained within the

state after the war, lower among those who emigrated (Tables 39-1, -2, and -3).

Pennsylvania's troops were even older, having a midspan age of 24 years, with

greater variation between those who stayed and those who left (Tables 40-1,

-2, and -·3) .. The ages derived from the Pennsylvania Pension Roll accord well

with the figures given by the closest student of the Pennsylvania Line, a not

altogether surprising outcome since many of the ages in Table 41 seem to be

derived from the Pension Roll via the various volumes of the Pennsylvania

Archives .. It is interesting to note that the substitutes hired to serve for

17.

two months in a Lancaster County militia company were younger, on average,

than the Continentals (Table 42). Presumably these men were not averse to

mi 1 itary service, but they preferred short-term enlistments for relatively

good money to enlisting in the Continental Line .. Americans had always disliked

serving for long periods in any army, and now that attitude was making life

hard for the men who realized that standing forces were crucial to the

success of the Revolution.

Continental soldiers in three souther states --Delaware, Maryland, and

Virginia--· were a bit younger than their counterparts from New York and New

England (Tables 43, 44, and 45). Virginia's profile is probably the result

of the fact that its regiments had been raised in two stages, the 1st through

9th Regiments between July 1775 and February 1776 and the 10th through 15th

Regiments after October 1776. The ages of its soldiers are thus an amalgama­

tion of what in the northern and middle states were three separate establish­

ments. Virginia's age distribution resembles Pennsylvania's, with its cluster

of men in their late twenties, more than, say, Connecticut's, but the summary

ages lie between the two.

To summarize, then: the ages of the soldiers at Valley Forge averaged

in their early twenties. New York and New England troops were relatively

younger, between 20 and 22 years, Pennsylvania and New Jersey troops

relatively older, between 23 and 24 years, and the southern troops in between,

at roughly 22\ years. But, while ages can be summarized and described, more

needs to be known about the character of recruiting across the states

--including the demographics of the male population as a whole, the attitudes

about who should bear the burden of military service, and the attractiveness

of financial incentives to various age and economic groups-- before we can

confidently understand why variations occurred and what they meant in the

context of the times ..

18.

The ages of so 1 di ers who joined the Continental Army after Va 11 ey Forge

show considerable variation. The general trend toward recruiting and drafting

younger men did not continue as the war dragged on. Indeed, soldiers in

several states tended to be older than their pre-1778 counterparts (see Tables

46 on New Hampshire, 54 and 56 on New York, 57 through 60 on Pennsylvania,

and 62, 63, and 64 on Delaware). Wh1le Virginia's soldiers were younger than

in 1777 (Tables 65 and 66), Connecticut's were of roughly the same age as

earlier, still among the youngest soldiers, on average, in the Continental

Army (Ta bl es 48 and 49).

Evidence from Massachusetts provides some interesting details about the

ages of one state's soldiers in the later years of the Revolution. The

midspan age of Continental Army recruits from Middlesex County in 1781 and

1782, overwhelmingly men who enlisted for three years of service, was 2l!z

years (Table 49A), marginally younger than the midspan age of 22 years for

Plymouth County recruits in 1777-1778. But the patterns in individual towns

could vary considerably. Continental Army soldiers from Groton, an "average"

rural farming community in Middlesex County, were very young in and after

1778, with a midspan age of roughly 20 years (Tables 50 and 51). Soldiers

from Boston, the state's metropolis, were startlingly older, in 1780 a midspan

age of 27 years for militiamen and 29 years for short-term Continental Army

recruits (Tables 51A and 518). The ages of the Boston soldiers suggest that

a permanent underclass may have existed in this urban seaport, a group of

o 1 der men for whom the opportunities of military service were the best on

offer, a group on whom the community's leaders could place the burden of

going to war. Veterans were older than most recruits, though not as old

as the Boston soldiers. The men who formed the core of the Massachusetts

Continental regiments in the early 1780s had a midspan age of roughly 24

years (Tables 52, 53, and 53A).

19.

The age distribution of the samples suggests some tentative conclusions

about military service after 1778. While the soldiers were still mostly

young men in their late teens through early twenties, the presence of men

over 30 years of age in the ranks may indicate that the army was attracting

poor men, of whatever age, who had no better prospects. The range of ages

was particularly striking in Pennsylvania. Where 23% of the troops in the

Valley Forge sample had been aged 30 years or more, over a third of the

New 11th Regiment in July 1779 was of a similar age (Tab 1 e 59}. The range

in a company of the 2nd Regfment in 1780 was remarkable, from 10 to 73 in

one company of forty men; 38% were over 30 years of age (Table 60}. While

men over 30 certainly may have had patriotic motives for enlisting, the

demographic evidence suggests that poor men were being called upon to

finish a fight begun by men from a broader economic spectrum.

The evidence about the various incarnations of the Continental Army

needs to be understood in a broader context. The most important comparison

is with the contemporary British army. Information compiled by the closest

student of the British soldier in North America indicates that the

Continental troops faced men whose average age was in the mid-· to 1 ate­

twenties; in some regiments, it reached as high as the mid-thirties

(Table 67). They were long service troops, averaging over eight years of

service per man, and, though that average did decline during the war as the

army expanded substantially beyond its 1775 level, length of service is

what set the redcoats apart most dramatically from Continental soldiers.

At the same time, it is important to realize that British soldiers were as

young or younger, on average, than their Continental opponents when. they

enlisted. The same pattern of youthful enlistment and long service was

also present in the Prussian army, considered by many to be the finest

military force of the age (Tables 68, 69, and 70). Americans feared the

20.

kind of professional, long-service, standing army found in Britain or Prussia,

and they clearly had no wish to pattern their military forces after the

European model. Ironically, however, the need to maintain a constant

military presence in the field promoted the creation of just such a standing

army. By the end of the war, there was a solid core of Continental veterans

for whom the army had indeed become their profession and their home.

The Continental Army can also be compared with troops from other

conflicts.. During the War of 1812, for instance, the average age of United

States Army recruits was in the mid- to late- twenties, substantia11y

older than the Continentals at Valley Forge (Table 71). On the other hand,

the Canadian militiamen who stopped the most serious American invasion

outside Montreal in mid·-October 1813 were younger than their opponents;

their midspan age was 23~ years, roughly the age of the New Jersey and

Pennsylvania troops at Valley Forge (Table 71A). Union soldiers in the

Civil War were closer in age to the British soldiers in the Revolution than

to the Continentals. A quarter of Northern volunteers were 30 years old or

older, and the average age was more than 25 years (Tables 72 and 73). As

had been the case with the Continental Army after 1778, the average age of

the Union troops increased as the war went on, reaching 26 1/3 years by the

summer of 1865. Military service today remains the preserve of men in their

twenties, though there is considerable variation among the services. Sailors

on one nuclear-powered attack submarine, for instance, average 23 years of

age, while Air Force enlisted men and women are older, with an average age of

26 years in 1985. 4

#2. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

I have organized evidence on the physical descriptions of soldiers in

colonial and Revolutionary America into four categories: height, color of

21.

complexion, color of hair, and color of eyes. These were more or less the

four standard kinds of information that officers recorded on descriptive

muster ro11s and lists of deserters. A11 of the evidence is contemporary

and cannot be usefully supplemented by the Pension Records. While informa···

tion on heights can be accepted as highly accurate because size could be

measured objectively, information on the color of complexion, hair, and

eyes is wildly subjective. It is abundantly clear that men had different

ways of describing roughly the same characteristic. The interpretive

value of this type of information is therefore extremely limited.

The midspan height of the soldiers genera11y fe11 between five feet,

6~ inches and five feet, 8 inches,probably ta11er than what many people

would have guessed. Apart from the sense of shortness imparted by the

doorways to the huts at Valley Forge, the soldiers appeared to be short

because there were so few men over six feet tall. The normal range of

heights was a foot or less, but there were enough men under five feet tall

so that a company of Continentals at Va11ey Forge would give the modern

observer the impression of a rather short, squat body of men.

As with ages, there was considerable variation in average and midspan

heights within and among the states. In general, troops from New England

and New York were taller than their counterparts in the middle and southern

states. Why that was the case is not entirely clear, though in samples

where birthplaces are also given, foreign-born soldiers were up to an inch

and a half shorter than their native-born compatriots. A large number of

shorter, foreign-born soldiers seems to be the principal reason why

Pennsylvania troops were not as tall as the troops from the other states.

(For more on birthplaces, see Section #3, below.)

The Continentals may have been a bit shorter than their British

opponents, but the difference was so small, probably less than an inch on

22.

average, that it would not have been noticeable between two bodies of troops

seen at a distance (Table 105). Similarly, they were a bit shorter than

volunteers from seven Northern states during the Civil War (Tables 107 and

108). It is interesting to speculate that New Hampshire's troops continued

to be the tallest in New England because the state was home to fewer foreign

immigrants, and that Pennsylvania's were taller than during the Revolution

because of the influx of migrating Mew Englanders. However, much more

research would be needed to turn these speculations into even the most

tentative of generalizations.

When describing the color of a soldier's complexion, hair, or eyes,

officers and company clerks relied heavily on the distinction between light

and dark. The terms may have varied at different times and in different

states, indeed among different companies in the same regiment, but that

simple distinction was the foundation of physical description. Light

complexions might also be called "fair," "sandy," "pale," "freckled," or

"fresh," with each term having a separate and precise meaning to the man

who used it. But that precision cannot be recovered with confidence. Dark

complexions could also be recorded as "brown," "swarthy," or "black."

"Black" itself was a very imprecise term. In New England, it occasionally

may have meant Negro but the complexions of black men were more frequently

described as "negro," "molato," or "mustee." In the minds of some recorders,

a yellow complexion may have meant a man with some black ancestors, while

to others it may have denoted the effects of jaundice. "Red" or "ruddy"

were probably the most evocative and understandable terms used to describe

complexions on the rolls and lists.

Color of hair and eyes was also divided between light and dark. Light

hair might al so be described as "sandy," "fair," or "flaxen," and dark hair

might combine both "black" and "brown," though most recorders do seem to

23.

have made an effort to distinguish between the two. A few men with red or

grey hair were scattered through the ranks, along with a few whose hair was

described as "wool," the only sure indication that they were black men.

Light eyes might also be described as "blue," "grey," or "hazel," and dark

eyes might also be termed "black" or "brown."

The distribution of colors was roughly sixty-forty in favor of dark

over light, though individual units did depart significantly from that

breakdown. Virtually all combinations of colors are present in the records.

The two most common were: 1. dark complexion, dark, black, or brown hair,

and dark eyes; and 2. light complexion, light or fair hair; and light eyes.

The historian must be careful in making more specific generalizations

because the evidence may not be sound. Examples drawn from the volumes of

Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors (Table 113) vividly illustrate some of

the pitfalls present in the records. At one point, six men were described

as having dark complexions; at another point, the same six were said to

have light complexions. Seven men had hair variously thought to be dark,

brown, light, and black. The possibility that more such variations may

remain undetected makes comparisons between samples very imprecise.

Occasionally a descriptive roll or list records some additional

details, like comments about scars or pockmarks that might make it easier

to identify deserters (see Tables 122, 124, and 132 for examples).

Information on body-type, especially whether or not the recruit was "well­

set," appears in some Pennsylvania and Virginia rolls for the French and

Indian War (Tables 124 and 132), but I have encountered only one taste

of such information for the Revolution, a single Delaware company (Table

128), incomplete and not very useful.

The fullest description of a soldier is often found in newspaper

advertisements for deserters. They combine information on ages and

24.

physical descriptions in ways that parallel descriptive muster rolls, and

add comments about the sol di er' s morally degenerate state that are not

available elsewhere. Set against these advantages are the very subjectivity

that makes them so humanly appealing and the question, essentially

unanswerable, of whether or not the deserters were typical of their company,

regiment, or state. I offer the following ten examples, all men who

deserted from Valley Forge.

10th Pennsylvania Regiment, in .Pennsylvania Packet, May 13, 1778

1. John Goran, 24 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, a slender made, down·-1 ooki ng fell ow, much pitted with the sma 11 pox, fond of strong liquor, and born in Virginia.

2. David Latta, about 20 years of age, 6 feet high, slender made, of a fair complexion, and born in Pennsylvania.

3. Hugh Reed, 30 years of age, a well-set fellow, 5 feet 8 inches high, of a ruddy complexion, sandy hair, very talkative, and was born in Ireland.

4. Anthony McManes, 23 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches high, short fair hair, somewhat pitted with the small pox, and was born in Ireland.

5. James Burges, 44 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches high, short black hair, is fond of strong liquor, and was born in England.

5th Pennsylvania Regiment, Pennsylvania Packet, May 23, 1778

6. Samuel Starrit, American born, about 5 feet 10 inches high, short black hair, swarthy complexion, stoop shouldered, and fond of strong liquor.

7. James Mccallister, born in Jersey and brought up in Virginia, a taylor /sic/ by trade, has a sickly pale countenance, fair hair which he wears tied, about 5 feet 7 inches high, ... and when in liquor boasts much of Burgoyne's capture.

8. James Reiley, an Irishman, about 5 feet 8\ inches high, dark complexion and black hair, has an extraordinary squint with his left eye, no enemy to strong liquor, and when brim full vomits oaths and blasphemy very liberally.

9. George James, a Virginian born, about 6 feet high, sandy hair, stoop shouldered, swarthy com pl exi on, fond of 11 quor, and in company a

25 ..

pleasant good natured fellow. 10. Samuel Marler, an Englishman born, about 5 feet 7 inches high, short

fair hair tied, is a miner, very talkative and a tolerable scribe, and dearly loves company where liquor is plenty ..

This small sample is taller than average for Pennsylvania troops (five feet,

8 3/4 inches), but about average in color of complexion (three dark or

swarthy versus two fair or pale), and color of hair (three black versus

three fair, but with two more sandy). Five are foreign born, low for

Pennsylvania troops (see Section #3, below). And liquor plays a prominent

role in the description of seven deserters, very typical of deserter

advertisements, though probab]y not of the troops as a whole (see also

Table 135).

Tables 136 through 139 present information on Union soldiers in the

Civil War, with wMch the Continentals can be compared. The most significant

change by the middle of the nineteenth-century is the predominance of

soldiers with light complexions, brown hair, and light eyes (blue, grey,

and hazel). Part of this perceived change may be nothing more than a

standardization of categories by the United States Sanitary Commission,

which compiled the figures. But it is interesting to speculate whether

some part may be due to shifting occupational patterns, about which more

will be said in Section #4, below. For the moment, it is sufficient to

note that relatively fewer Civil War soldiers had been engaged in outdoor

agricultural pursuits. Perhaps an active outdoor life made the complexions

of Continental soldiers appear darker than they actually were. Something

like that made Indians look dark-skinned to Europeans, but whether it applies

here is still a matter of speculation.

#3. BIRTHPLACES

Information on the birthplaces of colonial and Revolutionary soldiers

26.

is fairly uncomplicated, although it does show some of the same regional

variations over time typical of the information on ages and heights.

New England soldiers were overwhelmingly native-born in both the

French and Indian War and the Revolution, regularly averaging more than 90% born

in America (see Tables 140 for New Hampshire, 142 and 143 for Massachusetts,

and 146 through 149 for Connecticut). Most had been born in the colony or

state in whose regiments they served. There is some indication that New

Hampshire and Massachusetts recruited more foreign-·born soldiers as the

Revolution wore on, a suggestion that reinforces the idea that men on the

bottom of society --the poor, the foreign-born-- progressively bore more of

the burden of military service. In one New Hampshire company in 1779,

admittedly a small sample, the percentage of foreign-born soldiers rose to

14% (Table 141). In one Massachusetts company at Valley Forge in January

1778, the percentage of foreign-born was 26%, but if non-residents (that

is, transients and sailors) are added in, the figure rises to 41% (Table

145). A list of men who deserted from the 1st Massachusetts Regiment

between January 1777 and May 1782 also shows a high percentage of foreign-

born soldiers, although this seems to say more about those who deserted

than about those who served (Table 144).

States south of New England always had more foreign-born soldiers fn

the ranks of their regiments. New York's troops ranged from a quarter

foreign-born in 1758 to 20% at Valley Forge (Tables 150, 151, and 152).

They were actually a cosmopolitan lot by New England standards: as many

had been born in neighboring states, principally New Jersey and Connecticut,

as overseas, principally in England, Ireland, and Germany. The evidence

from one New York company suggests that foreign-born soldiers may have been

more inclined to continue in service than their native-born peers; nearly

60% of the re-enlistees in Table 153 had been born overseas, most of them

27.

in Ireland.

No colony or state relied as heavily on foreign-born soldiers as

Pennsylvania, a fact that reflects the high level of immigration to the

colony in the middle of the eighteenth-century. In 1746, 85% of the soldiers

in four companies were foreign-born, 51% alone being Scots·-Irish (Table 154).

Twelve years later, the percentage of foreign-born had dropped to 75% (Table

155), roughly where it stayed during the Revolution (Tables 156 for militia

and 159 for Continentals). While there was clearly a great deal of variation

throughout the war (see Tables 157, 160, 161, and 162), along with the

suggestion that fewer foreign-born were qualified to serve in the more

technically oriented artillery companies (Table 158), it is also clear that

immigrant soldiers played the preeminent role in one of the most militarily

important states.

A look at evidence from Delaware and Virginia concludes this survey of

birthplaces. The samples from Delaware emphasize both the prevalence of

Irish-born soldiers and the variations which could occur among relatively

small units. Delaware was not quite the melting pot that Pennsylvania was

--note the few Germans-- but New Castle was a major port of entry for the

Scots-Irish and many of them settled nearby. Because the immigrants were

not distributed evenly through the state, companies recruited in different

districts could vary widely in the proportion of foreign-born. For instance,

a company of the Flying Camp in August 1776 had 20% more foreign-born

soldiers than a Continental company at Valley Forge (Tables 163 and 164).

The evidence from Virginia shows a great contrast between the birthplaces

of soldiers in the French and Indian War and the Revolution. More than two-thirds

of the soldiers in Colonel George Washington's company in 1757 were foreign-

born (Table 168). This fact, coupled with the relatively high midspan age

of the company, over 26J, years (Table 8), suggests that the bulk of military

2R.

service on the frontier was being shouldered by poor, foreign-born, former

indentured servants who had no better prospects in tidewater society. This

pattern differs radically from the one seen in 1780. In one company 85% of

the soldiers had been born in America, 75% in Virginia. Moreoever, 64% were

still living in the county in which they had been born (Table 169). (These

figures are corroborated by an analysis of the 917 men who were sent to the 5'

Southern Army in 1780.) The pattern resembles New England's, not

Pennsylvania's, and shows clearly that there had been no wave of immigration

to Virginia since mid-century; many fl.evolutionary soldiers were doubtless

the American-born sons of immigrant fathers. While the evidence from the

French and Indian War might tempt one to think that a high percentage of

native·-born soldiers means a popular, broadly based cause, the figures for

the Revolution remind us that the troops reflected first and foremost the

demographics of the base population. Native birth did not automatically

confer a higher degree of attachment to the cause of American liberty.

Comparisons with Union volunteers during the Civil War show the impact

of nearly a century of immigration, mostly from Ireland (the Catholic south)

and Germany. Pennsylvania no longer relied heavily on foreign-born

soldiers; indeed, it now had a higher percentage of native-born volunteers

than the New England states, 82% to 68%-72% (Table 171). Irish-born

soldiers were the highest fraction of the total number of volunteers in New

York, New Jersey, and, surprizingly, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Add the

German-born volunteers, and the fraction surpasses a quarter in the first

two states. By contrast, only 12% of Pennsylvania's volunteers had been

born in Germany or Ireland. Foreign-born soldiers continued to have a major

role in the military forces of a few key states, and, despite some nativist

claims to the contrary, they showed no less devotion to the Union than their

native-born peers.

29.

#4. OCCUPATIONS AND LITERACY

Apart from a few men who considered themselves professional soldiers,

the men in the ranks of colonial and Revolutionary armies were citizen-

soldiers. Almost all of them were engaged in agriculture or in one of the

myriad trades that supported an agricultural economy. In the following

discussion, the principal distinction will be drawn between farmers and

artisans. "Farmer" in this context does not generally mean a man who owned

and worked a substantial piece of land --such prosperous landowners were

probably very rare in the ranks-- but rather small landholders, day laborers,

and young men without the skills or tools for any occupation other than

farm labor. Terms in this category include "farmer," "husbandman," "planter"

(a southern expression). and "yeoman." Laborers and men who claimed no trade

are considered to be agricultural workers, though of course a small, but

unknowable, percentage were urban day laborers.

"Artisan" includes all sorts of trades, some of which provided services

essential for an agricultural economy, while others bespoke the growth of a

small but increasingly sophisticated commerical and manufacturing network.

I have grouped the trades that appear in the following tables under general

subheadings and list them here as a way of conveying the variety of

occupations found in the ranks. There are six manufacturing subheadings,

for men who worked in cloth, wood, leather, metal, stone, and miscellaneous

materials, and five service, commercial, and professional categories.

Cloth-working:

britches-maker, clothier, dyer, fuller, hatter, hosier, peruke-maker, sail-maker, shirtwright, silk dyer, silk twister, tailor, weaver, wool-comber

Wood-working:

blockmaker, cabinet-maker, carpenter, chair-maker, coach-maker, comb­maker, cooper, fiddle-maker, housewright, joiner, millwright, plasterer,

sawyer, ship-carpenter, ship-joiner, shipwright, turner, wagon-maker, wheelwright

Leather-working:

cordwainer/shoemaker, glover, saddler, skin dresser, tanner

Meta 1-worki ng:

blacksmith, bloomer, brazier/brass founder, buckle-maker, coppersmith, cutler, forgeman, goldsmith, gunsmith, locksmith, miner, nailer/nail­maker, pewterer, pinrnaker, silversmith, tinker, tinner, watchmaker

bricklayer, brickrnaker, mason, potter

Miscellaneous manufacturing:

bookbinder, bottle-maker, brushmaker, chandler, collier, glazier, reedmaker, ropemaker, saddletree-maker, soap boiler, staymaker

Food preparation:

baker, brewer, butcher, confectioner, distiller, maltster, miller, tobacconist, tobacco-spinner, vintner

Commerical:

carter, clerk, drummer, hostler, innkeeper, merchant, peddler, shipper, trader, waiter

Maritime:

fisherman, flatsman, mariner, sailor, seaman

Profess iona 1 :

gentleman, lawyer, penman, quack doctor, schoolmaster, surgeon

Miscellaneous services:

barber, coachman, currier, ditcher, fiddler, gardener, musician, printer

The distribution of occupations in the ranks varied widely.. The number

of agricultural workers in the ranks reached 80% or more in companies from

New Hampshire in 1758, Massachusetts in 1775, Delaware in 1777, and Virginia

in 1780 (Tables 172, 176, 196, and 200). But these high levels seem to

31.

reflect quirks of recruiting more than the actual distribution of occupations

in the local adult male population. It seems safer to conclude that up to

75% of the soldiers from predominantly agricultural states like New Hampshire,

Connecticut, Delaware, and Virginia were farm laborers, but that in states

with a strong urban center there were more artisans in the ranks. The ratio

of farmer-soldiers ranged from 54% to 63% in Massachusetts, from 48% to 61%

in New York, and from 36% to 62% in Pennsylvania (Tables 175 and 177 for

Massachusetts, 186 and 189 for New York, and 190 and 192 for Pennsylvania).

In New York and Pennsylvania at least, the greater number of artisan­

soldiers was linked to the higher percentage of foreign-born men in the

ranks. Foreign-born soldiers tended to be older and so more likely to

profess knowledge of some trade. Most of the more unusual skills were

claimed by immigrants; the best example of this is Colonel George Washington's

company in 1757 (Table 199). The narrower range of trades found among New

England soldiers was probably due in part to the fact that there were fewer

immigrants to that region. It must be understood that the the correlation

between foreign birth and artisanal occupation in New York and Pennsylvania

is in comparison with other states !~ the same time. Over time, the number

of foreign-born soldiers in the two states was declining and the number of

artisan -soldiers was rising (Tables 150, 152, 186, and 189 for New York, '-1

and 154, 155, 159, 190, 191, and 192 for Pennsylvania).

Three points must be made about the occupations of colonial and

Revolutionary soldiers. First, I would always be skeptical of an 18-year-old

who claimed to be a shipwright, a joiner, a cabinetmaker, or a practitioner

of some equally skilled trade. That a young man would know something about

such work is entirely probable, but it would be at the level of an apprentice

or at best a journeyman, not a master craftsman. Indeed, it is not likely

that the ranks were filled with highly skilled artisans, however old the men

32.

might be.

Second, a distribution of occupations derived from a list of deserters

is not likely to be typical of the troops of a state as a whole. A case in

point is found in Table 179, where a third of the deserters from a

Massachusetts regiment were sailors. These men had a special reason to

desert: they could make more money serving on a privateer than in the

Continental Army and had no financial reason to remain in the ranks.

Third, when the 2nd Continental Dragoon Regiment was raised in early

1777, only 45% of its troopers were fann boys, the individuals we might

expect to have known the most about the care and use of horses. Some of

the troopers' occupations seemingly had nothing to do with horses: twenty­

four described themselves as carpenters, twenty-one as sailors, and even

four as hatters. Rather than consider this to be an anomalous or incongruous

situation, I would use it to suggest that occupations were not narrowly

defined or mutually exclusive in colonial and Revolutionary Anerica. Men

who described their principal occupation as sailor may well have had

experience on a fann and with horses. Society was less complex and

compartmentalized in the eighteenth-century and occupations were much more

flexible than they are today.

A comparison with Union soldiers in the Civil War shows how much the

occupational profile of American society had changed by the middle of the

ninetheenth-century. Of the three principal occupational categories, only

"agricultural" would have been defined in much the same way as it had been

less than ninety years earlier. "Mechanical" included the industrial

workers who were analagous to the skilled tradesmen of the eighteenth­

century.. "Laborers" now encompassed mainly unskilled day-laborers rather

than the casual agricultural workers of the Revolutionary period. It seems

that the pattern for volunteers (subheading #1 in Table 201) reflects most

33.

accurately the occupational distribution of the states, an assumption that

makes for a most interesting comparison with the recruits, the men who

entered service after the first flush of enthusiasm for the war had faded.

New Hampshire and Connecticut shifted radically (Massachusetts a bit less

so) away from reliance on agricultural workers and toward filling the

regiments with laborers. Such a clear, large-scale example of making the

poorest and least important segment of society bear more of the burden of

war cannot be found in the records of the Revolution.

Information on literacy augments the data on occupations. Because

soldiers were required to acknowledge receipt of wages, bounties, clothing,

equipment, and billeting money, I have used the ability to sign one's name

as the best and most accessible indication of literacy. The evidence is not

without its flaws. In the two samples where a soldier received two or more

items (Tables 208 and 215), a man who signed in one place occasionally

made his mark in another. Why this should have occurred is not known. In

general, however, the evidence is sufficient to establish broad trends ..

Literacy declined from north to south. New England soldiers undoubtedly

had the highest literacy rate. In New Hampshire, for instance, 80% or more

of the soldiers were able to sign their names (Tables 203 through 207).

Literacy was not as high among Rhode Island's soldiers, but exactly how low

it had fallen is not clear. Two samples offer diametrically opposed

information (Tables 208 and 209), demonstrating that a wide range of

literacy could be found even in a small, homogeneous state like Rhode

Island. The sample from New Jersey is large enough so that one can be

confident that literacy had declined to a 50-50 split from New Hampshire's

80-20 breakdown (Table 211). Virginia's soldiers were collectively the

least literate, though here too the figures could fluctuate considerably ..

The 1st State Regiment had a 30-70 split in early 1779, but this improved

34.

to 40-60 by mid-year as veterans left and new recruits arrived (Table 215).

Table 214 gives an interesting insight into the literacy in English

of Germans and Scots-·Iri sh in Pennsylvania. While German immigrants might

be expected to have an imperfect command of the English language, American

birth was no guarantee of fluency in the language. While Irish immigrants

did speak English fairly well, most undoubtedly did so in an accented

version. To the modern ear, recording that a man "has the brogue on his

tongue" sounds like a form of anti-Irish prejudice.

#5. PATTERNS OF SERVICE AND POST-WAR MOBILITY

The final category of information on the Valley Forge soldiers concerns

their patterns of service and post-war mobility. The evidence is drawn from

the Pension Records and is organized by date of first service. Tables 216

through 221 summarize information from the pension applications of veterans

from six states. Included are two counties from which soldiers emigrated

after the war --Fairfield County, Connecticut, and Amherst County, Virginia--­

and two counties on the frontier to which veterans emigrated --Centre County, ~ Pennsylvania, and Maury County, Tennessee.

The most interesting observation to be drawn from the Tables is the

predominance of men who enlisted for the first time in the three··· year army

and who did not serve again. The men who wintered at Valley Forge, unlike

their officers, were generally not veterans of service in 1775 and 1776.

Nor did they generally chose to make military service a career.. There were

certainly cases of three-year veterans who accepted bounty money to serve

again in the Continental Army, but this was not the most common pattern of

service.

The Tables also offer some additional perspective on the age, marital

status, occupation, and literacy of soldiers at Valley Forge .. These veterans

35 ..

were generally younger than those in the Tables presented earlier, though

the samples do maintain the same relative relationship to each other:

Connecticut is at the bottom with a midspan age of 20 3/4 years, Virginia

in the middle at 21~ years, and Pennsylvania at the top with over 22~

years. The fact that these men were overwhelmingly bachelors suggests that

they were using military service as a way of acquiring a financial stake in

in society. That their plans were not successful is the reason why they

applied for a pension in the first place, and in that they may not have

been typical of the average soldier at Valley Forge. Few applicants claimed

a trade; most of those whose occupations were unknown were probably

agricultural day laborers.

An exaggerated sense of the poverty of Continental soldiers is

reinforced by the information the applicants offered to prove their need

for support. Even allowing for overstatement, it is clear that many veterans

were desperately poor, nearly indigent. Their affidavits make affecting

reading even today, as when a 76-year-old widower claims he has no estate

except the clothing on his back (Table 219, entry #1). But, because veterans

who were self-sustaining economically could not apply for a pension, it is

impossible to know how life had treated the average Continental soldier.

The historian cannot know precisely what these men had been thinking when

they enlisted --how they viewed their prospects in life, why they were

attracted to military service, what role patriotism and love of country

played in motivating them-- but I would suggest that, not being professional

soldiers, they had been relatively optimistic about the future, if only

because they were all young men embarked together on a great adventure.

One reason to believe that tomorrow might be better than today was the

prospect of western land. The percentage of Valley Forge pensioners who

emigrated to new lands after the war probably hovered around 40%, the figure

36.

in Tables 216 and 220, though it seems to have risen to 60% in Virginia and

Rhode Island (Tables 32-2 and 45-2). Men tended to move west in roughly the

same latitude as their home state. For instance, Connecticut veterans

moved north into Vermont and then stretched west into New York. Virginians

went west into Kentucky and Tennessee, and then southwest into Georgia and

Alabama and northwest into Indiana. The wanderlust of some Valley Forge

veterans is well illustrated in the sample from Maury County, Tennessee,

where the county was only a way-station for six of the eleven men who had

wintered together at Valley Forge. Some men were content to return home

and live out their lives, even in reduced circumstances, near their birth­

places, but if a man decided to move he was likely to continue his search

beyond the first place he stopped.

Pension records provide many personal details unavailable elsewhere,

though at an unascertainable cost in typicallity and accuracy. The tenor

of the pension applications make it plain that for many the Revolutionary

War had receded into the realm of golden memory. For some it had already

become the stuff of legend.

1These studies include: John R. Sellers, "The Common Soldier in the American Revolution," in Stanley J. Underdal, ed., Military History of the American Revolution: Proceedin s of the Sixth Militar Histor Symposium, USAF Academy Washington, D. C., 1976 ; Mark E. Lender, "The Socia 1 Structure of the New Jersey Brigade: The Conti nenta 1 Line as an American Standing Army," in Peter Karsten, ed., The Military in America: From the Colonial Era to the Present (New York, 1980); and Edward C. Papenfuse and Gregory A. Stiverson,· "Genera 1 Smallwood's Recruits: The Peacetime Career of the Revolutionary War Private," The William and Mary Quarter].1., 3rd Series, Volume 30, 1973, pp. 117-132.

37.

2For a description of the Revolutionary War records held by the National Archives, see Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives (Washington, D. C., 1983), pp. 88-89.

3An excellent introduction to the problems and opportunities of the Pension Records is John P. Resch, "The Continentals of Peterborough, New Hampshire: Pension Records as a Source for Loca 1 Hi story," Pro 1 ogue: The Journa 1 ·of the National Archiv~~· Fall 1984, pp. 169-183.

4on the sailors, see Richard Halloran, "At Sea with 'The Silent Service'," The_New York Times Magazine, November 3, 1985, p. 76. On the airmen, see Air Force Magazine, May 1986, p. 184.

5Joseph A. Goldenberg, Eddie D. Nelson, and Rita Y. Fletcher, "Revolutionary Ranks: An Analysis of the Chesterfield Supplement," The Virginia Magazine of History and Biogr~b,r. Volume 87, April 1979, p. 187 ..

6see also Theodore J. Crackel, "Revolutionary War Pension Records and Patterns of American Mobility, 1780-1830," J'..!:Qlogue: The Journal of the National Archives, Fall 1984, pp. 155-167 ..

A NOTE ON THIS PROJECT:

Demographic information is the foundation for any social history of the

Conti nenta 1 Army.. But it a 1 one cannot tell the who 1 e story. More needs to

be known about the army as a social organism. Such a portrait should include

information on some of the other areas mentioned in the original National Park

Service proposa 1 for a study about Va 11 ey Forge, areas like the religious 1 i fe

of the soldiers and their relations with the women who followed the army or

who lived in the vicinity. A full social history would also advance some

suggestions about the motivation of the soldiers: why did some men stay with

a cause which seemed hopeless on more than one occasion, while others chose

to end their active participation and return to the sidelines?

Several practical difficulties confront the historian who investigates

these issues. Reconstructing the life of a soldier requirei toantless hours

spent in examining local vital, church, court, probate, cemetery, and land

records. Even then the rewards are not always great. The more the army

relied on men who lived on society's margin, the less likely it is that these

individuals appear in the local records. At times like this, the historian

must follow where the records appear most fruitful. Unfortunately -For the

Va 11 ey Forge survey, the sources for 1776 through 1778 are thinner than for

other years of the war. It is reasonably easy .... r hope!-- to reconstruct a

portrait of the first troops that went to war, and, because record-keeping in

the army became more sophisticated as the war dragged on, the portrait of the

army after, say, 1779 is also fuller, though by no means complete in the ways

it reflected or differed from society at large.. The outline of what happened

during the transitional years of 1776-1778 is clear, and it is apparent that

the creation of an army, with the stress and strain of reshuffling of attitudes,

expectations, money, leaders, and manpower, is the most interesting phase of

the war, as it is in 1861-1862, 1915-1917, and 1939-1941. But the details

about 1776-1778 are not yet abundant.

Historians have not neglected the field entirely. Robert K. Wright, Jr.,

has written an excellent history of The Continental Army for the United States

Army's Center for Military History (1983). It is heavily weighted towards

institutional history and the organizational structure of the army, as befits

a contribution to the Army Lineage Series.. Charles Royster has investigated

the rhetorical and intellectual roots of the Continental Army in A Revolutionary

People at War: The Continental Army and American Character, 1775-1783 (Chapel

Hill, NC: 1979). These are two important books (Royster has an entire chapter

on the meaning of Valley Forge), but the full social history of the Army has

yet to be researched and written. The articles mentioned in the first footnote

are a start and stand for the moment as the best published discussion of the

matter. The present report is at best a tour d'horizon; the more detailed work

is several years away. I owe you a copy.

Harold E. Selesky

P.. NOTE ON THE TABLES:

Most of the tables which contain information about the ages and heights

of soldiers are cast in the form of stem-and-leaf diagrams. This form has

good visual impact and allows the transmission of actual data.. Take Table One

as an example.. The category of information is ages, and the state is

Massachusetts.. The ages are those of the non-commissioned officers and

privates of one company in one of the regiments which served at the capture

of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island In 1745. The number ''l'' on the left side

of the first line of data is the stem, and the two number "7"s are the leaves,

here indicating that two men were seventeen years old.. Continuing down the

table, the data shows that there were three men at age 18, seven at age 19,

five at age 20 , five at age 21, eight at age 22 (the modal age), and so on

down to one man at age 50. When there are five or more cases of any one aqe

or height, I have inserted the total number (''n") at the end of the line of

data.. The total number of cases in the table ("N") is recorded at the foot

of the actual data; in Table One, N=46.. The median age of the soldiers in

Table One is 22 years, the average age is 23.78 years, and the midspan age

(the average age of the central half of the cases) is 21.58 years .. As stated

in the text, I carry out the average and midspan ages to two decimal places

only for purposes of comparison, Thus, "23. 78 years" should be thought of

as 23 3/4 years, and ''21.58 years'' as 21~ years .. The source of the data in

Table One is John J .. Currier's History of Newburyport ~1assachusetti/, pages

549 and 550 ..

TABLE 1 AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-·commissioned officers and privates, one company o'" 5th Regiment at Cape Breton, roll dated 26 February 1745

1 77 888 9999999 n=7

2 00000 n=5 11111 n=5 22222222 n=8 33 4444 888 9

3 2 5 6 9

4 5

5 0

N=46 median = 22 years

average = 23 .. 78 years

midspan = 21. 58 years

SOURCE: John J.. Currier, Hi story of Newburyport, pp.. 54~-550

TABLE Z.. AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, four companies in 1746

1 77 888888 n=6 9999999999999999999999999999 n=28

2 000000000000000000000 n=21 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 n=53 222222222222222222222222222222 n=30 33333333333333333333333333333333333 n=35 44444444444444444444 n=20 55555555555555555555555555555555 n=32 6666666666666666 n=l6 777777777777777 n=15 888888888888888888888 n=21 99

3 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO n=36 11111111 n=8 2222222 n=7 333 44444444444444444 n=17 55555555555 n=ll 6666666 n=7 7 8

4 000000000000000 n=l5 22222 n=5 3 4 55 6

N=397 median = 25 years

average = 26.18 years

midspan = 24.89 years

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume 1, pp. 6-14.

TABLE 3 AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, six regiments in 1756

Number median average mode

Non·-commi ss i oned 360 25 years 27.8 years 22 years officers

Privates 1734 22 years 25.8 years 18 years

TOTAL 2094 26 .1 years

SOURCE: Fred Anderson, A People's Army, adapted from Table 22, p. 237

TABLE -"f AGES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, part of one company of the Regiment of 1758

1 77 8888888 n=7 999

2 11 2 3 4 6 77 888

3 4 55 9

4 0 2 555

5 00 1 4 8

N=37 median = 27 years

average = 30.14 years

midspan = 27 .10 years

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls, I/21-·22

TABLE 0 AGES

MASSJl.CHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates en1isted at Groton in 1760

1 666 7777777777 n=lO 888888888888888888 n=18 99999 n=5

2 000 11111111 n=8 2222222 n=7 44 555 6 77 9

3 0 11 3 5

4 2 5

N=68 median = 19.5 years average = 21.50 years midspan = 19.73 years

SOURCE: Three Mi1itary Diaries, pp. 118-119

TABLE

AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, fourteen companies in 1758

1 3 666666666 n=9 777777777777777777777777 n=24 88888888888888888888888888888 n=29 99999999999999999999999999999999999 n=35

2 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO n=53 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 n=47 2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 n=57 333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 n=51 444444444444444444444444444444444444 n=36 555555555555555555555555555555555555555 n=39 66666666666666666665666666666666 n=32 7777777777777777777777777777777777 n=34 8888888888888888888888888 n=25 999999999999 n=12

3 000000000000000000000000000000000000000 n=39 1111111 n=7 222222222222 n=l2 333333333333 n=12 44444444 n=8 5555555555 n=lO 66666666666666666 n=l7 7777 8838 99999 n=5

4 000000000000 n=l2 1 22 33 44444 n=5 55 8 9

N=538 median = 24 years average = 25.25 years

midspan = 24.06 years

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume I, pp. 118, 127, 133, 142, 145, 148, 153, 158, 162, 172, 186, 190, 194, 197, 223, 234

TABLE

AGES

NEH YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, thirteen companies in 1758

1 0 66666666 n=8 777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 n=60 888888888888888888888888888888888888888388888388888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888 n=89

999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 999999999999999 n=l34

2 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 n=l04

111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 n=l04

222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 22222222222222222222222 n=83

333333333333333333333333333333333331333333333333333333333333 333333 n=66

4444444444444444444444444444444~444444444444444444 n=50 55555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 n=50 666666666666666666665666666666666666666666666666666 n=51 77777777777777777777777777777 n=29 88888888888888888888R8888888888 n=31 99999999999999999999999999 n=26

3 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO n=49 111111111111 n=l2 2222222222222222222222222222 n=28 33333333333 n=ll 44444444444444 n=14 555555555555555555555555555 n=27 666666666666666 n=l5 77777777777777777 n=l7 88888888 n=8 9999999999999999 n=l6

4 0000000000000000000 n=l9 11111111 n=8 2222222 n=7 333333 n=6 444444 n=6 555555555 n=9 66666 n=5 7777777 n=7 8888888888 n=lO 9999

TABLE

AGES

NEW YORK

CONTINUED

Non-commissioned officers and privates, thirteen companies in 1758

5 00000 n=5 11 222 3 44 6 88

6 00

7 2

N=ll83 median = 23 years

average = 25.60 years midspan = 23.24 years

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Collections, 1891, pp .. 60-134

TABLE 8 AGES

VIRGINIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of the Regiment, list dated 28 August 1757

1 8 9999

2 000000 1111 222222 333 444444444 55555555 666666 7777 8888 9999

3 000000 1 222 3 4 5555 6

4 0000000 7 9

N=85 median = 25 years average= 27.45 years midspan = 26.58 years

SOURCE: Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Volume 4, pp. 389-391

TABLE 9 AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates from Groton who served in the Lexington Alarm

1 3 7777 88 9999

2 0000000000 n=lO 11111111 n=S 2222222 n=7 33333 n=5 444444444 n=9 5555555 n=7 6666666 n=7 77777 n=5 888 999

3 0000 1 2222 333 444 55 666 7 888 999

4 000 11 2222 33 4 55 666 7 88

5 1

6 5

N=l24 median = 26 years average = 28.48 years

midspan = 27.26 years

SOURCE: Groton During the Revolution; and Vital Records of Groton

TABLE JO MARITAL STATUS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates from Groton

Occasion of service Number Marri~£ Not Married

Lexington alarm 116 89 (77%) 27 (23%) 1775 Continental 71 46 (653) 25 (35%) 1776 militia 45 32 (71%) 13 (29%) 177'7 Continental 14 4 (29%) 10 (71%) 1777 & 1779 militia 13 2 (15%) 11 ( 85%) 1778, 1779, & 1780 23 8 (35%) 15 (65%) Continental 1781 & 1782 Continental 17 4 ( 24%) 13 (76%)

SOURCE: Groton During the R~volution_; and Vital Records of Groton

TArLE 11 AGES

CONNECT! CUT

Non-·commi ssioned officers and privates from mi 1 iti a companies in Fair fie 1 d who marched on the Lexington Alarm in April 17'75

1 i 88 999

2 0 111 22 3333 4444 5 66 77777 n=5 88 999

3 1111 2222 444 66 88

N=48 median = 27 years

average = 25. 71 years

midspan = 26 .. 50 years

SOURCE: Records of Connecticut Men in the Revolution, pp. 10-11; and Donald L. Jacobus, Hi story and Gen ea 1 olU'. of the Families of Old Fairfield

TABLE 12. AGES

NEW JERSEY

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Deerfield Mi 1 iti a Company, Cumberland County, list dated 8 /\.ugust 1775

1 7 88888 n=5 999

2 00 22222222 n=8 333333 n=6 4444444 n=7 5 666666 n=6 8888 99

3 000000 n=6 11 22 44444 n=5 55 6 88888 n=5

4 0000000 n=7 4 7

N=77 median = 26 years

average = 28.31 years

midspan= 27.31 years

SOURCE: The Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, Volume 59, Number 3, September 1984, pp. 125-130

TABLE 13 AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non·-commissioned officers and privates from Groton ~iho served on active duty with the militia in 1776

1 4 5 66 77 9

2 000 111 22 333 4 5 66 8 9

3 00 2 33 4 5 7

4 00 1 2 9

N=37 median = 24 years average = 26.59 years midspan = 25 .. 21 years

SOURCE: Gr2!on_Duri!2.9....l!J.e Revolution; and Vital E~cords of Groton

TABLE J'f AGES

NEW JERSEY

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Grenadier Company, North MILITIA Battalion, Newark, circa March 1776

1 3 4 8

2 00 111 22 6 7 99

3 00 2222 3 444 6 8

4 1 6 0

N=28 median = 29.5 years average = 28.61 years midspan = 28.36 years

Note: Ages for only 28 of 56 men in the company

SOURCE: Genealogical Magazine of New Jersey, 2nd Series, Volume 1, pp. 33-40

TABLE J5' PRIOR SERVICE

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates from Temple in 1775

Service:

Lexington Alarm

Eight Months' Army

Number: 56

13 (23%)

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls, p. 35

TABLE Jh Jl.GES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates from Groton who served in the eight months' army, to December 1775

1 3

2

3

4

5

N;77

4 555 7777777 n;? 88888 n;5 9999 0000000 n;? 1111 22222 n;5 3 44444 n;5 55 666666 n;6 77 9

00 1 2222 33 6 7 8 99 0 11 2 5 6 7 8

1

median average midspan

; 23 years ; 25.84 years ; 23.59 years

SOURCE: Groton During the Revolution; and Vital Records of Groton

TABLE Ff AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Col. Ebenezer Bridge's Regiment, 15 June 1775

1 4 66 777 888888 n=6 99999 n=5

2 0000 11111 n=5 222 333333 n=6 5555555 n=7 666 77 8

3 000 3 6 77

4 22

N=57 median = 22 years average = 23.53 years

midspan = 22.31 years

SOURCE: History of Chelmsford, pp. 255·-256

TABLE J8 AGES

MASSACHUSETIS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, two companies of Col. Moses Little's Regiment, mid-May 1775

1 6 7 8888888888 n=lO 999999999999 n=l2

2 00000000000000000000 n=20 111111111 n=9 22222222222222 n=l4 33333 n=5 444444444 n=9 555555 n=G 6666666 n=7 7777 888 999

3 000 1 22 4 5 6

N=ll3 median = 22 years average = 22.73 years midspan = 21.89 years

SOURCE: John J. Currier, History of Newburypor:~ .• pp. 546-548, from Massachusetts Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, Volume 55, pp. 85, 87

TABLE 11 AGES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, ten companies of Continentals in 1775

1 555 66 77777777777 n=ll 8888888888888888888888888888888888888 n=37 999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 n=48

2 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO n=56 lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll n=63 222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 n=54 3333333333333333333333333333333333333 n=37 44444444444444444444444444444444444 n=35 5555555555555555555555 n=22 66666666666666666666666666666666 n=32 77777777777777777777777 n=23 8888888888888888 n=l6 999999999999999 n=15

3 0000000000000000000000000 n=25 111111 n=6

4

22222222 n=8 33333333333 n=ll 44444444444444 n=l4 55555555 n=8 6666666666 n=lO 77777 n=5 88888888 n=8 9999

000000 n=6 1 22 33 44444 n=5 5555 66 77 8 9

5 00000000 n=S 1

N=588 median = 23 years

average = 25.42 years midspan = 23.51 years

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls, I/76-77, 107-117, 159-160, 169, 174-175, 210-213

TABLE ZO AGES

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 3rd Regiment, 1775

1 66 7 888888888888 n=12 99999999999999999 n=17

2 00000000000000000000000000 n=26 11111111111111111111111111111111111 n=35 222222222222222222222222222222222 n=33 333333333333333333333333333333333333 n=36 44444444444444444444 n=20 55555555555555 n=14 66666666666666 n=15 777777777777 n=12 888888888 n=9 999999999 n=9

3 00000000 n=S 1111 22222 n=5 333 44444 n=5 555 7 8 999999 n=6

4 0 3 44 55 6 88 9

~=286 median = 23 years average = 24 .. 78 years midspan = 23.27 years

SOURCE: Mew York in the Revolution, I/166-173

TABLE 2 J AGES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, Continental soldiersin 1776, mostly atsent and sick in two regiments

1 6 8888 99999 n=5

2 000000000000 n=12 11111111111 n=ll 222222222222 n=12 33333333333 n=ll 4444444444 n=lO 555555 n=6 666666 n=6 777777777 n=9 888888888888888 n=l5 99

3 0000000000000 n=l3 1111 2 3 555 6 7 88 9

4 00000 n=S 1 5 6 7

6 0

N=l41 median = 25 years average = 26.59 years midspan = 25.35 years

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls, pp. 282, 291, 307-310

TABLE 22 AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 6th Battalion, list dated 20 March 1776

1 7 88888888 n=8 99999 n=5

2 00000000000 n=ll 111111111111 n=12 2222222 n=7 333333333 n=9 44444 n=5 55555555 n=8 6666 7 88 9

3 0 2 5 6

4 0

N=79 median = 22 years average = 22.76 years midspan = 22.02 years

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Ar£hive?._, 5th Series, Volume II, pp. 221-226

TABLE 23 AGES

CONNECTICUT

Mon-commissioned officers and privates, part of one company of 19th Continental Regiment in 1776

1 77 8

2 11 22 5 6 9

5 6

N=ll median = 22 years average = 24.91 years midspan = 22.14 years

SOURCE: Connecticut Historical Society, follection~, VIII/31

TABLE 24'1 AGES

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company o~ Col. Samuel Patterson's Battalion of the Flying Camp, August 1776

1 6 77 888 999999999 n=9

2 000000 n=6 111 222222 n=6 33 444444 n=6 5555 666666 n=6 77 888

3 000 1 7 9

4 0 5

N=61 median = 23 years average = 23.51 years midspan = 22.87 years

SOURCE: .Delaware Archives, Volume I, pp. 67-68

TABLE 25'° AGES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, parts of thirteen companies of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Regiments, 1777

1 55 6666666666666666666666666666666666 n=34 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 n=64 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 n=61 99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 n=62

2 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 n=42 llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll n=58 2222222222222222222222222222222222 n=34 33333333333333333333333333 n=26 444444444444444444 n=l8 5555555555555555555555555 n=25 66666666666666666 n=l 7 7777777777777777 n=16 8888888888888 n=l3 9999999999999 n=l3

3 00000000000000000000000 n=23 1111111 n=7 222222222 n=9 333333333333 n=l2 444444 n=6 55555 n=5 6666666666 n=l O 777777 n=6 8888 999999999 n=9

4 000000000 n=9 11111 n=5 22 33 44 5555 66 777 88888888 n=B

5 00 1 2 66

N=619 median = 21 years

average = 24.24 years

midspan = 21.89 years

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls, pp. 560, 562, 592, 595, 608, 610, 614, 617' 620, 623, 634' 636' 644

TABLE 2/J, AGES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-comm! ssioned officers and privates, absent from 1st and 2nd Regiments, January 1778

1 66666 n=5 7777777777777777777777777 n=25 888888888888888888888888888 n=27 999999999999999 n=l5

2 0000000000000000000000000 n=25 11111111111111111 n=l7 2222222222222222222222222 n=25 333333333333333333333333 n=24 44444444444 n=ll 555555555555555555555555555555555555 n=36 666666666666 n=l2 7777777777777 n=l3 888888888888 n=12 99

3 00000000000000000000000 n=23 11 222222 n=6 333 4 555555555 n=9 6666 777777 n=6 8 9

4 00000000 n=B 1 22 3 555 6 8 99

5 000 2

N=328 median = 24 years

average = 25 .. 25 years midspan = 23.69 years

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 15, Muster Rolls, 11/434-445

TABLE 2=1-AGES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment at VF, list dated May 1778

1 666666 n=6 777 88888 n=5 999

2 0000 1111 2222 333 4 6 7 8 9

3 0 6 9

4 8

N=41 median = 20 years

average = 22.00 years midspan = 20.33 years

TABLE 28-1 AGES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 3rd Regiment at VF

1. Veterans who remained within New Hampshire

1 5555555 n=7 6666 777777777 !i=9 8888888888 n=lO 9999

2 00000000 n=8 111 222 33333 n=5 444 5555 666 7 8888 9

3 1 2 3 6 8

N=74 median = 20 years average = 21.22 years midspan = 20.16 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE

AGES

28--Z

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 3rd Regiment at VF

2. Veterans who emigrated to other states

1 666 77 8

2 co 1 22 8

3 4

5 1

N=14 median = 20 years average = 22 .. 71 years midspan = 19. 63 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE 28-3 AGES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-·commi ssi oned officers and privates, 3rd Regiment at VF

3. Combined to ta 1

N=B8 med1 an = 20 years

average = 21.45 years

midspan = 20.07 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE 2'f- i AGES

CONNECTICUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 8th Regiments at VF

1. Veterans who remained within Connecticut

1 2 3 44444444 n=8 55555555 n=8 6666666666666666666666666666666 n=31 777777777777777777777777777777 n=30 888888888888888888888 n=21 99999999999999999999999999999 n=29

2 00000000000000000000000000000000 n=32 111111111111111111111111111111 n=30 2222222222222222222222222222222222 n=34 3333333333333333333333 n=22 4444444444444444444444444 n=25 5555555555 n=lO 666666666666666666 n=l8 77777777777777777 n=l7 888888 n=6 999999999 n=9

3 0000000000 n=lO 11111111 n=8 22222222222 n=ll 3333 4 55555 n=5 666 7777 8888 9

N=383 median = 22 years

average = 22.40 years midspan = 21.61 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE Z'f ~2 AGES

CONNECTICUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 8th Regiments at VF

2.. Veterans who emigrated to other states

1 2 333 4444444444 n=lO 55555555555555555555555 n=23 66666666666666666666666 n=23 777777777777777777777777777777777777777 n=39 88888888888888888888888888 n=26 99999999999999999999 n=20

2 00000000000000 n=14 111111111111111111111111 n=24 222222222222222222 n=18 3333333333333 n=l3 4444444444 n=lO 5555 666666666 n=9 77777777 n=8 8 9999

3 0 11 22 33 5555 66 7777 8

4 000 1

N=272 median = 19 years average = 20.62 years

midspan = 19.24 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE 2'f • ~ AGES

CONNECTICUT

Non·-commi ss i oned officers and privates, 1st through 8th Regiments at VF

3. Combined total

N=655 median = 21 years average = 21.67 years midspan = 20.63 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE 30 AGES

CONNECTICUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Sherburn's Additional Continental Regiment in 1777

1 66666666 n=8 777777777777777 n=15 88888888888 n=ll 999999999 n=9

2 000000 n=6 11111111 n=S 2222 33 44 5 66 8888 9

3 0 5 66

4 3 4 99

N=81 median = 19 years average = 21. 75 years midspan = 19.41 years

Note: Three soldiers are described as "Indians."

SOURCE: DAR Magazine, Volume 94, pp. 26-27

TABLE 3 J AGES

CONNECTICUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment, circa May 1782

Men who joined before VF

Note:

1 6

2 0 1111 2222 333 44 5555 777

3 111 44 9

4 0 4 6

N=31 median = 25 years average = 26.97 years midspan = 25 06 years

The ages seem to be circa May 1782. have been roughly five years younger Forge encampment period.

The soldiers would therefore at the start of the Va 11 ey

SOURCE: ConnecticutHistorical Society, Collections, Volume VIII, pp. 102-104

TABLE 32-1 AGES

RHODE ISLAND

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st and 2nd Regiments at VF

1. Veterans who remained within Rhode Island

1 444 555 66 77777 n=5 8 99

2 00000 n=5 11 2222 33 44 555 66 88 9

3 00 2 3 7

4 00

N=46 median = 21.5 years average = 22.61 years midspan = 21.46 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE ~2-2 AGES

RHODE ISLAND

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st and 2nd Regiments at VF

2. Veterans who emigrated to other states

1 33 44 5555 6666666 n=7 7777777 n=7 88888 n=S 99999999 n=9

2 000000 n=6 1111111 n=7 2222 3333 4444 5 66 77 8

3 00 11 2 4 9

N=73 median = 20 years average = 20.77 years midspan = 19.84 years

SOURCE: Pension Ro11 of 1835

73 of 119 = 61%

TABLE

AGES

32-3

RHODE ISLAND

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st and 2nd Regiments at VF

3. Combined tota.l

N=l19 median = 20 years average= 21.48 years midspan = 20.47 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE 3.3 AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Continental Army recruits from Plymouth County, 1777-1778

1 4 6666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 n=55 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 n=d7 8888888888888888888888888888888888 n=34 9999999999999999999999999999999999999 n=37

2 0000000000000000000000000000000000 n=34 11111111111111111111111111111 n=29 22222222222222222222222222222 n=29 333333333333333333333333 n=24 444444444444444444444 n=21 555555555555555 n=l5 666666 n=6 777777777777 n=l2 8888888888888888 n=16 999999 n=6

3 00000000 n=8 111111111 n=9 222222222 n=9 333333333 n=9 44444 n=5 5555 6666666666 n=lO 77777 n=5 8888 999

4 000000 n=6 11 22222 n=5 33 444 555555 n=6 6666 777 88888 n=5 999

5 00 1

N=474 median = 21.5 years

average = 24.43 years

midspan = 21.93 years

SOURCE: Massachusetts ftrchives, Revolutionary Rolls, Volume 27, pp. !40-163.

TABLE 31 AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates from Groton who served in the Continental Army for three years from 1777

1 5 6 7 88 99

2 111 2222 33 4 8

3 7 9

4 3 8

N=22 median = 22 years average = 24.45 years midspan = 21.58 years

SOURCE: Groton During the Revolution; and Vital Records of Groton

TABLE

AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and men who re-enlisted for the war in 3rd Regiment, roll dated 25 January 1781

Men who joined before VF

1 5 66 777 8 99

2 0000000 n=7 111111111111 n=l2 22222222222 n=ll 333333 n=6

3

4

5

6

7

444444 n=6 555555555 n=9 6666 77777 n=5 8888888 n=7 999

00 1111 22222 n=5 3 555 5 999 00 33 55 7 8

0 0 ~

0

6

N=llO median = 25 years average = 27.65 years midspan = 25.25 years

Mote: The ages seem to be as o" ianuary 1781. The soldiers would therefore have been roughly three years younger at the start of the Valley F'orge encampment period ..

SOURCE: Massachusetts Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, Volume 10.

TABLE ,3$ AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates who deserted from 3rd Regiment, list dated 18 August 1782

Men who joined before VF

1 7 88

2 00000 n=5 1111 222222 n=6 333333 n=6 44444 n=5 555555555555555 n=l5 6666666666 n=l 0 77777777 n=8 888888888888888 n=l5 9999999 n=7

3 00000000000 n=ll 1 22222 n=5 3333 44444 n=5 5555 66 88 9

4 000 2 5 8

5 0

N=126 median = 28 years average = 28.22 years midspan = 27.41 years

Note: The ages seem to be as of 18 August 1782. The soldiers would therefore have been roughly five years younger at the start of the Valley Forge encampment period.

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 36, Frames 19-21

TABLE .35 A AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Recruits for nine months' service in the Continental Army, June 1778

1 66666666666666666666666666666666666666666665666666666666666666666 66666666 n=73

77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 7777777777777777777777777777777777777 n=l02

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 n=115

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 99999999999999999999999999999999999999 n=l03

2 00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 000000000000000000000000000 n=92

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 111111111111111111111111111111111111 n=lOl

22222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 2222222222222222222 n=84

33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 33333333333333 n=79

444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 n=57 5555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 n=43 6666666666666666666666666666666666666666 n=40 777777777777777777777777777 n=27 8888888888888888888888888888888 n=31 9999999999999999999999 n=22

3 000000000000000000000000 n=24 11111111111111111111111 n=23 22222222222222222222 n=20 333333333333333 n=15 444444444444444 n=15 55555555555555 n=l4 666666666666666666666 n=21 77777777 n=8 8888888888888 n=l3 99999999 n=8

4 0000000000000000000000000000 n=28 111111111 n=9 22222222 n=8 33333 n=5 44444444444 n=ll 555555555555 n=12 6666 777 88888 n=5 99999 n=5

TABLE

AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

CONTINUED

Recruits for nine months' service in the Continental Army, June 1778

5 00000000 n=8 11 2 33 44 555 6 77 88

6 0

N=1244 median = 22 years

average= 24.77 years midspan = 22.18 years

SOURCE: Massachusetts Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, "olume 28, pp .. 133-163, l 65-166i,

TABLE ,,~

AGES

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, nine companies of 2nd Regiment, who served at VF

1 22 3 444 55555555555 n=ll 66666666666666 n=14 777777777777777777777 n=21 888888888888888888 n=18 9999999999 n=lO

2 00000000000000 n=14 111111111111 n=12 22222222222222 n=l4 333333333333 n=12 4444444 n=7 55555 n=5 66666 n=5 7i7 8888888 n=7

3 000 1 22 33 555 6 7 888 9

4 1 2 333 4 66 9

5 2

6 2

N=188 median = 20 years

average = 22.60 years midspan = 20.47 years

SOURCE: Calendar of Hist£rical Manuscripts, pp. 343-347

NOTE: Extrapolated from ages on list dated 23 June 1779

TABLF 3"T AGES

NEW YORK

Non·commissicned officers and privates, nine companies of 2nd Regiment, who served at VF, by term of enlistment

THREE YEARS

1 22 1 44 3 5 4 66 5555555 7777777777'7 66666666 888888888888 777777777 999999 88888 2 000 99 111111

NINE MONTHS*

1 555 6666 7 8 99

2 co 2 33

2 7 00000000 2222222 1111111 333333 222222 444 3333 555 4444 66 55 7 666 888 7 3 0 8888 1

3 00 3 22 6 3 4 1 555 333 7 8 5 2 9 6 2

4 2 4 66

N=89 N=78

21 years 22.62 years 20.73 years

TOTAL

N=l88*'*

21 years 23.00 years 20 .. 65 years

median = 20 years

average = 22.60 years midspan = 20.47 years

Notes: *joined in late spring 1778 **includes two for whom term not stated

3 88

N=l9

19 years = median 20.68 years = a\er!ge

18.73 years = midspan

TABLE 38 AGES

NEW YORK

Non···Commi ssi oned officers and privates, one company of 1st Regiment, November 1777, veterans who re·-enlisted

1 7 8 99

2 0 111 22 33 444 55 999

3 1 2 6 8 9

4 0 2

N=27 median = 24 years

average = 26.41 years

midspan = 24.73 years

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Collections, 19!?_, II/390-397

TABLE 3'1-1 AGES

NEH JERSEY

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 4th Regiments at VF

1. Veterans who remained within r!ew Jersey

1 2 4 55 6666 777777777 n=9 88888888 n=8 999999 n=6

2 000000 n=6 111111111111 n=l2 22222222 n=8 333333333 n=9 4444444444 n= 1 O 5555555 n=7 661i666 n=6 7777777777 n=lO 888 99

3 0000000 n=7 1111 33333 n=5 4444 55 66 7 8

N=l30 median = 23 years average = 24 .. 04 years midspan = 23.53 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE .3~- 2.. AGES

NEW JERSEY

Non···commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 4th Regiments at VF

2. Veterans who emigrated to other states

1 3 444 5555 666666666 n=9 77777 n=5 88888888 n =8 99999999999999 n=14

2 00000000 n=8 1111111 n=7 222222222222 n=12 333333 n=6 4444444444444444 n=l 5 5555555 n=7 66666666 n=8 7i77777 n=7 8888 999

3 0 1111 22 33 4 66 7 88

4 1 33 5

N=141 median = 22 years average = 23.35 years

midspan = 22.46 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE

AGES

NEW JERSEY

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 4th Regiments at vc·

3 .. Combined to ta 1

N=271 median = 22.5 years

average = 23.68 ,years

midspan= 22.98 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE 40-i. AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-·commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 13th Regiments at VF

1. Veterans who remained within Pennsylvania

1 3333 44 5 66 777777777777777 n=15 88888888 n=8 99999999 n=S

2 0000000000000000 n=l6 1111111111111111 n=16 222222222222222 n=l5 33333333333333 n=14 4444444444444444444444 n=22 555555555555 n=l2 66666666666666 n=l4 777777777777777777 n=lS 888888888 n=9 9q9999 n=6

3 000000 n=6 1111111 n=7 22222222 n=S 333333 n=6 44444 n=5 55 666 7 88 99999 n=5

4 0000 1111 2 4 55 6666

N=243 median = 24 years

average = 25.85 years midspan = 24.68 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE ~-2 AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 13th Regiments at VF

2. Veterans who emigrated to other states SAMPLE

1 22 44 55 6 7777777 n=? 8888888 n=7 9999999 n=?

2 000000 n=6 111 222222222 n=9 3333 4 555 66 777 888 9

3 0 1 2222 444 5 77

4 1 7

N=77 median = 22 years average = 23.14 years midspan = 21.72 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE 40-3 AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 13th Regiments at VF

3. Combined total

N=320 median = 24 years average = 25.20 years midspan = 23.96 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE 41 l AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Pennsylvania Line, 1777-1781

1 0000 111 22222222 n=8 3333333 n=7 444444444444 n=l2 555555555555 n=l2 666666666666666666666666666 n=27 7777777777777777777777777777777777777777 n=40 8888888888888888888888888888888 n=31 999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 n=54

2 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOO n=56 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 n=68 2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 n=58 33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 n=50 4444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 n=61 55555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 n=47 6666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 n=46 777777777777777777777777777777777777777 n=39 88888888888888888888888888888 n=29 99999999999999999999999999999 n=29

3 0000000000000000000000000000000000 n=34 111111111111111111111 n=21 22222222222222222222222 n=23 33333333333333333333333 n=23 4444444444444444444 n=l9 5555555555555 n=l3 6666666666 n=lO 7777777 n=7 8888888 n=7 99999999999 n=ll

4 00000000000000000 n=l7 1111 222222 n=6 33333 n=5 444 55555 n=5 6666 777777 n=6 8 99999 n=5

5 00 2 3333 5 66 7 8

TABLE "'I AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

CONTINUED

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Pennsylvania Line, 1777-1781

6 1 2 3 6

7 3

N=922 median = 24 years

average = 25.81 years

midspan = 24.25 years

SOURCE: John B.B .. Trussell, Jr., The Pennsylvania Line, pp. 246-247

TABLE ~2. AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, substitutes who served for two months in Col. John Boyd's Regiment of Lancaster County MILITIA, September 1777

1 77'7 888888 n=6 9999

2 000000 n=6 11111111111 n=ll 222222 n=6 3333 444444 n=6 555555 n=6 6 777 8

3 00 2 3 6 7

4 00 4 5 7

5 4 6

N=70 median = 22 years

average = 25.19 years

midspan = 22.64 years

SOURCE: .Pennsylvania Archive?..• 5th Series, Volume 7, pp. 658·-682

TABLE "43 AGES

DELAWARE

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, two companies of Col. Dav'id Hall's Continental Regiment, recruited from November 1776 to ,June 1778

1 5 66 7777 88888888 n=8 99999 n=5

2 000000000000000000 n=l8 111111 n=6 222222222 n=9 3333 4444 5555555 n=7 6665 777 888 99

3 00 11 22 3 555 6 77 9

4 0 77 9

N=98 median = 22 years average = 24 .. 33 years midspan = 22.50 years

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume I, pp .. 244-245, and Volume III, pp. 1074-1077

TABLE '14t AGES

MARYLAND

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st and 2nd Regiment at VF (SAMPLE)

1 4 56 777 88888 n=5 9999

2 111111 n=6 222 3333 4 555555 n=6 666 777 8 99

3 00 1

N=47 median = 22 years average = 22.49 years midspan = 22.40 years

SOURCE: Harry W. Newman, Mary1and Revo1utionary Records

NOTE: The va1ue of Newman's work is diminished insofar as he exc1uced b1ack so1diers and "severa1 native Eurppeans who had contracted marriages with women not of their race."

TABLE ~s--1 AGES

VIRGINIA

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 15th Regiments at VF

1. Veterans who remained within Virginia

1 3 4444 5 6 777777777 n=9 8888888888888888 n=16 999999999999999 n=l5

2 00000000000000 n=l4 11111111111111111111 n=20 222222222222222222222222 n=24 333333333333333333 n=l8 444444444444 n = 12 55555555 n=8 66666666 n=8 7777777777 n=lO 88888888 n=8 99999 n=5

3 00 1111 2222222 n=7 333 44444 n=S 5555 66 8 99

4 3 44 8

N=208 median = 22.5 years

average = 23.98 years

midspan = 22.82 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE "f5'~ 2 AGES

VIRGINIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 15th Regiment at VF

2. Veterans who emigrated to other states

1 4444444 n=7 55555 n=5 66666666666 n=ll 7777777777777777777777777 n=25 8888888888888 n=13 999999999999999999999999 n=24

2 00000000000000000000000000 n=26 111111111111111111111111 n=24 22222222222222222222222222 n=26 333333333333333333333333 n=24 44444444444444444444 n=20 5555555555555 n=13 66656666 n=8 7777777777777777777777 n=22 888888888888 n = 12 99999 n=5

3 000000 n=6 1111 22222 n=S 3 4444 55 66 77 888 999

4 1 2 3 555

6 5

N=304 median = 22 years

average = 23.37 years midspan = 22.30 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

304 of 512 = 59%

TABLE

AGES

VIRGINIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st through 15th Regiments at VF

3. Combined total

N=512 median = 22 years average = 23.62 years midspan = 22.52 years

SOURCE: Pension Roll of 1835

TABLE ""' AGES

NEl-1 HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Continental recruits, list dated 28 October 1779

1 66 777 88 999

2 2222 6 777 88 9

3 0 4

N=23 median = 22 years average = 22 .. 61 years midspan = 22 .. 15 years

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 15, Muster Rolls, II/623

TABLE 41-AGES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, absent from 2nd Regiment, June 1779

1 7 8 9

2 000 1 222 3333 44 555 666 88 9

3 00000 n=5 2 3 5 8

5 0 2

N=36 median = 25 years average = 26.92 years midspan = 25.56 years

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 15, Muster Roll~· II/626-627

TABLE 48 AGES

CONNECT! CUT

Non···Commi ss i oned officers and privates, one company of 4th Regiment, circa 1780

1 6666666 n=7 7777777 n=7 88888888 n=8 999999999 n=9

2 000000 n=6 111 22 33 44 5 666 77 8

3 0

4 c 1

5 1

N=57 median = 19 years

average = 21.30 years

midspan = 19.48 years

SOURCE: New.England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 22, pp. 281-282

TABLE '1'f AGES

CONNECTICUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment, circa May 1782

Men who_joined_after VF

1 6666 777777'777 n=9 888 99

2 00 111 2222 444

3 000 2 66 9

4 1 2

N=39 median = 20 years average = 22. 77 years midspan = 20.14 years

SOURCE: Connecticut Historical Society, Collections, Volume VIII, pp. 102-104

TABLE

AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Continental Army recruits from Middlesex County, after 2 December 1780

1 222 3 44 555 666666666666666656666665666666666666666666666666666666666666666666 n=66 77777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 n=56 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 n=50 999999999999999999999999999 n=27

2 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO n=29 11111111111111111111111111 n=26 22222222222222222222222222222222222 n=35 33333333333333333 n=l7 444444444444444444444444 n=24 555555555555555555555 n=21 66666656666666666 n=17 777777777777 n=l2 8888888888888888888 n=l9 99999 n=5

3 00000000 n=S 111 22222222222 n=ll 33 444 555555555555 n=l2 6656 777 88888 n=5 9

4 000000000 n=9 111 22222222 n=8 33 4444 555555 n=6 6666 777 88 9

5 00000 n=5 4 5

N= 514 median = 21 years

average = 23.93 years

midspan = 21.46 years

SOURCE: Massachusetts Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, Volume 29, pp, 1-19 ..

TABLE so AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non·-commissioned off1cers and privates from Groton who served in the Continental Army for 9 months in 1778, 9 months in 1779, and 6 months in 1780 combined, age at time of service

1 5 66 77777 n=5 88888888 n<: 9

2 000000000 n=9 111111 n=6 22 4 55 6

3 0 3 4 5 66

4 3

N=45 median = 20 years average = 22.04 years midspan = 19 .. 96 years

SOURCE: Groton During the Revolution; and Vital Records of Groton

TABLE 51 AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates from Groton who enlisted in the Continental Army for three years in 1781 and 1782, age at time of enlistment

1 6666 7777 88 9

? DO ~

1111 2 4 7

3 22 5

4 4

N=24 median = 20 years average = 21 .. 96 years midspan = 19.58 years

SOURCE: Groton During the Revolution; and Vital Records of Groton

TABLE 51A AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Boston residents who enlisted for six months' service in the Continental Army, June 1780

1 6 777777 n=6 88888 n=5

2 000000 n=6 111111 n=6 222222222 n=9 33333333 n=B 444444 n=6 555555555 n=9 66613661; n=7 77 8888 99999 n=5

3 OOOCOOOOOOO n=ll 11111 n=5

4

5

6

33 4444 555555 n=6 666666666 n=9 77 8 9

000000 n=6 1 2 44 55555 n=5 6 88 9

1 2 4 55 7 n ()

0 5

N=l43 median = 29 years average = 30.80 years

midspan = 28.93 years

SOURCE: Massachusetts Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, Volume 25, p .. 196

TABLE 51B AGES

MASSACHIJSETTS

Boston residents who served for three months in the militia, 22 July 1780

1 5 6 777777 n=6 888888 n=6 99999 n=5

2 0000000000 n=lO 1111 2222222 n=7 333 444444 n=6 555 666666 n=6 77777 n=5 88888 n=5 99

3 000000000 n=9 11 222222 n=6 33333 n=5 44 5555 666 77 8 9

4 000000 n=6 444 55 77

5 2

6 00

N=l21 median = 27 years average = 28.39 years

midspan = 27.05 years

SOURCE: Massachusetts Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, Volume 25, pp .. 195-206.

TABLE '52.. AGES

MASSA CH US ETTS

Continental Army soldiers who received bounty money from the Suffolk ~aunty Muster Master, 26 April to 25 September 1780

1 6666 777777 n=6 88888 n=5 99999999 n=8

2 000000 n=6 1111111 n=7 22222222 n=8 33333333 n=8 444 55555555 n=B 6 777 88888R8 n=7 999

3 0000 222 3333333 n=7 4 55 6 8 9

4 0 1 5 6 9

5 3 5

tl=l 04 median = 23.5 years average= 25.87 years midspan= 24.21 years

SOURCE: Massachusetts Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, Volume 40, pp. 239, 24?, 243; Volume 41, pp. 10, 16, 41..

TABLE 53 AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, eight companies of 1st Regiment, January and February 1781

1 5 777 888888888 n=9 999999999 n=9

2 000000000000000000 n=18 1111111111111111 n=16 2222222222222222 n=16 33333333333333 n=14 4444~4~A44 n=lO 55555555555 n=ll 6666 77777 n=5 88888 n=5 99

3 000000000000 n=12 1 222 3 44 55555 n=5 5666 77 8

4 00 11 2 3 6 7 8

5 00 1 6 7

M=162 median = 23 years

average = 26.14 years midspan = 23.93 years

SOURCE: Massachusetts Archives, Revolutionary Rolls, Volume 63, pp. 79-86.

TABLE ~~ ~ AGES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates who re-enlisted for the war in 3rd Regiment, roll dated 25 January 1781

Men who joined after V"

1 5 66 7777 8888888 n=7 9999

2 0000 111111111111 n=l2 2222 333 44444 n=5 6666 7 888 999

3 0000 22 333 4 5 666 9

4 00000 n=5 5 9

5 4

N=SO median = 23 years average = 25.94 years midspan = 24.03 years

SOURCE: r1assachusetts Archives, Reva 1 uti onary Ro 11 s, Vo 1 ume 10

TABLE 5'4 AGES

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 2nd Regiment, June 1779

1 44 55 66666666666 n=ll 7777777777777777 n=l6 8888888888888 n=13 999999999999999999999 n=21

2 000000000000000000000000000 n=27 111111111 n=9 22222222222222222 n=17 3333333333333333 n=l6 44444444444444444444 n=20 5555555555555 n=l3 66666666 n=S 777777777 n=9 88888888 n=8 999

3 00000000 n=8 222 3 444 55 6 77 88 999

4 000 1 3 4 555 66 88

5 000 1 3 4 6

6 4

N=241 median = 23 years average = 24.98 years

midspan = 22.65 years

SOURCE: Calendar of Historical Manuscripts, II/343-347

TABLE 55' AGES

NEW YORK

Non-·commissioned officers and privates, eight companies of 2nd Regiment, list dated 23 June 1779

Comparison of ages at VF derived from Pension Record of 1835 with ages at VF derived from_g~scriptive muster rolls in June-1779

Pension different 1 0

3 77 8 99

2 0 1 222 333 44 5 666 7

3 2 4

N=24

median = 22.5 years average = 22.21 years midspan = 22.33 years

TOTAL

N=72 median average midspan

= = =

Pens ion same l 66

77 888 99

2 000 11111 22 3 4 6 7

3 8

N=24

20.5 years 21.04 years 20.25 years

22 years 22.24 years 21.75 years

Pension only 1 6

7 88 9

2 000 1 22 3 44 5555 77

3 00

N=24

2 3

23.5 years 23.42 years 23.00 years

TABLE ~' AGES

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, nine companies of 2nd Regiment, list dated 23 June 1779

Men who joined after VF.

1 666666 n=6 777777 n=6 8 9

2 0000000 n=7 1 22 333 444 5555 66 777 888 9

3 0 5 88

4 0 6

5 000 3 6

N=53 median = 24 years

average = 26 .. 36 years midspan = 23. 52 years

SOURCE: Calendar of Historical 11a!1uscripts_, pp. 343-347

TABLE 5T AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, recruits for 2nd Regiment, May to June 1778

1 8

2 00 1 33 5 6

3 0 11 3 8

4 0 1 2

N=l6 median = 28 years

average = 28.87 years

midspan = 27.75 years

SOURCE: .Pennsylvania Ar£hives, 5th Seri es, Volume II, pp. 798- 799

TABLE 58 AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, nine companies of New 11th Regiment, circa July 1779

1 444 5 6666 77777777777 n=ll 88888888 n =8 999999 n=6

2 0000000000000000000 n=19 11111111111111111 n=17 2222222222222 n=l3 33333333 n=8 444444444444444444 n=l8 5555555555555555 n=l 6 6666666 n=7 77777 n=5 88888 n=5 99999 n=5

3 00000000000 n=ll 1111 22222 n=5 333 4444444 n=7 555 666 7 88 9

4 0000000 n=7 1 22222 n=5 4 5555 66 88 99

5 00 2 333 4 5 6

6 0

N=220

median = 25 years

average = 27.73 years

midspan = 25.27 years

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume III, pp. 644-662

TABLE 5tf AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-·commissioned officers and privates, one company of 9th Regiment, list dated 7 August 1779

1 5 9

2 000000 n=6 1 333 4 777 8 999

3 4 5 6 99

4 00 5

N=28 median = 27 years

average = 27.57 years

midspan = 26.00 years

SOURCE: _!'.ennsylvani~ l\rch.iY.~· 5th Series, Volume III, pp. 435-436

TABLE

AGES

~o

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 2nd Regiment in 1780

1 0 6 7 88 9

2 000 1 222 33 4 555 666 7 88

3 0 1 2 8

4 00 33

5 3 7 8

6 1 3 6

7 3

M=40 median = 26 years average = 31. 98 years

midspan = 27 .15 years

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume II, pp. 843-844

TABLE "' AGES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates who deserted from 4th Regiment, list dated 6 June 1781

1 6

2 0 22 5555 7 8 99

3 00000 n=5 1

4 0 9

N=20 median = 28.5 years average = 28.15 years midspan = 27.80 years

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume II, pp. 1070-1071

TABLE 'z AGES

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company, plus recruits, of Col. David Hall's Continental Regiment, circa May 1779

1 4 88 999

2 00 111 2222 3333 444 5 66 7 88

3 00 22 5

4 5

N=34 median = 23 years average = 24.29 years midspan = 23.28 years

SOURCE: Delawar~ Archives .• Volume I, pp. 352, 562

TABLE '13 AGES

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, substitutes in a MILITIA regiment that served with the Continental Army, July 1780

l 8888 2 0000

111 2 33 44 555 6 7 888

3 000 4

4 4

N=29 median = 24 years average = 24.52 years midspan = 23.67 years

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume II, pp. 658-665

TABLE

AGES

DEL.AWARE

Non·-commissioned officers and privates in the Southern Army, May 1782

1 2 8888 999

2 00 11 22222222 n=8 333 44 555555 n=6 66 777 88

3 0 3 55 6 8

4 000000 n=6

N=SO median = 24.5 years average = 26.04 years midspan = 24.31 years

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume I, pp. 129-130, 577

TABLE

AGES

VIRGINIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, four companies of 6th and 10th Regiments in 1780

1 44 5555 66666666 n=8 7777777777777 n=l3 8888888888888888888888888 n=25 999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999 n=45

2 0000000000000000000 n=l 9 11111111111 n=ll 2222222222222222 n=l6 3333333333 n=lO 444444444444 n=l2 5555555555555555 n=lG 66666 n=5 7777777 n=? 888888 n=6 999

3 00000000 n=8 1 22222 n=5 333 4 55 666 7

4 222 4 55 6 8 9

5 0 2 6

N=238 median = 21 years

average = 23.26 years

midspan = 21. 27 years

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Collections, 121~· 11/594-619

TABLE '~ AGES

VIRGINIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, recruits in 1780

N= 917 median = 21 years average = 23.7 years mode = 18 years

SOURCE: Joseph Goldenberg, Eddie Nelson, & Rita Fletcher, "Revolutionary Ranks: An Analysis of the Chesterfield Supplement," The Virginia t'agazine of History and Biography, Volume 87, Number 2, April 1979, pp. 182-189, esp. 183

TABLE

AGES and LENGTH OF SERVICE

BRITAIN

Non-commissioned officers and privates, six regiments of infantry and cavalry

_Begiment:

8th !='oot, 1782

29th Foot, 1782

31st Foot, 1782

44th Foot, 1782

King's Dragoon Guards 1775

1779

1st Dragoons 1775 1779

Average Age:

36.9 years

2'7 '6 years

29 .. 4 years

26 .. 8 years

28.6 years 26.6 years

28.5 years

27.4 years

Aver~ge Length of Service:

14.7 years

9.7 years

8 ,, 9 years

8.2 years

8.9 years 5.7 years

8 .. 5 years 5.9 years

Age_E_ Enlistment:

22.2 years

17.9 years

20.5 years

18 .. 6 years

19.7 years 19 .. 9 years

20.0 years 21.5 years

SOURCE: Sylvia R. Frey, The British Soldier in America: A Social Kistory of Military Life in the Revolutionary PeriQ~. pp. 23-25

TABLE C,8 AGES

PRUSSIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one regiment in 1783, age at recruitment

Native born

Foreigners

Number

1025

903

Median

20.9 years

24. 3 years

Average

20.9 years

25.3 years

SOURCE: Willerd R. Fann, "On the Infantryman's Age in Eighteenth Century Prussia,'' Milita!:,l Affairs, Volume 41, Number 4, pp. 165-169

TABLE ,,

LENGTH OF SERVICE

PRUSSIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one regiment in 1783

Number Median Pverage

Privates

Native born 897 11.4 years 11. 3 years

Foreigners 837 7.0 years 8 .. 9 years

Grenadiers 334 17.1 years 15.7 years

t·'.us keteers 1400 7.3 years 8.8 years

All 1734 9 c ,, years 10.2 years

Non-·commi ss i oned 107 Officers 22.0 years 22.7 years

SOURCE: Wil 1 erd R. Fann, "On the Infantryman's Age in Eighteenth Century Prussia," Military Affairs, Volume 41, Number 4, pp. 165-169

TABLE 10 AGES

PRUSSIA

Non-·commissioned officers and privates, one regimer.t in 1783

Number Median Average

Privates

Native born 946 31.4 years 31 .. 6 years

Fore1gners 875 33.8 years 34 .. 0 years

Grenadiers 334 39 .. 3 years 38.9 years

Musketeers 1487 30.9 years 31 .. 4 years

All 1821 32.4 years 32.8 years

Non-commissioned 107 Officers 44.0 years 44.0 years

SOURCE: Uil l erd R. Fann, "On the Infantryman's Age in Eighteenth Century Prussia," Milita.!)'. Affairs, Volume 41, Number 4, pp. 165-169

TABLE 11 AGES

UNITED STATES

Recruits for the United States Army, 1812-1815

Number Median

All Recruits 4653 24.7 years Farmers 1561 22 .. 8 years Laborers 5' ll 24.6 years

Artisans 1498 26 .. 2 years

Seamen 2oq 26 .. 3 years

Miscellaneous 185 28.2 years

Foreign-Born 588 29 .. 5 years

~iean

26 .. 8 years 25 .1 years

26.6 years 27.9 years 27 .. 5 years 28.8 years 30 .. 5 years

SOURCE: J. C. A. Stagg, "Enlisted Men in the United States Army, 1812-1815: A Preliminary Survey," The William and Mary Quarterly, Volume 113, #4, October 1986, Table VIII, p .. 634.

TABLE 11 A AGES

CANADA

Non--commi ss ioned officers and privates, Cana di an Vol ti geurs, mi d-1813

1 55 6666666666666666666666 n=22 777777777777777777777777777777777 n=33 888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 n=51 999999999999999999999999999999999 n=33

2 00000000000000000000 n=20 111111111111111111111111111111 n=30 222222222222222222222222222222 n=30 3333333333333333 n=l6 444444444444444444444444 n=24 55555555555 n=ll 6666666666666 n=13 777777777 n=9 888888888888 n=l2 999999 n=6

3 00000000000000000000000000000 n=29 1111111111 n=lO 222222222222222 n=l5 3333333333 n=lO 44444444444 n=ll 5555555555555555555555555555555 n=31 6666666666666 n=l3 777 88888 n=5 9

4 OD 1 2 44 5

5 3

N=448 median = 22 years average= 24.76 years midspan = 23.28 years

SOURCE: The Militia of the Battle of the Chateauguay: A Social Histor_y, p. 25

TABLE ?-2 AGES

UNITED STATES

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Volunteers, 1861-1865

Age Number ~~ Number

13 127 32 21967 14 330 33 17979 15 7'73 34 15740

16 2758 35 18980 17 6425 36 14057

18 133475 (13.2%) 37 11820

19 90215 38 13346

20 71058 39 9596

21 97136 40 13995

22 73391 41 7435

23 62717 42 10929 24 52095 43 10340

25 46626 44 16070 26 40243 45 7012

27 34286 46 967

28 35312 47 712

29 24513 48 699 30 28360 49 469

31 17954 50+ 2366

N=l012273

Of 996647 non-commissioned officers and privates bet1Veen 18 and 46: average age at last birthday 25.325 years officers = 29. 83 years average age at enlistment 25 .. 208 years

median age 23.477 years officers = 29.94 years age 18 13. 27% under age 21 29.52%

under age 25 58 .. 34%

under age 30 76.57%

SOURCE: U .. S. Sanitary Commission Memoirs, "J!.nthropological Statistics," pp. 34, 35' 58

TABLE 13 AGES

UNITED STATES

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Volunteers, Recrufts, and Re-e!!)_fstees, 1861-1865

July 1862 July 1863 July 1864 July 1865

Average age at 25.10 25.76 26.06 26.32 last birthday

Average age at 25.59 26.25 26.55 26.80 date

Median age 23.96 24.76 25.11 25. 49

Under 20 at 19.761; 14.30% 13.06% 12. 36~6 last birthday

Under 25 at 59 .16% 54.58% 52.32% 50.00% last birthday

Under 30 at 78.06% 75.34% 74.18% 72.51% last birthday

SOURCE: U.S. Sanitary Commission Memoirs, "Anthropological Statistics," p. 88

TABLE f~ PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, absent and sick in Col. Enoch Poor's Continental Regiment, January to July 1776

1. Height

5 O O O 0 0 O n=5 1 1 3 3 3 3 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=15 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=13 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=lO

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=S 11

6 O O O O 0 O n=6

N=76 median = 5 feet, 7.5 inches

average = 5 feet, '? .00 inches

midspan= 5 feet, 7.37 inches

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls, pp. 307-310

TABLE 75' PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, absent from 1st and 2nd Regiments, January 1778

1. Height

4 8

5 0 0 0 1 2 2 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 n=12 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=20 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=43 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=54 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=67

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=35

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=39

11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 n=l7 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n=31

1 1 2

N=328 median = 5 feet, 8 inches

average= 5 feet, 7.99 inches midspan= 5 feet, 7.98 inches

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, \!o1ume 15, !')uster Ro11.?_, IIi434-445

TABLE f' PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, absent from 2nd Regiment, June 1779

1. Height

5 2 2 2 4 5 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=8 9 9 9 9

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=lO 11 11

6 2

N=36 median = 5 feet, 8 inches

average = 5 feet, 8.05 inches

midspan = 5 feet, 8.56 inches

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 15, Muster Rolls, I I/626-627

TABLE l1-PHYSICAL. DESCRIPTIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Col .. Ebenezer Bridge's Regiment, 15 June 1775

1. Height 5 0

5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=12 8 8 8 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=lO

6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n=25 1

N=57 median = 5 feet, 10 inches average = 5 feet, 9 .. 58 inches

midspan = 5 feet, 10.38 inches

SOURCE: History of Chelmsford, pp. 255-256

TABLE 18 PHYSICAL. DESCRIPTIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 9th, 12th, and 14th Regiments at VF, who enlisted for three years or the war

1. Height 5 2

3 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=12 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=15 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=13 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=lO 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=ll 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 n=8

6 0 0

N=83 median = 5 feet, 8 inches average= 5 feet, 7.70 inches midspan= 5 feet, 7.74 inches

SOURCE: Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors

TABLE

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates who deserted from the 3rd Regiment from 1777 through August 1782

Men who joined before VF

1. Height 5 2

4 4 4 4 4 4 n=6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=B 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=l9 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=21 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=23 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=l6 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=l4 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 n=lO

6 0 0 O O 0 O 0 0 O n=9

N=126 median = 5 feet, 8 inches average= 5 feet, 7.61 inches midspan= 5 feet, 7.89 inches

SOURCE:National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 36, Frames 19-21

TABLE 80 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates who deserted from 3rd Regiment from 1777 through August 1782

Men who joi_Q~d after VF

1. Height 5 3 3

4 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=8 9 9 9

10 10 10 6 0

N=32 median = 5 feet,

average = 5 feet, midspan = 5 feet,

7 inches 6 .. 97 inches 7.00 inches

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 35, Frames 19-21

TABLE 81 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates who deserted from 1st Regiment from January 1777 to May 1782

1. Height 5 1

2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 n=5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=9 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=l5 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=l5 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=8 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=9 11 11

6 0 0

N=80 median = 5 feet, 7 inches average = 5 feet, 6.91 inches midspan = 5 feet, 6.90 inches

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 35, Frames 74-76

TABLE sz PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

CONNECTICUT

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, part of one company of 19th Continental Regiment in 1776

1. Height

5 312 4 6 6~6!.z 712 8 8 8 9!29~

10 10

N=l3 median = 5 feet, 8 inches average= 5 feet, 7.46 inches midspan = 5 feet, 7.71 inches

SOURCE: Connecticut Historical Society, Collections, VIII/31

TABLE 8~ PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

CONNECTICUT

Non--commi ss i oned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment in 1782

Men who joined before VF

1. Height

5 2;, 3 4 4;,4;, 5 5 5 512 6 I}

7 7 7;,7;,7;, 8 8 8 9 9~9~

10 10 10 10 10;, 11 11 11 11;,

N=31 median = 5 feet, 7;, inches

average= 5 feet, 7.56 inches

midspan = 5 feet, 7.71 inches

SOURCE: Connecticut Historical Society, Collection?_, Volume VIII, pp .. 102-104

TABLE

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DRAGOONS (principally CONNECTICUT)

Non-commissioned officers and troopers, six troops, plus recruits, of 2nd Continental Dragoons

Men who joined before VF

1. Height

5 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 n=5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=l7 5\5\5\5\ 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=31 6~26\6\ 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=30 7\7\7\7l;,.7\7\7\ n=7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=60 8l28\8\8\8\8\ n=6 8+ 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=33 9~9~

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=37 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 n=7

6 0

N=247 median = 5 feet, 8 inches

average= 5 feet, 7.77 inches midspan = 5 feet, 7.89 inches

Note: "+" equals three·-quarters of an inch

SOURCE: Connecticut ~en J!L.!he Revolution, pp. 273-283

TABLE

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

CONNECTICUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment in 1782

Men who joined after VF

1. Height 5 2

3 3!z3!z 4 4!z4!z4!z4!z4!z n=S 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=? 6 6

6

N=37

612 7 7 7 7!z7!z7!z 8 8 9 9 9 9

1 O!z 11 ll!z 0 0

median average midspan

= 5

= 5

= 5

feet, 6 inches feet, 6.61 inches feet, 6.18 inches

SOl!RCE: Connecticut Historical Society, f2.!..1££tion2_, Volume VIII, pp. 102-104

TABLE Sb PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DRAGOONS (principally CONNECTICUT)

Non-·commissioned officers and troopers, six troops, plus recruits, of 2nd Continental Dragoons

Men who joined ~fter VF

1. Height 4 10

5 0 0 1 2 3 3 3 3 3\ 4 4 4 4 4 n=5 4124\ 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=23 5125125~ 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=49 6\6\6\6J:a6\ n = 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=45 7\7\7\7\7\7\ n=6 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=57 8!28\8\8\ 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 g 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

9 9 9 9 9 n=35 9~9~

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=29

1 OJ2 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 n=19

6 0 0 0 0 0 0 n=6 1

N=302 median = 5 feet, 8 inches

average = 5 feet, i .. 56 inches midspan = 5 feet, 7.54 inches

SOURCE: Connecticut Men in the Revel ution, pp. 273-283

TABLE 8r PHYS I CAL DES CR I PTI ONS

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, five companies in 1758

1.. Height 4 9

11 11

5 0 0 0 0 1 ll2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 n=ll 2\212 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 n=l4 3\3\3\ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ~ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

4 4 4 4 n=34 4Jz4\4!z4\4Jz4~ n=6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=28 5!z5\5\5)z5\ n=S 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=49 6\6\6\6\6\6\6\6\ n=8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=52 7\7)z7\7\7\7)z7\7\7\7)z7\7\7\7\7\7\7\ n=17 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 B 8 8

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=75

8)z8\8!z8\8\8\8\8\8\8!28!z8!28\8\8\8\ n = 16 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=42 9\9\9\9\9\9\ n=6 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

10 10 10 10 10 10 n=26 lOl:;:lO!;;lO)zlO\lO!z n=5 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 n=l2 l l!2l l!2l ll21ll2

6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n=l2 1 1 l l 1 n=5 1\ 2

N=444 median = 5 feet, 7\ inches average = 5 feet, 7 .. 10 inches midspan= 5 feet, 7.27 inches

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Collections, 1891, pp. 60-134

TABLE 88 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEW YORK

Non-·commissioned officers and privates, 3rd Regiment, 1775

1.. Height 5 2

3 3 3 3J, 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 n=l3 4\4J,4J,4J,4\ n=5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=15 5\5\5\5\5\5\ n=5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=l8 6i26\6\6l2 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=30 7\7\7\7\7\7!;.7\7\7\ n=9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=40 8\8\8\8\8\8\8\8\ n=8 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=25 9\9\9\9\9l29\9\ n=7 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

10 10 10 10 n=24 101--.10\10\10\10!210\10!210\10\ n=l O 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

11 11 11 n=23 11\11\11\11\11\ n=5

6 O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O D O n=20 ~~~~ 1 1 1 1 1 n=5 1\1\1\ 2 2 212 3 3 4 4

N=285 median average midspan

=

= =

5 feet, si2 inches 5 feet, 8 .. 58 inches 5 feet, 8 46 inches

SOURCE: New York in the Revolution .• I/166-173

TABLE

PHYS I CAL DES CR I PT! ONS

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 1st Regiment, November 1777, veterans who re-enlisted

1. Height 5 2 2

3 4 4;, 5 5 5 5~ 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 Bi, 8+ 9 9 9 9 9 n=5 9+

10 10

N=27 median = 5 feet, 8 inches average= 5 feet, 7.15 inches midspan= 5 feet, 7.32 inches

Note: ''+'' equals three-quarters of an inch

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Collections, 191§_, II/390-397

TABLE '10 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEW JERSEY

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Deerfield ~~ilitia Company, Cumberland County, list dated 8 August 1775

1. Height 5 0

5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=9 6J,6!,z 7 7 7 'l 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=l8 7!v,7!v,7\7\ 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=9 8~8~8!z 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=6 9~9!z9~

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=l8 11

6 0

N=76 median = 5 feet, 8 inches average = 5 feet, 8.04 inches midspan = 5 feet, 8.00 inches

TABLE qj PHYSICAL. DESCRIPTIONS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non··Commissioned officers and privates, eight companies in 1758

1. Height

4 8

10 11

5 0 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 n=41 3la3la3la3la3Ja3!2 n=6 3+3+ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 n=44 4l:;4la 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=52 5J,5Ja5Ja5Ja5la5la n=6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=60 6)a6Ja6la 7 7 7 7 7 7 i 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=47 7~ 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 B 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 2 B

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n =48 8!a~ 8+ 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=29 912 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=30 1 ci, 11 11 11 11 11 11 il 11 11 n=9

c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n=7

N=404 median = 5 feet, 6 inches

average = 5 feet, 6.33 inches

midspan = 5 feet, 6.23 inches

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume I, pp. 133, 145, 153, 158' 162' 172' 197' 234

TABLE qz PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Pennsylvania Line, 1777-1781

1. Height

4 3!.z 4 7 9

10 11

5 0 c 0 1 1 1 1 l!z 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 n=l4 2~2~ 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 ° 3 3 3 3 3 3 n=20 3!z3!z3!z 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 n=27 4!z4!z 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=27 5J.25!z5!z5!z 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=43 6!z6l26l26!z6!z6l26•26!z6!z n = 9 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=29 7Jz7!z7!z7!z7l2 n = 5 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

8 8 8 8 n=34 sizsi, 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=l4 9!z9!z9!z 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 n=8

6 0 0 2

N=275 median = 5 feet, 6 inches average = 5 feet, 5.83 inches

midspan = 5 feet, 6.01 inches

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, as summarized in Trussell, .?ennsvlvania Line, p. 252

TABLE

PHYSICAL. DESCRIPTIONS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, substitutes who served for two months in Col. John Boyd's Regiment of Lancaster County MILITIA, September 1777

l. Height 5 2

3 3 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=lO 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=6 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=l7 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=7 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=9 11 11

6 0 0 0 0 1

N=70 median = 5 feet, 8 inches average= 5 feet, 7.61 inches midspan= 5 feet, 7.61 inches

SOURCE: ~.E'.Dnsylvania Archiv.E:~. 5th Series, Volume 7, pp. 658-682

TABLE q1 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

PENNSYLVATIIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, recruits for 2nd Regiment, May to ,June 1778

1. Height 5 5

6 6 6 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9

10 10

N=16 median = 5 feet, 7~ inches average = 5 feet, 7.56 inches

midspan = 5 feet, 7.50 inches

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Seri es, Volume II, pp . 798-799

TABLE

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, nine companies of New 11th Regiment, circa July li79

1. Height

4 5 7 9

11

5 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 n=l O 2~ 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 n=20 3~ 3+ 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 n=26 4!2

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=22 5!z5!z 5+ 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 € 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=33 612 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 i 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=25 Tl,}!-;_ 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=24 8~8~ 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=l3 9\ 9!-;_

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=7 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 n=7

6 0 0 2

N=215 median = 5 feet, 6 inches

average = 5 feet, 5.75 inches

midspan = 5 feet, 5.81 inches

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume III, pp. 644-662

Note: •+• equals three quarters of an inch

TABLE

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 2nd Regiment in 1780

1. Height 4 3;,

10 5 1;,

2 2 2 2 2;, 3;, 4 4!-z 5 5 5 6 6 6. 6 6 6 n=7 6;,6;,6;,6\61,6\6;, n=7 7 7!z_7~ 8 8 8 8 8 n=5 912 10 10 10 11

N=40 median = 5 feet, average = 5 feet, midspan = 5 feet,

6!., inches 5 .. 56 inches 6.15 inches

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume II, pp. 243-844

TABLE 1t PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Col. Samuel Patterson's Battalion of the Flying Camp, August 1776

1. Height

5 1\ 3!:; 4 4 4 4!:; 4~ 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=6 5~ 5+5+5+ 6 6 6 6~ 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=S 7!;.7!,)\ 7~7!z712 7+7+7t7+ 8 8 8 8 8 n=5 8\8\8\ 8\8!2 9 9!;.9!;.9\ 9\9\

10 1 Ol:; 10+ 11!;.

6 l~l~ l+

Note: •+• equals three-quarters of an inch

N=62 median = 5 feet, 7~ inches average = 5 feet, 7 .. 32 inches midspan = 5 feet, 7.24 inches

SOURCE: .Delaware Archives .• Volume I, pp .. 67-63

TABLE q~ PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one Continental Regiment, November 1776 to

1. Height

4 212 5 lz

+ 2 2+ 3l:, 3~ 3+3+3+ 4 412 4+ 5 5 5 5\5\5\ 5J,5lz 5+ 6 6 6 6Ja 8 8 9 9

10 11 1112

Note: 11+11 equals three-quarters of an inch

N=33 median = 5 feet, 5li; inches average = 5 feet, 5.04 inches midspan = 5 feet, 5.07 inches

company of May 1777

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume I, pp. 244-245

Col David Hall's

TABLE qq PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Col. David Hall's Continental Regiment, recruited January 1777 to June 1778

1. Height 4 2

5 2 4 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6!;;6!;; 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 712 7+ 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 B!z 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=6 9!;;'lla

10 10 10 11

6 0

n=ll

l n=l2

n=ll

N=58 median = 5 feet, 7 inches average = 5 feet, 7.10 inches midspan = 5 feet, 7.27 inches

Note: "+" equals three-quarters of an inch

SOURCE: DeJ.2.!:!are Archives, Volume III, pp. 1074-1077

TABLE 100 PHYS I CAL DESCRIPTIONS

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company, plus recruits, of Col. David Hall's Continental Regiment, circa May 1779

1. Height

4 10\ 5 3

4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=7 5+ 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=6 714 7\7\ 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9+9+

10 10!2 11 11

N=34 median = 5 feet, 6. 62 inches

average = 5 feet, 6.89 inches

midspan = 5 feet, 6.89 inches

SOURCE: Delaware A~chives, Volume I, pp. 352, 562

TABLE ID I PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DELAHARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, substitutes in a MILITIA regiment that served with the Continental Army, July 1780

1. Height 5 4

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=ll 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=7 9 9 9 9

10 10

N=29 median = 5 feet, 7 inches average= 5 feet, 7.24 inches midspan= 5 feet, 7.07 inches

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume II, pp. 658-665

Tft.BLE IOZ PHYSIC,11,L DESCRIPTIONS

DELA~IARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates in the Southern Army, May 178~

1.. Height 5 3 3 3

4 4 4 4 4 n=5 5 5 5 5 5 n=S 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=ll 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=9 9 9 9 9

10 10 11

6 0

N=49 median = 5 feet, 7 inches average = 5 feet, 6.73 inches midspan = 5 feet, 6.80 inches

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume I, pp. 129-·130, 577

TABLE J().3 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

VIRGINIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of the Regiment, list dated 28 August 1757

1. Height 5 1 1 1 1

2 2 2 2 3 3 3\3\3\3\ 4 414 4'2 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 n=7 5'25'25\5'25!25'2 n=6 5+ 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=ll 6'26'26'26\ 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=7 714 7;27tz7'1;.7~ 7+ 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=5 8!28\ 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 n=8 9'!z 10 lOl;; 11 11 11 11+11+

N=85 median = 5 feet, 6 inches average = 5 feet, 6.33 inches midspan = 5 feet, 7.16 inches

SOURCE: Papers of Georqe Hashington, Colonial Series, Volume 4, pp. 389-391

TABLE /M PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

VIRGINIA

Non·-commi ss i oned officers and privates, two companies of 6th Regiment in 1780

1. Height

Note:

5 2 212 3 3 3 4 4\4\ 4!2 5 5 5~514 5125~5!z5~ 5+5+5+ 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 n=? 6\6!-46!4 6J;;6J;;6l;;6l;;6l;; n=5 6+6+6+ 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 n=l3 7\7\ 7l;;7\7l;;7l;;7\7l;;7l;; n=7 7+7+7-+·7+7+ n=5 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 n=l2 8\ 8\8\8\ 8+ 9 9 9 9 9 a 9 9 9 n=9 9\9!;;9\ 9+

10 10 lC 10 10 10 10 10 n=B 10\ 10+ 11 11 11 11\ l l\l l\l ll2l ll2

6 0 0

1 1

N=llB median = 5 feet, Tl-;. inches average = 5 feet, 7.73 inches midspan = 5 feet, 7.62 inches

"+" equals three-quarters of an inch

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Collection, 1915, II/594-619

TABLE 106' PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

BRITAIN

Non-commissioned officers and privates, six regiments of infantry and cavalry

1. Height

.!3_egiment.: Average Height: Number six feet ta 11 and over;

Bth Foot, 1782 5 feet, 8 inches 7

29th Foot, 1782 5 feet, 7 inches 1

31st Foot, 1782 5 feet, 7 inches 4

44th Foot, 1782 5 feet, 7lv,. inches 2

King's Dragoon Guards, 1775 5 feet, 9lv,. inches 5

1st Dragoons, 1775 5 feet, 9 inches 3

SOURCE: Sylvia R. Frey, The British Soldier in America: A Social Histo!J'.. of Military Life in the Revolutionary Period, pp. 23-25

TABLE /06 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

CANAD I\

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Canadian Vo1tigeurs, mid 1813

1. Height

5 00

1111

222222222 n=9

333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 n=109

444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 444444444444444 n=75

555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 5555555 n=68

66666666666666666666666666666665666666666666666 n=47

777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777 n=4B

888888888888888888888888888888888 n=33

9999999999999999999999 n=22

10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 n=12

11 11 11 11 11 n=5

6 000

1111

22

N=442 median = 5 feet, 5 inches

average = 5 feet, 5.29 inches

midspan = 5 feet, 4.91 inches

TABLE JOT PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

UNITED STATES

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1861-1865

L Height

By State of Enlistment

1. Vo 1 unteers

state

New Hampshire Massachusetts Rhode Island & Connecticut

New York New Jersey Pennsylvania

TOTAL

number --5330 7992

9261

44218

4149

18595

89545

average height

5 feet, 7.934

5 feet, 7.412

5 feet, 7 .426

5 feet, 7.421 5 feet, 6.840 5 feet, 7 .601

5 feet, 7.439

inches inches

inches

inches inches inches

inches

SOURCE: U.S. Sanitary Commission Memoirs, "Anthropological Statistics," p. 125

TABLE I 08 PHYSICAL. DESCRIPTIONS

UNITED STATE'S

Non-comrni ss i oned officers and privates, 1861-·1865

1. Height

By Birthpl!!ces

1. Volunteers

region

New England New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania

Canada England Scotland Ireland France, Belgium, and Switzerland Germany Scandinavia Spain

TOTAL

number

33783

61351

6667

8899

3478

24149

3759

32559

3790

4421

182856

SOURCE: U .. S. Sanitary Commission Memoirs, p .. 125

average height

5 feet, 8.319 inches

5 feet, 8.109 inches

5 feet, 7.551 inches 5 feet, 6.993 inches 5 feet, 7.579 inches 5 feet, 7 .138 inches

5 feet, 6.697 inches

5 feet, 6.739 inches 5 feet, 7.461 inches 5 feet, 6.766 inches

5 feet, 7.335 inches

"Anthropological Statistics, 11

TABLE 101 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, sick in Col .. Enoch Poor's Conti nenta 1 Regiment, January to July 1776

2.

3.

4.

Color of Complexion

Color of Hair dark 9 1 i ght 8 black 5 brown 1 sandy 1

N=24

Co 1 or of Eyes black 8 light 7 dark 5 blue 4

M=24

not reported

(38%)

(33,;)

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls_, I/309-310

TABLE 110 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, absent from 1st and 2nd Regiments, January 1778

2. Color of Complexion light 173 ( 53 :&) dark 132 (40%) black 12 fair 5 freckled 2 sandy 2 pale 1 Indian 1

N=328

3 .. Color of Hair light 126 (38%) dark 95 (29%) black 50 brown 34 red 6 grey 5 sandy 5 fair 4 IVOO 1 2 fl ax en 1

N=328

4. Color of Eyes light 86 (26%) blue 81 (25%) black 60 (18%) dark 53 grey 41 brown 2 yellow 2 ~1hi te l hazel 1

N=327

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 15, Muster Rolls .• II/434-445

TABLE I I ' PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, absent from 2nd Regiment, June 1779

2. Color of Complexion

dark 19 (53%) light 17 (47%)

N=36

3. Color of Hair

light 16 (4.1%) dark 14 (3910 black 4 grey 1 red 1

N=36

4. Co 1 or of Eyes not reported

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 15, fi!:!.~ter Rolls .• iI/626-·627

TABLE 112.. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Col. Ebenezer Bridge's Regiment, 15 June 1775

2. Color of Complexion light 31 (543) dark 21 (37%) fresh 4 negro l

N=57

3. Color of Hair not reported

4. Color of Eyes not reported

SOURCE: Hi~tory of Chelmsford, pp. 255-256

TABLE '1.; PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 9th, 12th, and 14th Regiments at VF, who enlisted for three years or the war

2. Color of Complexion light 34 (43%) dark 29 (37% black 7 dark/light 6 ruddy 1 fresh 1 1 i ght/freckl ed 1

N=79

3 '' Color of Hair dark 14 (25%) brown 14 (25%) 1 i ght 10 black 7 dark/brown 4 dark/light/brown 2 sandy 2 dark/black/brown 1 red 1 woo 1 ( negro) 1

N=56

4. Co 1 or of Eyes black 2 grey 2 dark 1 blue 1

SOURCE: Mas~~C~!!setts Soldiers and Sailors

TAELE / 14 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

MASSACHIJS ETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates who deserted from the 3rd Regiment from 1777 through August 1782

Men who_j.2.!ned before VF

2. Color of Complexion dark 61 (48%) light 59 (47%) black 4 molato 1 sandy 1

N=l26

3. Color of Hair dark 51 (40%) light 39 (31%) black 17 brown 9 sandy 6 red 4

N=l26

4 .. Color of Eyes dark 47 (37%) grey 30 (24%) light 25 blue 13 black 10 brown 1

N=l26

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 36, Frames 19-21

TABLE J/5' PHYSICAL. DESCRIPTIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non·-commissioned officers and privates who deserted from 3rd Regiment from 1777 through August 1782

Men who_loined after v~:

2. Color of Complexion dark 17 (53%) light 14 sandy 1

N=32

3. Color of Hair dark 15 (47%) light 7 brown 7 black 2 sandy 1

N=32

4. Color of Eyes dark 12 (383) grey 9 1 i ght 4 blue 4 black 3

N=32

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 36, Frames 19-21

TABLE I,, PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates who deserted from 1st Regiment from January 1777 to May 1782

2 .. Color of Complexion dark 48 (55%) light 37 ( 42%) black 2 brown 1

N=88

3. Color of Hair dark 38 (44%) light 29 (33%) black 11 brown 5 sandy 2 red 2

N=87

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 35, Frames 74-76

TABLE I rt PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

CONNECTICUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment in 1782

Men who joined before VF

2. Color of Complexion light 14 (45%) dark 10 b 1 ack 3 copper 2 fair 1 red 1

M=31

3. Color of Hair brown 14 (45%) black 10 dark 4 light 3

N=31

4. Col or of Eyes dark 11 (351:) light 8 black 6 grey 5 blue 1

N=31

SOURCE: Connecticut Historical Society, Collections_, Volume VIII, pp .. 102-104

TABLE 118 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DRAGOONS (principally CONNECTICUT)

Non·-commi ss i oned officers and troopers , six troops, p 1 us recruits of 2nd Continental Dragoons

Men who...J.£!ned before VF

2. Color of Complexion dark 117 (48%) light 112 (46%) fair 7 brown 4 sandy 1 red 1

N=242

3 .. Color of Hair dark 87 (36%) 1 i ght 67 (27%) brown 44 black 27 sandy 11 red 8 white 1

N=245

4. Color of Eyes dark 81 (33%)

74 (301:) 58

light grey black blue brown

19 9 4

N=245

SOURCE: Connecticut Men in t~e Revolution, pp. 273-283

TABLE I,, PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

CONNECTICUT

Non-·commissioned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment in 1782

Men who joined after VF

2. Color of Complexion light 20 (51%) dark 18 black 1

N=39

3. Color of Hair brown 19 (49%) dark 12 black 4 1 i ght 3 red 1

N=39

4. Color of Eyes light 22 ( 56%) dark 11 grey 3 black 3

N=39

SOURCE: Connecticut Historical Society, Collections, Volume VIII, pp. 102-104

TABLE IZO PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DRAGOONS (principally CONNECTICUT)

Non·-commissioned officers and troopers, six troops, plus recruits, of 2nd Continental Dragoons

Men who joined_!!_fter VF

2. Color of Complexion dark 159 (52%) light 133 (43%) fair 12 brown 1 grey 1 red 1

N=307

3 .. Color of Hair dark 89 (35%) light 77 ( 31%) brown 65 sandy 10 black 7 red 3 white 1

N=252

4 .. Col or of Eyes dark 92 (37%) light 74 (29%) grey 55 blue 18 black 6 brown 3 sandy 2

N=251

SOURCE: Connecticut Men in the_Revolution, pp, 273-283

TABLE IZ I PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEH YORK

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, four companies in 1758

2. Color of Complexion fair 123 brown 108 dark 43 Indian 18 ruddy 8 yellow 8 black/negro 7 sandy 6 mustee/molato 5 light/pale 1 pale 1

N=328

(373) (33%)

3. Cclor of Hair not recorded

4 .. Co 1 or of Eyes not recorded

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Collections, 182.!_, pp. 60-134

TABLE 122 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 3rd Regiment, 1775

2. Color of Complexion fair 151 (70%) brown 53 sandy 5 fresh 2 pale 2 dark 1 red 1 black 1

N=216

Comments on Complexion pockmarked 16 scars 12 smooth face 4 free kl es 1 hair lip 1

3. Color of Hair brown 162 (56% black 76 fair 18 red 12 light 12 sandy 5 grey 2

N=287

4. Color of Eyes blue 1 Cf: ( 4 ~j'.) brown 58 grey 36 black 14 dark 2

N=216

SOURCE: New York in the Revolution, I/166-173

TABLE 12.3 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 1st Regiment, November 1777, veterans who re-enlisted

2. Color of Complexion fair 17 (63%) brown 5 red/sandy 1 dark 1 pockmarked 3

N=27

3. Color of Hair brown 18 ( 6Jj;) black 5 fair 3 sandy 1

N=27

4. Color of Eyes greyish 14 (52%) brown 9 grey 3 blue 1

N=27

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Collections, 1915, II/390-397

TABLE J2.Jf PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non·-commi ssi oned officers and privates, seven

2.

3.

Color of Complex ion red 29 dark 29 brown 24 swarthy 2(1 fresh 18 fair 12 freckled 11 sandy 9 pale 8 black 2

N=162

Comments on Face thin 49 full 29 pockmarked 26 smooth 26 scarred 18 round 13 long 10 short 8 bearded 7

Color of Hair black 59 brown 56 dark 12 red 6 pa 1 e 6 1 i ght 6 sandy 5 fair 2 grey 1

N=153

Comments on Hair short bushy wig

3 2 2

(18%) (18%) (15%)

(39%) (36%)

companies in 1758

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives .• 5th Series, Volume I, pp. 133, 145, 153, 158, 162, 172, 234

TABLE 124 PHYS I CAL DESCRIPTIONS CONiINUED

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-.commissioned officers and privates, seven companies in 1758

4. Color of Eyes not reported

5. Body type

well-set 73 strong 29 tall 9 short 8 bold 8 fat 7 tnick 5 thin <

"

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume I, pp. 133, 145, 153, 158, 162, 172, 234

TABLE 12~ PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, substitutes who served for two months in Col. John Boyd's Regiment of Lancaster County MILITIA, September 1777

2 .. Color of Complexion fair 44 ( 63j:) black 20 (29%) brown 4 dark 2

N=70

3 .. Color of Hair fair 30 ( 43%) black 20 ( 2 g:i) brown 15 sandy 3 dark 1 grey 1

N=70

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume 7, pp. 658-682

TABLE 12(, PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, recruits for 2nd Regiment, May to June 1778

2. Color of Complexion dark 12 (75%) fair 4

N=l6

3. Color of Hair black 3 1 i ght 1 sandy 1 red 1 dark 1

not reported 9

4. Color of Eyes not reported

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume ii, pp. 798-799

TABLE 12t PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Col. Samuel Patterson's Battalion of the Flying Camp, August 1776

2 .. Color of Complexion fresh 22 (35%) fair 17 (27%) pale 12 dark 6 brown 5

N=62

3 .. Color of Hair brown 42 ( 68%) dark 13 black 5 red 2

N=62

SOURCE: _Qelawill_Archives, Volume I, pp .. 67-68

!A.BLE '~ PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Col. David Ha 11 's Continental Regiment, January 1777 to June 1778

2. Color of Complexion dark 20 fair 16 swarthy 5 brown 4 sandy 4 free kl ed l

M=50

3. Color of Hair brown 19 black 17 fair 10 sandy 5 grey 2 light 2 red 1

N=56

4. Color of Eyes grey 2

2 blue

5. Features round 4 well-set 3 slender 1 fair 1 round··· shouldered 1 (age 47)

(40%) (32::)

(34%) (30%)

SOURCE: .Q~laware Archives, "olume III, pp .. 1074-1C77

TABLE

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company, plus recruits, of Col. David Hall's Continental Regiment, circa May 1779

2. Color of Complex ion brown 12 {35%) fair 10 (29%) sandy 3 dark 3 black 2 swarthy 2 pale 1 red 1

N=34

3. Color of Hair brown 17 (50%) sandy 6 fair 5 black 3 dark 3

N=34

4. Color of Eyes

grey 5 brown 1 remainder not reported

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume I' pp. 352' 562

TABLE J30 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, substitutes in a MILITIA regiment that served with the Continental Army, July 1780

2. Color of Complexion not reported

3. Color of Hair dark fair black brown sandy grey

9 (32%) 8 (29%) 4 4 2 1

N=28

4. Color of Eyes not reported

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume II, pp. 658-665

TABLE /3) PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates in the Southern Army, May 1782

2. Color of Complex ion fair 25 (503) brown 12 (24%) dark 9 yellow 2 swarthy 1 light 1

N=50

3. Color of Hair brown 21 ( 42%) light 13 (263) black 7 dark 4 fair 4 yellow 1

11=50

4. Color of Eyes not reported

SOURCE: Delaware Arcbives, Volume I, pp. 129-130, 577

TABLE

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

VIRGINIA

Non-·commi ss i oned officers and privates, one company of the Regiment, list dated 28 August 1757

2. Color of Complexion brown 26 ( 31 %) dark 24 ruddy/red 17 fair 9 pale 4 fair and free kl ed 3

fresh 1 yellow 1

N=85

Comments on Complexion pockmarked 13 scar on cheek 1 large eyebrows 1 dark eyebrows 1 thin face 1 b 1 uff face 1 broad face 1

3. Color of Hair brown 27 ( 34:;) dark 14 light 9 sandy 9 black 8 red 8 flaxen 3 fair 1 grey 1

N=80

Comments on Ha4r short 2 straight 2 very little 2

SOURCE: Paper.s of George Washington, Colonial Series, Volume 4, pp. 389-391

TABLE 132 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

VIRGINIA

CONTINUED

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of the Regiment, list dated 28 August 1757

4. Color of Eyes grey 4

Comments on Eyes "sore" 1 blind in right eye 1

5. Body type well ·-made thin not we 11 ·-made stout

21 (62%) 6 4 2

N=34

Comments on Body lame 3 bowl egged 1 i n·-kneed 1

SOURCE: Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Volume 4, pp. 389-391

TABLE JJ.3 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

VIRGINIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 6th Regiment in 1780

2. Color of Complexion ruddy 25 (46%) dark 14 fair 13 yellow 2

N=54

3. Color of Hair brown 29 (54%) dark 14 black 5 light 2 sandy 2 red 1 grey 1

N=54

4. Color of Eyes hazel 22 ( 41 %) grey 17 dark 6 blue 5 black 4

N=54

SOURCE: New York Hi stori ca 1 Society, Co 11ectio!J2..,_l915 .• !I/594-619

TABLE JM PHYS I CAL DESCRIPTIONS

CANADA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Canadian Voltigeurs, mid 1813

2. Color of Complexion

dark 259 (59%) fair 159 (36%) black 13 ruddy 6 dark brown 2 mulatto 1

N=440

3. Color of Hair brown 183 ( 42%) black 117 (27ib) blond 69 light brown 59 red 8 grey 3 white 1

N=440

4. Color of Eyes grey 181 ( 41 %) blue 132 (30%) brown 83 black 43 red 1

N=440

SOURCE: The Militia of the Battle of the Chateauguay: A Social History, -p·. 27

TABLE 135' DESERTERS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates who deserted from 4th Regiment, list dated 6 June 1781

Number 3

1

1

Remarks addicted to strong drink very much of a blackguard great turn for dealing

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archiv!~, 5th Series, Volume II, pp. 1070-1071

TABLE

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

UNITED STATES

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1861-1865

2. Color of Complexion

By Birthplace.

1. Volunteer2_

NewEngland NY,NJ,PA England Scotland

dark 34815 36% 22945 33% 2732 30% 645 32~;

light 57375 60~S 43017 62% 5998 66% 1297 64~;

medium 3673 4% 3470 5% 352 4% 88 4'!. ,,

TOTAL 95863 69432 9082 2030

2. Recruits

NewEngland NY,NJ,PA England Scotland

dark 12217 28% 25689 30% 2773 29% 663 25%

light 28190 65% 47776 55% 5325 56% 1514 58j:

medium 3063 7% 13492 15% 1351 14% 435 17%

TOTAL 43~70 86957 9449 2612

Ireland Germany

6291 333 8381 29%

11 '752 62% 19273 67%

92'7 I"'(:' O,o.. i147 4~1'.

18970 28801

Ireland Germany

7423 29% 4807 28%

13482 54% 9804 57;(

4272 17% 2701 16~:

25177 17312

SOURCE: U.S. Sanitary Commission Memoirs, "Anthropological Statistics," p .. 203

TABLE 131 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

UNITED STATES

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, 1861-1865

2. Color of Complexion

By Sta!e of Enlistment

1. Volunteers

NH MA CT

dark 5900 33% 6171 33% 5124 31%

light 11310 62% 11899 64% 10782 66%

medium 898 5% 608 3% 549 3%

TOTAL 18108 18678 16455

2. Recruits

NH MA CT

dark 3352 38% 8060 32% 4793 31%

light 3744 43% 15882 63% 8849 57%

medium 1659 19% 1395 h:O/ 1939 12% ~"

TOTAL 8755 25337 15581

NY

NY

13523 26%

23879 46%

14712 28%

52114

PA

9061 35%

14789 57%

2125 8%

25975

PA

15748 34%

24478 53%

6292 14%

46518

SOURCE: U.S. Sanitary Commission Memoirs, "Anthropological Statistics,'' p. 202

TABLE 138 PHYSICAL. DESCRIPTIONS

UNITED STATES

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, 1861-1865

3. Color of Hair

By State of Enlistment

1. Volunteers

NH MA CT NY PA

black 2178 12% 2114 11% 2306 14% 3263 13%

dark 3371 17% 4556 24% 3727 23% 8968 35%

brown 7297 40% 6621 35% 5716 35% 5964 23:;

light 4224 23% 4644 25% 3592 22% 5431 21%

sandy 754 516 713 1316

red 163 133 133 762

gray 124 103 278 272

TOTAL 18111 18687 16465 25976

2. Recruits ·---NH MA CT NY P/l

black 1430 16% 2797 11% 1943 12% 5376 12% 5985 11%

dark 570 6" 7, 5730 23% 2937 19% 14406 31% 11655 22%

brown 5487 63% 10374 41% 7672 49% 13900 30% 22264 43%

light 866 10% 5047 20% 2096 13% 9352 20% 9269 18%

sandy 267 741 543 1866 1718

red 66 382 206 1241 650

gray 75 284 191 376 612

TOT/l.L 8761 25355 15588 46517 52153

SOURCE: U.S. Sanitary Commission Memoirs, "Anthropological Statistics," pp. 186. 187

TABLE 13'1 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTIONS

UNITED STATES

Non ... commi ssioned officers and privates, 1861-1865

4. Color of Eyes

By State of Enlistment

1. Volunteers

NH MA CT NY

blue 9692 54% 9477 51% 8274 503 gray 2957 163 3279 18% 3418 21% hazel 2327 13% 3101 17% 1227 73

dark 1599 9% 1515 8% 2083 13% black 1536 8% 1316 7% 1462 9%

TOTAL 18111 18688 16464

2. Recruits

NH MA CT riv blue 3575 41% 12783 50% 6984 45% 24342 47% gray 2225 25% 4839 19% 3874 25% 13314 26% hazel 2183 25% 4532 18% 2746 18% 3910 7% dark 420 5% 1834 7% 1219 81i 7326 14% black 358 4% 1367 5% 763 5% 3261 6'' ,,

TOTAL 8761 25355 15586 52153

PA

8330 32% 9176 35%

3261 13% 4098 16% 1111 4%

259i6

PA

14829 32%

16626 36% 7047 15%

6743 14% 1273 3%

46518

SOURCE: U.S. Sanitary Cofl'mission Vemoirs, "Anthropo1cgical Statistics," pp. 194' 195

TABLE /'40 BIRTHPLACES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, part of one company of the Regiment of 1758

New Hampshire ~~assachusetts

37 (9nn l

N=38

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls, I/21

TABLE '"' BIRTHPLACES

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 2nd Regiment in 1770

New Hampshire 29 ( 81 %) Massachusetts 1 New York 1

NATIVE BORN 31 (86%)

Ireland 4 England 1

FOREIGN BORN 5 (14%)

N=36

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 15, Muster Roll~, 11/626

TABLE /42 BIRTHPLACES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, six regiments in 1756

Massachusetts 2013 New Hampshire 83 Connecticut 72 Rhode Island 28 other colonies 22

NATIVE BORN 2218 ( 91 % )

Ireland 120 England 63 Scotland 10 Germany 6 France 6 other Europe 7 West Indies 12

FOREIGN BORN 224 (9%)

N=2442

SOURCE: Fred Anderson, A People's Army, Tables 13 and 15, pp. 232 and 234

TABLE /13 BIRTHPLACES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates enlisted at Groton in 1760

Massachusetts Groton 48 (71%) Weston 4 Townshend 3 Pepperrell 2 Lancaster 2 Andover 1 Dover 1 Haverhill 1 Lexington 1 Stow 1 Shrewsbury 1 Canterbury 1

New Hampshire Number Four 1

NATIVE BORN 67 (99%)

Ireland 1

SOURCE: Three Military Di ari ~~· pp. 118-119

TABLE 111' B IRTHPL.ACES

MASSACHUSETTS

Non···commissioned officers and privates who deserted from the 1st Regiment from January 1777 to May 1782

Massachusetts New York Maine Rhode Island Connecticut New Jersey North Carolina MATIVE BORN

Ireland Europe England Germany Spain FOREIGN BORN

44 9 4 3 2 1 1

64

23 11

3 l 1

39

N=l03

(43%)

(G2l:)

(22%)

( 38%)

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 35, Frames 74-76

TABLE t4S" RESIDENCES -- "Towns belcnging to or enlisted for"

MASSP,CHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company o-'. lCth Regiment, list cated Z3 January 1778

l'assachusetts 40 (49%) Boston 9 other 31

Rhode Island 4 New Hampshire 2 Pennsylvania 2

Philacielphia 2 11 transients 11 10

"sail ors" ~ L

NATIVE EORN 60 (74'!\ . Jo)

"foreigners" 21 (26%)

N=81

SOURCE: Massachusetts Historical Society, Edes Papers, xerox copy at VFNHP

TABLE

RESIDENCES

CONNECTICUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 1st Regiment, circa January through April 1777

71 (85%) East Haddam 11 (13%) Lyme

2 (2%) New London N=84

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 2, Frame 209

TABLE /~f BIRTHPLACES

CONNECT! CUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment in 1782

Men who joined before VF.

Connecticut Massachusetts New York Rhode Island NATIVE BORN

26 (813) 1 1 1

28 (90%)

West Indies 1 Africa 2 FOREIGN BORN 3 ( 10%)

N=31

SOURCE: Connecticut Historical Society, CollectiQ!!~· Volume VIII, pp. 102-104

TABLE /4B BIRTHPLACES

CONNECTICUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment in 1782

Connecticut Massachusetts New York New Hampshire NATIVE BORN

Ireland Germany FOREIGN BORN

34 (87%) 1 1 1

37 (95%)

1 l

2 ( 5%)

N=39

SOURCE: Connecticut Historical Society, Collections, Volume VIII, pp. 102-104

TABLE '"' q BIRTHPLACES

CONNECTI cur Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 4th Regiment,

circa 1780

Connecticut 49 (86%) Massachusetts 4 Rhode Island 1

NATIVE BORN 54

England 2 Ire lane ]

FOREIGN BORN 3 (5%)

N=57

SOURCE: New England Historical and Genealoaical Register: .• Volume 22, pp. 281-282

TABLE /60 BIRTHPLACES

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, fourteen companies in 1758

New York Connecticut Massachusetts New Jersey "New England" Rhode Island Pennsylvania 't€arol ina 11

Maryl and Virginia

NATIVE BORN

537 (5L1%) 111

33 24 12 10

9 1 1 1

739 (74~;)

Germany 9~-Ire land 72 England 60 Scotland 16 Europe 11 West Indies 2 at sea 2

FOREIGN BORN

N=996

SOURCE: Mev1 York Historical Society, Colles_tion~ 1891, pp. 60-134

TABLE 15/ BIRTHPL.~CES

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 3rd Regiment (1775)

New York New Jersey Connecticut Pennsylvania Rhode Island Massachusetts NATIVE BORN

Ireland England Germany Scotland FOREIGN BORN

115 21 20 8 2 1

167

28 10 6 3

47 N=214

(54%)

(78%)

(13%)

SOURCE: New York in the Bevo1~tion, I/166-173

TABLE /5Z. BIRTHPLACES

NEW YCRK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, nine companies cf 2nd Regiment, who served at VF

New York 111 (59%) New Jersey 13 Connecticut 11 Massachusetts 7 Rhode Island 4 Maryland 2 Pennsylvania 1 South Carolina 1 Virginia 1

NATIVE BORN 152 (80%)

England 12 Ireland 11 Germany 9 Scotland 5 Newfoundland 1

FOREIGN BORN 37 (20%)

N=189

SOURCE: Calengar of Historical Manuscripts, pp. 343-347

TABLE ~ BIRTHPLACES

NEW YORK

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 1st Regiment, November 17i7, veterans who re-·enlisted

New York New Jersey Connecticut New Hampshire Maryland America

NATIVE BORN

Ireland Scotland Germany Ho 11 and

FOREIGN BORN

6 1 1 1 1 1

11

13 1 1 1

16

N=27

(22%)

( 41%)

( 48%)

{59%)

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, .Collections, 1915, II/390-397

TABLE /Si BIRTHPLACES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, four companies in 1746

Pennsylvania 17 (5%) Delaware 16 New Jersey 7 Maryl and 6 New England ?

v

New York 1 Virginia 1 South Carolina 1 NATIVE BORN 52 (15%)

Ireland 177 (51%) Germany 47 (13%) England 47 (13%) Scotland 14 Wales 5 Denmark 2 West Indies 2 Sweden 1 Switzerland 1

FOREIGN BORN 296 (85%)

N=348

SOURCE: Pen!J.§..l:'.lvania Archives .• 5th Series, Volume I, pp .. 5 ... 14

TABLE IS~ BIRTHPLACES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, sixteen companies in 1758

Pennsylvania 133 (15%) Maryland 39 Delaware 38 New Jersey 11 Virginia 5 "New England" 5 11 America 11 3 New York 2 Massachusetts 2 NJ!.TIVE BORN 238 (27 .. 5%)

Ireland 347 (40)0 Germany 142 (16%) England 74 Scotland 29 Ila l es 15 Europe 15 West Indies 3 East Indies 1

FOREIGN BORN 626 (72 .. 5%)

N=864

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives

BIRTHPLACES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non·-commi ssi oned officers and privates, subs ti tut es who served for two months in Col. John Boyd's Regiment of Lancaster County MILITIA, September 1777

America 12 Pennsylvania 4 Maryland 1 Delaware 1

NATIVE BORN 18 (26%)

Ireland 48 (69%) Germany 3 Scotland 1

FOREIGN BORN 52 (74%)

N=70

SOURCE: fennsyl:!ania Archives, 5th Series, Volume 7, pp. 658-682

TABLE 151 BIRTHPLACES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, recruits for 2nd Regiment, l'ay to June 1778

America 4 Pennsy1vania 2

NATIVE BORN 6 ( 3i%)

Germany 6 Ireland 3 England 1

FOREIGN BORN 10 (63%)

N=l6

SOURCE: Pe!1_!l§1lvani a Archives, 5th Seri es, Volume II, pp. 798-799

TABLE 158 BIRTHPLACES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non··Commissioned officers and privates, 4th Continental Artillery Regiment

Pennsylvania New Jersey Virginia Maryland New York New England Delaware Georgia

NATIVE BORN

Ireland Germany England Scotland Wales

FOREIGN B!JRN

60 (33%) 12

6 4 2 1 1 1

87 ( 48%)

60 23

9 3 1

96 ((52%)

N=l83

circa April 1779

SOURCE: Pennsylvania_ Archive~, 5th Series, Volume III, pp. 978-984

TABLE 11q BIRTHPLACES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, nine companies of New 11th Regiment, circa July 1779

Pennsylvania Maryland 11 America 11

North Carolina NATIVE BORN

Ireland England Germany Scotland Wales FOREIGN BORN

40 9 8 1

58

90 41

9 6 1

148

N=206

(28%)

( 4~,3) (20%)

(72%)

SOURCE: Pen~vania Archives .• 5th Series, Volume III, pp. 644-662

TABLE

BIRTHPLACES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 9th Regiment, list dated 7 August 1779

Pennsylvania Maryland New Jersey Nl'.TIVE BORN

Ireland England Scotland Germany FOREIGN BORN at sea

7 1 1 9

9 3 1 1

14

2

N=24

(29%)

(37%)

(37%)

(58%)

SOURCE: Pennsylvania l\rchiv~~-' 5th Seri es, Volume I II, pp. 435-436

TABLE ,, I BIRTHPLACES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non--commissioned officers and privates who deserted from 4th Regiment, list dated 6 June 1781

Pennsylvania 3

rlATIVE BORN 3 (13%)

Ireland 14 Germany 3 England 2 Spain 1

FOREIGN BORN 20 (8i%)

N=23

SOURCE: Pe~sylvania. Archive~, 5th Series, Volume II, pp. 1070-lOil

TABLE 1~2. BIRTHPLACES

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 2nd Regiment in 1782

Pennsylvania 14 (37%) New Jersey 1 NATIVE BORN 15 (39%)

Ireland 11 (29%) England 5 Germany 5 Scotland 2 FOPEIGti BORN 23 ( 61 %)

rl=38

SOURCE: ~en_nsylvania Jl.rchiv~~· 5th Series, Volume II, pp. 843-844

TABLE /~.3 BIRTHPLACES

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Col. Samuel Patterson's Battalion of the Flying Camp, August 1776

Delaware Pennsylvania Maryland New Jersey NATIVE BORN

Ireland Germany England Scotland France West Indies FOREIGN BORN

23 4 1 1

29

25 3 1 1 1 1

32

N=61

(38%)

( 48%)

(41%)

(52%)

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume I, pp .. 67-68

TABLE 164 BIRTHPLACES

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Col. David Hall's Continental Regiment, January 1777 to June 1778

Delaware America NJl.TIVE BORN

Ireland England Scotland Germany FOREIGN BORN

35 3

38

11 4 2 1

18

N=56

(62%)

(68%)

(20%)

(32%)

SOURCE: Delaware Archfves, Volume III, pp, 1074-1077

TABLE ''5' BIRTHPLACES

DELAWARE

Non·-commi ss ioned officers and privates, one company, pl us recruits, of Col. David Hall's Continental Regiment, circa May 1779

Delaware 14 ( 41 %) Maryland 3 Pennsylvania , Nfl.TIVE BORN 18 (53%)

Ireland 13 England 3

FOREIGN BORN 16 (47%)

N=34

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume I, pp. 352, 562

TABLE ''" BIRTHPLACES

DELAWARE

Non .. commissioned officers and privates, substitutes in a MILITIA regiment that served with the Continental Army, July 1780

America 12 (41%)

Ireland 14 (48%) England 3

FOREIGN BORN 17 (59~b)

N=29

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume II, pp. 658-·665

TABLE ,,.,.

BIRTHPLACES

DELAWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates in the Southern Army, May 1782

Delaware Maryland Pennsylvania New Jersey NATIVE BORN

Ireland England Scotland Germany FOREIGN BORN

23 5 2 2

32

0 -2 1 1

13

N=45

( 51 % )

(71%)

(20%)

(29%)

SOURCE: Delaware Archj_ve~, Volume I, pp. 129-130, 577

TABLE 168 BIRTHPLACES

VIRGINIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of the Regiment, list dated 28 August 1757

Virginia Maryland Pennsylvania New Jersey New York NATIVE BORN

England Ireland Scotland Wales Germany Holland FOREIGN BORN

23 1 1 l 1

27

28 21

6 1 1 1

58

N=85

(27%)

(32%)

(33%) (25%)

(68%)

SOURCE: Papers of George Hashington, Colonial Series, Volume 4, pp. 389-391

TABLE /6q BIRTHPLACES

VIRGINIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 6th Regiment in 1780

Virginia 40 (75%) New Jersey 3 Pennsylvania 2

NATIVE BORN 45 (85%)

England 8 ( 15%)

Note: Of the 40 soldiers who had been born in Virginia, 34 still lived in their birthplace when they entered military service.

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, ~o11ections, 1915, II/600-·607

TABLE J10 BIRTHPLACES

BRITAIN

Non-commissioned officers and privates, six regiments of infantry and cavalry

Regiment.: Britain: Foreign: Tota:!_: ----8th Foot, 1782 653 (941b) 42 695

29th Foot, 1782 427 (88%) 58 485

31st Foot, 1782 488 (96%) 21 509

44th Foot, 1782 509 (99%) 16 525

King's Dragoon Guards, 1775 275 (99%) 1 276

1st Dragoons, 1775 180 (97%) 6 186

SOURCE: Sylvia R .. Frey, The British Soldier in America: A Social HistQ.D'._ of Military bife in the Revolutionary Period, pp. 23-25

TABLE ltl BIRTHPLACES

UNITED STATES

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1861-1865

By State of Enlistment

1. Volunteers other

Native Canada England Ireland Germany foreign

NH 19759 71% 2362 83 1147 4% 2966 11% 952 3% 881 301 "

MA 79560 75% 2917 33 2306 2cf " 10007 9'.i 1876 2% 8834 8;f

RI & 37190 68% 1697 3% 2234 4% 7657 14% 2919 5'' 3203 6% CT h

NY 203622 60% 19985 6% 14024 4% 51206 15% 36680 11% 12283 4%

NJ 35496 60% 2692 5" lo 2491 4% 8880 15% 7337 12% 2404 4%

PA 222641 82% 1339 - 3503 1% 17418 6% 17208 6% 9391 301 "

DE 8306 83% 45 - 127 1% 582 6% 621 6% 319 3%

MD 22435 80% 155 - 403 1% 1400 53 3107 10% 400 l '' ,,

SOURCE: U.S. Sanitary Commission Memoirs, "Anthropological Statistics," p. 27

TOTAL

27800

105500

54900

337800

59300

271500

10000

27900

TABLE 112 OCCUPATIONS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates of part of one company of the Regiment of 1758

16 (44%) husbandman 11 (313) laborer 2 each farmer, cordwainer 1 each weaver, fisherman, baker, butcher, carpenter

N=36

Note: "Farmer" is most likely a synonym for "husbandman."

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls, 1/21

Agricultural workers: 29 of 36 = 81%

TABLE l~.3 OCCUPATIONS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates of the three regiments raised for Continental service in 1775

303 (57%) husbandman 44 (8%) farmer 42 cordwainer 28 blacksmith 27 joiner

24 laborer 22 ta i1 or

5 each carpenter, shipwright 4 weaver 2 each tanner, turner, miller, hatter, fisherman, seaman,

saddler, barber, mason, schoolmaster

1 each housewright, cooper, cabinetmaker, clerk, trader, wheelwright, sawyer, gentleman

N=532

Note: "Farmer" is almost certainly a synonym for "husbandman."

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster__Bolls, I/107, lC9, 113-114, 116, 169, 174, 210

Agricultural workers: 371 of 532 = 70%

TABLE /11-0CCUPATIONS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-·commissioned officers and privates, one company of 2nd Regiment in 1779

23 (643) farmer

6 sail or

3 blacksmith 0 joiner ~

1 each tailor, ropemaker

M=36

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 15, Muster Rolls., iI/625

TABLE /1S-OCCUPATIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, six regiments in 1756

41% artisanal 36% laborir.g 18% farming 4'' " maritime 2% non .. manual

N=1802

SOURCE: Fred Anderson, ~£'.eop le' s /\.rmy, adapted from Table 9, p. 230

Agricultural workers, presumably: 36% + 18% = 54%

TABLE

OCCUPATIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of Col. Ebenezer Bridge's Regiment, 15 June 1775

50 (88%)

4

1 each N=57

farmer housewright cordwainer, blacksmith, cooper

SOURCE: History of Chelmsford, pp. 255-256

TABLE 11l OCCUPATIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 9th, 12th, and 14th Regiments at VF, who enlisted for three years or the war

5 each 4 each 3

2

1 each

N=38

husbandman, laborer/farmer yeoman, farmer, laborer, carpenter cordwainer/shoemaker seaman farmer/shoemaker, farmer/seaman, ropemaker, tailor, nailer, blacksmith, cooper

SOURCE: Mas sa£hus~tts So 1 di ers and Sa i1 ors

Agricultural workers: 24 cf 38 = 63%

TABLE 116 OCCUPATIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non·-commi ss i oned officers and privates who deserted from the 1st Regiment from January 1777 to May 1782

8

6

4

3

2

1 each

M=30

tail or yeoman farmer sailor housewright tanner, cooper, cordwainer, saddler, bloomer, joiner, weaver

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, H246, Reel 35, Frames 74-76

Agricultural workers: 10 of 30 = 33%

TABLE Jl'1 OCCUPATIONS

MASSACHUSETTS

Non-·commissioned officers and privates who deserted from 3rd Regiment from 1777 through August 1782

Men who_join~£.J!~fore Y..F

60 (48%) farmer 41 (33%) 10 2 each 1 each

N=126

sa i1 or none cordwainer, joiner, cooper carpenter, baker, weaver, si1versmith, blacksmith, tailor, b1ockmaker, saddler, barber

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 36, Frames 19-21

TABLE 180 OCCUPATIONS

MllSSACHUSETTS

Non-·commi ss i oned officers and privates who deserted from 3rd Regiment from 1777 through August 1782

Men who joined af!§."L.Y£

21 (66%) farmer

5 sailor

2 each mason, none

1 each carpenter, currier

N=32

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 36, Frames 19-21

Tft.BLE ISi OCCUPATIONS

CONNECTICUT

Non···Commissioned officers and privates, one company of 4th Regiment, circa 1780

43 (75%) farmer 5 cordwainer/shoemaker 3 blacksmith 2 each joiner, wheelwright 1 surgeon

N=57

SOURCE; New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 22, pp. 281-282

TABLE /8]. OCCUPATIONS

CONNECTICUT

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment in 1782

Men who joined before VF

2 each

1 each

joiner, cooper, weaver

tailor, shoemaker

Note: The occupations of the other 23 men who joined before vr are not reported; they were probably laborers. Thirty-·nine men joined after VF.

SOURCE: Connecticut Historical Society, Co11ectio!!~· Volume VIII, pp. 102-104

TABLE 183 OCCUPATIONS

CONNECTICUT

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 3rd Regiment in 1782

Men_who_joined after VF

4

3

weaver cordwainer/shoemaker

1 each hatter, joiner, carpenter, cooper

Note: The occupations of the other 28 men who reported; they probably were laborers., before VF.

joined after VF are not Thirty-one men joined

SOURCE: Connecticut Historical Society, Collections, Volume VIII, pp. 102-104

TABLE /64 OCCUPATIONS

DRAGOONS ( pri nci pally CONNECTICUT)

Non-commissioned officers and troopers, six troops, plus recruits, of 2nd Continental Dragoons

Men who joined before VF

108 (45%) 24 21 16 12 10 each

6

4

3 each 2 each

1 each

M=240

farmer shoemaker sa11or blacksmith joiner carpenter, tailor, weaver cooper hatter baker, barber saddler, clot~ier, merchant, clerk nailmaker, mason, coachman, schoolmaster, soldier

SOURCE: Connecticgt Men i!.1_ the Revolution, pp. 273-283

TABLE 185' OCCUPATIONS

DRAGOONS (principally CONNECTICUT)

Non-commissioned officers and troopers, six troops, plus recruits, of 2nd Continental Dragoons

Men who joined after VF

185 ( 67%)

23 14

9 each 7

5 each 2

1 each

N=276

farmer shoemaker blacksmith tailor, weaver sailor carpenter, cooper, joiner, saddler barber baker, cutler, hatter, nailmaker, clothier, schoolmaster, soldier

SOURCE: Connecticut Men in the Revolgticn, pp. 273 .. 283

TABLE

OCCUPATIONS

NEW YORK

Non .. commissioned officers and privates, ten companies in 1758

406 ( 421i) 182 (19%) 110 (11%) 72 37

24 23

20

9

8

7

5 each 4 each 3 0 each ~

1 each

M=960

1 a borer farmer weaver cordwainer/shoemaker carpenter ta i 1 or blacksmith cooper

joiner sail or

mason ship carpenter, barber turner, miller, butcher, saddler, tanner

chairmaker baker, schoolmaster, currier, fuller, wheelwright

gunsmith, peddler, printer, wagonmaker, hatter, hosier, millwright, brasier, goldsmith, silversmith, gardener, innkeeper, dyer, miner, bricklayer, brewer, reedmaker, quack doctor, soldier

Note: In two companies (including 146 farmers), "farmer" seems to have been a synonym for "laborer."

SC•URCE: ~lew York Histcrical Society, Collections,

Agricultural workers: 588 of 960 = 61%

TABLE /Br OCCUPATIONS

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 3rd Regiment in 1775

127 (44%) laborer 33 (12%) weaver 31 (11%) cordwainer/shoemaker 25 farmer 18 blacksmith

9 tailor 8 carpenter 6 mason 5 schoolmaster 4 each miller, cooper 2 each saddler, fuller, gunsmith 1 each millwright, glover, ropemaker, skin dresser, forgeman,

ship joiner, confectioner, tanner, wheelwright, chairmaker

N=286

SOURCE: New York in the Revolu!_ion, I/166-173

Agricultural workers: 152 of 286 = 53%

TABLE 138 OCCUPATIONS

NE~J YORK

Non·-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 1st Regiment, November 1777, veterans who re-enlisted

7

6

3

2 each

1 each

N=25

laborer

yeoman

carpenter

weaver, cordwainer

tanner, chandler, barber, coppersmith, penman

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, .Collections, 1915, II/390-397

Agricultural workers: 13 of 25 = 52%

TABLE 18'1 OCCUPATIONS

NEW YORK

Non-commissioned officers and privates, nine companies of 2nd Regiment, who served at VF

51 (27%)

25 (13%)

19

13

12

8

4 each

3 each

2 each

' each i

N=189

farmer

yeoman

weaver

none

shoemaker/cordwainer

blacksmith

carpenter, baker

barber, cooper, currier, mason, fuller, sailor

millwright, woolcomber, butcher, cutler, tailor, cabinetmaker, laborer, musician

joiner, blockmaker, shipwright, ropemaker, tinker, tinner, hatter, watchmaker, saddler, tobacconist, hostler, mi 11 er, brewer, ma ltster, ditcher, coachman, fisherman, lawyer, soldier

SOURCE: Calendar of Hi s!2ri C!l.L~anuscri pts, pp. 343-347

Agricultural workers: 91 of 189 = 48%

TABLE 140 OCCUPATIONS

PENNSYLVM!IA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, four companies in 1746

247 ( 62%)

20 (5%)

19 17 16 12

8 each 5 each 4 each 3 each 2 each 1 each

N=396

laborer weaver tailor cordwainer/shoemaker b 1 acksmi th cooper carpenter, bricklayer tanner, mariner mi 11 er, sawyer baker, wheelwright, saddler barber, joiner, woolcomber mason, collier, tinner, clothier, husbandman, planter, gardener, fl atsman, trader, whitesmith, peruke-maker, surgeon, butcher, locksmith, glover, bottle-maker

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Arc~iv~~, 5th Series, Volume I, pp. 6-14

Agricultural workers: 249 of 396 = 63%

TABLE

OCCUPATIONS

PENNSYLVAllIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, thirteen companies in 1758

324 (54%) 38 (6%)

31 29

18 each 17 each 11

10 6 each 5 4 each 3 each 2 each

1 each

N=604

laborer weaver mariner shoemaker/cordwainer tail or, cooper carpenter, smith baker mason wheelwright, miller, tanner saddler butcher, joiner, farmer barber, drummer dyer, bricklayer, millwright, plasterer, woolcomber, brushmaker, perukemaker, bucklemaker, gardener, turner, school~aster, soldier, chandler brickmaker, ropemaker, combmaker, watchmaker, fi ddl emaker, cabinetmaker, britchesmaker, sailmaker, brass founder, shirtwright, hatter, clothier, nailer, gunsmith, potter, sawyer, tobacconist, carter, shipper, peddler, fl dc!l er, clerk, fisherman, surgeon

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume I, pp. 118, 133, 145, 153, 158, 162, 172, 186, 190, 194, 197, 228, 234

Agricultural workers: 228 of 504 - 54%

TABLE 1~2. OCCUPATIONS

PEN~ISYL.VANIA

Non·-commiss i oned officers and privates, nine companies of Mew 11th Regiment, circa July 1779

56 ( 31%)

15 (8%)

13

11

8 each 7

6 each 5 4

3

2 each 1 each

farmer weaver shoemaker carpenter tailor, blacksmith laborer hatter, barber cooper bricklayer mi 11 er cabinetmaker, saddler, tinker, tobacconist wheelwright, millwright, watchmaker, pinmaker, staymaker, ropemaker, breechesmaker, brushmaker, saddl e·-tree-maker, brass founder, soap boiler, silk dyer, silversmith, bookbinder, tanner, currier, glazier, potter, mason, turner, baker, butcher, distiller, vintner, waiter, mariner, clerk

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archj_ve~, 5th Series, Volume III, pp. 644-662

N=177

Agricultural workers: 63 of 177 = 36%

TABLE 1q3 OCCUPATIONS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 9th Regiment, list dated 7 August 1779

11 3

2 each 1 each

farmer ta i 1 or turner, shoemaker, iteaver planter, miller, carpenter, butcher, forgeman, coachman

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Ar£.h.ive~, 5th Series, Volume III, pp. 435·-436

N=26

Agricultural workers: 11 of 26 = 42%

OCCUPATIONS

PENNSYLVAfHA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one compan)' of 2nd Pegiment in 1780

19 (49%) farmer

5

2 each

1 each

N=39

yeoman

cooper, wheelwright, weaver

baker, distiller, hosier, bricklayer, tailor, chandler, saddler, blacksmith, plasterer

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Archives~ 5th Series, Volume II, pp. 243-344

Agri cultura 1 workers: 24 of 39 = 62%

TABLE J'f6 OCCUPATIONS

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates who deserted from 4th Regiment, list dated 6 June 1781

5 each 1 each

shoemaker, tailor bricklayer, tobacconist

Note: Occupations for remaining 12 soldiers are not reported; they probably were laborers.

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Arc~ives, 5th Series, Volume II, pp. 1070-1071

Agricultural workers: 12 of 24 = 50%

TABLE '~" OCCUPl\TI ONS

DEL.AWARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company o"' Col. David Hall's Continental Regiment, January 1777-to June 1778

5

1 each shoemaker farmer, carpenter, cooper, butcher, barber, tailor, lawyer

Note: Company contained 83 nco's and privates, other occupations not recorded.

SOURCE: Delaware Ar£hives; Volume III, pp. 1074-1C7'7

N=l02

Agricultural workers: 83 of 1C2 = 81%

TABLE 1q1 OCCUPATIONS

DELAHARE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company, plus recruits, of Col .. David Hall's Continental P.egiment, circa May 1779

3

2 each 1 each

weaver tailor, joiner tanner, blacksmith, distiller, shipwright, reedmaker, saddler

Note: Occupations for remaining 21 soldiers are not reported; they probably were laborers.

N=34

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume I, pp .. 352, 562

Agricultural workers: 21 of 34 = 623

TABLE 1 qs OCCUPATIONS

DELAWARE

Non-comriissioned officers and privates in the Southern Army, May 1782

17 (68%) laborer 3

1 each

N=25

shoemaker carpenter, saddler, butcher, sailer, drummer (age 12)

SOURCE: Delaware Archives, Volume I, pp. 129-130

TABLE f '{q OCCUPATIONS

VIRGINIA

Non·-commi ss i oned officers and privates, one company of the Regiment, list dated 28 August 1757

31 15

4

3 ~

'-

1

N=85

(36%) (18%)

each each each

planter carpenter sail or cooper, joiner, sawyer farmer, weaver, bricklayer, miner, tailor tanner, shoemaker, butcher, baker, blacksmith, silversmith, pewterer, turner, fu 11 er, p 1 as terer, barber, bookbinder, coachmaker, silktwister, tobacco·-spi nner, none

SOURCE: Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series, Volume 4, pp. 389-·391

Agricultural workers: 34 of 85 = 40%

TABLE 200 OCCUPATIONS

VIRGINIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, two companies of 6th Regiment in 1780

55 (47%) farmer

38 (32%) planter

6 shoemaker/cordwainer 3 each hatter, carpenter

2 each barber, ta i1 or

1 each sailor, turner, joiner, baker, stone mason, weaver, blacksmith, saddler, cutler

N=l18

Note: It is very likely that the occupation described as "farmer" in one company was that described as "planter" in the other. Therefore, a total of 79% of the soldiers were what we ~muld call •farmers."

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Collections, 1915, II/594-607

Agricultural workers: 93 of 118 = 79%

TABLE ZO/ OCCUPATIONS

UNITED STATES

Non·-commi ssioned officers and privates, 1861-1865

By State of En!istme~!

1. Volunteers -----NH MA CT NY PA

agricultural 7273 40% 2394 13% 5427 33% 7142 27~G

mechanical 7142 39% 10230 55% 7535 46% 8051 3H'

commercial 523 1881 10% 710 398

professional 221 178 171 20~

printers 187 175 88 129

laborers 2177 12% 2317 1,, ('' ~/, 1599 10% 8664 33%

miscellaneous 588 1513 8% 933 1386 i::: !'/ ...,, /0

TOTAL 18111 18688 16463 25976

2. Recruits ----MH MA CT NY PA

agricultural 1108 13% 3771 15% 2582 17% 18090 38% 11201 24%

mechanical 2364 30% 11861 47?6 5656 36% 13817 26% 14658 3276

commercial 347 1377 5% 765 3815 7% 760

professional 78 251 170 684 191

printers 68 219 139 476 284

la borers 4407 50% 5862 23% 4896 31'.0 13516 26~i 16678 36'i

miscellaneous 389 1994 8" 1381 9% 1727 ')'ll/ 2723 65~ lo ..; I~

TOTAL 8761 25335 15589 r.:,,, ., r.:: ... • 1.... ... ·-· ,/ 46495

SOURCE: U.S. Sanitary Commission Memoirs, "Anthropological Statistics," pp. 210, 211

TABLE 2oi. OCCUPATIONS

UNITED STATES

Non·-commi ss i oned officers and privates, 1861-1865

BJ'. BirthElace

1. Volunteers

NewEngland NY,NJ,PA England Scotland Ireland Germany

agricultural 35540 37% 33228 48% 3564 39% 670 33% 4926 26% 10212 36?;

mechanical 34815 36% 18313 26% 3251 36% 797 391; 4'775 25% 11430 40'.i

commercial 4599 2202 249 57 421 1268

professional 2093 1521 103 26 96 253

printers 684 543 59 31 67 143

laborers 14056 15% 10466 15% 1336 15% 304 151; 7642 40% 4352 15%

miscellaneous 4034 2963 500 145 960 895

TOTAL 95821 69236 9062 2030 18887 28553

2. Recruits

NewEngland NY,NJ,PA England Scotland Ireland Germany

agricultural 16930 39'.£ 35075 40% 1861 20% 589 231; 2568 10'.{ 4905 28%

mechanical 13596 31% 23402 27% 2877 30% 914 35% 6858 27% 6345 3-0· I 7::J

commercial 1826 3231 422 154 639 1010

professional 641 830 104 23 80 207

printers 244 656 93 23 134 46

1 a borers 6284 145'. 20141 2~"' ..J1"1 3369 36% 761 2 r;ot .;n 1'''"5 ,,) '~ l ' 52% 4007 23%

miscellanEoous 3978 3618 720 145 1682 7S8

TOTllL 43499 86953 9447 2609 25177 17318

SOURCE: U.S. Sanitary Commission Mer.10irs, ''Anthropological Statio:tico ," pp. 213' 214

TABLE 2.03 LITERACY

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-·commissioned officers and privates, one company of Regiment of 1759, list dated 28 April 1759

Pay receipts for bounty, clothing, and wages

signatures

marks

49 (80%)

12 (20%)

N=61

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, !'!!!.~!er Rolls_, 1/22-24

TABLE 201 LITERACY

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, four Continental regiments in 1775

Receipts for coat money and 1st month's wages s i gna tu res 1157 ( 88%) marks 154 (12%)

N=1311

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume lt, ~uster Rolls, I/49, 80, 121, 161, 170

TABLE Z05 LITERACY

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, Continental recruits for 1776

Receipts for wages signatures 264 (84%)

marks 50 (16%)

N=314

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls, pp. 262, 265, 279, 305, 316

TABLE 20b LITERACY

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, recruits for State regiments in 1776

Receipts for bounty and wages signatures 250 (80%)

marks 61 (20%)

N=311

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 14, Muster Rolls, pp. 368, 414, 498

TABLE 20f LITERACY

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Non-commissioned officers and privates, recruits for State regiments in 1777

Receipts for bounty, signatures 158 marks 32

N=l90

billeting, (83%) (17%)

and wages

SOURCE: New Hampshire State Papers, Volume 15, Muster Rolls, pp. 251, 268, 300

TABLE 208 LITERACY

RHODE ISL.AND

Non-commissioned officers and privates, part of one company of 1st Regiment at VF

Equipment receipts signatures marks

14 ( 61%)

9 ( 39:i}

N=23

SOURCE: \Jard and Greene Collections, Rhode Island Historical Society, xerox copy at VFNHP

TABLE 20~ LITERACY

RHODE ISLAND

Non-commissioned officers and privates, one company of 1st Regiment at VF

Clothing and equipment receipts signatures 25 (38%) marks 4C ( 62%)

N=65

SOURCE: University of Georgia Library, xerox copy in 1/FliHP

TABLE 210 LITERACY

NEW YORK

Non·-commi ss ioned officers and privates, one company of 1st Regiment, November 1777, veterans who re-enlisted

Pay receipts

signatures 10 (37%)

marks 17 (63%)

N=27

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, ,Collections, 1915,, II/390-397

TABLE z I) LITERACY

NEW JERSEY

Non-·commi ssioned officers and privates, 1st Regiment at VF

Pay receipts for May 1777

signatures 106 (52.5%)

marks 96 (47.5%)

N=202

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 55, frames l95-2Cl2

TABLE 212. LITERACY

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, part of one company of Regiment, list dated 12 January 1756

Pay receipts signatures marks

37 (80%)

9 (20%)

N=47

SOURCE: pennsylvania Archives .• 5th Series, Volume I, pp. 38-39

TABLE 2.13 LITERACY

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, substitutes who served for two months in Col. John Boyd's Regiment of Lancaster County MILITIA, September 1777

Pay receipts for September 1777 signatures 37 (53%)

marks 30 (43%) unknown 3 (43)

M=70

SOURCE: Penns.)'.lv~nia Arf_hives, 5th Series, Volume 7, pp. 658-682

TABLE 21~ LITERACY

PENNSYLVANIA

Non-commissioned officers and privates, recruits for 2nd Regiment, May to June 1778

birthplace: Germany Ireland Arneri ca

language:

good English 2

broken English ,, ~

very little English 2 2

has the brogue on 1 his tongue

SOURCE: Pe!Jnsylvania Archives, 5th Series, Volume II, pp .. 792-·799

TABLE 210 LITEl'.Ll.CY

VIRGIN I.~.

Non-commissioned officers and privates, 1st State Regiment in 1779

Pay receipts

signatures

marks

March/April/May

91 (31%)

203 ( 691!)

N=294

June/July/August

112 (39%)

173 (61%)

N=285

SOURCE: National Archives microfilm, M246, Reel 93, frames 246-258

TABLE 210 PENSION RECORDS

CONNECTICUT, Fairfield

service birthdate married occupati £!1. location ---· ----·

1. 1775 5mos Aug 1750 Jan 1787 unknown Litchfield Co, CT 1777 war

2. 1775 6mos Nov 1752 Feb 1780 shoemaker Fairfield Co, CT 1776 lyr 1777 3yrs

3. 1775 ?mos 1753 unknown unknown Fairfield Co, CT 1776 lyr 1777 3yrs

4. 1775 8mos Jul 1755 unknown weaver Ontario Co, NY 1776 lyr 1777 3yrs

5. 1775 6mos A.ug 1758 Mar 1781 farmer Hubbardton, VT 1776 naval Batavia, NY 1777 3yrs 1781 militia

6. 1775 5mos Oct 1758 unknown unknown Rutland Co, VT 1776 9mos 1777 war

7. 1775 militia Feb 1760 Nov 1781 unknown Crawford Co, PA 1777 3yrs Davis Co, IA 1781 3yrs

8. 1776 lyr 1755 unknown cooper Fairfield Co, CT 1777 3yrs

9 .. 1776 lyr Jan 1756 c .. 1783 unknown Fairfield Co, CT 1777 8 mos

1 () .. 1776 lyr 1756 unknown day laborer Fairfield Co, CT 1777 war

11. 1776 lyr 1757 May 1784 mason L itchfi el d Co, CT 1777 3yrs

12. 1776 9mos Jan 1759 unknown farmer Rutland Co, VT 1778 10 mos Cha ta qua Co, NY

Rutland Co, VT

13 .. 1776 naval Oct 1759 Aug 1786 farmer Washington Co, NY 1777 3yrs Cayuga Co, NY

14 .. 1776 militia 1759 Apr 1781 unknown Fairfield Co, CT 1777 3yrs 1782 militia

TABLE 21(, CONTINUED

PENSION RECORDS

CONNECT! CUT, Fa i rfi e 1 d

service birthdate married occupation. 1 ocati on --- ·---- ---- ----15. 1776 lyr 1761 unknown day laborer Fairfield Co, CT

1777 war

16. 1777 3yrs c. 1736 unknown weaver Fairfield Co, CT

17. 1777 3yrs 1745 unknown unknown Sullivan Co, NY 1781 3yrs Fairfield Co, CT

Sullivan Co, NY

18. 1777 war Mar 1748 c ,, 1787 unknown Litchfield Co, CT

19. 1777 war Mar 1749 unknown mi 11 er Fairfield Co, CT

20. 1777 war Sep 1750 c. 1772 shoemaker Fairfield Co, CT

21. 1777 3yrs Jun 1751 Sep 1773 weaver Fairfield Co, CT

22. 1777 3yrs Apr 1752 unknown unknown Clinton Co, NY

23. 1777 3yrs Jul 1752 Jul 1776 unknown Fairfield Co, CT

24. 1777 3yrs Mar 1753 unknown weaver !'airfield Co, CT

25. 1777 war Mar 1753 unknown unknown Fairfield Co, CT

26 .. 1777 war Mar 1753 c. 1785 blacksmith Chatauqua Co, NY Genesee Co, NY Lorain Co, OH Genesee Co, NY

27. 1777 9mos 1754 unknown unknown Cayuga Co, NY Oswego Co, NY

28. 1777 3yrs 1754 unknown wheelwright/ Fa i rfi el d Co, CT day laborer

29 .. 1777 3yrs 1755 unknown shoemaker Fairfield Co, CT

30. 1777 3yrs c. 1755 Mar 1783 unknown Fairfield Co, CT

31. 1777 war 1755 Oct 1784 day laborer Fairfield Co, CT

32. 1777 3yrs Apr 1757 unknown unl<r.own Schoharie Co, NY Onondaga Co, NY Medina Co, OH

33., 1777 war May 1757 Mar 1781 unknown Bradford Co, PA Otsego Co, NY

TABLE

PENS I ON RECORDS

CONNECT! CUT, Fa i rfi e 1 d

service birthdate

34. 1777 war Oct 1757

35. 1777 3yrs 1758

36. 1777 war 1758

37. 1777 3yrs Feb 1759 1780 militia

38. 1777 war Oct 1759

39. 1777 war Apr 1760

40. 1777 3yrs Jul 1760

41. 1777 war 1760

42. 1777 3yrs Feb 1761

43. 1777 war Mar 1761

44. 1777 war Sep 1761

45. l '777 3yrs May 17 62 1780 militia 1780 6mos

46. 1777 war Jul 17€2

47.. 1777 3yrs 1763 1781 9mos

CONTINUED

married location

Oct 1784 unknown Fairfield Co, CT

unknown laborer Fairfield Co, CT

Nov 1787 unknown Fairfield Co, CT

Mar 1781 farmer Cayuga Co, NY

unknown day 1 a borer \iayne Co, PA

unknown unknown !'"airfield Co, CT

unknown unknown Saratoga Co, NY Bureau Co, I l

Oct 1783 unknown Fairfield Cc, CT

Nov 1787 day laborer Fairfield Co, CT

Apr 1791 day laborer Fairfield Co, CT

Oct 1784 unknown Fairfield Co, CT

Dec 1785 unknown Delaware Co, NY

Sep 1783 shoemaker Chenango Co, NY

unknown unknown Fairfield Co, CT

SOURCE: Donald L. Jacobus, History and Genealogy of the Families of Old Fairfield, Volume II I

TABLE '2 If PENSION RECORDS

MASSACHUSETTS and MAINE

service ----1.. 1775 8mos

1776 lyr 1777 3yrs

2. 1775 8mos 1777 3yrs

3. 1775 8mos 1777 3yrs

4. 1775 8mos 1776 lyr 1777 3yrs

NH

5. 1775 8mos 1776 militia 1777 3yrs

6. 1775 5mos 1776 lyr 1777 3yrs

7. 1777 3yrs

8. 1777 3yrs

9. 1777 3yrs

10. 1777 3yrs 1780 war?

11. 1777 3yrs

12. 1777 war

13.. 1777 3yrs

14. 1778 9mos

15. 1778 3yrs 1781 war

birthdate

1746

1755

1756

1757

1757

Oct 1758

1756

1757

1757

Sep 1760

1761

1761

1762

1751

1761

married location ----ves Plymouth Co, MA, in 1820

before New Hampshire (birth) 1780 Kennebec Co, ME, before 1833

Dec 1779 Kennebec Co, ME, in 1818

unknown York Co, ME, in 1838

unknown Cumberland Co, ME, in 1835

Jun 1785 Genesee Co, NY, in 1818

Nov 1788 Cumberland Co, ME, in 1819

yes York Co, ME, in 1818

yes Barnstable Co, MA, in 1820

May 1779 Schenectady Co, NY, in 1820

yes Oneida Co, NY, in 1820

yes Wi r.dham Co, VT, in 1820

yes Clinton Co, NY, in 1820 & 1834 St. Lawrence Co, NY, in 1846

Apr 1797 Rockingham Co, NH, in 1832

unknown York Co, ME, in 1839

SOURCES: Lucy K. McGhee, Massachusetts Pension Abstracts, Vo 1 ume I; Sylvia J. Sherman, Dubros Times: Selected Depositions of Maine

Revolutionary War Veterans

TABLE 218 PENSION RECORDS

NEW JERSEY, Morris County

service birthdate --- occupation literacy

1. 1775 lyr 1740 forgeman mark 1776 lyr 1777 war

? ~. 1776 lyr 1747 unknown signature

1777 war?

3 .. 1776 lyr 1754 tanner mark 1778 9mos

4 .. 1776 6mos 1759 tanner/ signature 1777 3yrs day laborer 1780 war

NY

5,, 1777 war? 1753 laborer signature

6. 1777 3yrs 1760 mason signature

7 ,, 1777 war 1760 laborer signature

8 .. unknown 1745 1 a borer mark (at VF)

9 .. unknown 1748 shoemaker mark (at VF)

10. unknown 1760 no trade signature (at VF)

Notes .. All were poor, all more or less handicapped

SOURCE: Henry W. Pilch, compiler, "Morris County Pension Applications of Revolutionary War Veterans," in The Gen~alogical 11agazine of New Jersey, Volumes 23 & 24

TABLE 21q PENSION RECORDS

PENNSYLVANIA, Centre County

service born married literacy occupation estate in ----· in 1820 1220 -----· -----

1. 1775 lyr 1744 widower signature weaver none, exc·ept 1776 war clothing

NY

2. 1775 lyr 1750 yes signature no trade $58.50

3. 1775 lyr 1750 yes mark no trade $57,,15 1777 war?

4. 1775 lyr 1758 yes signature carpenter/ $87.00 1776 lyr farmer 1777 war

5. 1776 lyr 1752 widower signature day laborer not stated 1777 war

6. 1776 lyr 1753 yes, in signature shoemaker $36.50 1777 3yrs? 1788

7. 1776 20mos 1754 widower signature \veaver $351.15, but debts = $217.52 in 1826 = t4o .. no

8. 1776 lyr 1755 yes mark no trade $123.87 1777 war

9 .. 1776 war 1758 yes, in signature brickmaker $12.50 1786

10. 1776 war 1758 yes mark day laborer $37.32i, NY

11. 1777 war 1744 widower mark no trade none

12. 1777 3yrs 1756 yes mark farmer $596.0C, but debts = $1591.29[

13. 1777 3yrs 1757 yes signature weaver '.t32 .26

14. 1777 3yrs 1759 yes signature day laborer not stated

15. 1777 war 1759 yes signature no trade $37 "00 NJ

16 .. 1777 3yrs 1762 widower signature shoemaker $33.00 1781 18mos 1782 6mos

TABLE 21q CONTINUED

PENS ION RECORDS

PENNSYLVANIA, Centre County

SOURCE: W. F .. Wagner, "Pennsylvania Pension Applications,'' The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Volumes 25 & 26

TABLE 220 PENSION RECORDS

VIRGINIA, mostly Amherst County

service ---1. 1775 lyr

1776 2yrs 1779 militia

2. 1775 6mos 1776 3yrs 1780 militia

3. 1775 6mos 1776 3yrs 1779 2yrs?

4.. 1776 2yrs

5. 1776 2yrs

6. 1776 2yrs 1779 militia

7. 1776 2yrs

8.* 1776 2yrs 1781 militia

9. 1776 2yrs

10. 1776 2yrs

11..* 1776 2yrs ?? militia

12. 1776 2yrs

13 .. • 1776 2yrs 1778 2yrs 1780 militia 1781 militia

14. 1776 2yrs 1780 lyr

15.. 1776 2yrs

16. 1776 2yrs

17. 1776 2yrs

birthdate

Mar 1755

Aug 1757

1758

1742

1749

1753

Jun 1754

1754

1755

Jul 1756

1756

1757

1758

1759

1759

unknown w

unknown s

married

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

unknown

location ---Amherst Co, VA (birth) Logan Co, KY, in 1833

Bedford Co, VA (enlist, 1775) Amherst Co, VA (enlist, 1776) Wayne Co, KY, in 1832

Edgefield Dist, SC, in 1818 f>'ontgomery Co, AL, in 1830

Amherst Co, VA (enlist) Harrison Co, OH, in 1819

vJashington Co, IN, in 1818

Oct 1785 Bedford Co, VA, in 1785 Callaway Co, MO, in 1833

unknown Tazewell Co, VA, in 1822

unknown Montgomery Co, VA, '.in 1832

1784 Bedford Cd, VA, in 1819 Highland Co, OH, in 1831

c. 1780 Walton Co, GA, in 1832

unknown Bedford Co, Vft (enlist) Columbia, GA, post-war

unknown Marion Co, MO, in 1832

unknown Richmond Co, VA (birth) Pittsylvania Co, VA, in 1832

Feb 1783 Amherst Co, VA, in 1783 Casey Co, KY, after 1797

Nov 1790 Nelson Co, VA, in 1832

Oct 1782 Henry Co, VA, post···War

Dec 1787 Amherst Co, VA (birth & enlist) Caldwell (now Lyon) Co, KY, by 1814

TABLE 220 PENS I ON RECORDS

VIRGINIA, mostly Amherst County

service

18. 1776 3yrs

19. 1776 3yrs

20. 1776 3yrs

21. 1776 3yrs?

22. 1776 militia 1776 3yrs

23. 1776 3yrs

24 .. 1776 3yrs

+ 25. 1776 3yrs

26. 1776 3yrs 1780 militia

27. 1776 3yrs

28. 1776 3yrs

+ 29. 1776 3yrs

30.. 1776 3yrs

31. 1776 3yrs 1779 ~1ar?

32. 1776 3yrs 1779 militia 1780 militia

33. 1776 3yrs 1779 war

birthdate

1745

1748

Feb 1752

1752

1753

1753

1753

1755

1755

1759

Jan 1760

1760

1762

unknown

unknown w

unknown w

CONTI UN ED

married 1 ocati on

unknown Mercer Co, KY, in 1818 Putnam Co, IN, in 1832

Aug 1785 Patrick Co, VA, in 1785 Nelson, Co, VA, in 1820

c. 1777 Caldwell Co, KY, in 1782

unknown Franklin Co, GA, in 1832

unknown Buckingham Co, ,VA (residence) Amherst Co, VA (enlist) Madison, Co, AL, in 1832

unknown Ulster Co, NY, in 1810

unknown Madison Co, GA, in 1832 Lowndes Co, 1\1, in 1842

unknown King & Queen Co, VA (enlist) Spotsylvania Co, VA, by 183?

Oct 1780 Nelson Co, VA, in 1832

c. 1779 Rockingham Co, NC, in 1832

Apr 1787 Cumberland Co, VA, in 1787 Burke Co, NC, in 1821

unknown Spotsylvania Co, VA (enlist) Spotsylvania Co, VA, in 1832

unknown Culpepper Co, VA (birth) Amherst Co, VA (enlist) Spencer Co, IN, in 1833

unknown Rutherford Co, TN, in 1828

Jan 1784 Culpepper Co, VA, in 1784 Nelson Co, VA, in 1829

1787 Pittsylvania Co, VA, in 1787 Warren Co, KY, in 1812

TABLE 220 PENSION RECORDS

VIRGINIA, mostly Amherst County

service

34.. 1776 3yrs

35. 1776 3yrs

36.* 1776 militia 1777 war

37" 1777 2yrs

38 .. 1777 3yrs

39. 1777 3yrs

40. 1777 3yrs

41. * 1777 3yrs 1781 militia 1781 militia

42. 1777 3yrs

43. 1777 war

44. 1777 war

45 .. 1777 war

46.* 1777 militia 1778 lyr 1780 militia 1781 militia

47. 1778 2yrs 1780 militia

birthdate

unknown w

unknown w

1755

1758

1752

1757

Jul 1758

1759 (or 1762)

Mar 1760

Nov 1752

1753

unknown w

1756

Mar 1757

CONTINUED

married location

Dec 1785 Amherst Co, VA, in 1785 Lincoln Co, KY, in 1789 Washington (now Marion) Co, KY,

by 1819

1775 Amherst Co, VA, in 1830

unknown King & Queen Co, VA (birth) Amherst Co, VA (infancy) Botetourt Co, VA (enlist, 1776) Rockbridge Cc, VA (enlist, 1777) Rockbridge Co, VA, in 1832

unknown Nelson Co, VA, in 1828

1785 Roane Co, TN, in 1832

Mar 1804 Oglethorpe Co, GA, in 1804 Franklin Co, GA, in 1821

unknown Hawkins Co, TN, in 1818

unknown Augusta Co, VA (enlist) Monroe Co, VA, in 1832

unknown Madi son Co, KY Adair Co, KY Jackson Co, AL Lincoln Co, TN, in 1832

unknown Perry Co, KY, in 1832

unknown Amherst Co, VA, in 1822

Dec 1785 Albemarle Co, Vft, in 1795

unknown

unknown

Rockbridge Co, VA (birth) Rockbridge Co, VA, in 1832

Nelson Co, VA, in 1834

TABLE 220 PENS ION RECORDS

VIRGINIA, mostly Amherst County

CONTINUED

SOURCES: Lenora H. Sweeny, 11.mherst County, Virginia, in the Revolutiof!_; J. T. McAllister, Virginia Militia in the Re~olutionary War

(marked as "*" in the above list) William A. Crozier, Virginia Cou~ty Records: Spotsylvania County,

1721-1800 (marked as "+" in the above list)

TABLE 221 PENS ION RECORDS

TENNESSEE, Maury County

service birthdate ---- occupation location_

1. 1775 2yrs Dec 1753 unknown Stafford Co, VP. (enlist) 1777 3yrs Scott Co, KY, by 1785

VA Maury Co, TN, by 1808 Giles Co, TN, by 1833

2. 1776 3yrs 1751 unknown Orange Co, NC (enlist) NC Maury Co, ;M, before 1830

Monroe Co, H!, by 1833

3. 1776 3yrs Apr 1758 unknown Cumberland Co, PA (enlist) PA North Carolina, by 1800

Eastern Tennessee, by 1811 Maury Co, TN, by 1820 Fayette Co, IL, by 1826

4. 1776 2yrs unknown farmer Culpepper Co, Vft (enlist) 1778 3yrs Maury Co, TN, by 1823

VA

5. 1777 2yrs? 1754 farmer Buckingham Co, VA (enlist) VA Maury Co, TN, by 1824

6 .. 1777 3yrs 1755 cooper Maury Co, TN, by 1826 NC

7. 1777 2yrs? 1756 farmer Madison Co, KY, by 1790 VA Maury Co, TN, by 1812

Rutherford Co, TN, by 1820

8. 1777 3yrs 1757 farmer Charles Co, MD (birth) VA Halifax Co, VA (enlist)

Richmond Co, NC, after 1780 Maury Co, TN, by 1806

0 1777 3yrs 1759 farmer Maryland (enlist) ;.

VA Abbeville Dist, SC, by 1790 Maury Co, TN, by 1807 Williamson Co, TN, by 1823

10. 1777 3yrs 1766 unknown South Carolina, by 1788 VA Williamson Co, TN, by 1810

Maury Co, TN, by 1816

11. 1778 lyr 1744 unknown Charlotte Co, VA (enlist) 1781 militia Ninety-Six Dist, SC, in 1790

VA Maury Co, TN, by 1818 Lawrence Co, TN, by 1826

TABLE Z2 J

PENS ION REC OROS

TENNESSEE, Maury County

CONTINUED

SOURCE: Marise P. Lightfoot, Let the Drums Roll: Veterans and Patriots of the Revolutionary War Who Settled in Maury-Cou!!.!:x_,_ Tennessee

U.S.G.P.0 .• soa .. 944. 1988