Do You Have Any Revolutionary Roots?

Perhaps you have a family story or are just curious to learn if you have an ancestor who fought in the American Revolution. Before you jump back in time, trace your family history one generation at a time, moving from the present to the past.

Not sure how to get started? Visit our Getting Started guide for best practices.

Focus on branches of your family tree that lead you to ancestry in the American colonies during the 18th century. The average age of a soldier in the Revolution was between 18 and 35. Do you have ancestors who were born between 1735 and 1760? If the time and place match, delve more deeply into these individuals to learn if and how they participated in the Revolution.

Seach our databases to learn more about your colonial ancestors.

You may find that your ancestor served in the local militia or in the Continental Army, but there were many ways to support the Patriot cause beyond battlefield service, including signing oaths of allegiance to the new government​, rendering aid to wounded, furnishing supplies​, paying supply taxes, delivering a patriotic sermon, or participating in the Continental Congress and other wartime conventions and committees.

Loyalists (also known as Tories and Royalists) made up approximately 15-20% of the population along the eastern seaboard of America. They lived in all thirteen colonies and hailed from different social and economic groups, including Native Peoples (especially the Iroquois and later Mohawk), People of Color, new immigrants from Great Britain, Scots Irish, the merchant class, and descendants of Dutch settlers. They were a diverse group with their own motivations for loyalty.

Women played important and varied roles in the American Revolution—from boycotting British goods to fundraising money for supplies to battlefield service as camp followers, nurses, and even soldiers. They were domestic diplomats, political correspondents, and spies. Many managed farms and businesses during wartime and provided essential logistical support on both sides.

Learn about the stories of women during the Revolution.