The War of 1812: A Bicentennial Resource List
Related to the Great Lakes Basin, the St. Lawrence Valley,
and Lake Champlain.
Preston E. Pierce
Regional Archivist
Documentary Heritage Program
Rochester Regional Library Council
390 Packett’s Landing
Fairport, NY 14450
This project is supported by Documentary Heritage Program (DHP) funds provided
by the New York State Archives, State Education Department.
The War of 1812 had a huge impact on the development of Upstate New York, the
Province of Quebec, and Upper Canada (now known as the Province of Ontario). Its
political impact was as divisive as any conflict in recent history. Yet, the issues that
brought about the war, its sometimes complicated conduct, and its aftermath, seem
to be little understood south of the Canadian border. Even less understood are the
conflicting interpretations of those issues. Friendly as the United States and Canada
have been for a century and a half, there is still an undercurrent of competition, if not
hostility, that is manifest in any discussion of the War of 1812.
With the start of the wartime bicentennial years, there has been a small, but
noticeable upsurge in the number of publications about the War of 1812. Many more
of them have been produced in Canada than in the United States. In addition,
advances in digital technology; and the number of digitized “classics;” has made
many more books available. Recent developments in library service have made it
easier for the average person to get access to information about the war. This
reading list has been compiled to offer residents of the Genesee-Finger Lakes region a
point of departure for understanding the War of 1812.
The following selections are not meant to be a comprehensive research bibliography.
Rather, they are readily available sources. While a few of them were written for
children and schools, none of them are fiction. Most of them have been published
within the last twenty years, and some of them were published for a regional
audience. However, all of these sources are widely available in local and college
libraries. Many are still available from on-line book sellers, from local book stores, or the
original publishers. They represent US, British-Canadian, and Native points of view.
These books and Internet sites are offered as a resource to local librarians, archivists,
historians, museum educators, and teachers looking for perspectives on the war as
well as the documents, artifacts, and manuscripts in regional collections.
October 26, 2012
History Books
Altoff, Gerard T. Amongst My Best Men: African-Americans and the War of 1812. Putin-Bay, OH. The Perry Group. 1996.
Ansley, Norman. Vergennes, Vermont and the War of 1812. Brooke Keefer Limited
Editions. 1999. [Available from the bookstore of the Lake Champlain Maritime
Museum, Vergennes, Vt. Contact on-line at: http://store.lcmm.org/.]
Barbuto, Richard V. Niagara 1814: America Invades Canada. Lawrence, KS. Univ.
Press of Kansas. 2000.
Berton, Pierre. The Invasion of Canada. Vol. I 1812-1813. Boston. Atlantic Monthly
Press of Little, Brown and Co. 1980.
Borneman, Walter R. 1812 the War that Forged a Nation. New York. Harper Collins.
2004.
Cruikshank, Ernest. The Battle of Fort George. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. Niagara Hist.
Soc. 1990. [Reprint 1912.]
Cruikshank, Ernest. The Battle of Lundy’s Lane. 25th July, 1814. Third ed. [Niagara Falls,
ON.] Lundy’s Lane Historical Soc. 1984. [Reprint 1893.] Second ed.
Available on the Internet from Google Books at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=8lgvAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover
&dq=cruikshank+battle+of+lundy's+lane&source=bl&ots=TScxFo9_9y&sig=
iGODD4sXjCpqDxCf5gJleXQZLJg&hl=en&ei=cGy8TPPGMsT_lgeN9530DA&
sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=
onepage&q&f=false
Cruikshank, E. Drummond’s Winter Campaign 1813. Second ed. n.d. Niagara Falls,
ON. Lundy’s Lane Historical Soc.
Available on the Internet from Google Books at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=az8vAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover
&dq=drummond's+winter+campaign&source=bl&ots=yae7bKZxZs&sig=SF
NlBQ3hNaHM9gk446vaFv7NXZA&hl=en&ei=-mm8TIqaDcSBlAf95neDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBIQ6A
EwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
Dunnigan, Brian Leigh. A History and Guide to Old Fort Niagara. Youngstown, NY. Old
Fort Niagara Assn. 1990.
October 26, 2012
Errington, Jane. The Lion, the Eagle, and Upper Canada:
Ideology. Kingston, ON. McGill-Queen’s Univ. Press. 1987.
A Developing Colonial
Elliott, James E. Strange Fatality: The Battle of Stoney Creek, 1813. Montreal. Robin
Brass Studio. 2009.
Everest, Allen S. The War of 1812 in the Champlain Valley. Syrasuse, NY. Syracuse Univ.
Press. 2011
Fitz-Enz, David G. The Final invasion: Plattsburgh, the War of 1812’s Most Decisive
Battle. Lincoln, NB. Univ. of Nebraska Press. 2009.
Fredriksen, John C. War of 1812 Eyewitness Accounts : An Annotated Bibliography.
Westport, CT. Greenwood Press. 1997.
Gough, Barry. Fighting Sail on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay: The War of 1812 and its
Aftermath. Annapolis, MD. Naval Institute Press. 2002.
Graves, Dianne. In the Midst of Alarms: The Untold Story of Women and the War of
1812. Montreal. Robin Brass Studio. 2007.
This book includes stories of American, Canadian, British and aboriginal
women who experienced the War of 1812. The stories of these women
come from all walks of life; high, low, and extraordinary.
Graves, Donald E. The Battle of Lundy’s Lane: On the Niagara in 1814. Baltimore, MD.
Nautical and Aviation Pub. Co. of America. 1993.
Graves, Donald E. Field of Glory: The Battle of Crysler’s Farm, 1813. Montreal. Robin
Brass Studio. 1999.
Graves, Donald E. Where Right and Glory Lead! The Battle of Lundy’s Lane, 1814.
Montreal. Robin Brass Studio. 1997.
Hanks, Jarvis, Amasiah Ford and Alexander McMullen (Donald E. Graves, ed.). Soldiers
of 1814: American Enlisted Men’s Memoirs of the Niagara Campaign. Youngstown,
NY. Old Fort Niagara Assn. 1995.
Herkalo, Keith A. The Battles at Plattsburgh: September 11, 1814. Charleston, SC.
History Press. 2012.
Previously published as September Eleventh 1814: The Battles at
Plattsburgh. Plattsburgh, NY. Battle of Plattsburgh Assn. c2010.
October 26, 2012
Hickey, Donald R. Don’t Give Up the Ship! Myths of the War of 1812. Urbana, IL. Univ.
of Illinois Press. 2006
Hickey, Donald R. The War of 1812: A Forgotten Conflict. Urbana, IL. Univ. of Illinois
Press. 1989.
Hitsman, J. Mackay. (Updated by Donald E. Graves.) The Incredible War of 1812: A
Military History. Montreal. Robin Brass Studio. 1999.
Langguth, A. J. Union 1812: The Americans Who Fought the Second War for
Independence. New York. Simon and Schuster. 2006.
Lardas, Mark. Paul Wright, illus. Great Lakes Warships 1812-1815. New Vanguard 188.
Oxford. Osprey Pub. Ltd. 2012.
Latimer, Jon. Graham Turner, illus. Niagara 1814: The Final Invasion. Campaign 209.
Oxford. Osprey Pub. Ltd. 2009.
Latimer, Jon. 1812: War with America. Cambridge, MA. Belknap Press, Harvard Univ.
Press. 2007.
Leavey, Peggy Dymond. Laura Secord: Heroine of the War of 1812. Toronto. Dundum
Pr. Ltd. 2012.
Litt, Paul; Ronald F. Williamson and Joseph W. A. Whitehorne. Death at Snake Hill:
Secrets from a War of 1812 Cemetery. Ontario Heritage Foundation, Local History No.
3. Toronto. Dundurn Press. 1993.
The authors relate the discovery and reburial of the remains of soldiers
who had died during the American occupation of Fort Erie during the War
of 1812.
Lossing, Benson J. The Pictorial Field-Book of the War of 1812. New York. Harper and
Brothers. 1869.
Available on the Internet at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=itN2AAAAMAAJ&dq=pictorial+field+b
ook+of+war+of+1812&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=Z8_GLHH2qB&s
ig=a2RqiZt9HtZrwlGTSW2TJ1lO0yY&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false
McKenzie, Ruth. Laura Secord: The Legend and the Lady. Toronto. McClelland and
Stewart Ltd. 1971.
October 26, 2012
Magoc, Chris J. Erie Maritime Museum and U.S. Brig Niagara. Pennsylvania Trail of
History Guide. Mechanicsburg
Malcomson, Robert. A Very Brilliant Affair: The Battle of Queenstown Heights, 1812.
Annapolis, MD. Naval Institute Press. 2003.
Malcomson, Robert. Capital in Flames: The American Attack on York, 1813.
Annapolis, MD. Naval Institute Press. 2008.
Malcomson, Robert. Lords of the Lake : the Naval War on Lake Ontario, 1812-1814.
Annapolis, MD. Naval Institute Press. 1998.
Malcomson, Robert. Sailors of 1812 : Memoirs and Letters of Naval Officers on Lake
Ontario by James Richardson, Arthus Sinclair, Henry Kent and Barzallai Pease.
Youngstown, NY. Old Fort Niagara Assn. 1997.
Malcomson, Robert. Warships of the Great Lakes 1754-1834. Annapolis, MD. Naval
Institute Press. 2001.
Phifer, Mike. Lifeline: The War of 1812 Along the Upper St. Lawrence. Westminster, MD.
Heritage Books. 2008.
Ray, Frederic. Old Fort Niagara: An Illustrated History. Youngstown, NY. Old Fort
Niagara Assn. 1988.
Rosenberg, Max. The Building of Perry’s Fleet on Lake Erie 1812-1813. Harrisburg, PA.
Penn. Hist. and Museum Comm. 1997.
Riley, Jonathon. A Matter of Honour: The Life, Campaigns and Generalship of Isaac
Brock. Montreal. Robin Brass Studio. 2011.
Skaggs, David Curtis. Oliver Hazard Perry: Honor, Courage, and Patriotism in the Early
U.S. Navy. Annapolis, MD. Naval Institute Press. 2006.
Skaggs, David Curtis. Thomas Macdonough: Master of Command in the Early US
Navy. 2003.
Skaggs, David Curtis and Gerard T. Altoff. A Signal Victory: The Lake Erie Campaign
1812-1813. Annapolis, MD. Naval Institute Press. 1997.
Skeen, C. Edward. Citizen Soldiers in the War of 1812. Lexington, KY. Univ. Press of
Kentucky. 1999,
October 26, 2012
Stagg. J. C. A. Mr. Madison’s War: Politics, Diplomacy, and Warfare in the Early
American Republic 1783-1830. Princeton, NJ. Princeton Univ. Press. 1983.
Stuart, Reginald C. War and American Thought: From the Revolution to the Monroe
Doctrine. Kent, OH. Kent State Univ. Press. 1982.
Taylor, Alan. The Civil War of 1812: American Citizens, British Subjects, Irish Rebels, and
Indian Allies. New York. Alfred A. Knopf. 2010.
Turner, Wesley B. British Generals in the War of 1812: high Command in the Canadas.
Montreal. McGill-Queens Univ. Press. 2011.
Turner, Wesley B. (ed). The Military in the Niagara Peninsula. Eighth Annual Niagara
Peninsula History Conference. Ist Canadian Ed. St. Catharines, ON. Vanwell Pub. Ltd.
1990.
Turner, Wesley. The War of 1812: The War that Both Sides Won. Toronto, ON. Dundurn
Press. 1990.
Wilder, Patrick, Michael Wilder and the St. Lawrence-Eastern Ontario Commission.
Seaway Trail Guide to the War of 1812. Oswego, NY. Seaway Trail, Inc. 1987.
Books for Schools/Young Readers
Burns, Florence M. Keith Wilson (Series Ed). We Built Canada. John Beverley Robinson
and the War of 1812. Agincourt, Canada. Book Soc. Of Canada Ltd. 1984.
Clarke, Gordon. Documenting the War of 1812. Major Battles of the War of 1812. New
York. Crabtree Pub. 2012.
Divided into four chapters covering the main theatres of war, the book
includes colorful and simple maps locating the main events of the war.
There are many colorized primary source images. The publisher is
Canadian and there is a very even-handed approach to the war with
attention to the Canadian point of view. The 48-page book includes a
good chronology, a brief bibliography of excellent books for general
readers, a glossary and an index.
Flatt, Lizann. Documenting the War of 1812. Legacy of the War of 1812. New York.
Crabtree Pub. 2012.
The four chapters of this 48 page book consider the Treaty of Ghent; the
rise of nationalism in the US and Canada; the loss of Native land; and the
October 26, 2012
definition of the Us-Canadian border through treaties as well as through th
continued political influence of Britain. The book contains a useful
glossary, an index, and an extensive list of websites useful to students.
Isaacs, Sally Senzell. Documenting the War of 1812. What Caused the War of 1812?
New York. Crabtree Pub. Co. 2012.
Balanced coverage reflecting the views of both sides are presented in
this book. The publisher is Canadian, but the 48-page book is useful to
everyone and a concise to the varied causes of the war. Many colorized
primary source images are included. There is a glossary, a chronology, a
brief list of useful websites, and a short bibliography useful to general
readers as well.
Johnson, Robin. Documenting the War of 1812. Famous People of the War of 1812.
New York. Crabtree Pub. Co. 2012.
This is a collection of brief biographical sketches, profusely illustrated with
many contemporary images, that include British-Canadian, American,
and Native leaders. The book includes a chronology, index, and glossary.
It is organized geographically.
Mulhall, Jill k. Primary Source Readers.
Teacher Created Materials, Inc. 2005.
The War of 1812.
Huntington Beach, CA.
A short book (24 pps) that includes an excerpt from a document, or a
colorized primary source image on every page, the book is not a
compilation of primary source documents as upper level students and
many teachers would expect from the title. A one page glossary and a
one page index are included. Large print.
Robinson, Mary Alice Burke (ed). War of 1812. Perspectives on History Series. Carlisle,
MA. Discovery Enterprises, Ltd. 1998.
Reference Works
Chartrand, René. A Most Warlike Appearance: Uniforms, Flags and Equipment of the
United States in the War of 1812. Ottawa, ON. Service Publications. 2001.
This book is a reprinted and updated version of Chartrand’s 1992
publication below. Service Publications indicates that is will soon release
a companion book about British-Canadian uniforms and equipment.
October 26, 2012
Chartrand, René. A Scarlet Coat: Uniforms, Flags and Equipment of the British in
the War of 1812. Ottawa, ON. Service Publications. 2011,
Chartrand, René. (Gerry Embleton, Illus.) British Forces in North America 1793-1815.
Men-at-Arms #319. Oxford. UK. Osprey Pub. 1998.
Good illustrations of uniforms and equipment can be found in this slim
volume.
Chartrand, René. (Donato spedaliere, illus.) Forts of the War of 1812. Fortress 106.
Osprey Pub. Oxford. UK. 2012.
Chartrand, René. Uniforms and Equipment of the United States Forces in the War of
1812. Youngstown, NY. Old Fort Niagara Assn. 1992. [Now reprinted.]
Collins, Gilbert. Guidebook to the Historic Sites of the War of 1812. Toronto. Dundurn
Press. 1998. [New edition 2006.]
This guide covers all of the major sites and a great quite a few smaller
historic sites, many of which are no more than a historical marker or
monument. An excellent guide to sites in the US and Canada. However,
it does not cover any sites in New York between Sackett’s Harbor and
Niagara Falls. That said, it would be an excellent touring companion for
anyone interested in the war. It even covers some European sites. The
2006 edition has additional material on sites in Canada.
Emerson, George D. (comp.) The Perry’s Victory Centenary. Report of the Perry’s
Victory Centennial Commission. State of New York. Albany. J. B. Lyon Co. 1916.
This 309 page compilation of documents, programs, images, and
proceedings of the Perry Victory Centennial celebration was published a
century ago and is often a restricted reference book. However it is now
digitized and available on the Internet from Internet Archive at:
http://archive.org/details/perrysvictoryce00emergoog.
It can be
downloaded in pdf format free of charge.
Fredriksen, John C. The United States Army in the War of 1812: Concise Biographies of
Commanders and Operational Histories of Regiments, with Bibliographies of Published
and Primary Sources. Jefferson, NC. McFarland and Co. 2009.
Heidler, David Stephen (author) and Jeanne T. Heidler (ed). Encyclopedia of the War
of 1812. Annapolis, MD. Naval Institute Press. 2004.
October 26, 2012
Katcher, Philip. (Bryan fosten, Illus.) The American War 1812-14. Men-at-Arms #226.
Oxford. Osprey Pub. 1990.
Good illustrations of uniforms and equipment.
New York (State). Governor (1807-1817 : Tompkins). Historian. (Hastings, Hugh). Public
Papers of Governor Daniel Tompkins (Military). V. 1-3 Albany, NY. The State. 1902.
These volumes include transcriptions of Gov. Tompkins correspondence
relating to the War of 1812 and its causes. They were made by the State
Historian at the time. Print copies of all three volumes are difficult to find
in the area. WorldCat lists them as being only in the collection of Hobart
College. All three volumes can be downloaded as searchable PDF files
at the following Internet addresses (Google eBooks and Internet
Archive.).
[Vol. 1]
http://books.google.com/books/about/Public_papers_of_Daniel_D_Tom
pkins_gover.html?id=ZCkWAAAAYAAJ
[Vol. 2] http://archive.org/details/cu31924092898299
[Vol. 3] http://archive.org/details/publicpapersofda03newyuoft
New York (State). Historian. (Hastings, Hugh). Military Minutes of the Council of
Appointment. V. 1-4. Albany, NY. The State. 1901.
These four volumes contain the Council of Appointment’s confirmation of
the appointment of officers of the New York militia, 1783-1821. Just as the
governor appoints the officers of the National Guard today, so the early
governors appointed the officers of the New York militia. However, the first
state constitution required a Council of Appointment to confirm such
actions. The index for all four volumes is at the end of vol. 4. This
information should be used with care since appointments were often
made to fill vacancies in a county where the individual did not reside.
Brevet commissions are not included.
All four volumes can be downloaded in searchable pdf from the website
of the New York State Military Museum and the Division of Military and
Naval Affairs at:
http://dmna.ny.gov/historic/research/DigBooks/DigBooksIndex.htm
October 26, 2012
New York State Archives. Access to, and information about, collections related to the
War of 1812 is available on the Internet at:
http://www.archives.nysed.gov/aindex.shtml.
Family History Resources
Bilow, Jack (comp.). Whispers in the Dark. A War of 1812 Death Register. [Privately
published]. 2011.
This book lists dead, wounded, killed in action, and prisoners of War from
Vermont and New York in action along the Canadian border and Lake
Champlain. Approximately 20,000 soldiers are listed. In most cases their
ages, places of birth, residences, and dates and places of death are
listed. In many cases heirs of the dead are also listed. Extracted
information from the lists of “half-pay pensioners” is also listed together
with their heirs of record.
For sale by the compiler ($50.00; 8 Grace Ave., Plattsburgh, NY 12901), this
book cannot yet be found in regional library catalogues.
Blizzard, Dennis F. The Roster of the General Society of the War of 1812. Mendenhall,
PA. General Society of the War of 1812. 1989.
A dated list of members of the Society all of whom are descended from
a veteran of the War of 1812, this book includes the names of members
(not veterans) together with their membership numbers.
The Society website can be reached at:
http://www.societyofthewarof1812.org/membership.htm
The website includes information on membership applications, links to
other War of 1812 Internet sites, and other useful information.
Butler, Stuart L. “Genealogical Records of the War of 1812.” Prologue [The Journal of
the National Archives.] Winter 1991, Vol. 23, No. 4. Winter 1991. Available on the
Internet at: http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1991/winter/war-of1812.html.
This article, published twenty years ago and probably dated, provides
advice and guidance on family history research in the National Archives,
in particular.
October 26, 2012
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Muster Rolls of the Pennsylvania Volunteers in the
War of 1812-1814. Baltimore, MD. Genealogical Publishing Co. 1967.
Reprinted from the original based on Series 2, Vol. XII, Pennsylvania
Archives, this 560 page list of Pennsylvania units is organized by unit and
indexed by the surname of the veteran.
The original 1880 state publication is now available on-line as a pdf file
that can be downloaded free of charge at:
http://archive.org/details/musterrollsofpen01egle.
Johnson, Herbert T. State of Vermont.
Baltimore, MD. Clearfield Co. 1995.
Roster of Soldiers in the War of 1812-14.
A reprinted version of a 1933 publication, this 474 page list includes brief
paragraph citations for each known Vermont veteran and a few civilian
officials. Citations are made to War Department and Pension Bureau
Records, as they were known in 1933.
New York State. Adjutant General’s Office. Index of awards on claims of the soldiers
of the War of 1812. Albany. The state. 1860. [Reprinted for Clearfied Co. by
Genealogical Pub. Co. 1969, 1994.]
The hardcopy forms of this publication are out of print, although many
regional libraries have copies of the reprint. The contents have been
scanned or transcribed and placed on the Internet. This site is free of
charge: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ny/state/warof1812/index.html.
New York State Archives. War Service Records and Searches. New York State Archives
Information Leaflet #4 . On the Internet at:
http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/research/res_topics_mi_warsvc.shtml.
This page includes information on access to all military service records at the
New York State Archives. It specifically addresses requests for information on
the War of 1812.
Newberry Library. Chicago. War of 1812 Resources. List available in the Internet at:
http://www.newberry.org/genealogy/Warof1812.html.
According to its introduction, “this bibliography contains a portion of the
Newberry's resources on the War of 1812. You may want to search the
online and card catalogs to find additional resources. The subject heading
"United States - History - War of 1812" will provide a number of useful items.”
The Newberry Library is a large, private, research library in Chicago
October 26, 2012
renowned for his local and family history resources. The list of resources
presented includes military service, pension, and state resources. No
references for New York State military service are included.
Pearson, Gardner W. Records of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia in the War of
1812. Baltimore, MD. Clearfield Co. 1993.
A reprinted version of a 1913 Massachusetts state document then
published by the state Adjutant General’s Office.
The 448 page
document is fully indexed by the surname of the soldier. The main text is
organized by militia unit.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Bureau of Archives and History.
Pennsylvania State Archives. RG-2 Records of the Department of the Auditor General.
WAR OF 1812. INDEX OF SOLDIERS, undated {series #2.61}. Available on the Internet at:
http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r2-61War1812Index/r261%20WarOf1812Interface.htm.
This portal allows users to download, or read on screen, the five volumes of
collected information on Pennsylvania soldiers.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. War of 1812 Records at the
Pennsylvania State Archives. Available on the Internet at:
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/military_records/3186/war_
of_1812/388404.
This site provides on-line access to information about the following
records:
War of 1812 Index of Soldiers (Images) (Record Group 2, microfilm roll
#1)
War of 1812 Militia Accounts, 1812-1838 (Record Group 2, microfilm
rolls#23-29 cover the years 1812-1827)
Records of Final Settlement with the United States, 1812-1838 (Record
Group 2, microfilm rolls #3938-3939)
Pension File, 1866 (1866-1879)-1896 (Record Group 2)
Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Volumes VII-IX (microfilm rolls
#3571-3573)
Pennsylvania Archives, Seventh Series (name index to Sixth Series,
microfilm rolls #3574-3575)
The records, themselves, are not available on-line. This is a finding aid.
October 26, 2012
Peterson, Clarence Stewart. Known Military Dead During the War of 1812. Baltimore,
MD. Clearfield Co. 1995.
This slim 74 page booklet includes the names of known US military dead
compiled from a variety of sources, but not noted for each name.
Random checks revealed a high degree of accuracy.
Originally
published in 1955. A lengthy bibliography is included.
United States. National Archives. National Archives and Records Svc. Gen. Svc.
Admin. Microfilm Publications 313. Index to War of 1812 Pension Application Files. 102
rolls. [Available as 102 scanned files in Adobe pdf format.]
These images consist of the faces of the envelopes containing War of
1812 pension application files. Generally, the fact of each envelope
provides the name of the veteran, the pension claim/file number, and
other identifying information including marriages. There are sometimes
cross-references to veterans’ names that appear under more than one
spelling and for names of substitutes. Each film provides the index
information for a portion of the alphabet.
United States. National Archives. National Archives and Records Svc. Gen. Svc.
Admin. War of 1812. Military Bounty Land Warrants. 1815-1858. Roll 3. Warrants
Issued Under the Act of May 6, 1812. V. 15-22. Microfilm Pub. M848. [Available
as scanned microfilm rolls in pdf format.]
This publication includes 14 rolls reproduced from 105 bound volumes
containing two series of military bounty land warrants issued between
1815 and 1858 to veterans of the War of 1812, and four volumes of
indexes to the warrants. Available on the Internet through Internet
Archive at: http://archive.org/details/warof1812militar03unit.
Internet Resources
Archives of Ontario.
The War of 1812.
Available on the Internet
http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/1812/index.aspx.
The site includes an extensive collection of primary sources including
images relating to the War of 1812 and its impact on Upper Canada
(Ontario). The site also includes extensive information about the many
private and public archives from which the material was drawn.
October 26, 2012
at:
{Cruikshank, Earnest.]
Internet Archive.
Available on the Internet at:
http://archive.org/search.php?query=creator%3A%22Cruikshank%2C%20E.%20A.%20(E
rnest%20Alexander)%2C%201854-1939%22.
This Internet Archive page has links to many, if not most, of the books and
papers published by Earnest Cruikshank over the years. Cruikshank’s
publications on the American Revolution (Loyalists, in particular) and the
War of 1812 from the Canadian point of view are significant sources of
information.
Library and Archives Canada. From Colony to Country: A Reader’s Guide to
Canadian
Military
History.
Available
on
the
Internet
at:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/military/025002-2100-e.html.
This site provides links to a wide variety of Canadian and US websites
and institutions holding images, documents, and secondary material
relating to the War of 1812 and other conflicts affecting Canada. There
are also links to the Internet sites of Canadian historic sites and parks
related to the War of 1812.
Library and Archives Canada. The War of 1812 at Library and Archives Canada.
Available on the Internet at: http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/war-1812-libraryarchives-canada.aspx.
Among the resources available are several digitized series of documents
relating to military (especially Canadian militia)affairs, claims, and other
“miscellaneous” records. The digitized records and be searched and
read on screen.
Library of Congress. Drexler, Kenneth (comp). A Guide to the War of 1812. Available
on the Internet at: http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/1812/.
Library of Congress. Primary Documents in American History.
Available on the Internet at:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Ghent.html.
Treaty of Ghent.
National Archives. Military Resources. War of 1812. Available on the Internet at:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/Ghent.html.
October 26, 2012
New York State Archives. Military Collections. War of 1812. 1812-1814.
http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/digital/images/about/about_military_1812.shtml.
This on-line collection consists of a small number of instructional lantern
slides of images, scenery, sites, and structures relating to the New York’s
role in the War of 1812.
New York State Archives. Research Tip #17.
http://www.archives.nysed.gov/a/research/res_tips_017_1812_claims.shtml.
The NYS Archives holds War of 1812 Abstracts of Payrolls for New York State
Militia (series B0810), as well as claim applications and certificates for
service in the War of 1812 (series A0020, and A3352). The Archives does
not have original muster rolls.
Veterans filed claims stating war service to obtain reimbursement for
clothing, arms, and equipment furnished at the soldier's expense. Index of
Awards on Claims of the Soldiers of the War of 1812 (Albany: 1860; repr.
1969, 1994) indexes the certificates by soldier's name and is available in
the Research Room. Mentioned above under “Family History Resources,”
the reprints of the index are commonly available in regional libraries.
Researchers can download and mail in a state archives War Service
Records Request Form to purchase photocopies of War of 1812 payroll
cards and/or veterans' claims.
Oliver Hazard Perry Resources. Downloadable from Internet Archive. Available on the
Internet at:
http://archive.org/search.php?query=subject%3A%22Perry%2C+Oliver+Hazard%2C+17
85-1819%22
This site includes links to a variety of print, documentary, and microform
resources related to the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie and Oliver Hazard Perry.
They can be freely used by teachers.
Roland, Jon (ed). Selected Works of James Madison. Available on the Internet at:
http://www.constitution.org/jm/jm.htm
Thewarof1812.com website. Documents of the War of 1812. Available on the Internet
at:
http://www.thewarof1812.com/Warof1812documents/documentsonthewarof1812.ht
m
This site is divided into several very useful sections that include documents,
images and other information.
October 26, 2012
Timeline. War of 1812 Almanac. Available on the Internet at:
http://www.thewarof1812.com/Warof1812Almanac/timelineofthewarof1812.htm
[Pierce, Preston E.] War of 1812 on Lakes Erie, Ontario and Champlain: A map of War
of 1812-1814 battle sites and fortifications on or around Lakes Erie, Ontario, and
Champlain and along the St. Lawrence River. Available on the Internet at:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=10033036212687416
4495.0004700aa644a172f463b&z=7.
This GoogleMap site is maintained by its creator, Preston E. Pierce.
Yale Law School. Lillian Goldman Law Library. “War of 1812 and Associated
Documents.” The Avalon Project: Documents in Law, History and Diplomacy.
Available on the Internet at: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/br1814m.asp
Local Sources of Documents
Ontario County. Dept. of RAIMS. Petitions from soldiers seeking pensions for service in
the War of 1812 can be found in the miscellaneous collection of military records. Also
several militia muster rolls for 1811-1814 as well several original officer’s commissions
from the governor.
October 26, 2012
© Copyright 2026 Paperzz