"Find them and fix them!" a moto often used by our Revolutionary War Graves Committee.  First you have to find them.  So, how do we get started?

Locating a grave site can be a real challenge.  A name or list of names can get you on your way.  Next develop a list of resources that can aid in the process.  Use known references, such as the DAR Patriot Index, State Archives, State sources for family histories, County histories, historical societies, published family histories, or Church histories, just to name a few.

Some areas, such as Georgia, Indiana, Wisconsin and Texas have published books or a listing (necrology) of graves in their states.  Not all locations of graves are listed, but there are ways to develop this.  The main rule is to keep asking questions until you get the answer.

Georgia has a unique reference, Georgia Revolutionary Soldiers & Sailors, Patriots & Pioneers that contains the names of over 4,500 Patriots.  This publication, in two volumes, lists a considerable number of Patriots, as Georgia was the only state to have a land lottery following the American Revolution.  Revolutionary War Veterans received land for their service and many took advantage of this opportunity that began in 1818.

Another helpful source is the CD, SAR Revolutionary War Graves Register 2000 Edition.  This aid provides the names of all SAR & DAR reports of graves and those whose location have been identified countrywide.

In Vermont, refer to Fisher and Fisher's publication for a listing of all Soldiers, Sailors and Patriots buried there.

The SAR Microfilm records located at Headquarters is another great place for your research.

Other resources that can be used are County Cemetery publications, county Cemetery Maps and County Cemetery Commissions.  Department of Transportation maps are especially helpful as they identify the location on the ground by small dotted rectangles with a cross inside.

Providing notices in local newspapers or Historical Societies newsletters can bring surprising results.  It seems that everyone who has knowledge of Patriot graves is willing to provide information if they are aware of your search.

Sometimes the issue of how to validate Revolutionary War Service arises.   Revolutionary War Service records are an excellent validation of a Patriot's service.   However, these records were "compiled" after the Civil War and are fragmentary.   Many records were lost in a fire that occurred on November 10, 1800 in the office that the Secretary of War occupied.  Other records were lost or destroyed in 1814 when government buildings in the capital were sacked by the British.   So...the absence of a service record does not mean that he didn't serve.   Also, we can assume that we could also mark the grave of a Patriot who did not serve, such as the famous Nancy Hart and daughter Sukey Hart in Wilkes county, Georgia or Molly Pitcher at the Battle of Monmouth who would qualify for a supplemental.   There would be no record of their "service."

The last source for validation is from Revolutionary War Pension Records that will provide a broader base of the participation of the Patriot.  These and the Service Records indexes are published and are available at most genealogy-based libraries.  They will provide a file number that can be used to obtain a record from the microfilm record at the National Archives.

Requests for service records and pension records must be requested by using one of the forms listed below.  When completed, order from

The cost is:
Form 85 bounty Land Records $17.25
Form 85 Pension Records $37 (full) or $14.75 (packet)
Form 86 Military Service Record $17

Forms may be ordered from website or inquires sent to inquire@nara.gov    Use of a charge card will bring good results.  If no record is found, there is no charge.

Sources, such as the DAR/SAR Patriot Index, County Histories, publications by County Historical Societies, Church Histories, Necrology records and depending on the information provided, publications by historians, such as Bobby Gilmer Moss who catalogued all known Patriots who fought at Cowpens, Kings Mountain, South Carolina and Moores Creek Bridge, North Carolina.

The bottom line is that there are a number of sources to validate a Revolutionary War Patriot service (or supporter of the War for Independence) Use them all.