2026.07.01 – Strategy: Loyalist and Patriot Claims

Strategy: Loyalist and Patriot Claims
By Dale E. Lee and AI
2026.07.01

Loyalist and Patriot Claims

The American Revolution dramatically reshaped lives, allegiances, and landscapes. While we often focus on the soldiers and battles, the war also produced a vast paper trail left by those who made legal claims; both Loyalists, who remained faithful to the British Crown, and Patriots, who supported the American cause. These claims for compensation, property, or restitution offer an extraordinary but lesser-known genealogical resource, often revealing rich personal details, family networks, land ownership, losses, and political affiliations.

For researchers tracing ancestors in the Revolutionary period, investigating these Loyalist and Patriot claims can open up new windows into motivations, migrations, and family circumstances that traditional military records may not reveal.

What Were These Claims?

Loyalist Claims

Loyalists; those who opposed American independence; often faced persecution, loss of property, or exile during and after the war. Many fled to Canada, the Caribbean, or Britain. To seek compensation for their loyalty and the losses they endured, Loyalists could file claims with the British government under the Loyalist Claims Commission (established in 1783). These were detailed, sworn statements of property taken, destroyed, or abandoned.

Claimants had to prove:

• Their loyalty to the Crown
• The circumstances under which they lost their property
• Their character, occupation, and financial losses

Often these claims included witness statements, family details, and inventories of property, which now serve as detailed biographical records.

Patriot Claims

Patriots also made claims; sometimes to state governments, sometimes to Congress; for compensation for military service, supplies provided to the war effort, or damages suffered. These are found in state auditor files, pension claims, and continental certificates.

Though less centralized than the Loyalist claims, these records can include:

• Receipts and vouchers for goods and services
• Affidavits describing battles or injuries
• Documentation of property damage due to military campaigns
• Requests for land or pension compensation

Why These Claims Matter for Genealogy

These records can provide:

• Names of family members and neighbors who supported (or opposed) the claimant
• Detailed property descriptions; homes, tools, crops, livestock
• Migration details; especially for Loyalists resettling in Canada, the Caribbean, or Britain
• Occupation and financial status
• Signatures or personal marks
• Political and religious affiliations
• Descriptions of community involvement, especially for those who supplied troops

Even in cases where a claim was rejected, the paperwork can offer a closer look at your ancestor’s personal world in the wake of the Revolution.

Where to Find Loyalist Claims

1. British National Archives (Kew, UK)

The Audit Office (AO) 12 and AO 13 series includes claims submitted by Loyalists after the war, including depositions, inventories, and testimonies.

• AO 12: Memorials (the actual claims)
• AO 13: Evidence submitted (depositions, witness statements)

Available at:

• The National Archives (UK)
• Microfilm at major libraries
• Digitized in part on:
  • Ancestry.com – UK, American Loyalist Claims, 1776–1835
  • Loyalist Collection at UNB (University of New Brunswick)

2. Library and Archives Canada

For Loyalists who resettled in Canada, many received land grants or assistance. These files include:

• Land petitions
• Muster rolls
• UE (United Empire Loyalist) certificates

Look at:

• Library and Archives Canada – Loyalist Records
• Ontario Land Records Index
• “Upper Canada Land Petitions” database

Where to Find Patriot Claims

1. State Archives

Many Patriot claims were filed at the state level. Look for:

• Auditor General’s records
• Revolutionary War pension applications
• Certificates for military or civil service
• Claims for damages or wartime losses

Examples:

• Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts
• North Carolina Revolutionary Army Accounts
• South Carolina Council Journals and Indent Books

Some of these are digitized through:

• Fold3 – Revolutionary War Service Records
• American Memory Project (Library of Congress)

2. National Archives (U.S.)

While many Patriot claims were at the state level, the U.S. National Archives holds:

• Pension and bounty land warrant applications (especially for federal troops)
• Continental Congress financial claims and requisition lists

Search Record Groups (RG):

• 15 – War Department: Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files
• 233 – Continental Congress Papers (claims and financial records)

Additional Source Detail

Loyalist Claims

1. The National Archives (UK) – Audit Office Records

• Record Series:
  • AO 12: Memorials (claims for losses)
  • AO 13: Supporting evidence and depositions
• These claims include inventories, testimonies, and witness statements filed by Loyalists after 1783.

Access:

• The National Archives, UK – Research Guide on Loyalists
• Digitized on:
  • Ancestry.com – UK, American Loyalist Claims, 1776–1835
  • Findmypast – British Loyalist Claims 1776–1831

2. The Loyalist Collection at the University of New Brunswick (UNB)

• A rich collection of microfilmed materials on Loyalist resettlement in Canada and the Caribbean.
• Includes:
  • Land petitions
  • Muster rolls
  • Correspondence
  • Legal claims

Access:

• The Loyalist Collection at UNB
• Includes search tools and collection descriptions

3. Library and Archives Canada (LAC)

• Contains records of Loyalists who resettled in British North America (especially Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick).
• Record types:
  • Land Petitions
  • Military muster rolls
  • UE (United Empire Loyalist) Certificates

Access:

• Library and Archives Canada – Loyalist Records Overview
• Upper Canada Land Petitions (1763–1865)

4. United Empire Loyalists’ Association of Canada (UELAC)

• Maintains:
  • UE Certificates
  • Family histories
  • Loyalist lineage proofs and databases

Access:

• UELAC – Loyalist Directory
• UELAC Resources Page

5. American Loyalist Transcripts (New York Public Library)

• NYPL has compiled extensive transcripts of original Loyalist documents, especially from the New York region.

Access:

• NYPL Archives & Manuscripts Division
• Some indexed in WorldCat

Patriot Claims

6. State Archives (U.S.)

Most Patriot claims were filed at the state level. Common record types:

• Auditor General’s records
• State military accounts
• Land bounty claims
• Receipts and vouchers

Examples:

• Virginia State Library – Auditor of Public Accounts, Revolutionary War claims
• North Carolina State Archives – Army Accounts, 1777–1783
• Massachusetts Archives – Pay Rolls, Muster Rolls, Bounty and Loan Certificates

Access:

• Visit each state archive’s online catalog or digital collections
• Many state societies (e.g., the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society) also have indexed abstracts

7. National Archives (U.S.) – Pension and Bounty Land Applications

• Revolutionary War Pensions (Record Group 15) often include details of property loss, service claims, and affidavits.
• Look for:
  • Pension Application Files (S-series)
  • Bounty Land Warrant Applications (BLW-series)

Access:

• Fold3 – Revolutionary War Pensions and Bounty Land Warrants
• National Archives Catalog – search under “Record Group 15”
• [HeritageQuest Online] (often available through local libraries)

8. Continental Congress Papers and American Memory Collections

• Includes petitions, vouchers, and compensation requests submitted to Congress.
• Some are digitized in:
  • Library of Congress – American Memory Project
    • Papers of the Continental Congress
  • Founders Online (for claims involving major Revolutionary leaders)
    • Founders Online

9. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Genealogical Research System (GRS)

• While focused on Patriots, DAR applications and supporting documentation sometimes cite:
  • Land bounty claims
  • Service-related compensation
  • Local court petitions

Access:

• DAR GRS

10. University and Special Collections

• University libraries (like Yale, Harvard, and William & Mary) hold personal papers of Loyalists and Patriots that may include:
  • Legal claims
  • Compensation requests
  • Estate settlements affected by the war

Search:

• ArchiveGrid
• WorldCat
• Each institution’s online finding aids

Research Tips

Follow the Paper Trail Across Borders
If a Loyalist ancestor fled to Canada or England, you’ll likely need to look in multiple national archives to trace their story.

Study Neighbor and Witness Testimony
Witnesses were often neighbors or relatives. Their names may help build extended family trees or identify in-laws.

Check Both Sides of the Conflict
Families were sometimes split politically. One brother might have filed a Patriot land claim while another sought Loyalist restitution abroad.

Don’t Overlook Rejected Claims
Even unsuccessful claims often contain the richest detail, including arguments made, rebuttals offered, and further documentation to prove service or loyalty.

Conclusion

While military service records are a mainstay of genealogical research, Revolutionary War-era compensation claims provide a deeper, often more personal glimpse into the lives of your ancestors; whether they sided with the Patriots or the Crown. These records reveal not just names and dates, but lived experiences, property lost or earned, and the emotional and political cost of the war. By tracing these claims through American, British, and Canadian archives, genealogists can bring to light the untold stories of loyalty, loss, and legacy in Revolutionary America.

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