War of 1812 Ancestors? Check This FREE Database

Often referred to as America’s “Second War for Independence,” the War of 1812 was the first test on the world stage of the strength and unity of the newly-formed United States of America.

While it may be one of the least studied wars in American history, there are some excellent records of genealogical importance to be found by family historians researching that time period.

If you have ancestors who served in the Revolutionary War, there is a good chance that you also have ancestors who served in the War of 1812. One place to start your research is with the Ancestor Database of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812.

What is the N.S.U.S.D. of 1812?

Founded in 1892, the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 (a.k.a. N.S.U.S.D. of 1812) is a non-profit, non-political women’s volunteer service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and “preserving and increasing knowledge of the history of the American people by the preservation of documents and relics.”

For more than a century, members of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812 have dedicated themselves to patriotism, preservation of documents and relics, and education. These goals are as relevant in today’s society as they were when the organization was founded in 1892.

Notable members of the organization include American author Flora Adams Darling, who was the group’s founder and first president, and the outspoken Mrs. Reuben Ross Holloway, who led the campaign to make The Star-Spangled Banner the official National Anthem of the United States.

Today, the N.S.U.S.D. of 1812 has over 6,312 members in 43 state societies and 184 chapters.

And every one of those members has submitted an approved application with documentary evidence about their ancestors – including their War of 1812 ancestors – which is available to you in a limited database format online.

The Ancestor Database

The N.S.U.S.D. of 1812’s Ancestor Database contains over 40,000 records that have been officially verified by the Society. To protect the privacy of their members, only information about the patriot ancestor, his/her spouse, and the child through which the member is descended, is available online.

If you have visited the Ancestor Database in the past, you will find that it has changed quite a bit from its previous incarnation. Set up as a series of filterable Airtable cards, you are now able to scroll through ALL 40,000 records if you wish, or you can filter and sort the records to narrow your search. Mobile users cannot filter and sort the database, so you will want to perform your search using a computer.

In each record, you can expect to find some or all of the following information:

• The patriot ancestor’s first and last name; middle name if known
• The Ancestor ID number
• The patriot ancestor’s birth date and location, if known
• The patriot ancestor’s death date and location, if known
• State of service
• Military rank
• Brief description of the patriot ancestor’s service
• Information about the patriot ancestor’s pension, if one was received
• Name of the patriot ancestor’s spouse
• Name of the patriot ancestor’s child through which the member is descended
• The child’s spouse’s name, if known
• Notes from the Registrar National (if applicable)
• The member number may be found in the notes section of some cards

What should you do if you find an ancestor?

If you find your ancestor in the Ancestor Database, you should request a copy of the approved membership application(s) and supporting documentation, if available.

To do this, you should first check the record card for the name of the ancestor’s child. If you have already traced your lineage to the patriot ancestor – even if only roughly – it is helpful to find an application where the child of the patriot is also your ancestor. If you can’t find one, don’t worry.

Next, you should make a note of the Ancestor ID at the top of the card.

To order an application, visit the 1812 Memorial Library page and scroll down to “Copy Services.” Fill out the Library Services Request Form for each record you want to order.

What you may order:

• A copy of an approved N.S.U.S.D. of 1812 member application or supplemental – $10 each
• A copy of an ancestor file (supporting documents) – $10 for the first 20 pages + $.50 for each additional page per file

Be sure to keep a copy of the order form for your records. You will be contacted with the amount that is due. Once the research has been completed and your payment has been received, the scanned document(s) will be emailed to you.

Become a Member of the N.S.U.S.D. of 1812

Joining the N.S.U.S.D. of 1812 is a great way to honor your 1812 ancestor, as well as help descendants and family members who may be researching your patriot ancestor in the future.

Membership is open to all women, age eighteen and over, who can offer “satisfactory proof that they are lineal descendants of an ancestor who, during the period of 1784-1815 inclusive, rendered civil, military, or naval service to our country, rendered material aid to the U.S. Army or Navy, or who participated in the Lewis and Clark Expedition.” Girls and boys from birth through age 21 may join as Junior Members.

It’s important to note that military service in the War of 1812 isn’t the only path to membership. For a list of possible types of qualifying ancestor service, please visit the N.S.U.S.D. of 1812 website. Be sure to fill out the Member Interest Form so you can be matched with a chapter or state society in your local area and get started on the application process.

Wrap Up

Keep in mind that not all qualifying ancestors are listed in the Ancestor Database. Only those ancestors who have been referenced on approved N.S.U.S.D. of 1812 applications are included, so if your ancestor is missing, maybe YOU should fill out an application and make sure s/he is remembered!

Even if you have no interest in joining a lineage society, researching your War of 1812 ancestor’s service can help you better understand his/her life. You don’t want to miss out on the records that were left behind by America’s “Forgotten War.”

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