“Enlightened” Soldiers–those who resigned, those who deserted, those who became spies for the other side, and those who were spies on both sides of the conflict. See Peter Force, American Archives, Series 5 and Series 6. Each volume in these series is well-indexed, so you can find documentation on your ancestors who fit these descriptions. These records are also available at http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=%22Peter%20Force%22 for free, and can be read online or downloaded in a variety of formats (PDF, text, Kindle, etc).
Americans Who Supported the King
Called Tories, Loyalists (Americans), U.E.L.’s (United Empire Loyalists, Canadians), and Royalists (England and its territories)–estimated, at least 50,000. Not all Americans believed the King and his government officials were wrong. After all, the King ruled by divine decree. New York and North Carolina had large loyal populations, Georgia had the highest number of Loyalists of all the Colonies.
Black List: A List of those Tories who took part with Great Britain in the Revolutionary War and were attained of High Treason–commonly called the Black List. Philadelphia: Printed for the Proprietor, 1802.
Bunnell, Paul J. Research Guide to Loyalist Ancestors: A Directory of Archives, Manuscripts, Published, and Electronic Sources. Westminster MD: Heritage Books, 2000.
Clark, Murtie June. Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1981. 3 volumes.
Dornfest, Walter T. Military Loyalists of the American Revolution: Officers and Regiments, 1775-1783. 2011. Available from McFarland & Company, Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640. Includes biographies of those from the 13 colonies, Canadian command, Caribbean basin, ad descriptions of the 4 command military organizations. In part, based on surviving original muster rolls. Very important source book–where the officer comes from often is the same place for his men.
Dwyer, Clifford S. Index to Series I–American Loyalists Claims. Index to AO 12, Series 1, 30 microform reels. Index to AO 13, Series 2, 145 microform reels. Microfilm located at Library West, University of Florida, Gainesville and at the Family History Library, Salt Lake City–American Loyalist Claims, 1730-1835.
Fitzgerald, E. Keith. Loyalist Lists: 2000 Loyalist Names and Families from the Haldimand Papers. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, 1984. Includes Returns of Refugee Loyalists who went to Quebec, Rolls of the various Rangers battalions from New York and New Jersey.
Lustenberger, Anita A., “Tenants of Commissioners of Sequestration in Westchester County, 1778-1783,” New York Biographical and Genealogical Record, Vol 123. Includes Loyalist who owned the property, the location, the Patriot who leased the land, and the rent paid annually. Very valuable record carried serially through several issues.
Palmer, Gregory, ed. A Bibliography of Loyalist Source Material in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. Westport CT: Meckler Publishing with the American Antiquarian Society, 1982. Preface by Robert A. East, Program for Loyalist Studies and Publications. Over 1,064 pages of sources identified and located for you. See also his edition of Lorenzo Sabine’s Biographical Sketches of Loyalists of the American Revolution. Originally published 1864; updated and revised 1984.
Van Dorn, Carl. Secret History of the American Revolution: An Account of the Conspiracies of Benedict Arnold and Numerous Others Drawn from the Secret Service Papers of the British Headquarters in North America, now for the first time examined and made public. New York: The Viking Press, 1941. The papers are deposited in the William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI.
Waddell, Louis M., etal. The Papers of Henry Bouquet. 5 volumes. Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1980-84. These volumes cover Bouquet’s appointment to the Royal American Regiment, 1756-1761. About 700-800 documents in each volume. In Volume 5, is “List of houses and inhabitants at Fort Pitt (pp. 407-21). This census identifies early settlers on the Pennsylvania frontier.
The actual published literature for a study of the Loyalists during the American Revolution is vast. These references will give you access to indexed name lists so you can determine if you had a Loyalist. And to the multitude of sources that document their activity. A careful study of the introductions and guides to these references will also identify specific areas where Loyalists resided. Then you can do a geographical search for Loyalist sources specific to locations you know your ancestors were connected with. Watch also for relationship and commercial ties to Loyalists mentioned at the leadership and officer level. Your favorite genealogist, Arlene Eakle http://arleneeakle.com
PS Stay tuned–there are lots more persons who participated in the American Revolution.