The Revolutionary War deserves special notice for the manner in which records were kept. For this war, records on the American side were kept in the individual colonies, rather than by a central government. Information on British soldiers and units (as well as on claims made by loyalists) is available through the Public Records Office in London, England. British muster rolls have been microfilmed, making them available in Family History Centers and the National Archives. However, for more background information on the units, including personal unit diaries, you must visit the Public Records Office itself.