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Associators
Active1689-1784
Country Great Britain,  United States
Allegiance Great Britain,  United States
Branchcolonial militia, independent volunteers, military association, refugees, partisans, (auxiliary troops)
Typeinfantry, dragoons (mounted infantry), artillery
Sizecompany-regiment
EngagementsMaryland Protestant Revolution (1649-1692)

King George's War (1744-1748)

French and Indian War (1754-1763)

American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
Commanders
Notable
commanders

Associators were members of 17th and 18th century, volunteer, military associations, in the British American Thirteen Colonies and British Colony of Canada, more commonly known as, Maryland Protestant, Pennsylvania, and American Patriot and British Loyalist, colonial militias. There were other names, used to describe associators, such as "Associations", "Refugees", and "Volunteers", and "Partisans". The term, "Non-Associators", applied to American colonists, who refused to support and sign "military association" charters, were not affiliated with associators, or would choose instead, to pay a fine and suffer possible retaliation.

Maryland Protestant Associators

Main article: Protestant Revolution (Maryland)

Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Associators

During King George's War, Benjamin Franklin, in 1747, wrote and published the pamphlet, Plain Truth, calling for a voluntary association to defend Philadelphia. This was in line with his earlier formation of volunteer fire-companies. This organization was formed and approved by the Council and the officers would be commissioned by the Council President.[1] The 111th Infantry Regiment (United States) traces their lineage to these Pennsylvania Associators. In 1755 these groups were re-established in response to Braddock's Defeat.[2]

Associators in American Revolutionary War

American Patriot Associators

Main article: List of United States militia units in the American Revolutionary War

State of Connecticut

State of Maryland

State of New York

State of Pennsylvania

In 1776, Pennsylvania, Patriot, volunteer, military groups, in the tradition of earlier, colonial, associator militias, used the name the Pennsylvania Associators and in 1777, were renamed the Pennsylvania State Militia.

British Loyalist Associators

Main article: List of British units in the American Revolutionary War

Many, Loyalist irregulars, who fought with the British, in the American Revolutionary War, were "associators". These units were sometimes commissioned, by the commander in chief, but could also, be commissioned by the commander of a garrison or a royal colonial governor. They received no pay, and often no uniforms; they were usually issued provisions, but relied on labor or looting to earn money. Loyalist Associators often served in mixed-race units, composed of whites, escaped slaves, and even American Indians.

Perhaps, one of, the most famous, Loyalist associators was Colonel Tye, a former slave and leader of the infamous, "Black Brigade"; the first known, black officer, in North American military history.

Province of Georgia

Province of Massachusetts

Province of Maryland

Province of New Jersey

Province of New York

Province of Rhode Island

Other Loyalist Associators

Notable Associators

See also

References

  1. ^ Newland, Samuel J. The Pennsylvania Militia:Defending the Commonwealth and the nation, 1669-1870 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs (2002)pp36-45
  2. ^ The Pennsylvania magazine of history and biography, Volume 26. Retrieved Feb 27, 2010.
  • Farrelly, Maura Jane. Papist Patriots: The Making of an American Catholic Identity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.
  • Newland, Samuel J. The Pennsylvania Militia: Defending the Commonwealth and the nation, 1669-1870. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs, 2002.
  • Ryan, William R. The World of Thomas Jeremiah: Charles Town on the Eve of the American Revolution. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.
  • Seymour, Joseph. The Pennsylvania Associators, 1747-1777. Yardley, PA: Westholme Publishing, 2012. ISBN 978-1594161605.
  • Verenna, Thomas. "Explaining Pennsylvania's Militia", Journal of the American Revolution, June 17, 2014.
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