I am looking for service record information to validate to the Veterans Administration so as to place a government headstone on the grave of Bristol Bud Sampson a Revolutionary War Veteran and free African American. I have submitted a request to the Natio

Question

I am looking for service record information to validate to the Veterans Administration so as to place a government headstone on the grave of Bristol Bud Sampson a Revolutionary War Veteran and free African American. I have submitted a request to the National Archives in June 2023, but cannot seem to get beyond a message that they are working it. Any suggestions on what else might supply me with copies of the service records for this individual?

A1 Reference Branch · Answer

djpalmer 
 Thank you for posting your question in the History Hub! 
 We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War in Record Group 93 War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records. However, we were unable to locate a service record for Bristol Bud Sampson. Please note that this collection is incomplete. The service records were created by the War Department in the early 20th century from extant records among its files. Although a soldier may have served in the Continental Army or in a state militia unit during the Revolutionary War, it is possible that there will not be a service record for him. State archives and state historical societies can have more information. 
 We also located the series Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service in RG 15 Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs. There is a pension file for Bristol Sampson under the name Bristol Budd. The Revolutionary War Pension files have been digitized and are available using the National Archives Catalog. The direct link to his pension file is https://catalog.archives.gov/id/54094768 . 
 Sincerely, Archives 1 Reference Branch [RR1R-23-67414-AB]