Muster Roll
The Most Complete Commander-in-Chief Guards Muster Roll Known to Exist
This completed muster roll for the Commander-in-Chief Guards is the result of years of effort by Donald N. Moran, author of numerous published articles on the War for Independence. There have been many twists and turns in trying to complile an accurate roll.
For example, at the end of the war, Washington put his guard on furlough, and replaced them with a detachment drawn from the second New Hampshire Line. Unfortunately, the new commander of the Guard, B. Howe, listed only the surnames of the men. Fortunately, one of the Guards, Asa Redington, kept a comprehensive journal which identified the given names of some of these men. By comparing Redington's roster with Howe's and bumping them against the regimental rosters, he was able to determine the possible Christian names of those missing. By going through the pension records of these men, he was able to identified the majority of them.
Since he first published the roster, although incomplete and without sources, the chapter has received numerous inquiries, at least one per month. Unfortunately, the majority were folks trying to prove their ancestors had served as a member of the Guard, when they were not. In most instances the patriot stated in his pension application that he served as a "body guard" to General Washington, which is probably true, but being assigned to the General on a temporary basis did not make them a member of the Guard. Most were cavalry or provost.
After 1777 the Commander-inChief Guard was strictly Light Infantry, the cavalry portion of the Guard having been transferred to the 3rd Continental Light Dragoons. Hence when the General rode off, he was usually escorted by whatever mounted unit was available, hence these patriots were serving as "body guards."
Up until now, we could not be sure, as the roster was not complete. We can now respond that if your ancestors name is not listed, he was not a member of the Commander-in-Chief Guard.