Ancestry adds UK, British Army Muster Books and Pay Lists, 1812-1817

New on Ancestry, selected muster books and pay lists covering the period from 1812 to 1817, during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. A few rolls go back as far as 1779 and also up to 1821. There are images of the original documents as well as an index.

The records are from the National Archives in the UK which has a useful research guide.

"Muster rolls and pay lists were troop lists taken on a monthly or quarterly basis for pay and accounting purposes and may provide enlistment dates, movements, and discharge dates of soldiers. For most regiments or units in this collection, records have been indexed from one muster roll per year. Rolls and lists not indexed may be browsed by category and piece description.
Records vary but may include the following details:

• name

• start date

• end date

• regiment

• where stationed

• rank

• pay"