The Ohio History Connection and America250-Ohio are asking volunteers to help locate Revolutionary War veterans’ graves across Ohio ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Historians estimate about 7,000 soldiers are buried in the state; volunteers have documented more than 4,100 so far using the Survey123 app. The project aims to publish findings and encourage restorations or new markers, though moved remains and family memorials complicate the search.
Ohioans Race to Find Undocumented Revolutionary War Soldiers Ahead of America 250
Ohio's State Preservation Office searches for Revolutionary War heroes through an app.(Fox News)
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, Ohio has launched a grassroots effort to identify and honor Revolutionary War veterans buried across the state. The Ohio History Connection, in partnership with America250-Ohio, is asking residents to help locate and document these early settlers before a Memorial Day deadline.
Thousands of Early Ohioans, Many Graves Unmarked
Historians estimate that roughly 7,000 Revolutionary War soldiers are buried in Ohio. After the war, many veterans received land grants and moved west, settling on parcels that are now part of the state. Volunteers have already recorded more than 4,100 burial sites in the project's database, but organizers hope to get much closer to the estimated total.
America250-Ohio and Ohio's State Preservation Office begin project to identify Revolutionary War heroes.
How the Project Works
The Revolutionary War Veterans Graves Project uses the Survey123 mobile app to collect consistent, verifiable data. Volunteers who find a potential grave submit information through a structured form that requests the veteran's name, birth and death dates (if known), and photographs of the marker or site. Survey123 is available for download on common mobile platforms.
Krista Horrocks, project manager, historian and cemetery preservationist with the Ohio History Connection, said the veterans were among Ohio’s earliest residents and deserve recognition for their service.
Challenges: Moved Graves and Family Markers
Tracking down these graves can be complicated. Many families relocated remains and markers as cities grew and old cemeteries closed. Some family plots include memorial markers for ancestors who are actually buried elsewhere, which can lead to duplicate or misleading records.
Groups are looking for undocumented Revolutionary War heroes
Randy Rogers, executive director of Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, noted that his team had documented nine Revolutionary War veterans in the app, though he believes up to 13 are connected to the cemetery. Green Lawn—established in 1848—received remains and markers moved from earlier burial grounds as the city expanded.
A Public Record and Restorations
Once volunteers submit verified records, the project will compile and publish a searchable list of located graves. Organizers hope the data will prompt restored or new historical markers and gravestones for veterans who have been overlooked for generations.
How You Can Help
If you want to participate: download Survey123 on your mobile device, search for local cemeteries already documented in the project, and submit a survey for any undocumented Revolutionary War markers you find. Even small contributions—photos, dates, or cemetery names—help create accurate public records that communities can use to honor these veterans.
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