American Patriot Associators Province of Pennsylvania In 1776, the
Province of Pennsylvania's Patriot, volunteer, military groups, in the tradition of earlier, colonial, associator militias, used the name the
Pennsylvania Associators. The following year, in 1777, it was renamed the
Pennsylvania State Militia. • Hanover Associators (1774) • Bucks County Associators (1775-1776) • Lancaster County Associators (1775) • Northumberland County Associators (1776) • Artillery Battalion, Pennsylvania Militia (Philadelphia) (1747) • 4th Battalion of Philadelphia County Militia (1776) • Philadelphia Brigade of Militia (1747) • 2nd Battalion, Philadelphia Associators • 3rd Battalion, Philadelphia Associators
British Loyalist Associators 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". He was the first known black officer in North American military history.
Province of Georgia • Augusta Associators (
Augusta) (1781)
Province of Massachusetts • Loyal American Association (
Boston) (1775-1776) • Loyal Associated Refugees (1779) • Loyal Irish Volunteers (
Boston) (1775-1776) • Pepperell's Corps (
Boston) (1779-?) • Royal North British Volunteers (
Boston) (1775-1776)
Province of Maryland • Maryland Royal Retaliators (raised in
Philadelphia) (1780-1781)
Province of New Jersey •
Associated Loyalists, also known as Governor Franklin's Associated Loyalists (1780–1782) • Black Brigade (
Black Loyalists) led by Colonel Tye and later, Colonel
Stephen Blucke) (
Monmouth County) (1779-1783) • King’s Militia Volunteers (
Monmouth County) (1779–1780) •
Pine Robbers (outlaw gangs) (
New Jersey Pine Barrens) (1776–1783) •
Refugees (unit of New Jersey Royal Governor
William Franklin's Associated Loyalists and
Pine Robbers gang) (
New Jersey Pine Barrens), (
Ocean County) (1780–1782)
Province of New York •
Associated Refugees, also known as the
King's American Regiment) (
Long Island) (1776-1783) •
Brant's Volunteers (
New York) (1777-1779) •
De Lancey's Refugees (also known as "Cowboys" and part of
De Lancey's Brigade) (
Long Island) (1776-1783) • Hatfield's Company of Partisans (
Long Island) (1780–1782) • Loyal Refugee Volunteers (
Albany) (1779–1782)
Province of Pennsylvania •
Doan Gang (outlaws) (
Bucks County) (1774–1783)
Province of Rhode Island • Loyal Newport Associators (also known as the Loyal Newport Volunteers) (
Newport) (1777–1779)
Other Loyalist Associators • Robins Company of Partisans (
partisan irregulars) (1780-1782?) • Sharp's Refugee Marines (
marines - naval infantry force) (1779) • James Stewart's Company of Refugees (1780-1781) • Uzal Ward's Company of Refugees (1780-1783) ==Notable Associators==