Associators
| Associators | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1689-1784 |
| Country |
 Great Britain,  United States
|
| Allegiance |
Great Britain, United States
|
| Branch | colonial militia, independent volunteers, military association, refugees, partisans, (auxiliary troops) |
| Type | infantry, dragoons (mounted infantry), artillery |
| Size | company-regiment |
| Engagements |
Maryland Protestant Revolution (1649-1692) King George's War (1744-1748) French and Indian War (1754-1763) American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
|
Maryland Protestant Revolution (1649-1692)
King George's War (1744-1748)
French and Indian War (1754-1763)
Associators were members of 17th and 18th century, volunteer, military associations, in the British American Thirteen Colonies and British Colony of Canada, more commonly known as, Maryland Protestant, Pennsylvania, and American Patriot and British Loyalist, colonial militias. There were other names, used to describe associators, such as "Associations", "Refugees", and "Volunteers", and "Partisans". The term, "Non-Associators", applied to American colonists, who refused to support and sign "military association" charters, were not affiliated with associators, or would choose instead, to pay a fine and suffer possible retaliation.
During King George's War, Benjamin Franklin, in 1747, wrote and published the pamphlet, Plain Truth, calling for a voluntary association to defend Philadelphia. This was in line with his earlier formation of volunteer fire-companies. This organization was formed and approved by the Council and the officers would be commissioned by the Council President. The 111th Infantry Regiment (United States) traces their lineage to these Pennsylvania Associators. In 1755 these groups were re-established in response to Braddock's Defeat.
In 1776, Pennsylvania, Patriot, volunteer, military groups, in the tradition of earlier, colonial, associator militias, used the name the Pennsylvania Associators and in 1777, were renamed the Pennsylvania State Militia.
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