"Historical Register of Virginians in the Revolution., soldiers, 
sailors and marines, 1775-1783", by John Hastings 
Gwathmey:  Richmond, Va. 1938.

Introduction p. xi
"The recovery of the names of the Virginia soldiers who served in the 
Revolution has been a long process.  No such records were preserved 
in Virginia as in New England, with the result that the impression at 
one time prevailed that the former state did not have many troops in 
the Revolution.  The indifference of the Virginia people to the 
history of the state was responsible for this erroneous idea, which 
was so unfair to the patriots of the Old Dominion.
     To rectify the error and to do justice to Virginia in the 
Revolution, the State Library a number of years ago had lists 
prepared of Revolutionary soldiers.  The Bounty Warrant records 
supplied much of the material, but a hundred other sources were drawn 
on, including the lists in the War Department in Washington, which 
were photostated for the purpose.  Eventually two lists, embracing a 
good many thousand names, were prepared and published.
      The work did not end here.  Mr. McAllister prepared a list of 
militia which added many other names not known before.  And Mr. 
Gwathmey, by the labors of some years, has been able to add many 
other names, until a list that is at least approcimately complete is 
now given to the world.  No doubt other names will come to light from 
time to time, but there is no likelihood that Mr. Gwathmey's book 
will be greatly enlarged.  For persons interested in tracing the 
descendants of Virginia soldiers and to historians desiring to know 
Virginia's contribution to the American cause in the Revolution this 
volume is invaluable.
                                              H. J. Eckenrode
[Dr. H. J. Eckenrode, in 1912 and 1914, compiled the "Index of the 
Revolutionary records in the Virginia State Archives".].".

Key to Abbreviations and Symbols p. xiii
AB  =   An Account Book of 1775-76 in the State Library unindexed, 
referring to early service of many who appeared in later Revolutionary records.
BW =  Bounty Warrants.  Applications for grants of bounty land, a 
collection of loose manuscripts indexed in the State Library.
C    =  "Collin's History of Kentucky" an accredited work.
CL. =  Preceded by a numeral.  The 15 Virginia Regiments of the 
Continental Line.  Thus 10 CL refers to the Tenth Virginia Regiment, 
Continental Line
dmp. =  Declarations of Militia Pensioners.  Often inaccurate as to 
actual service, but included here because of genealogical data 
contained.  May of these, in more detail, are also to be found in J. 
T. McAlister's "Virginia Militia in the Revolution".
E.  =  "Index of the Revolutionary records in the Virginia State 
Archives", compiled by Dr. H. J. Eckenrode in 1912 and 1914.
EP. =   An unindexed lot of Executive Papers in the State Library 
containing recommendations for militia officers and other data.
IP.  =  The Illinois Papers.  A collection of rolls of militia and 
regulars in the Illinois Department now in the State Library, indexed 
in the State Archives.
mpl. =  Militia Pension List.  Compiled from a report of the 
Secretary of War in 1835, "Pensions", Volume II, of men receiving 
pensions for service as Virginia Militiamen.  Approximate ages in 
1833 and counties of residence at that time given, West Virginia 
still being a part of Virginia.
mss. =  [no definition given !]
nbll. =  Name appeared on Army Register but had not received bounty 
land.  An extensive compilation in the War Department.
pens. =  A pensioner, according to the report of the Secretary of War 
in 1835, "Pensions", Vol II.  Copy in State Archives.  Places of 
residence of pensioners after war given.
pet. =  Petitioners:  preceded by the name of a county.  Petitions 
presented to the Legislature.  A loose collection of manuscripts in 
the State Library filed by counties and indexed.
Pitts. =  A list of militia paid off at Pittsburg (Fort Pitt) in 
1775, indexed in the State Library.  It is probable that these were 
Colonial troops in Dunmore's War late in receiving their pay.  Their 
names are included here as interesting data, and it will be noted 
that practically all of them immediately joined the Revolutionary forces.
rec. =  Recommended.  Virtually synonymous with 'appointed" or 
"sworn" in regard to militia officers.  Recommendations for militia 
commissions were recorded in the county order books, and when issued 
by the Governor's Council the officers took oath.
Rom. =  A list of militia paid at Romney in 1775.  It is probable 
that these were Colonial troops late in receiving their pay.  It is 
noted that practically all of them immediately joined the army of the 
Revolution.
SP. =  State of Virginia papers in the War Department which one would 
expect to find in the State Archives.
T. =  Purporting to be all of the manuscripts in the State Library 
pertaining to George Rogers Clark, photostated and bound, but not 
indexed, Serial letters, volume numbers, and page numbers 
given.  Thus T-CV2P6 means Serial C, Volume 2, Page 6.
WD. =  War Department, emphasizing that the record is there.


Complete Alphabetical Listing of "CLAYTON"p156., plus alternate spellings.
CLAYTON, Augustin, Ky. pens
CLAYTON, Charles, Adjutant, 9 CL
CLAYTON, Daniel (Creighton) Sgt. 6 CL
CLAYTON, Elisha, Monongalia, 77 mpl.
CLAYTON, George, Corp. 1 CL.
CLAYTON, Henry, Adjutant 9 CL in Mch. 1778;  retired Spet. 30, 1778.
CLAYTON, Henry, Lieut., E.
CLAYTON, Henry, ref. 1780, mss.
CLAYTON, Jasper, Captain, July 18, 1776, "warrant issued to pay his 
militia company on duty at Gwynn's Island."  Captain, Gloucester Mil. 
in 1775; clerk to Gloucester Committee of Safety in 1775-6,  E.
CLAYTON, John, 2nd Lieut. 1 CL.  Oct 7, 1775;  1st Lieut. Feb 1776. Died 1826.
CLAYTON, John, Captain, Bedford Mil., oath Apr 24 1781.
CLAYTON, Joseph (Claton) Matross, 1st Artillery;  enlisted Feb. 7, 1777.
CLAYTON, Philip, Ensign 3 CL  July 4 1779;  Lieut. May 10, 
1780;  retired Jan.1, 1783.  Died 1807.  Awarded 2666 acres, and 444 
acres.  Culpeper BW.
CLAYTON, Philip, 8 CL.
CLAYTON, Philip, Lieut., mss.
CLAYTON, Phillip, 1 Light Dragoons; enlisted Apr. 18 1778.
CLAYTON, Phillip, 1 Light Dragoons; enlisted July 15, 1776, nbll.
CLAYTON, Samuel, Colonel of Culpeper Minute Men, Jan., 1776 AB.
CLAYTON, Samuel, Sgt., 2 CL.
CLAYTON, Thomas, Spotsylvania, took oath as Ensign Sept. 18, 1777; 
rec.as Lieut. Feb.21, 1782.
CLAYTON, Thomas Whiting, Lieut., Gloucester Mil., E
CLAYTON, William, Colonel, ref.  Nov. 28, 1776 in mss. County 
Lieutenant of New Kent, E.
CLAYTOR, Thomas, Inf., nbll.
CLEATON, John,   E.
CLEATON, Philip (Clayton)  8  CL.
CLATON, Philip (Clayton) 8 CL.
CLAYTOR, Thomas, Pvt., WD
CLAUGHTON, John, Northumberland Co., rec. as Lieut. Mch 10, 1777.
CLAUGHTON, Pemberton, Captain, Northumberland, pet.
CLAUGHTON, Thomas, Captain, Northumberland Co., Militia, rec. Aug 9, 
1779; took oath Jan. 10, 1780.

Sooooooooooooo, since it's not defined.............can I assume that 
mss.  = lotsa scraps of illegible scribbling we found laying around 
which might result in the duplication of individuals and/or adding 
stuff to the wrong soldier?

Cynthia in Wisconsin, finally getting around to the military angle.
<sigh>