Associators were members of a Military Association, more commonly known as a militia. During King Georges War, Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...

, 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)

111th Infantry Regiment (United States)

The 111th Infantry Regiment is represented in the U.S. Army by 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry assigned to the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division...

 traces their lineage to these Associators. In 1755 these groups were re-established in response to Braddock

Braddock

-Places:England* Braddock, Cornwall** Battle of Braddock Down, 1643Antarctica* Braddock NunataksCanada* Braddock, Saskatchewan* Braddock Lake, a reservoirUnited States* Braddock, North Dakota* Braddock, Pennsylvania...

's Defeat and they were again started as revolutionary groups in 1776 before being renamed the Pennsylvania Militia in the following year.

Loyalist Associators

Loyalist irregulars who fought with the British in the American Revolutionary War were also known as Associators. 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 the most famous Associator was Colonel Tye

Colonel Tye

Colonel Tye, also known as Titus Cornelius , was a slave of African descent in New Jersey who achieved notability during the American Revolutionary War by his leadership and fighting skills, when he fought as a Loyalist...

; the first(depending on your definition) black officer in North American military history.

Associator units included:

• Associated Loyalists

• Brant's Volunteers
  Brant's Volunteers
  Brant's Volunteers was an irregular corps raised in spring of 1777 during the American Revolutionary War by Joseph Brant which fought on the British side in the Province of New York....
  
  

(Technically a Mohawk company, but actually composed of 80% white Loyalists)

• Hatfield's Company of Partisans

• James Stewart's Company of Refugees

• King’s Militia Volunteers

• Loyal American Association

• Loyal Associated Refugees

• Loyal Irish Volunteers

• Loyal Newport Associators

• Loyal Refugee Volunteers

• Maryland Royal Retaliators

• Pepperell's Corps

• Robins' Company of Partisans

• Royal North British Volunteers

• Sharp's Refugee Marines

• Uzal Ward's Company of Refugees

These units were sometimes commissioned by the commander in chief, but could also be commissioned by the commander of a garrison or even a governor.