civil war pension applicationscivil war pension applications

Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Applications & Rosters. All Rights Reserved. We suggest that you start your research by searching the General Index to Civil War and Later Pension Files, ca. This index complements the Civil War and Later Veterans Pension Index (T289), as well as other pension indexes and files, in assisting researchers in locating pension file numbers and names of Army and Navy personnel, as well as widows' pensions (marked with a w) on the card. Where it find Civil War Pension Applications? Georgia Archives contains applications, supporting documentation, and correspondence for indigent or maimed Confederate veterans or indigent widows of Confederate soldiers. In addition to these indexes, the National Archives and Records Administration has also published Index to Pension Application Files of Remarried Widows Based on Service in the Civil War and Later Wars and in the Regular Army after the Civil War, Microfilm publication M1785; FS Library Film and several other related publications on microfilm and. The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a fraternal organization for Union veterans, served as early lobbyists, and began petitioning the U.S. Congress on pension matters shortly after the war itself. There was not just one pension system put in place after the war. Civil War Union Pension Records. Best For: Identifying battles in which the soldier served and individuals he served with. All of this work required time, travel, and money that many veterans did not have to spare. - a blog post from the National Archives Records & Administration that provides details on how to understand the various parts of a pension file. War Widow(er) Pension Some libraries offer free access to Ancestry and/or Fold3 to their patrons. Similar archival data is available for other former Confederate States. For Union army soldiers, there are three major records in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) that provide information on military service: (1) compiled military service record (CMSR); (2) pension application file; and (3) records reproduced in microfilm publication M594, Compiled Records Showing Service of Military Units in . Pension supplement. War Widow(er) Pension claims are determined by officers of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, who have been delegated the authority to make such determinations by the Repatriation Commission. The booklet also explains what documents were to be included in each application and how they should be arranged, based on the different classes of claims and the acts under which they were filed. In the section on Pension Files in Evidence Explained, you . Funding such a massive pension system was not an easy thing. There are also 3 record series (XC files) in Record Group 15 at the National Archives at St. Louis (RL-SL) that include claims files relating to Civil War Veterans. As the rules for veterans changed, so did the rules for widows. What Can You Learn From a Civil War Pension Record? And they were less likely than their white counterparts to have the money necessary to complete the process. Children's names and other dependents' names are searchable as well. The fee, including shipping and handling, is $80.00, and you can expect to wait anywhere from 6 weeks to four months to receive the file. Please check the websites of individual locations for details about requesting appointments. If you find an index card for the person you are researching, please attach an image of the card to your email. As time moved on the veterans and their families needed more and more assistance, even if they had survived the war relatively intact. From these documents, it is possible to rediscover the lives of Black Americans connected to the Civil War over extended periods of time. Dependents (widows and children) of soldiers who were killed on duty were also eligible. Once you have obtained a copy of this file, you will almost certainly discover some new and undiscovered information. In 1937 Georgia had 232 veterans receiving pensions but still 1377 widows, all of whom were eligible for $30 a month even in the depths of the Depression. Most people submit their claims online. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community and pay our deep respect to Elders past and present. All questions regarding VAs FOIA procedures and fees may be emailed to VACOFOIAService@va.gov. In addition to the specific information provided in the affidavit, they also provide information for your cluster genealogy studies, by identifying an associate and their specific association. FamilySearch can be used with a free account. It was not until 1920 that income restrictions were removed. Union Pension Records FamilySearch he pension le will contain records for all claims relating to one veteranthe soldier's, the widow's, the minor children's, and the dependent father's or mother's. If a Civil War widow later became the widow of a second Civil War veteran, all records relating to both veterans may be consolidated in one le. This 1890 Act also provided pensions to widows and dependents of deceased veterans, even if the cause of death was unrelated to the war. Pension files are loose papers literally kept in a file under your ancestors name. If Fold3 is not available to you, then the index is also available on FamilySearch for free, but only as an indexyou will not be able to view the digitized copies of the original index cards. "Civil War Union Pension Records." Instead, please check for access at your local library as many library systems subscribe to these sites, making them free for their patrons. This index was created in 1949 to index Civil War and later pension application files dating from 1861 to 1934. TOTAL. "Great Injustice": Social Status and the Distribution of Military . On 27 June 1890, Congress passed the Disability Act of 1890 which extended pension benefits to veterans who could prove at least 90 days of service in the Civil War (with honorable discharge) and a disability not caused by "vicious habits," even if unrelated to the war. Soldiers who were disabled as a result of their service were eligible for pensions; the amount depended on their rank and their injury. T288 is also now available in digital form and may be viewed online via Ancestry at U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 and via Fold3 at Civil War Pensions Index. If you are using an Apple computer and want to fill out your form electronically, . Hunt received this plea from Mrs. R.C. Home Discover Historical Records Confederate Pension Applications menu Overview Printable List Series Descriptions Civil War Guide Related Resources History of the Confederate Pensions in Florida The first Confederate pensions in Florida were authorized in 1885 and granted to veterans the sum of $5.00 per month. If your ancestors pension file is more than 100 pages and you pay $80 for the first 100 pages, there is no guaranteeing that you will get the same pages in the same order when you send for any additional pages. This Act awarded pensions to soldiers injured during the Civil War and the surviving widows and minor children of soldiers killed during the war, generally called the General Law.. The rules on remarriage were also eased over time until the government no longer stopped any widow of an honorably discharged veteran from receiving aid in 1916. for information about state agencies with records relating to Confederate pensions. with full details about the file you are seeking. Assistance was provided first to those disabled during the war at rates based on their level of disability. Because southern states could not use tariffs to fund their pensions, they needed alternative revenue sources. The card also includes places to put the names of any dependents who applied under this soldiers service, including the widow and minor children. All questions regarding VAs FOIA procedures and fees may be emailed to VACOFOIAService@va.gov. The series was microfilmed as National Archives Microfilm Publication No. "Civil War Union Pension Records." Georgia began providing free (if you ignore the cost of travel and work time lost) artificial limbs in 1871. 1949 - ca. Black Families' Unending Fight for Equality: Teaching Civil War Pension He was sourcing a Civil War pension file--more specifically, an affidavit from the file. For Union soldiers, the pension system began in 1862. For proof of age, you might find copies of family Bibles or church registers, or you may find affidavits from parents or siblings. Civil War pension applications and pension files at the National Archives are available for Union soldiers, widows and children who applied for a federal pension based on their Civil War service. If you choose to order online using NARA's online service click on the "Order Reproductions" tab and select "Military Service and Pension Records". Social Security On Line provides an historical background to the development of social security in the United States, including the Civil War period. For widows, eligibility rules focused on date of marriage and if they had remarried. While the index is available in the places listed above, most of the pension case files are not available online. Some repositories also have records of Confederate Homes (for veterans, widows, etc. A War Widow (er) Pension is a compensatory payment to the widow (er) and/or child (ren) of a veteran who died as a result of eligible war service. It is not personal advice. This page has been viewed 13,868 times (3,872 via redirect). The website Understanding Civil War Pensions also provides an excellent background on the various pension laws affecting Civil War veterans and their widows and dependents. No federal pensions were offered to those that served in Confederate forces. Further information is on NARAs, now available in digital form and may be viewed online via, U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. . Glasson, William Henry, History of Military Pension Legislation in the United States. These first recipients only received benefits from the time of their application. Google Scholar Citations. The Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, NARA microfilm publication T289, FS Library Film is available and searchable by name on Fold3. Dear Mr. Kirschman, Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/civil-war-union-pension-records-1421789. This index was created in 1949 to index Civil War and later pension application files dating from 1861 to 1934. No federal pensions were offered to those that served in Confederate forces. A complete Civil War and later pension application file (up to 100 pages), based on Federal (not State or Confederate) military service during the Civil War or later (includes the Pension Documents Packet.) But amounts increased as it became necessary to recruit soldiers to a war that was no longer popular or easy, and pensions served as recruiting tools. Pension attorneys could help with the process in exchange for future financial reward. A law passed in 1912 increased the rate to a maximum of $30 a month for both Civil War and Mexican War veterans. The majority of Civil War pension files in the Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs (Record Group 15) are in the custody of the National Archives at Washington, DC - Textual Reference (RDT1). See. Pension Numerical Index - Historical military records Claim for Pension by a Widow, Widower or other Dependant of a Deceased As proof of disability, the pensioner will usually offer an affidavit in which he recounts how he was injured. And it also provided desperately needed assistance to thousands who had nowhere else to turn. What many of them needed was tangible economic assistance and the nation already had a history of providing that in the form of pensions. History of the Union federal and Confederate state pensions systems. Confederate veterans had to produce comrades who would swear to their honorable service. Verifying Applications; Department of Defence: early organisation; Definition of Active . We suggest that you start your research by searching the, General Index to Civil War and Later Pension Files, ca. If you want a copy more quickly and can't visit the Archives yourself, the the National Capital Area Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists can help you locate someone you can hire to retrieve the record for you. Each pension application was given its own identifying number. $732.30. Thank you for posting your request on History Hub! 5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60637 Tel: (773) 702-7709. Includes widow, minor, and legal guardian names, when applicable, Indicates which state an application was filed in. The records are found in Record Group 94, Records of the Adjutant Generals Office, 1780s1917. How to order Civil War Service and Pension Records, Ordering copies from the National Archives, Last edited on 12 December 2022, at 19:02, Requesting Copies of Civil War Service and Pension Records, How to Make Sense Out of a Civil War Pension FileWith Some Online Help, Orders, Instructions, and Regulations Governing the Pension Bureau, https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/index.php?title=Requesting_Copies_of_Civil_War_Service_and_Pension_Records&oldid=5122143, Pension files for Confederates are not available from the National Archives. For more information see the Department of Veterans' Affairs Factsheet DP60 - War Widow(er)'s Pension. Australia and South Australia, War Widow(er) Pension : Last Revised: Thu Jan 10th 2019, Family Advocacy and Support Service (FASS), Family Violence and Cross-Examination of Parties Scheme, Women's Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service, Disability Information and Legal Assistance Unit (DiLA), Legal education resources for people with disability, SEE THE SIGNS - Coercive Control Campaign, Assignment of Legal Aid Cases to Practitioners, Legal Aid Guidelines for Commonwealth Matters, Latest Updates to Depending on the size of the file and the genealogist this may be not only faster, but also no more expensive than ordering from NARA. These records were transferred to the National Archives in 1952 and 1955 from the VA. There may be one or two others still living who do not wish to be identified. The Confederate pension system even more so than the Union side relied on patronage. Best of luck with your research! Information if you're affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). The files are arranged numerically by certificate number and are being digitized in order from lowest to highest. A decision relating to a War Widow(er) Pension can be reviewed - see Review by the Veterans' Review Board. If the numbers seem not to be that important, in the state of Georgia alone in 1952 there were still 401 widows receiving aid at a cost of $361,000. Use this form to apply for a Service Pension if you are a partner, a former partner or widow or widower of a serving member. 0. The Confederate Pension Applications Collection consists of alphabetically arranged pension applications for pensions that were granted to veterans and widows beginning in 1898, and are recorded on 152 reels of microfilm. Requesting Copies of Older Military Service Records Union pension files are not microfilmed and must be copied from the files at the National Archives (NARA) if they are not available digitally. War Veterans and Pensions A reading of Civil War pen sion statutes and lawmakers' pronouncements suggests a federal military-benefit system that was color-blind. We can be contacted at wiki@genealogicalstudies.com. Pension Statement Wapello County William Houk Widow's Application Van Buren County Hezekiah R. Anderson Invalid Application When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Factsheet DP60 - War Widow(er)'s Pension. Copies of Union and Confederate service files and Union pension files are available from the National Archives. Part of the issue was that state officials continually underestimated the numbers of eligible pensioners and how much those numbers would change annually. 1 Capitol Mall Little Rock, AR 72201 Telephone: 501-682-6900 In 1891 Arkansas began granting pensions to indigent Confederate veterans. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/civil-war-union-pension-records-1421789. It was in 1889 that Georgia began providing annual pension payments to disabled and diseased veterans with the amounts varying depending on disability. For a child to be eligible for this pension, they must be a natural or adopted child of the veteran, and aged either under 16 years of age, or under 25 years of age if they are undertaking full time study. Civil War pension index card of Pres. A War Widow(er) Pension is a compensatory payment to the widow(er) and/or child(ren) of a veteran who died as a result of eligible war service. More than a million men were on the pension rolls by 1893 and pensions ate more than 40% of the federal governments revenue. If you are using an Apple computer and want to fill out your form electronically, please download the form and open it withAcrobat 7 or later. This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Case files include where and when a man served, details of his service, his life before the war, and his family, including information about his widow, children, and sometimes his parents. Tennessee, U.S., Civil War Confederate Pension Applications Index African American veterans on the Union side were eligible for pensions from the very beginning. And the clues contained herein will lead you to many additional records. Service pension. Choose a researcher who lists military records as a specialty area. Because most veterans did some kind of manual labor to support themselves and their families, and their ability to do so declined over time, political pressure for more help increased (as did the public pleading and private, desperate letters).