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Military Pension Records

United States Colored Troops (USCT) Pension Files

Civil War Pension Files

Adrian Wells - AAGSFW Historian

USCT Pension Files Part 1

Bernice Bennett /Toni Carrier

USCT Pension Files Part 2

Bernice Bennett /Toni Carrier

There were three card indices that the Pension Office maintained

Union and Confederate pension files are important historical records that can provide valuable insights into the lives of formerly enslaved individuals, their families, and the conditions they faced during and after slavery. These pension files were primarily created to provide financial assistance to veterans of the American Civil War and their families. However, they contain a wealth of information that can help researchers, historians, and descendants better understand the experiences of enslaved people, their relationships with slave masters, and the living conditions they endured.

Officially called A1158, Numerical Index to Pensions, 1860-1934, this card index from the National Archives covers application and certificate number for men who fought in wars prior to, during, or after the Civil War.

  1. National Archives -  Pension Index Examined

  2. Fold3-  Pension Number Index

Officially called the General Index, these alphabetical listing include pensions for services in the Civil War, post-Civil War Indian Wars, Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection, and the Boxer Rebellion. So even if a relative received a pension for service in a later conflict, it will be also found in the General Index. Typically, there will be one card for soldier.

 

General Index will generally include the following:

  • The soldier's and all applicant's names and the name of the guardian in the events of a dependent child claim.
  • An alias if the soldier had one.
  • Index numbers for all applications and granted pension certificates
  • The soldier's or marine's unit(s) or sailor's vessel
  • Date of original application filing(s)
  • Some cards, but very few, have rank information

These microfilms document pensions that based upon the unit(s) or ship to which the individual was officially attached

 

Typically, the organizational card will have the following:

  • The soldier's name and aliases (dependents' names are not listed)
  • Units/Ships (the card for a specific unit will be listed as the primary unit)
  • Index number for all applications and granted pension certificates
  • Date of original application filing(s)
  • Rank information may be listed
  • Enlisted and discharge information may be listed
  • Date and location of death may be listed 
  • The date of refiling for additional benefits based on age and/or service.

National Archive - Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900, 1949-1949

FamilySearch - Organization Index to Pension Files

Here's why these pension files are crucial for locating formerly enslaved individuals, understanding their experiences, and learning about the horrors of slavery:

 

Documentation of Relationships:

Many pension files contain personal narratives, letters, and affidavits from formerly enslaved individuals. These documents often detail relationships between enslaved individuals, slave masters, and their families. By analyzing these accounts, researchers can trace family connections, uncover hidden stories, and gain insights into the dynamics of power and kinship within slave communities.

 

Living Conditions and Treatment:

Some pension files include accounts of the living conditions and treatment of enslaved people. Formerly enslaved individuals might describe the hardships, abuse, and atrocities they experienced, shedding light on the brutalities of slavery. These firsthand accounts provide a human perspective on the day-to-day life of enslaved people that is often missing from traditional historical records.

 

Geographical Information:

Pension files can also provide geographical information that helps locate specific plantations, towns, or regions where formerly enslaved individuals lived. This information can be used to connect descendants with their ancestral homes, understand migration patterns, and explore the broader historical context of the communities where slavery existed.

 

Post-Emancipation Experiences:

After emancipation, some formerly enslaved individuals sought assistance from the government, leading them to apply for pensions based on their service in the Union Army or other qualifying roles. These applications might include details about their lives after slavery, including their efforts to build new lives, secure work, and create communities.

 

Reconstructing Family Histories:

For descendants of enslaved individuals, these pension files can be invaluable in reconstructing their family histories and genealogies. The information contained in the files can help bridge the gap between the often incomplete and fragmented records available for enslaved individuals.

 

Historical Context and Validation:

The stories and experiences documented in pension files can validate oral histories and traditions that have been passed down through generations. They offer a tangible link to the past that can help validate the struggles, triumphs, and traumas of descendants and formerly enslaved individuals.

What is the importance of Military Pension Files?

Military pension records are official documents that detail the benefits granted to military personnel, often upon retirement or discharge due to injuries or other service-related reasons. These records are particularly important in historical and genealogical research for several reasons:

  1. Content and Detail: Pension records contain a wealth of information, including a servicemember’s full name, rank, unit, enlistment and discharge dates, age, residence, service descriptions, wounds, and claims. Widows’ pension files may include the widow’s maiden name, birth and death details, marriage information, and names and birth dates of children. This comprehensive data provides a detailed view of a person’s military and personal life.

  2. Historical Context: These records reflect the evolving views and policies regarding veterans’ care. After the Revolutionary War, the U.S. struggled with how to address soldiers’ needs, and initial pensions were limited and often unfulfilled. The War Pension Act of 1818 marked a shift, offering pensions under specific conditions but was soon overwhelmed by the number of claims.

  3. Genealogical Significance: They provide personal details that may not be available in other records and can point to additional research avenues, such as census, land, and tax records, or other vital records. These files can help reconstruct a family’s history, including their challenges and movements over time.

  4. Civil War Impact: The Civil War was a turning point in veterans’ care, with the establishment of soldiers’ homes and a pension system that became one of the world’s largest welfare systems at its peak. These records reflect the societal and political challenges of providing care to veterans, including the disparities based on class, race, and the nature of disabilities

  5. Revolutionary War Pensions: These pensions offer insights into the early struggles of America’s veterans and the nation’s initial approach to veteran care. Despite fires that destroyed many early records, surviving documents are available in archives and online databases, providing valuable historical and genealogical information.

  6. War of 1812 and Civil War Pensions: These records reflect the government’s efforts to compensate veterans and their families, showing the evolving policies and societal attitudes towards veterans. They include information on service, disabilities, and family details, helping to piece together the lives of those who served in these conflicts.

  7. Confederate Soldiers’ Pensions: Post-Civil War, Confederate soldiers applied for pensions from the states where they resided, not necessarily the states they served. These records, held by state archives, provide a different perspective on the war and its aftermath.

Ordering Confederate Pension Records 

Locating Pension Files

Military pension records are an indispensable tool in historical and genealogical research, offering unique insights into individual lives, family histories, and the broader societal and historical context of military service and veteran care.