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United States, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications - FamilySearch Historical Records (view source)

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''[[United States Genealogy|United States]]''
{{US NARA HR Infobox
{{US NARA HR Infobox
| CID=CID1417475  
| CID=CID1417475  
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== Collection Content  ==
== Collection Content  ==
Pension acts were passed and amended many times between 1776 and 1878. In 1776 the first pension law granted half-pay for life to soldiers disabled in the service and unable to earn a living. A pension law passed in 1818 permitted compensation for service, regardless of disability, but was later amended, making eligible only those soldiers who were unable to earn a living. The pension act of 1832 allowed pensions again based on service and enabled a veteran’s widow to receive pension benefits.
A veteran or his widow seeking a pension had to appear in court in the state of his or her residence to describe under oath the service for which the pension was being claimed. A widow was required to provide information concerning the date and place of her marriage to the veteran. The application statement, or “declaration” as it was usually called, was certified by the court and then forwarded, along with all supporting documents (this may have included property schedules, marriage records, and affidavits of witnesses) to a federal official, usually the Secretary of War or the Commissioner of Pensions. The applicant was then notified that the application had been approved, rejected, or set aside pending the submission of additional proof of eligibility. If an applicant was eligible, his name was placed on the pension list. Payments were usually made semiannually. A rejected applicant often reapplied when the law was later amended.
The Federal Government granted bounty land warrants, or rights to free land, to Revolutionary War veterans and their heirs. The promise of bounty land during the war was an incentive to enter and remain in the service. After the war, bounty land grants became a form of reward.
Veterans or their heirs who claimed bounty land warrants sent applications to the Secretary of War (later the Commissioner of Pensions and then the Secretary of the Interior). Also forwarded were affidavits of witnesses who testified of service performed, marriage records, and other forms of evidence. If an application was approved, the claimant was issued a warrant for a specified number of acres. He could then “locate” his warrant, that is, select a portion of the public domain to have in exchange for his warrant. The Treasury Department, and after 1849 the Interior Department, accepted the warrants and then issued patents to the land. Many recipients of Revolutionary War bounty land warrants did not relocate to their new land. They sold the warrants instead.
Pensions and bounty land warrants were originally administered by the Secretary of War. In 1815 two bureaus were created, one for pensions and the other for land warrants. In 1841 the Secretary of War placed bounty land functions under the direction of the Commissioner of Pensions. In 1849 the Pension Office was transferred to the newly established Department of the Interior. In 1930 the Bureau of Pensions was placed under the jurisdiction of the new Veterans Administration.
Most of the records in the files are dated between 1800 and 1900, although there is some correspondence dated as late as 1940. These records cover about 20 percent of American military, naval, and marine officers and enlisted men who served in the Revolutionary War.
Pensions and bounty land warrants were issued to compensate Revolutionary War veterans for their service. Later, widows of veterans also received benefits.
Information recorded on pension and bounty land warrant applications is generally reliable, but its accuracy depended on the memory of the applicant and the records he or she had access to. Some applications were rejected if the information could not be verified in federal records or if the claim was suspected of being fraudulent.
== What Can this Collection Tell Me? ==


Each application file includes some or all of the following information:  
Each application file includes some or all of the following information:  
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When searching the index it is helpful to know the following:  
When searching the index it is helpful to know the following:  
 
*The name of your ancestor
*The place where your ancestor lived  
*The place where your ancestor lived  
*The name of your ancestor
*The names of the soldier's spouse and children


=== Search the Collection  ===


To search the collection fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:  
'''Search by Name by visiting the [https://familysearch.org/search/collection/1417475?collectionNameFilter=false Collection Page]:'''<br>Fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:  


*There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.  
*There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.  
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For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article [[FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks]].  
For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article [[FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks]].  


==What Do I Do Next?==
== What Do I Do Next? ==


When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example:
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family.  
 
=== I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now? ===


*Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of enrollment to birth records and parents' names.  
*Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of enrollment to birth records and parents' names.  
*Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of enrollment to find the family in census records.  
*Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of enrollment to find the family in census records.  
*Use the residence to locate church and land records.
*Use the residence to locate church and land records.
=== Tips to Keep in Mind  ===
*The place of death or burial could lead you to funeral and cemetery records, which often include the names and residences of other family members.  
*The place of death or burial could lead you to funeral and cemetery records, which often include the names and residences of other family members.  
*Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.  
*Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual.  
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*When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
*When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.


==What if I Can't Find Who I'm Looking For?==
=== I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, What Now? ===


*Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names.  
*Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names.  
*Look for a different index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.  
*Look for a different index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.  
*Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals with the same family number.
*Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. You could then browse the list for individuals with the same family number.
=== Additional Information About These Records  ===
Pension acts were passed and amended many times between 1776 and 1878. In 1776 the first pension law granted half-pay for life to soldiers disabled in the service and unable to earn a living. A pension law passed in 1818 permitted compensation for service, regardless of disability, but was later amended, making eligible only those soldiers who were unable to earn a living. The pension act of 1832 allowed pensions again based on service and enabled a veteran’s widow to receive pension benefits.
A veteran or his widow seeking a pension had to appear in court in the state of his or her residence to describe under oath the service for which the pension was being claimed. A widow was required to provide information concerning the date and place of her marriage to the veteran. The application statement, or “declaration” as it was usually called, was certified by the court and then forwarded, along with all supporting documents (this may have included property schedules, marriage records, and affidavits of witnesses) to a federal official, usually the Secretary of War or the Commissioner of Pensions. The applicant was then notified that the application had been approved, rejected, or set aside pending the submission of additional proof of eligibility. If an applicant was eligible, his name was placed on the pension list. Payments were usually made semiannually. A rejected applicant often reapplied when the law was later amended.
The Federal Government granted bounty land warrants, or rights to free land, to Revolutionary War veterans and their heirs. The promise of bounty land during the war was an incentive to enter and remain in the service. After the war, bounty land grants became a form of reward.
Veterans or their heirs who claimed bounty land warrants sent applications to the Secretary of War (later the Commissioner of Pensions and then the Secretary of the Interior). Also forwarded were affidavits of witnesses who testified of service performed, marriage records, and other forms of evidence. If an application was approved, the claimant was issued a warrant for a specified number of acres. He could then “locate” his warrant, that is, select a portion of the public domain to have in exchange for his warrant. The Treasury Department, and after 1849 the Interior Department, accepted the warrants and then issued patents to the land. Many recipients of Revolutionary War bounty land warrants did not relocate to their new land. They sold the warrants instead.
Pensions and bounty land warrants were originally administered by the Secretary of War. In 1815 two bureaus were created, one for pensions and the other for land warrants. In 1841 the Secretary of War placed bounty land functions under the direction of the Commissioner of Pensions. In 1849 the Pension Office was transferred to the newly established Department of the Interior. In 1930 the Bureau of Pensions was placed under the jurisdiction of the new Veterans Administration.
Most of the records in the files are dated between 1800 and 1900, although there is some correspondence dated as late as 1940. These records cover about 20 percent of American military, naval, and marine officers and enlisted men who served in the Revolutionary War.
Pensions and bounty land warrants were issued to compensate Revolutionary War veterans for their service. Later, widows of veterans also received benefits.
Information recorded on pension and bounty land warrant applications is generally reliable, but its accuracy depended on the memory of the applicant and the records he or she had access to. Some applications were rejected if the information could not be verified in federal records or if the claim was suspected of being fraudulent.
== How You Can Contribute  ==
{{Contributor invite}}


==Citing this Collection==
==Citing this Collection==
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|CID=CID1417475|title=United States, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications, 1800-1900
|CID=CID1417475|title=United States, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications, 1800-1900
}}  
}}  
== How Can I Contribute to the FamilySearch Wiki? ==
{{Contributor invite}}


[[Category:NARA_Military_Records]]
[[Category:NARA_Military_Records]]
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