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United States, Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files - FamilySearch Historical Records: Difference between revisions
United States, Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files - FamilySearch Historical Records (view source)
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This collection consists of approved pension case files of widows and other dependents of soldiers submitted between 1861 and 1934 and sailors between 1910 and 1934. Some files may be for service in the War with Spain. The files are arranged numerically by certificate number. Orginal files are located at the National Archives in Record Group 15, Records of the Veterans Administration. Index courtesy of Fold3.com (previously Footnote.com). Additional records will be added to this collection as they become available. | This collection consists of approved pension case files of widows and other dependents of soldiers submitted between 1861 and 1934 and sailors between 1910 and 1934. Some files may be for service in the War with Spain. The files are arranged numerically by certificate number. Orginal files are located at the National Archives in Record Group 15, Records of the Veterans Administration. Index courtesy of Fold3.com (previously Footnote.com). Additional records will be added to this collection as they become available. | ||
From the onset of the Civil War, the US government granted pensions to widows of men who died in service to the Union Army. Then the Pension Dependent Act of 1890 extended benefits to those who could prove that they were the widows of honorably discharged veterans serving the Union for at least ninety days during the Civil War. A widow also had to provide proof of the soldier’s death, unless it resulted from his military service. An applicant could not have any means of support other than her day labor, and her marriage to the soldier had to occur before 17 June 1890, the date of the act | From the onset of the Civil War, the US government granted pensions to widows of men who died in service to the Union Army. Then the Pension Dependent Act of 1890 extended benefits to those who could prove that they were the widows of honorably discharged veterans serving the Union for at least ninety days during the Civil War. A widow also had to provide proof of the soldier’s death, unless it resulted from his military service. An applicant could not have any means of support other than her day labor, and her marriage to the soldier had to occur before 17 June 1890, the date of the act. | ||
These records are generally accurate. However, some soldiers used aliases and some lied about their names and ages. | These records are generally accurate. However, some soldiers used aliases and some lied about their names and ages. | ||
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{{Collection citation | text= "United States, Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files." Index. <i>FamilySearch</i>. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2013. Citing "Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War Veterans, ca. 1861- ca. 1934." <i>Fold3.com</i>. http://www.fold3.com : 2008.}} | {{Collection citation | text= "United States, Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files." Index. <i>FamilySearch</i>. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2013. Citing "Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War Veterans, ca. 1861- ca. 1934." <i>Fold3.com</i>. http://www.fold3.com : 2008.}} | ||
[[United States, Civil War Widows and Other Dependents Pension Files (FamilySearch Historical Records)#Citation_Example_for_a_Record_Found_in_This_Collection|Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.]] | |||
== Record Content == | == Record Content == | ||
<gallery | <gallery widths="160px" heights="120px" perrow="3"> | ||
Image:Civil War Federal Soldiers' Widows Claims DGS 4591908 2.jpg|Federal Soldiers' Widows Claim | Image:Civil War Federal Soldiers' Widows Claims DGS 4591908 2.jpg|Federal Soldiers' Widows Claim | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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== How to Use the Record == | == How to Use the Record == | ||
To begin your search you need to know | |||
*The name of the soldier | |||
*The name of the widow | |||
*Other identifying information such as age or military unit where served | |||
=== Search the Collection === | |||
To search | 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: | ||
*There may be more than one person in the records with the same name. | |||
*You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name. | |||
*Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life. | |||
*If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names. | |||
*Even though these indexes are very accurate they may still contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned. | |||
For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line video at [http://broadcast.lds.org/familysearch/2011-12-03-familysearch-search-tips-1000k-eng.mp4 FamilySearch Search Tips]. | |||
For example: | === Using the Information === | ||
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. This information will often lead you to other records. For example: | |||
*Death dates may lead to death certificates, mortuary, or burial records. | *Death dates may lead to death certificates, mortuary, or burial records. | ||
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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. | ||
=== Tips to Keep in Mind === | |||
*This index is to widow’s pensions, but you will still need some information on the soldier. | *This index is to widow’s pensions, but you will still need some information on the soldier. | ||
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*Indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned. | *Indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned. | ||
*Your ancestor may have used a nickname or an alias. In addition, ages may have been altered to allow men to serve who were not of the appropriate age. | *Your ancestor may have used a nickname or an alias. In addition, ages may have been altered to allow men to serve who were not of the appropriate age. | ||
== Related Websites == | == Related Websites == | ||