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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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To begin your search you need to know | To begin your search you need to know | ||
*The name of the soldier | *The name of the soldier | ||
*The name of the widow | *The name of the widow | ||
*Other identifying information such as age or military unit where served | *Other identifying information such as age or military unit where served | ||
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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 === | === 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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A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article [[Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections]]. | A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article [[Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections]]. | ||
[[Category:United_States|Military]] | [[Category:United_States|Military]] | ||