United States, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications - FamilySearch Historical Records: Difference between revisions

| RW_URL_10 = [http://www.maine.gov/sos/arc/research/revwargrants.html Maine State Archives Revolutionary War Land Grants and Pension Applications Index]

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== What is in This Collection?  ==

The collection consists of images of revolutionary war pensions for the years 1800 to 1900. It is part of Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007 and is National Archive Microfilm Publication M804.  

*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/18471430 Family Bibles Filed with Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, ca. 1800 - ca. 1912. NAID 18471430]

*[https://catalog.archives.gov/id/605836 Claims Filed by Revolutionary War Veterans, 9/16/1828 - 8/3/1835. NAID 605836]

=== Image Visibility ===

{{Image Visibility}}

{{HR Tip|This collection contains searchable content in the NARA Catalog.  They can be accessed by clicking on the National Archives identifier in the Record Description.  Once inside the Catalog, click on the "Search Within This Series".}}

== What Can These Records Tell Me? ==

The following information may be found in these records:

*Ages or birth dates of children

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== 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.  

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.

=== Sample Images ===

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Image:United States, Revolutionary War Pension Application of Abigail Hale DGS 004159131 00781.jpg|Application folder, Abigail Hale, widow of Nathan Hale

</gallery>

=== Coverage Table ===

A coverage table for this collection can be found at [[United States Revolutionary War, Virginia Pension Application Files Introduction and Coverage Table]].

== How Do I Search This Collection?  ==

To search the index it is helpful to know:  

*The place where your ancestor lived

*The names of the soldier's spouse and children

=== Search the Index ===

{{Search Collection Link

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{{HR Tip|More images are available in the FamilySearch Catalog at [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/1417475 United States Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Applications, 1800-1900]. Some catalog records link to multiple references. In this case, click on a reference to find a camera icon to see images.}}

=== How Do I Analyze the Results? ===  

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a [[Use_Appropriate_Forms#Prepare_a_Research_Log |research log]].

== What Do I Do Next? ==

=== I Found the Person 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 find the family in census records

*Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have lived in the same county or nearby. This can help you identify other generations of your family  

*When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct

=== I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now? ===

*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  

*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

*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

=== Research Helps ===

The following articles will help you in your research for your family in [[United States Genealogy|the United States]].

* [[United States Record Finder]]

* [[United States Research Tips and Strategies|Research Tips and Strategies]]

=== Related Family History Library Holdings ===

*[https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/235757 1813 Pension List]   

*[https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/287874 1835 Pension Roll]  

*[https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/282860 Census of Pensioners 1840 Census]

=== Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections ===

*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2069831 United States Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers, 1818-1872]

*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2068326 United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783]

*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2546162 United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783]

=== Related Digital Books ===

*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/85940-the-last-men-of-the-revolution-a-photograph-of-each-from-life-together-with-views-of-their-homes-printed-in-colors-accompanied-by-brief-biographical-sketches-of-the-men?offset=1  Rev. E. B. Hillard. ''Last Men of the Revolution'']  

*[https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/499437-report-of-the-secretary-of-the-interior-with-a-statement-of-rejected-or-suspended-applications-for-pensions-february-16-1852?offset=1 Rejected or Suspended Applications for Pensions, 1852]

*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/599248?  Mabel E. Deutrich, comp. ''Preliminary inventory of the War Department collection of Revolutionary War records : record group 93.''Washington, D.C. : National Archives and Records Service, 1962]

== Citing This Collection ==

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

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[[Category:NARA_Military_Records]]

[[Category:Revolutionary War, 1775-1783]]

[[pt:Estados Unidos, Pensão da Guerra Revolucionária e Pedidos de Garantia de Recompensa de Terra (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)]]