United States, Old War Pension Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
The collection consists of a card index to pension files located at the National Archives for service in the Regular Army, Navy or Marine Corps between 1783 and 1861. This collection is part of RG 15 Records of the Veterans Administration and is NARA microfilm publications T316.

Record Content
The index cards ask for the following information, but the information listed varies:




 * Name
 * Name and class of dependents
 * Branch of service
 * Rank
 * Enlistment date
 * Discharge date
 * Additional service information
 * Date of filing
 * Class
 * Application filing number
 * Certificate number
 * File number
 * Bounty land information
 * Other remarks

How to Use the Record
To search for your ancestors in the index you will need to know their full names. Check the index for the surname and then the given name. If you are having difficulty finding your ancestor, look for variations in the spelling of the name. If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names. Remember that these indexes may contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned.

Compare the information in the record to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.

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:


 * The application or certificate number will lead you to the full pension record.
 * The enlistment date and branch of service will lead you to the military service record.
 * The service information may lead to a death or cemetery record.
 * The bounty land information may lead you to a land grant record.
 * The name and class of dependents can help you compile a family record.

Related Websites

 * National Archives Access to Military Service and Pension Records
 * Family Link Military Records Search

Related Wiki Articles
United States Military Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should also list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Examples of Source Citations for a Record Found in This Collection

 * “Delaware Marriage Records,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 4 March 2011), entry for William Anderson and Elizabeth Baynard Henry, married 23 November 1913; citing marriage certificate no. 859; FHL microfilm 2,025,063; Delaware Bureau of Archives and Records Management, Dover.


 * “El Salvador Civil Registration,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org: accessed 21 March 2011), entry for Jose Maria Antonio del Carmen, born 9 April 1880; citing La Libertad, San Juan Opico, Nacimientos 1879-1893, image 50; Ministerio Archivo Civil de la Alcaldia Municipal de San Salvador.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

"United States, Old War Pension Index, 1815-1926." FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org). NARA microfilm publication T316, RG 15 Records of the Veterans Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C. FHL microfilm, 7 reels. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The suggested format for citing FamilySearch Historical Collections is found in the wiki article Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.