United States, Revolutionary War Pension Payment Ledgers - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
For a complete list of the NARA roll numbers contained in this collection, see the United States, Pension Payment Ledgers Coverage Table.

This collection contains images of pension payment ledgers created by the Treasury Department to record semiannual payments to veterans and widows of the Revolutionary War from 1818-1872. A few records for the War of 1812 are also included. A coverage table for localities and dates can be found under User Guidance. The collection is arranged by pension act, pension agency, and the first letter of the veteran's last name. The Event Date" is the date pension payment began.This collection is from Record Group 217, Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, and is National Archive Microfilm publication T718.

See also Alycon Trubey Pierce.  Adding 'final pension payment voucher' records to the researcher's toolbox. NGS Magazine 34 #2 (April-June 2008): 42-48.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Pension

The content of the records differ depending upon whether the record is for a pensioner, invalid, or widow.
 * Name of person receiving payment
 * Name of spouse if recipient is a widow
 * State and sometimes city
 * Rank
 * Amount of money allowed
 * Dates of payments
 * Death dates
 * Additional comments

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search you will need to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The state and county where your ancestor lived
 * The rank your ancestor held in the military
 * If a widow, you need to know her name, residence and spouse's name

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select NARA roll number, volume letter, and pension type to view the 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 research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Death dates may lead to church or burial records
 * Use the name and residence or locality to search for church records, land records, and census records
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname. This is especially helpful in rural areas or if the surname is unusual
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been seeking the pension
 * 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 surnames and nicknames
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records
 * Search the records of nearby counties

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

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.