United States Mormon Battalion Pension Applications - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes records from 1846-1923.

The index corresponds to the approximately 370 pension applications relating to the Mormon Battalion. The records are arranged by the name of the veteran, but are also searchable by the claimant’s name. The application files are NARA microfilm publication T1196, Selected Application Files Relating to the Mormon Battalion,Mexican War,1846-1848 and are part of Record Group 15, Records of the Veterans Administration.

In July 1846, over five hundred Mormon men gathered at Council Bluffs, Iowa to join the U.S. Army in the Mexican American War. Most of the soldiers’ enlistments ended after one year, but several continued on for another eight months. Pensions were sought by the veterans themselves and by widows or other dependents.

This index is based on pension applications for service performed during 1846-1848. It was created to provide easier access to the Mormon Battalion pension applications. The information in this index is quite reliable. However, keep in mind that it still may contain alternate spellings or misinterpretations.

Related Collection: Bounty Land Application Files
Images of bounty land application files may be located through the National Archives Catalog.

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


 * Veteran's name and age
 * Veteran's rank, company and state from which served
 * Mustered-in date and place
 * Length of service
 * Claimant’s full name


 * Footnote and NARA reference identifications
 * Names of relatives
 * Critical dates (birth, marriage, death)
 * Residences and addresses

Collection Content
Sample of indexed information:

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search it is helpful to know:
 * The soldier's name
 * The age of the soldier
 * The rank of the solider
 * The names of other family members and their relationships

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?

 * Use the pension file to determine where other records for ancestor existed
 * Search for your ancestor in census records
 * Search for your ancestor in vital records
 * Continue to search the index and records to identify other relatives
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * You may need to compare the information of more than one family or person to make this determination
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * 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 that may be your ancestor

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

Related Digital Books

 * A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War,1846-1847
 * The Mormon Battalion
 * The Mormon Battalion Its History and Achievements
 * Captain Jefferson Hunt of the Mormon Battalion
 * The Mormon Battalion of Iowa Volunteers

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.