United States, Civil War and Later Pension Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans who Served Between 1861 and 1900 on NARA microfilm publication T289 part of Record Group 15 Records of the Veterans Administration. The most of the index cards pertain veterans in the Civil War veterans. Other pension records included are for the of the Spanish-American conflict, Indian wars, the Philippine insurrection, and World War I. Index courtesy of Fold3. The pension files are located in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

See also Claire Prechtel-Kluskens,  For Love and Money: Pension Laws Affecting Widows of Military Veterans NGS Magazine 42 #1 (January-March 2016): 35-39 FS Library 973 D25ngs
 * Claire Prechtel-Kluskens, “A Reasonable Degree of Promptitude” Civil War Pension Application Processing, 1861–1885 Prologue 42 1# (Spring, 2010)

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 2

Collection Content
Sample of indexed information:

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search you will need to know:
 * The full name of your ancestor
 * The approximate age and birth place of your ancestor
 * The state and county of residence for your ancestor
 * The approximate dates your ancestor served in the Civil War

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?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the age to calculate an approximate birth date
 * Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of birth of the deceased to locate census, church, and land records
 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the deceased; 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 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 research your family in the United States.
 * US Military Basic Search Strategies
 * Beginning Research in United States Military Records
 * Beginning United States Civil War Research
 * Locating a Union Civil War Soldier (1861-1865)
 * Locating a Confederate Civil War Soldier (1861–1865)
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * United States Research Tips and Strategies

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Organization index to pension files of veterans who served between 1861 and 1900-1917
 * General index to pension files, 1861-1934 : T0288
 * Veteran's Administration pension payment cards, 1907-1933: M850

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * United States Pension Bureau, List of pensioners on the roll January 1, 1883 : giving the name of each pensioner, the cause for which pensioned, the post-office address, the rate of pension per month, and the date of original allowance, as called for by Senate resolution of December 8, 1882 5 volumes, Washington: G.P.O., 1883.

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.

Estados Unidos, Índice da Guerra Civil e Pensão Posterior (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)