United States, Old War Pension Index - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
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 1815 and 1926. This collection is part of RG 15 Records of the Veterans Administration and is NARA microfilm publications T316. The event date and place represent the earliest filing of either the veteran or dependent.

'''Copies of pension files are available from the National Archives. To request copies follow the instructions in the following link. Requesting Pre-WWI Service Records'''

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

Pension
 * Name of veteran
 * Names and class of dependents
 * Rank and military unit in which served
 * Enlistment date
 * Discharge date
 * Additional service information
 * Date of filing for pension
 * Application filing number
 * Certificate number
 * File number
 * Bounty land information
 * Other remarks

How Do I Search This Collection?
To begin your search for you will need to know:
 * The full name of your ancestor
 * The name of your ancestor's spouse
 * The names of your ancestor's children

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select Surname Range 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?

 * Search for the full pension record
 * Search for the the military service record
 * Search for a death or cemetery record
 * Search for a bounty land grant record

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

 * 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
 * Even though names are searchable, alias names are grouped with both the given name and surname. This can be very confusing
 * 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.
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * US Military Basic Search 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.