United States, Index to Indian Wars Pension Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in the Collection?
The collection consists of a card index to pension files located at the National Archives for service in the Indian Wars between 1817 and 1898. The files are part of Record Group 15 Records of the Veterans Administration and is NARA microfilm publication T318. Pensions were first granted to veterans and widows with thirty days service between 1832 and 1842 in the Black, Hawk War, Cherokee Disturbances and Florida War. Later pension acts included additional conflicts.

What Can this Collection Tell Me?
Information found in this collection may include:


 * Name of soldier
 * Name and class of dependent
 * Rank and unit in which served
 * Date enlisted and discharged
 * Additional Services
 * Class
 * Application Number
 * Certificate Number
 * Filing date
 * State in which filed

How Do I Search the Collection?
To search for your ancestors in the index you will need to know:


 * The name of your ancestor who served
 * The date of enlistment
 * The date of discharge or date of filing
 * The approximate age and birth place of your ancestor
 * The state and county where your ancestor lived

Search by Name by visiting the Collection Page: Fill in your ancestor’s name in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about those in the list to what you already know about your own ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person.

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select the "Surname Range" which takes you to the images.

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

With either search keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

What Do I Do Next?
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.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?

 * 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.

I Can't Find Who I'm Looking for, What Now?

 * 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.
 * 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.

Related Books Family Search Library Catalog

 * Chronological List of Engagements
 * Indian Battles and Skirmishes on the American Frontier,1790-1898

Citing this Collection
Citing your sources makes it easy for others to find and evaluate the records you used. When you copy information from a record, list where you found that information. Here you can find citations already created for the entire collection and for each individual record or image.

Collection Citation

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry):

Image Citation