United States Mormon Battalion Pension Applications - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
this Collection will include records from 1846 to 1923.

This 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.

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.

This index 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.

Record Content
Information found in this collection may include:


 * 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

How to Use the Record
Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

Use the index to find the pension files of persons who served in the Mormon Battalion. Search for any alternate names your ancestor might have used, such as a nickname or alias. The index includes names of the veterans and the names of those applying for the pension. If you are having difficulty finding your ancestor, try searching for names of other dependents or relatives who may have been the seeking the pension. Pension files can often provide information about relationships, places of residence, and important events in the veteran’s life that can lead to additional records.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line video at FamilySearch Search Tips.

Known Issues with This Collection
For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Related Websites

 * Mormon Battalion Association
 * Mormon Batallion - A brief history of the Battalion written by Brigham Young University professor, Susan Easton Black

Related Wiki Articles

 * Iowa Military Records
 * LDS Military Records
 * Utah Military Records

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
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Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Record collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.