Kentucky Confederate Pension Applications - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States Kentucky 

What is in the Collection?
The records consist of images of pension applications and an alphabetical index. They were filed by surviving former Confederate soldiers who lived in Kentucky or their widows. The records cover the years 1912 to 1950.

Sample Image
The index includes the following information:


 * Application number
 * Full name of applicant

The following information is found on most Confederate soldier's pension applications in Kentucky:


 * Application number
 * Full name of widow (applicant)
 * Residence
 * Length of residence in Kentucky
 * Birth date and place
 * Maiden name
 * Full name of soldier
 * Who performed the marriage ceremony (A copy of the marriage certificate or license may also be attached.)
 * Enlistment date
 * Company and regiment
 * Length of service
 * When and where did the company and regiment surrender
 * Was the soldier present at the time of surrender
 * Reason if not present at the time of surrender
 * Death date and place of soldier
 * If the couple was living together at the time of death
 * Second marriage information
 * Property owned by the widow
 * Family of the widow
 * Witness for the widow
 * Date and place of signing

How Do I Search the Collection?
To begin your search you will need to know


 * Your ancestor's name
 * Some other identifying information such as birth date or residence

Search by Name by visiting the Collection Page: Fill in the requested information on 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.

View images in this collection by visiting the Browse Page: To search the collection you will need to follow this series of links: ⇒Select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒Select the "Application Number Range" category 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. 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.

I Found Who I was Looking for, What Now?
When you have located your ancestor’s application, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. The pieces of information in the record 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. For example:


 * Death dates may lead to death certificates, mortuary, or burial records.
 * Use the birth date or age along with the residence or place of birth of the deceased to locate census, church, and land records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Compile the entries for every person who has the same surname as the deceased; this is especially helpful if the surname is uncommon.
 * Continue to search the records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have been seeking the pension. Keep in mind that in some cases the applications were filed under the name of the widow or other dependent.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * Applications were sent to and processed by the state where the veteran or family member lived at the time, which was not always the state in which the soldier had served.

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Look for an index. There are often indexes at the beginning of each volume. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby localities.
 * 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.

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: