United States, Index to Indian Wars Pension Files - 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 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.

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

'''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'''

 Related National Archives Collections 
 * Indexes to Records Supporting Claims for Indians Wars, 1917 - 1931. NAID 1696661
 * Records Supporting Claims for Service During the Indian Wars, 1892-1932. NAID 560995
 * Case Files of Indian War Pension Applications, ca.1892-1926. NAID 1105236
 * Lists of Organizations Participating in Indian Wars and Other Disturbances, ca. 1873–ca. 1930 NAID 2602606
 * Carded Records Showing Military Service of Soldiers Who Fought in Volunteer Organizations During the Indian Wars, 1817-1858 NAID 300395 The index also covers service"... the Battalion of United States Volunteers engaged in the "Utah Expedition" of 1857-58, and the New York and Michigan Volunteer organizations that did boundary duty during the Canadian "Patriot War" of 1838-39.
 * Dept. of the Treasury. Claims of the State of Minnesota Relating to Indian Wars, 1862–1865
 * Exploration and Westward Expansion

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

How Do I Search This Collection?
To search for your ancestors in the index you will need to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * 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

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
 * 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 the Person 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

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
 * 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

 * Index to compiled service records of volunteer soldiers who served during Indian wars and disturbances, 1815-1858. NARA M629
 * Index to compiled service records of volunteer soldiers who served from the state of Michigan during the patriot war, 1838-1839, NARA pub, M630
 * Gregory F. Michno, Encyclopedia of Indian wars : western battles and skirmishes, 1850-1890Missoula, Montana : Mountain Press, c2003 FS Library 970.1 M583e
 * George W. Webb, Chronological List of Engagements between the Regular Army of the United States and various tribes of hostile Indians which occurred during the years 1790 to 1898, inclusive Reprint. Originally published: St. Joseph, Mo. : Wing Print. and Pub. Co., 1939;New York, New York : AMS Press, 1976
 * Indian Battles and Skirmishes on the American Frontier,1790-1898
 * Harry G. Heiss. Finding aid to the Indian Wars widows project records, circa 1865-1965.St. Louis, Missouri : Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, National Park Service, 1989. FS Library 973 M23hh
 * T. A. Wood, comp., Grand Commander Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast Indian war pension papers, 1897-1902
 * Larry C. Skogen, Indian depredation claims, 1796-1920Norman, Oklahoma : University of Oklahoma Press, c1996 FS Library 970.1 Sk52i
 * Morton L. Ervin, Anna Apple, comp. Index to Indian depredation claims Albuquerque, New Mexico : Ervin Publishing, 2001 FS Library 970.1 Er93i
 * Denise Guerin Rice, comp. The Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars : ancestor registers, 1993-2003 Decatur, Georgia : Continental Society Daughters of Indian Wars, 2003 FS Library 973 M23rd v. 1-2
 * John M. Carroll, compiler and editor. The Indian Wars Campaign Medal : its history and its recipients Bryan, Texas : J.M. Carroll, 1979? FS Library, 970.1 C236i

FamilySearch Digital Library

 * U.S. Court of Claims. Index of Indian depredation claims Washington: Government Printing Office, n. d.
 * U.S. Court of Claims. Supplementary index of Indian depredation claims : nos. 7701 to 10841, including changes made in earlier cases, November 1896 Washington, D.C. : Government Printing Office, 1896
 * Gaiselle Kerner, comp. Preliminary inventory of the records of the United States Court of Claims : (Record group 123)Washington : National Archives, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, 1953.
 * prepared and published by authority of the thirty-second General Assembly by Isaac H. Elliott. Record of the services of Illinois soldiers in the Black Hawk War, 1831-32, and in the Mexican War, 1846-48 : containing a complete roster of commissioned officers and enlisted men of both wars, taken from the official rolls on file in the War Department, Washington, D.C. : with an appendix giving record of the services of the Illinois militia, rangers and riflemen, in protecting the frontier from the ravages of the Indians from 1810 to 1831.Springfield, Illinois : Journal Co., 1902
 * Record of officers and soldiers killed in battle and died in service during the Florida War Washington, D.C. : Government Printing Office (United States), 1882

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 de Arquivos de Pensão das Guerras Indígenas (Registros Históricos do FamilySearch)