Have you ever made a genealogy breakthrough with pension files? Pension files can contain critical clues to help fill in blank spaces in your family tree.
What Are Pension Files? The federal government granted pensions to military veterans and their widows and dependents following military service. These pension files may contain information like:
- Details about a veteran’s military service
- Death date and the cause of death for a veteran
- Maiden name of a veteran’s spouse
- Names and birthdates of children
- Names of parent(s) financially dependent on the veteran
- Veteran’s marriage date and location
- Occupation before military service
- Names of extended family members
- Pages from the family bible
- Information about the remarriage of a veteran’s widow
Here are some of the pension files available on Fold3®:
Revolutionary War Pension Files: Congress passed the first Revolutionary War Pension Act in 1818. Three subsequent acts in 1820, 1832, and 1836 clarified who could receive pension benefits. Many early military records were either inadequate or lost or destroyed. Thus, veterans or widows had to prove their military service to receive a pension. These pension files often contain affidavits from those who could vouch for the veteran’s service. Pay close attention to who is submitting affidavits, as they can be family members, neighbors, and others closely tied to the veteran.
War of 1812 Pension Files: This collection is currently being digitized and is 88% complete, with new records added regularly. Like the Revolutionary War pension files, this collection can reveal new insights into the veteran and his family. These records also provide a bridge to the 1850 census, the first census to list the names of all individuals in the household.
Civil War Widows’ Pension Files: This collection is only 22% digitized, but if you are lucky enough to find your ancestor’s records, they can provide tremendous insight into the veteran and his family. Since these are widow’s files, you can see the cause of death for the veteran and where and when he died. These files can contain the names and birthdates of children, the maiden name of the widow, and other essential family details.
Tips for Searching Pension Files on Fold3®:
- The manuscripts can be challenging to read (some documents are 200 years old). Use the Viewer tools along the right margin to zoom in and adjust the brightness and contrast.
- Become a volunteer archivist by transcribing the manuscripts inside pension files. Click the ‘Annotate’ button at the top and select ‘Transcription.’ Your transcription becomes searchable for others.
- Save military records to your Ancestry® tree by selecting the green ‘Save to Ancestry’ button.
- As you learn about the military service for your veteran, you can expand your research. Pension files often mention battles the veteran fought in, the regiment he served in, who his commanding officer was, and more. This information can open new avenues for research to expand your ancestor’s story.
Explore pension files on Fold3® today.
I would like to know if my great grandmother received a pension after my great grandfather died. He served in the Army from 1870 to 1875.
I would like more information about how to search.
Hi Tom, You could check the Civil War Widow’s Pension Files and see if you find any record of him there, though these files were designated as pension files for Civil War veterans.
This index covers US Army military service between 1861 and 1900 (“Civil War and Later” is an alternate title for this series):
https://www.fold3.com/publication/57/us-civil-war-pensions-index-1861-1900
Search for your soldier ancestor’s name on this page (white box at the top of page under the title).
Good luck with your search!
Civil war veteran Hezekiah Lee Searcy county,Arkansas
Hi Virginia, Was your ancestor a Confederate soldier? Initially, pensions were only offered to Union soldiers though some Southern states provided pensions for Confederate soldiers. I did a quick search and did not see a pension file for Hezekiah Lee.
I would like to know if my father was receiving a military pension when he passed away? I was 15 years old when he passed and unaware of any.
My father served in WWII.
Hi Cheryl, I’m sorry but we don’t have WWII pension files on the site. Good luck with your research.
I would love to find info about my great-grand-father who died in prison of war Andersonville, Ga. I have been to the gravesite, but was unable to get any info from there. His name was Michael Heilman and he died of Typhoid. He was in the Calvary out of New Jersey. As I am now 84, would love to find something about him before my time is up.
Thank you
https://www.fold3.com/memorial/661318524/michael-heilman-civil-war-stories
That’s a file on your great grandfather at fold3.
Hello Catherine, I saw your post and went to Ancestry, where I searched for your soldier. I found an index card listing in the Pension Files for:
Elizabeth Heliman, widow of
Michael Heilman
A Co./ NJ Calvary
dated Jan 6, 1865.
Application #78088, Certificate 62391
I have not worked with pension files before, so maybe someone who has will jump in here. If I can be of any help to you, you can email me at [email protected]
Brian
Michael’s widow Elizabeth’s pension file is one of the files that has been digitized. Which of their children are you a descendant of?
Forgot to mention … I have downloaded much of the info in Elizabeth’s pension file. If you wish, you can email me at [email protected]
That email address is in error. My correct email address is [email protected]
Looking for a pension record for my third great grandfather, Ben Love 1746-1802, who served in the Revolutionary War. His wife Margaret Gaston Love 1747-1848 (died at 101 years old) might have received a pension for him.
Hi Marilyn, I don’t see a pension file for Ben Love. Did Margaret remarry? When a Revolutionary War widow remarried, she was no longer entitled to receive a pension.
Even though you don’t have any on fold3, Were there any pension files for WWII? The statement that pension records would show a wife’s maiden name caught my attention. I’m pretty sure My 2nd cousin not only became my godfather while on leave, but he I’m pretty sure he got married during that time, too. He died during the battle at Leyte Gulf. I would like to know if there is any information in any of his records about his wife.
The United Confederate Veterans (UCV) lobbied for pensions from the various states between the 1880s and 1920s for veterans of the Confederate armed forces and their survivors. Pension eligibility varied by state, ranging from service-related disability (usually the loss of limb or vision), to honorable service. These states were Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Though not technically part of the Confederacy, Kentucky, Missouri, and Oklahoma also issued pension as they provided large number of Confederate soldiers. West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware were the only states with Confederate veterans which did not issue pensions.
In lieu of pensions, veterans (and their wives and widows) lived in homes maintained by the state should they be in indigent circumstances. Admission required giving up their Confederate pension (which was then used to fund the home).
Only a few states offered pensions to non-combatants (i.e, former slaves and servants of Confederate troops), but their wives, widows and orphans were not eligible. Mississippi was the first state to offer pension, beginning in 1888. As a result, they issued the largest number. Only in the 1920s did other states offer pensions, with Tennessee in 1921, followed by South Carolina in 1923, Virginia in 1924, and North Carolina in 1927.
For which state the pensioner served did not matter. They had to be a current resident of the state where they applied for a pension.
These are great files with a wealth of information…..if you can find them. I have difficulty finding pension files for USCT…site is a bit difficult to use.
Joseph Daniel Miller
Rhode Island
1938-1945?
Are Canadian WWII soldiers pension files available in Ancestry.
Hi Indra, the Canadian WWII pension files are not available on Ancestry or Fold3.
How long did you have to serve to be eligible for pension benefits?
I paid for Fold3 but it was not of any use to me. I searched for anything about my relatives and I never found any documents or information. I have relatives that served in the militia during the Revolutionary war, 1812, WWI, WWII. Why does Ancestry make you pay for Fold3 and Newspapers? The information should come with your membership. Thank you kindly, Mary Joyce Webb Johnson
I am looking for a pension file for Joseph Gaskins. He was a private in the 1st Battalion of the District of Columbia Infantry (Union Army) during the Civil War.
Thank you
My great uncle George Goldberg, raised on the lower East Side (NYC) was in WWI and any papers given were lost over the years. Found his WWI draft card. He served in Europe, I believe he was honored for his service but he did not talk about it. Wrote to VA and they show he enlisted 31 Jul 1918, released Jan 1919 and we have his SSN. Army records lost in 1973 fire. His story needs to told. He was more of a grandfather to me than my own. Can you help me?
We are Daughters of the American Revolutionary War.
How do we find out if we are entitled anything?
Thank you.
Could someone help me navigate the FOLD3 site? My 4th G Grandfather, Robert Smith [1763 PA-17 Mar 1835 Poland, Mahoning Co, OH], served in the 5th Company, 4th Battalion, 6th Class of Captain Wm Huston in the Cumberland Co. Militia during the Rev. War. When I enter Robert Smith, Revolutionary War, PA, 991 entries come up. Do I have to look at all 991 entries? When I click on those possibles, i.e. PVT, a ‘folder cover’ is shown but then no other documents like are listed in this article ‘What Are Pension Files?” i.e. about a veteran’s military service; death date and the cause of death for a veteran; maiden name of veteran’s spouse; and veteran’s marriage date? How do you get past the ‘cove’r page that lists Robert Smith, PVT? I have a document from OHIO DAR dated 15 Mar 1930 that says Robert Smith is given as a Pensioner 1835 in Trumbull Co., OH and to write to Com. of Pensions, Revolutionary Department, Washington, D.C.. Shouldn’t his pension info be on FOLD3?
In the Revolutionary War Pensions search box, enter Robert Smith, S.23923
This should take you directly to the 25-page pension file of your 4th GGF.
(It’s one of those 991 entries)
Hi I’m looking for information on my great grandfather William H Booth. He was the infantry during Spanish American war and Philippine insurrection. I was told he died and is buried at the military cemetery in the Philippines.
Hi, Looking for a David Ray Coverdale DOB-10-9-1957. He served in the Coast Guard near Elizabeth City N.C. in 1978-79. He was from Federalsburg Md.
Any tips on researching Spanish-American War pension files?
I have searched fro William Harrington, probably from Tazewell, Ill, but no luck. Per wide Mahala Beaver he died in the Spanish-American War. On the 1880 Census she is a Beaver, followed by a widow on the 1900 Census with the last name of Harrington. I have reviewed every sheet of the 1900 Census in the Philippines, with no luck. Next is to review the 1900 Census in Cuba.
Correction- widow Mahala Beaver.
I am looking for info on Barton Stone Scott. The info I have says that he died at Gettysburg. I know his wife’s name was Harriet but I have not found any pension info for her nor have I been able to find anything about which unit he served with.
Hi Paula, I don’t see a pension record for Barton Scott (only about 20% of Civil War Widows’ Pensions are digitized). I do see service records for Barton S. Scott from Missouri (and a couple of other Barton Scotts from other states); however, the Missouri Barton Scott was discharged for a disability in 1862.
Died in France.
My mother was in the military around 1957. She said she was station in Texas in the Army. I can find anything to confirm this except she did have VA benefits. Can you help. Her name was Charlene Acelen Smith. She was born November 26, 1937 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This is wonderful. Several years ago, I paid the National Archives to copy my great-great-grandfather’s military and pension records (two separate files). From the military file, which included musters, I was able to trace his path across Tennessee during the Civil War — which wasn’t identical to the route taken by his regiment, because he was sent home twice to recruit more men. And from the pension file, I found confirmation of his marriage record, birthdates of all his children, and a great deal of information about his medical condition after the war. Affidavits concerning his good character included one from his cousin, with a follow-up from his cousin’s wife indicating that his cousin had died recently — valuable genealogical information from a most unexpected source, and which I shared with the cousin’s descendant. One affidavit referred mysteriously to my ancestor’s sterling ancestry, alas, without any details; his ancestry remained blocked by a brick wall.
(continued) I was happy to pay the National Archives (NARA) for these records, but the service wasn’t inexpensive, and I never asked for another file, even though I knew I might find an affidavit written in my great-great-grandfather’s hand in his cousin’s pension file. Fold3 is making it possible to search multiple files at no extra cost, and I hope to examine the records of some of my ancestors’ neighbors and comrades in arms.
I’m looking for a pension file for my step-father, Archie Dean Noblett, born about 1931 give or three or four years. He served in the Army, but the Army said the records burned. I’m new at this, so any help is appreciated. Thanks, Mike
Mike: The Army’s veteran records before World War I are held by NARA, and Fold3 has been digitizing those. Twentieth-century records are held in NARA’s National Personnel Records Center in Saint Louis. The Army files were apparently alphabetized by surname, and when a fire broke out in 1973, the center of the alphabet was burned out. (Navy and Marine Corps records were stored elsewhere and have survived, as have draft cards.) For the most part, the government did not keep duplicates of these records, but veterans did receive copies of their own discharge papers and so on, and you may still get lucky if some family member held onto them. Or if a file happened to be on the desk of an official in some other agency when the fire occurred. But the likelihood of recovering this information is pretty low if your family doesn’t have copies. You may have better luck finding your stepfather’s draft card, yearbook, or newspaper articles about him. And keep thinking of other sources: I found a little information about my grandfather by asking the archive librarian of the company he’d worked for; they replied that the employee records had been destroyed, but found a photo of him in the company newsletter, honoring his retirement.
My grandmother served during world war I at a Base hospital in France. My mother said the stipend she got from the military really saved their family during the depression. Was this a pension or was it because she had a disability?
My Grandfather served under Pershing in the Punitive Expedition. I don’t know if he went to Europe in WWI after that. Can I access his records this way?
Hi Miles, we don’t have pension files for WWI or WWII soldiers on Fold3 at this time.
My Dad served in Korea from 1951-1953. His files were in the fire in 1973. I’ve been looking into his service for 3 years. I did manage to get some of his medals. I need to find where he served in Korea. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Daughter of Korea War Vet
My Dad 1951-1954 Korean War Navy. I’m in same boat as you. Glad you were able to get those medals Good luck
Good Evening,
Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary – Inmate Case Files 1895 – 1931
Case# 21021
Full Name of Inmate: Joseph (Joe) Passarella
Date of Birth: 15 December 1892
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Penna USA
Possible Address: 312 Catherine Avenue in Philadelphia, PA USA
Date of Death: 18 or 22 July 1961
Burial Place: Unknown
First Wife: Rosina (Rose) Stamato Passarella
Number of Children: 4
Bank Robbery Date: 15 September 1930
Address: Atco Avenue, Waterford Township, Camden County, New Jersey
(as of today: 08004)
Business: Atco National Bank
Position in Incident: Getaway Driver
Police on Site: Atco, Waterford Township, Camden County, New Jersey & Berlin, Waterford Township, Camden County, New Jersey , after hearing the gun shots
REQUEST MADE FOR: Jail / Penitentiary Where Served Time
Dates of Incarceration & Release Date
Any & All Incidents so related to Mr. Joseph Passarella
Relationship to Me: Great Uncle
I sincerely appreciate your help on this matter. God Bless You !! Warmest Regards,
Gall Passarella Del Monte [email protected] 1-609-280-6605
Please find and send to me any, “PENSION FUNDS”, that has been “APPROVED” AND SENT OUT FOR, Deceased Army Retired, Robert Gribble. Date of Death, November 18th, 2011, for his “SURVIVING SPOUSE”, Quancidine Hinson-Gribble.
What is the cost for fold3?
Hi Frank, the cost of a Fold3 membership is $79.95 annually.
I did find a file for my GGgrandfather. My question is….is what I’m seeing on the screen all that would have been in his file? Is the entire file for him digitized? or could there be more that I would see if I were to go in person? Thank you!!!!! (John Miller, POW Civil War, Confederate, d.1865, buried in Woodlawn Natl Cemetery)
Hi Tracy, can you clarify which record you found? We only have about 20% of Civil War pension files digitized, and they are all Union soldiers. In the beginning, pensions were only available for Federal soldiers. Some Southern states offered Confederate pensions.