Revolutionary War Pensions
As early
as 1776 the Continental Congress passed a resolution urging the
states
to provide pensions to disabled veterans. In 1789 the United
States
assumed the payment of "invalid" pensions from the states.
1792
Invalid
pension claims. Communicated to the House of Representatives,
Dec.
14, 1792. (American state papers. Class IX.Claims. p. 56-68.)
Tabular.
Arranged by states (including District of Maine). Alphabetic by
initial
letter only. 7 columns:Names; Rank; Regiment; Disability; Date
from
which annual pension commenced; Monthly allowance; Arrears due.
1794
Invalid
pension claims. Communicated to the House of Representatives
April
25, 1794-[1795].(American state papers.Claims. Washington, 1834.
p. 83-122,
125-128, 135-145, 150-172). Tabular. Arranged by states
(including
the District of Maine). Not alphabetic. Usually in 7 columns:
Names;
Rank; Regiment or company or ship; Disability; When and where
disabled;
Residence [town] ; To what pension entitled [or Monthly
allowance
and Arrearages] ; Remarks.
1818
The
United States extended eligibility for pensions to almost any
Revolutionary
War veteran who was "by reason of his reduced
circumstances
in life...in need of assistance from his country for
support"
(15th Congress, First Session, Chapter 19,approved March 18,
1818).
To receive a pension veterans had to describe their wartime
service
in an affidavit sworn before a State or federal judge. Some
of these
affidavits are in State court records.
1820
Letter
from the Secretary of war, transmitting a report of the names,
rank
and line of every person placed on the pension list,in pursuance of
the
act of 18th of March, 1818, &c...... Washington, Printed by Gales &
Seaton,
1820. 672 pages. (16thCongress, 1st session. House. Doc. No.
55).
Tabular. Arranged by states of residence in 1820. Alphabetic by
initial
letter only: 3 columns: Names; Rank; Line. Practically all the
names
in this list are reprinted in the 1835 list, but occasionally
there
is variation in spelling name or added detail of service.
1828
Officers
on the pension list. Letter from the Secretary of war,
transmitting
a list of officers on the pension roll of the U.
S.designating
the states to which the officers severally belong. January
30,
1828 ...... Washington: printed by Gales & Seaton,1828.
29 pages.
(20th Congress, 1st session. House. Doc. No. 124.) Tabular.
Arranged
by states; two classes under each:Invalid pension list, and
Revolutionary
pension list. Alphabetic by initial letter only. Gives
name
and rank only; no particulars of service or present residence.
These
"Revolutionary pensioners" are those officers pensioned under the
"service"
act of 1818 who were living in 1828.
1829
Officers,
&c. pensioned under act of 1828. Letter from the Secretary of
the
treasury, transmitting a list of the names of pensioners under the
law
of May 15, 1828. January 13, I829. [From Treasury dept.]
16 pages.
(2oth Congress, 2d session.House. Doc. No. 68.) Tabular.
Alphabetic
by initial letter only. 5 columns: Names; Line; Rank;
Sum
annually; State or Territory of residence at time of application.
1831
Rejected
applications for pensions,& c. Letter from the Secretary
of war,
transmitting a report respecting rejected applications for
pensions.
January 6,1831. 84 pages. (21st Congress, 2d session.
House.
Doc. No- 31). In two parts, each subdivided by state:
1831(a)
Persons
whose claims to pension on account of Revolutionary service have
been
rejected (3 columns: Name,Rank and Reasons for rejection)
1831(b)
Revolutionary
pensioners placed on the rolls under the act of March 18,
1818,
and who have been stricken from the pension list under act of May
1, 1820,
not being considered in indigent circumstances
(2 columns:
Name and Rank). The veterans in the second part would
regularly
be found in the '20 and '35 lists also.
1835
Report
from the Secretary of war, in obedience to resolutions of the
Senate
of the 5th and 30th of June, 1834, and the 3d of March, 1835, in
relation
to the pension establishment of the United States. Washington:
Printed
by Duff Green, 1835- 3 volumes. (23d Congress, 1st session.
Senate.
Doc. No. 514). Tabular. Arranged (1st) by state, (2d) by class
of pensioners:
(a)
Invalid pensioners; (b) Heirs of non-commissioned officers,
privates,
(c)who (tied in the U. S. service who obtained five years'
half
pay in lieu of bounty land, under the second section of the act of
April
16, 1816; c. Pensioners under the act of March 18. 1818;
(d)
Pensioners under the act of June 7, 1832, (3d) by county. Alphabetic
by initial
letter only.
Section:
1835(a)
contains very few Revolutionary pensioners
1835(b)
gives heirs of soldiers killed in the War of 1812
1835(c)&
1835(d) Sections [c] and [d] are confined to Revolutionary
pensioners;
names are alphabetic under county by initial letter of
family
name only. 9 columns: Names; Rank; Annual allowance; Sums
received;
Description of service; When placed on the pension Palls;
Commencement
of pension; Age; Remarks. Sections [c] and [d] include all
veterans
who had been pensioned under these two acts ; many had died
before
1835 but full entry is made, with date of death.
1840
A census
of pensioners for Revolutionary of military services with their
names,
ages, and places of residence, as returned by the marshals of the
several
judicial districts, under the act for taking the sixth census.
Washington:
printed by Blair and Rives, 1841. 195 pages. Tabular.
Arranged
by states, sub-arrangement by counties and then by towns. Names
not
alphabetic. 3 columns: Names of pensioners; Ages; Names of heads of
families
with whom pensioners resided 1840. There is no mark of
distinction
between the Revolutionary and the other military pensioners.
The
latter are evidently very few.
This
list includes a considerable number of widows.
The National
Archives has pensions, bounty land warrants, and some
service
records from the Revolutionary War. Two fires in 1800, one in
the
War Department, the other in the Treasury Department, destroyed the
earliest
Revolutionary War pension application records.Any veteran who
filed
prior to 1800 has no file in this collection,rather a card which
provides
his name, home state, and occasionally his unit(s).
Nevertheless,
certain pension records pre-dating 1800 survive in the
form
of Congressional reports.
......................................................................
FEDERAL PENSION ROLL OF 1835
BOYD, Alexander
County/State: county unk; Pennsylvania
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $60.00
Sums Received: $108.10
Service: -
Placed on the pension roll: -
Commencement of pension: September 04,1799
Died: June 07,1785
BOYD, Daniel
County/State: Iredell Co; North Carolina
Rank: Private
Service: Virginia Continental Line
Annual Allowance: $96.00
Sums Received: $192.00
Commencement of pension: December 18,1821
Note: Transfered from Fauquier Co;Virginia from March 04,1832
Age: 97
BOYD, David
County/State: Lincoln Co; Maine
Rank: Private
Service: 21st Regiment Infantry
Died: January 02,1814
Names of the heirs: Peggy, Mary, Washington, David and Hanah Boyd
Annual Allowance: $48.00
Sums Received: $240.00
Placed on the pension roll: May 16,1818
Commencement of pension: February 17,1815
Ending of pension: February 17,1820
BOYD, Ebenezer
County/State: county unk; New York
Rank: Captain
Annual Allowance: $90.00
Sums Received: -
Service: Army of the Revolunteers
When placed on the pension roll: -
Commencement of pension: -
BOYD, Francis
County/State:county unk; Virginia
Rank:Private
Annual Allowance:$33.33
Sums Received:
Service:
Placed on the pension roll:
Commencement of pension:
Age:
Notes: Papers burnt at War Office; Transferred to Ohio
BOYD, George
County/State: Otsego Co; New York
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $68.00
Sums Received: $170.00
Service: New Jersey Militia
Placed on the pension roll: September 15,1833
Commencement of pension: March 04,1831
Age: 73
BOYD, Henry
County/State: New Castle Co; Delaware
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $96.00
Sums Received: $521.06
Service: Pennsylvania Continental Line
Placed on the pension roll: July 16,1819
Commencement of pension: April 01,1818
Age: 71
Died: September 04,1823
BOYD, Henry
County/State:Todd Co; Kentucky
Rank:Private
Annual Allowance:$80.00
Sums Received:$240.00
Service:Virgina Militia
Placed on the pension roll:-
Commencement of pension:January 13,1834
Age: 75
BOYD, James
County/State: Ontario Co; New York
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $96.00
Sums Received: $753.61
Service: New York Line
Placed on the pension roll: April 03,1824
Commencement of pension: February 17,1824
Age:72
Died December 24,1831
BOYD, James
County/State:Patrick Co; Virginia
Rank:Private
Annual Allowance:$43.33
Sums Received:-
Service:Virginia Militia
Placed on the pension roll:-
Commencement of pension:June 12,1834
Age: 71
BOYD, James
County/State: Orange Co; New York
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $37.98
Sums Received: $94.95
Service: New York Militia
Placed on the pension roll: October 09,1833
Commencement of pension: March 04,1831
Age: 73
BOYD, John
County/State: Essex Co; New Hampshire
Rank: Corporal
Annual Allowance: $96.00
Sums Received: $231.19
Service: New Jersey Line
Placed on the pension roll: May 12,1818
Commencement of pension: April O8,1818
Age: 86
BOYD, John
County/State:Blount Co: Tennessee
Rank:Private
Annual Allowance:$96.00
Sums Received:$1,520.53
Service:Pennsylvania Continental Line
Placed on the pension roll:-
Commencement of pension: November 02,1818
Age: 82
BOYD, John
County/State: Chatham Co; North Carolina
Rank: Sergeant
Service: South Carolina Continental Line
Annual Allowance: $96.00
Sums Received: $616.53
Commencement of pension: May 22,1820
Age: 74
Died: November 27,1825
BOYD, Joseph
County/State: Oneida Co; New York
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $96.00
Sums Received: $1,481.06
Service: Connecticut Line
Placed on the pension roll: June 03,1819
Commencement of pension: April 01,1818
Age:73
BOYD, Patrick
County/State:Monroe Co; Virginia
Rank:Private
Annual Allowance:$80.00
Sums Received:$240.00
Service:Virginia Continental Line
Placed on the pension roll:-
Commencement of pension:September 10,1833
Age: 72
BOYD, Richard
County/State: New York Co; New York
Rank: Fifer
Annual Allowance: $96.00
Sums Received: $325.41
Service: New York Line
Placed on the pension roll: March 25,1819
Commencement of pension: October 15,1819
Age:64
BOYD, Robert
County/State: Mercer Co; Pennsylvania
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $23.33
Sums Received: -
Service: Pennsylvania Continental Line
Placed on the pension roll: July 12,1834
Commencement of pension: March 04,1831
Age: 75
Note: No report yet received of paymentmade.
BOYD, Samuel
County/State:Kennebec Co; Maine
Rank: Private & drummer
Annual Allowance: $48.66
Sums Received: $143.98
Service: Massachusetts Continental Line
Placed on the pension roll: April 29,1833
Commencement of pension: March 04, 1831
Age: 81
BOYD, Samuel
County/State: county unk; New Hampshire
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $60.00
Sums Received: $1,260.00
Service: -
Placed on the pension roll: -
Commencement of pension: March 04,1789
Died: June 07,1785
BOYD, Samuel
County/State: Alleghany Co; Pennsylvania
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $72.00
Sums Received: $392.72
Service: Sullivan's 14th Regiment Infantry
Placed on the pension roll: December 10,1822
Commencement of pension: September 19,1822
BOYD,Valentine
County/State: Philadelphia Co; Pennsylvania
Rank: Private
Service: 15th Regiment Infantry
Died: December 24,1812
Names of the heirs: Conrad Boyd
Annual Allowance: $48.00
Sums Received: $240.00
Placed on the pension roll: July 31,1818
Commencement of pension: February 17,1815
Ending of pension: February 17,1820
BOYD,William
County/State: Rensselaer Co; New York
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $96.00
Sums Received: $685.59
Service: New York Line
Placed on the pension roll: June 30,1818
Commencement of pension: April 15,1818
Age: 67
Died: June 05,1825
BOYD,William
County/State: Saratoga Co; New York
Rank: Private
Annual Allowance: $20.88
Sums Received: $60.00
Service: Vermont Militia
Placed on the pension roll: April 08,1833
Commencement of pension: March 04,1831
Age: 75
Died: January 17,1834
BOYD,William
County/State: Chester Co; Pennsylvania
Rank: Private & sergeant
Annual Allowance: $80.00
Sums Received: $240.00
Service: Pennsylvania State Troops
Placed on the pension roll: May 11,1833
Commencement of pension: March 04,1831
Age: 82
BOYD,William
County/State: Franklin Co; Vermont
Rank: Ensign
Annual Allowance: $240.00
Sums Received: $2,515.45
Service: New Hampshire Continental Line
Placed on the pension roll: September 07,1818
Commencement of pension: March 03,1819
Age: 76
BOYD,William
County/State:Roane Co; Tennessee
Rank:Private
Annual Allowance:$60.00
Sums Received:$180.00
Service:North Carolina Line
Placed on the pension roll:-
Commencement of pension:February 15,1833
Age: 73
BOYD, William
County/State:Bath Co: Kentucky
Rank:Private
Annual Allowance:$90.00
Sums Received:$1,488.00
Service: 7th U.S. Regiment
Placed on the pension roll:-
Commencement of pension:September 04,1818
Note: Transferred from Pennsylvania
BOYD, William
County/State:Fleming Co; Kentucky
Rank:Private
Annual Allowance:$96.00
Sums Received:$989.87
Service:Washington Life Guards
Placed on the pension roll:-
Commencement of pension:October 13,1821
Age:74
Died: December 30,1828
BOYD, William
County/State:Barren Co; Kentucky
Rank:Private
Annual Allowance:$80.00
Sums Received:$240.00
Service:North Carolina Militia
Placed on the pension roll:-
Commencement of pension:May 30,1833
Age: 80
BOYD, William
County/State:Ablemarle Co; Virginia
Rank:Private
Annual Allowance:$23.33
Sums Received:$63.32
Service: Virginia Continental Line
Placed on the pension roll:-
Commencement of pension:September 11,1833
Age: 77
BOYD, William
County/State: Chester District; South Carolina
Rank: Private
Service: South Carolina Militia
Annual Allowance: $23.33
Sums Received: $69.99
Commencement of pension: July 19,1833
Age: 68
For information concerning Revolutionary Pensions see:
NARA:
Records of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims, 1832-1921
http://merrimack.nara.gov/nara/legislative/senate_guide/sgch06c.html
Also:
http://www.nara.gov/publications/microfilm/military/
Revolutionary
War Compiled Service Records/Lists/Manuscripts
Revolutionary
War Pensions, Bounty Land Warrants
Some
of the NARA microfilms may be available at the Family History
Centers.
You will need to check the Family History Library Catalog.
They
will have different film numbers.
Thanks to Karen Schode from Ohio,USA