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Archiver > ROOTS > 2004-02 > 1077264612


From:
Subject: [ROOTS-L] Re: Veterans Pension Records
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 03:10:12 EST


To Ann & all,
I too have sent for 2 of my ancestors Civil War full pension records &
received the most amazing clues to their lives, unfortunately not as in depth as
Ann's :(
However, I did find out how many times my soldiers were rejected
continually of their pension monies & then finally accepted to a pension for their
family after much hardships to their families & sometimes after their deaths :(
Also, the biggest bonus for me was finding where my great grandmother's
birthplace was, a remote NY island originally owned by the Iroquois that our
family lore told of!
Well worth the $37 bucks! Gina

>
> I urge you all to apply through the NARA (using form NATF 85) to get the
> Full Pension Record of your Veteran ancestors. I have done so twice and
> was amply rewarded by the receipt of a large packet of paperwork (38
> pages); the contents of which shed much more light on the ancestor, his
> family, their financial and familial situation, etc. I cannot say enough
> about the genealogical gems that can be learned through this record. The
> cost is $37. I feel that is a small price to pay for the type of
> in-depth information one can gain; much more than any courthouse or
> graveyard search.
>
> Here are just a few of the things contained in the record I received:
> * His rank, company, regiment, etc.
> * The sequence of battles/locations where he was from the time of
> enlistment to time of death
> * His marital status (never married)
> * Location of the military hospital in which he died
> * Cause and date of death
> * The location of the cemetery where he is buried
> * Letters to his parents from the hospital staff both while he was ill
> and after he died (they sent to his parents a lock of his hair, the $14
> and items of clothing he had in his possession at the time of his death)
> * One letter was from the soldier himself, written for him by a friend,
> on the same day he died. He expressed hope that he would get better and
> wished to assure his parents that he knew they were concerned about him
> * A letter from a fellow soldier who accompanied him up the river and
> helped get him to the hospital
> * The situation at home; age and health of his parents in addition to
> their financial situation (dire)
> * What sisters/brothers were still living at home and their ages
> * Affidavits from neighbors and acquaintances stating the quality, value
> and size of the farm the family relied upon for their support.
> * Amount and beginning date of pension (allocated to his widowed mother)
> * Legal description of the farmland and precise address, legal
> description and name on title of the house to which his widowed mother
> removed.
>
> I realize that for some veterans, there are few records extant due to
> fires, floods, etc., but it is well worth the time spent to file the
> application; one never knows that might be there!
>
> Ann Barrell Alfaro
>
>


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