If a widow or a child filed the application, their name is provided. Each record includes the veteran's name and state in which he, or his dependents, filed the application. This database is an index to nearly 2.5 million of these application cards. These application cards (for Federal, not Confederate pensions) were indexed by the Pension Office and kept by the National Archives. Millions of these men, or their dependents, applied for pension support from the federal government.
Civil wart file cards series#
Old files created prior to the change were transferred ("X") to the C pension series and were designated with an "XC" number to denote the transfer to the new system.One of the defining events in American history, the Civil War involved millions of men who served the United States and the Confederate States. New pension applications were given a permanent certificate "C" number. C & XC (Certificate Files) - Beginning in the 20th century the system was consolidated.Widow's files also include the applications of minor child and dependent parents. The entire file, including the original soldier's application and certificate (if applicable) was then moved into the Widow's file under the new certificate number. WC (Widow's Certificate) - Once a widow's pension was granted, a certificate number was issued and designated as WC, for Widow’s Certificate.If a widow's pension application was rejected, the file will still appear under the WO number. If the widow was applying to continue her deceased husband's previously approved pension benefits, her application then became a part of the soldier's file. WO (Widow's Original) - Similar to a soldier's pension application, but designated WO, for Widow's Original.The original application number became void. SC (Soldier's Certificate) - Once a pension was granted, the application was moved into a new file and was assigned a certificate number identified with the prefix SC, for Soldier’s Certificate.If a soldier's pension application was rejected, the file will still appear under the SO number. SO (Soldier's Original) - When a solider applied for a pension, his application was assigned a number and designated as SO, for Soldier's Original or Survivor's Original.In 19 Congress passed Acts granting pensions to veterans over the age of sixty-two years, based on the time of service. In 1904 President Theodore Roosevelt issued an executive order granting pensions to any veteran over the age of sixty-two years. This 1890 Act also provided pensions to widows and dependents of deceased veterans, even if the cause of death was unrelated to the war. On 27 June 1890, Congress passed the Disability Act of 1890 which extended pension benefits to veterans who could prove at least 90 days of service in the Civil War (with honorable discharge) and a disability not caused by "vicious habits," even if unrelated to the war. Following the Civil War, pensions were initially granted under the " General Law" enacted on 22 July 1861 in an effort to recruit volunteers, and later expanded on 14 July 1862 as " An Act to Grant Pensions," which provided pensions for soldiers with war-related disabilities, and for widows, children under sixteen years of age, and dependent relatives of soldiers who died in military service.