This February 17, 2015, marks the day President Madison declared the War of 1812 was over between the United States and Great Britain.
If your FHC members have United States ancestors who may have served in this war, pension records can be a great way for them to find out more about their ancestor and his family. War of 1812 U.S. Pension Records are important records to aid in finding ancestors in the United States in a time when many other records are lacking. By finding a soldier in a specific place on a specific date in early America, members can more clearly determine his eligibility for temple work. And, what a memorable experience to share with family members.
Footnote.com, available on the FHC portal, is partnering with the Federation of Genealogical Societies to digitize the War of 1812 Pension Records found at the United States National Archives. Although Footnote records are always free at the FHC, this record set is free to anyone anywhere when they open Footnote.com. Once on Footnote, follow this path to the records:
- War of 1812
- Pension Files
- State where pension file was processed and/or service was rendered
- Last name of soldier
The digitizing process is being done alphabetically. If the ancestor’s last name was in the first half of the alphabet, you will probably find that his pension is completed and online at Footnote.com. Each month more records are posted on Footnote.com.
Not all men who served filed for pensions, and many men did not live long enough to file. But, for those who did file, some records give exact death dates, marriage dates, and wife’s maiden names. Occasionally children and grandchildren are listed. Many widows filed for their deceased husbands. By noting where a soldier filed for a pension and then comparing the military unit and state or county from where he served, you can determine the migration pattern of your ancestor. Sometimes witnesses are named as relatives. What a wealth of information just waiting to be discovered!
If the ancestor was loyal to the British Regime, you may find records concerning him in Canada. The FamilySearch Wiki page Canada in the War of 1812 gives many sources for information about Canadian military units and online Canadian records. For information about other groups who participated in the war see the FamilySearch Wiki page War of 1812, 1812 to 1815.
Pensions often tell us more about our ancestors and the struggles they faced in a young land at war. These are stories that many families have lost through the years. Sharing stories with our families about the strength and courage of our ancestors gives us courage to face our own battles in life. Use the War of 1812 Pensions to help members find their ancestors, prepare them for temple work, and then share that experience with their families.
