Union Pension Records

United States U.S. Military  U.S. Civil War  Pension Records

The pension law governing claims based on death or disability from military service was passed on 14 July 1862. Later pension laws were based on length of service and disability not necessarily incurred in the service. Beginning in 1892 women who were employed as nurses by the government were also eligible for pensions.

Civil War Pension Index Cards
An of veterans who served in the US Army between 1861-1917 is available on FamilySearch. These Civil War Pension Index Cards are also known as the "Organization Index". Each card gives the soldier’s name, application and certificate numbers, state of enlistment, and might include rank and death information. The majority of the records are of Civil War veterans, but the collection also includes records for veterans of the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, the Indian Wars, and World War I.

In the future, these records will be made available at no charge through the National Archives web site. These records are also available free at National Archives research rooms and any library providing free access to Fold3.com.

Online


 * Civil War and Later Veterans Pension Index ($) (Fold3)

Civil War ‘Widows’ Pensions
The actual pension records that the "Organization Index" and "General Index" refer to are currently only available through the National Archives. Fold3.com is in the process of digitizing records of approved pension applications for the years 1861-1910, the "Civil War "Widows' Pensions". You can check their progress at Fold3.com. For information on how to order pension records from the National Archives see requesting copies of Civil War service and pension records.

Navy Widows' Certificates
The "Navy Widows' Certificates" or "Case Files of Approved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans, ('Navy Widows' Certificates'), 1861-1910" (NARA M1279) consists of approved pension applications of widows and other dependents of US Navy veterans who served between 1861 and 1910.

To learn more about the Navy Widows' Certificates see an explanation of the records at Fold3.

The Navy Widows' Certificates are available to access at no charge at National Archives research rooms and any library that provides free access to Fold3.com.

Online


 * Navy Widows' Certificates (Fold3) ($)


 * U.S. Navy Pensions Index, 1861-1910 (Ancestry) ($) (note: Index only - includes M1279, M1274, M1469, M1408. Name search can be done for free.)

Related records


 * Navy Widows' Originals - The disapproved pension applications are in "Case Files of Disapproved Pension Applications of Widows and Other Dependents of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans ("Navy Widows' Originals"), 1861-1910" (M1274).
 * Navy Survivor's Certificates - "Case files of approved pension applications of Civil War and later Navy veterans (Navy Survivor's Certificates), 1861-1910" (M1469).
 * Navy Survivors' Originals - "Case files of Disapproved Pension Applications of Civil War and Later Navy Veterans ("Navy Survivors' Originals"), 1861-1910" (M1408).

The above three collections are currently only available from the National Archives.

Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907–1933
The Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907–1933 (NARA M850) (Worldcat) collection is useful for veterans who were on the pension rolls between 1907 and 1933, except World War I pensioners. About two million cards record payment to veterans and widows. The veteran’s name, unit or branch of service, certificate number, law under which pensioned, rate of pension, pension date, date of certificate, place of residence, death date, former roll number, and widow’s name may be included on the cards.

Online


 * (FamilySearch)

Other Union Pension Collections

 * General Index to Pension Files, 1861–1934 National Archives Microfilm Publication T288. (Worldcat) The index is arranged by the veteran’s or widow’s name and his unit, rank, date and application number, certificate number if accepted, and state of filing. The pension files have not been filmed and are only available at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. You can order copies from the National Archives. The archives staff will copy only selected documents unless you request copies of all the documents in a file.

Additional Resources
Additional pension records are available at state archives and historical societies.

Military Records: Pre-WWI Pension Applications (16 minute online video) FamilySearch Research Classes Online, 2010.