United States, Revolutionary War, Virginia Pension Application Files - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This collection contains half pay pensions of Virginia soldiers and sailors based on service in the Revolutionary War. The Virginia General Assembly granted the payment of half pay for life to the state's military and naval officers and others who served until the end of the war in state units within the state's borders or in the Continental Army. This collection is part of Record Group 15, Records of the Veterans Administration, and is National Archives Microfilm publication M910.

Record Content
Pension application files may contain the following information:


 * Name
 * Whether soldier or sailor
 * Dates of military service
 * Dates of pay
 * Name of regiment
 * Name of person issuing pay

How to Use the Record
To begin your search it is helpful to know the following:


 * Name
 * Type of military service, whether soldier or sailor

Search the Collection
To search the collection: ⇒Select the "Browse" link in the initial search page ⇒Select "Soldiers and Sailors" ⇒Select the "Surname Range" which takes you to the images

Look at each image comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine if the image relates to them. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind:


 * There may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name.
 * Your ancestor may have used different names or variations of their name throughout their life.

Using the Information
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Save a copy of the image or transcribe the information. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details such as a title, an occupation, or land ownership. Add this new information to your records of each family. You should also look for leads to other records about your ancestors.

Tips to Keep in Mind

 * Continue to search the index and records to identify other relatives.
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct.
 * You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination.
 * Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur.

Unable to Find Your Ancestor?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names.
 * Look for an index. Local genealogical and historical societies often have indexes to local records.

Related Websites

 * Library of Virginia Revolutionary War State Pensions

Related Wiki Articles
United States Military Records

Citations for This Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection citation:

Image citation: