Confederate pension applications, Virginia, acts of 1888, 1900, 1902 ; index, 1888-1934

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The index was made by a member of the Comptroller's staff in the 1930's. In 1928 the Office of the Comptroller in the Department of Accounts assumed the functions of auditor with regard to pensions.

Some applications and index cards may be out of order.

"Virginia provided for her Confederate veterans and their widows and dependents with three pensions acts; 1888, 1900, 1902. These acts varied in the persons that they covered, what qualified a person for a pension, and the amount paid." -- Introductory information, p. 1.

The Act of 1888 "provided pensions for soldiers, sailors and marines who were maimed or disabled during the war and for the widows of men who had been killed during the war. This act applied to natives of Virginia who enlisted from Virginia or any other state in Confederate service and who were residing in Virginia at the time of application." -- Introductory information, p. 1.

The act of 1900 "was considered an extension of the act of 1888." -- Introductory material, p. 1.

The act of 1902 was basically the same as the act of 1888 but with additional restrictions on who could apply for the pensions. It was amended by later acts to lengthen the deadline for filing and to make minor changes.

1902 section for servant pensions appears to be for African Americans. In many cases pensions give age, place of birth, how many years they lived in the county, and what service they rendered.

"These applications are arranged alphabetically by locality and thereafter alphabetically by the surname of the applicant." -- Introductory information, p. 2 Counties are not always in strict alphabetical order.

Index is on cards which are arranged alphabetically by name of veteran, widow, or servant. It gives the names, county or city, year of act, whether soldier or widow is applying, usually a roll and page number, and if the applicant is a widow, sometimes gives her husband's name. Index is NOT complete. Disallowed pensions do not seem to appear in this index.

For the 1900 and 1902 acts, there are additional typed indexes before each county, independent city, and sections for servants and disallowed pensions.

Microreproduction of original records at the Virginia State Library and Archives in Richmond, Virginia.

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