Federal Pension Records
There were two types of Revolutionary War Pensions:
- Federal Pensions
- State Pensions
In this section I am covering Federal Pensions and saving State Pensions for a more advanced section.
Here is the timeline for the Federal Pension Records:
- 26 August 1776 - The Continental Congress granted disabled veterans half pay for life
- 18 March 1818 - Pensions now included veterans who were poor and indigent
- 1 May 1820 - Congress tightened the criteria for indigent
- 1 March 1823 - Came to a middle ground and relaxed qualifications for pensions
Knowing these dates can save time. If your ancestor died before 1818 and was not disabled during the war, then they did not receive a federal pension. If your ancestor fits the criteria listed above, then there is a possibility that they or their widow would have applied for a federal pension.
To search for your ancestors Federal Pension record start at Fold3
.