Union Army Data - Pension

The Early Indicators project created three primary data sets: Military, Disease, and Census. The Military data set is a collection of wartime records (Regimental Record, Compiled Military Service Record, and Carded Medical Records) and post-war pension records.

Civil War pensions were available for veterans with disabilities as well as for deceased veterans' widows, minor children, dependent major children, and parents. Under the Act to Grant Pensions of July 14, 1862, the first pension legislation specific to the Civil War, the veterans were initially eligible only for disabilities (wounds or chronic illnesses) received during their wartime service. The Disability Act of June 27, 1890, changed that requirement and expanded eligibility to include disabilities not directly related to wartime experience. As a result, the number of men on the pension rolls swelled.

Pension records are housed at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C. in RG 15, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773-1985.

A veteran's PEN file often includes information on his:

date and place of birth
date and place of residence, and changes in residences
employment after discharge from military service
summary of military and medical wartime experiences
marriage records, which often include religious affiliation
family information, including a listing of spouses and children, (living or dead)
veteran's or the surviving dependents' pension application
record of the Pension Bureau's action on pension applications
documents in support of the veteran's claim, including
- affidavits
- depositions
- letters

Because a veteran could, and often did, apply for a pension under several acts or submit additional applications because of an increase in disability or dissatisfaction with the Pension Bureau's decision, files usually contain more than one pension application and record of action. Occasionally a pension file may include more than 20 sets of such forms.

A dependent pension generally includes data on:

the dependent's relationship to the veteran
the dependent's age
the dependent's residence
information concerning the veteran's death and burial
the veteran's economic situation and any money or property left to his heirs

A widow's pension usually includes:

her maiden name
a marriage record
the veteran's death certificate
names of children
birthdates of minor children
the veteran's economic situation and any money or property left to his heirs

To view videos on the pension data collection process and example source documents, please visit our Youtube channel, or click on individual videos below.

Pension File Military Service

Pension File Demographic Data

Pension File Disability Information and Determination

Pension File Old Age Information

To download datasets from the Union Army project, please visit the list of data samples.

MIL 01: Recruit

The first data collection screen of the military pension data, collecting a recruit's personal information such as birth, death, parents, and pension application number.

MIL 02: Family

The second data collection screen of the military pension data, collecting a recruit's family's information, including any spouse(s), children, and sibling(s).

MIL 03: Socioeconomic

The third data collection screen of the military pension data, collecting a recruit's socioeconomic information, including residence(s), occupation(s), wealth and income.

MIL 04: Enlistment and Discharge

The fourth data collection screen of the military pension data, collecting a recruit's enlistment and discharge information.

MIL 05: Military Service

The fifth data collection screen of the military pension data, collecting a recruit's military service information. Includes rank, battles, duties, actions, and prisoner of war status if applicable.

MIL 06: Medical

The sixth data collection screen of the military pension data, collecting a recruit's military health information. Includes illnesses and wounds, results of treatments, and hospital locations if applicable.

MIL 07: Applications and Rulings

The seventh data collection screen of the military pension data, collecting a recruit's pension application. Includes the relevant pension law, specific claims, attorney information and determination regarding their pension eligibility and amount.

MIL 08: Affidavits

The eighth data collection screen of the military pension data, collecting affidavits accompanying a recruit's pension application. Includes relationship to recruit, type of affidavit, and text of the affidavit.