Linda here is a site that tells how to obtain penision records from the national
archives, I have used it and got them in about 10 weeks.
http://www.oz.net/~cyndihow/pensions.htm
Linda Crannell wrote:
> Greetings! This is going to several lists, so please forgive the duplication
> (and the repetition of things you may have heard me say before).
> I am writing a history of the Washington County (NY) Poor House.
>
> OK, I can't stand the puzzle any longer! So I'm gonna have to track this one
> down.
>
> I have become quite interested in the effect of the Civil War in Washington
> County as reflected in admissions to the Poor House. This has been a verrrry
> tricky one. In 1862 & 1863 there were several mentions made; ie. father
> killed in war, father away in war, husband killed in war ... even a couple
> of men of whom it was said they were hurt in the war. Then, abruptly, no
> more mention of the war in any admissions.
>
> Now, I know there was a Civil War Pension program. I know lots of
> generalities about it ... like it became huge over time and included even
> distant relatives of men who stubbed their toe in the war. (OK, so that is
> an exaggeration. No disrespect intended, but the vast expansion of the
> pension program was a fact and quite a political issue.)
>
> Here is the example I just MUST try to track down.
> David MOUNTAIN
> Male 57 White Single born Ireland/Waterford/?
> Poor House Admission/Discharge
> 11/10/85 - 4/19/86
> 11/13/86 - 4/25/87
> 5/2/87 - 5/6/87
> Comments on his certificate:
> Rheumatism -- served in the War, 16th Artillery
>
> Here's my question (obvious!)
> WHY would a man whose service in the Civil War could surely be documented --
> after all, they even knew which unit (sorry, guys: probably wrong term--I
> don't know military terminology from Greek!)in which he served -- who would
> almost certainly have been eligible for a pension -- spend TWO WINTERS in
> the Poor House?!?
>
> I need HELP!!! (2 kinds, actually)
>
> 1. How do I track down this man's application for a pension and its
> disposition? (I have avoided learning this genealogy technique because I was
> more interested in the following.)
>
> 2. Where do I find good HISTORICAL (NOT genealogical) information about the
> CW Pension program? (When it started, how it worked, a chronological
> timeline for its implementation, relevant laws, etc.)
>
> I am a little bit desperate here. I will be in Albany and Washington County
> for about two weeks -- I leave in a week (takes 4 days to drive there from
> Texas). I could spend lots of time looking in the libraries & archives there
> but I don't know the system. Any help will be GREATLY APPRECIATED. Feel free
> to e-mail me privately if you don't think your info would be of interest to
> the whole list.
>
> BTW, anybody out there have info about this David Mountain?
> Thanks, Linda
--
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Jim Yates [log in to unmask]
Kingston, NY [log in to unmask]
First Capitol of NYS [log in to unmask]
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