Revolutionary War Pensions
Congress authorized three types of pensions for
Revolutionary War veterans and their dependents:
- Invalid Pensions
- Service Pensions
- Windows' Pensions
The law required veterans to appear in person before a court
of record in their state of residence to establish proof of service, and
if necessary, proof of disability. Congress did not enact any laws prior
to 1818, except for the relief of officers and soldiers disabled in the
line of duty, so anyone who died before March 18, 1818, and was not disabled
in the line of duty, did not receive a pension.
A soldier's widow had to appear in person before a court
of record to establish her late husband's service and that they married
prior to the date set out in the enabling legislation, with documents if
possible. Sometimes widows appeared to provide property schedules.
Provisions of Pension Laws
| Date Enacted |
Major Provisions |
| August 26, 1776 |
Half pay for officers and soldiers disabled in the line of duty for the duration of the disability. |
| May 15, 1778 |
For Officers:
Half pay for seven years following the conclusion of th war to all who remained in Continental service for the duration of the war.
For Enlisted Men:
A gratuity of $80 for those who served for the duration of the war.
|
| August 24, 1780 |
Half pay for seven years to widows and orphans of officers who qualified under the Act of May 15, 1778. |
| October 21, 1780 |
Half pay for life to officers. Reduced to five years by the Act of March 22, 1783 |
| September 29, 1789 |
The federal government assumed responsibility for all state pensions. |
| March 23, 1790 |
Veterans not yet receiving a state pension are authorized to apply directly to the federal government. |
| April 10, 1806 |
Pensions authorized for veterans of state regulars and state militia. |
| March 18, 1818 |
Pensions for life authorized for veterans with nine months Continental service in need of assistance. The 1820 Pension List, which includes the names, service, and residences of everyone who qualified for a pension under the provisions of this act is available as a searchable database.
|
| May 1, 1820 |
Certified inventories of a pensioner's estate and income were required to establish need of assistance for all pensioners placed on the rolls under the act of March 18, 1818. Any pensioners unable to prove need were removed from the rolls, but were allowed to reapply. |
| May 15, 1828 |
Officers and enlisted men eligible for pensions under the Act of May 15, 1778 were granted full pay for life. |
| June 7, 1832 |
The most comprehensive pension law, this act authorized full pay for life to all officers and enlisted men who had served at two years, and partial pay for all officers and enlisted men who had served at least six months. Widows and children were allowed to receive payments due the pensioner that had not been paid before his death. |
| July 24, 1836 |
Widows were authorized the pension that would have been available to their veteran husbands when they were living, so long as they had married before he left service. |
| July 7, 1838 |
Widows who had married Revolutionary War veterans prior to January 1, 1794 were authorized a five-year pension. |
| July 29, 1848 |
Widows were authorized a pension for life if they could prove they had married the veteran prior to January 2, 1800. |
| February 3, 1853 |
All widows of Revolutionary War veterans, regardless of their date of marriage, were made eligible for a pension. |
| March 9, 1878 |
The final Revolutionary War pension act authorized pensions for widows of veterans who had served at least fourteen days or had participated in any engagement. |
Have a Lineages staff member conduct a record lookup of the Revolutionary War Pension Files
or the Revolutionary War Pension Abstracts.
|
|
|
