As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I received my 3d great grandfather’s Civil War pension files from the National Archives in record time. I’d been prepared to wait 45 to 120 days and it arrived the week after I submitted the request online.
I dug right in and started processing the information. I was so grateful that I had attended the class Anatomy of a Military Pension, presented by Certified Genealogist Julie Miller at the National Genealogical Society’s annual conference that month. She provided step-by-step instructions of what to do with a military pension.
So the day after I received that 65-page pension file, I did what Julie suggested. I put the documents in chronological order and I assigned a number to each. Then I figured out a citation for the overall file and a citation for each of the numbered documents.
Coming up with a proper citation was a bit of a challenge and I emailed Julie, who was kind enough to share the citation she uses for these files. (She had given us that info in the talk, but I hadn’t written it down.)
Here’s the citation I’m using for the overall pension file for my ggggrandfather, Richard Anderson Jeffries:
[278] Jeffries, Richard Anderson (1st Sgt., Company D, 13th Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, Civil War), application no. 567612, certificate no. 529585, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications, 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Department of Veteran Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
278 was the next number in my source list in Reunion, my family tree software. Each of the individual documents is numbered, starting with 1, and has its own citation. My intention is that when I enter a fact into Reunion, I’ll use Source 278, but I’ll include in the detail field which of the 26 individual documents that particular fact came from.
I created citation labels for each of the documents and affixed them to the appropriate pages. (That’s the citation for document 16 above.) Then I scanned the whole document into a pdf. I elected to have one pdf, rather than 26 individual ones–time will tell whether that was a good choice. (Edited to add a year later: Yes! That was a great choice.)
The next step, according to Julie is to transcribe the documents. Yes, I’m going to type word for word exactly what is on the documents. Julie urged us not to skip that step because when we transcribe, we learn things we would not otherwise learn.
After I transcribe, I will abstract the documents, so I can tell at a glance what they are and what info is contained within each. And then I’ll enter the new-found facts into Reunion, my family-tree software.
That’s a lot of work, but I’m delighted to have learned how to be thorough with it. And I know I’ll learn so much about my ancestor.
I am so grateful to have this structure, because just a few days after receiving Richard Anderson Jeffries’s file, I received the pension file for my gggrandfather, George Washington Adams. That file is over 100 pages; I had to request and pay for the rest of the file (another 80 pages) to be copied–I’m still waiting for part two. That same week I received the third and final pension file, for another gggrandfather, Benjamin Franklin Igleheart. All three pension files, probably 250 pages, came within two weeks of my request.
If I did not have the structure Julie provided in that talk to thoroughly process the information, I know I would feel overwhelmed. I would probably skim the documents, pluck out a few easy-to-find facts, and put them away intending to get to them later. And I don’t know when later would be.
I have skimmed the most recently received pension files to get a preview what I’m going to learn. (G.W. Adams had a big dispute about the amount of his pension–an adversary in the Soldier’s Home turned him in for saying he was more disabled than he was!) But I’m not going to analyze them until I’m finished with Richard Anderson Jeffries. So that will be motivation to go through the process.
I think these pension files are going to be a great learning experience not just about my ancestors, but also about doing proper genealogical research. This feels great!
Thanks so much for the post. Very timely for me. Went to DC 2 weeks ago and came home with copies of 7 pension files! Needless to say, I was feeling pretty overwhelmed. This gives me a “plan”, although I must admit I have already done the quick scan/pluck method for birth, marriage, death, spouse and children info. Could. not. wait. I also use Reunion. What Source Type did you use to creat the citations?
Seven pension files. Wow! Have fun with that. I used Free Form source type for mine. I just pasted in the citation as it’s written in my blog post, then noted which document in the memo field of the actual event.
Great find! Love those files. You did not mention if you are keeping a research log. Is that where you will put the abstract? (It’s where I keep mine). I keep a research log for each individual.. yah, it’s a lot, but it keeps me from searching in the same source not twice, but three of four times.
Maria, thanks for your comment. I have to admit I’m still not keeping a proper research log. But this might be a very good reason to start. It would make sense to put the abstract there, and I like the idea of keeping a separate log for each individual. Thank you!!
Janine,
Thank you for this wonderful and helpful post. I have several pension files. I really need to process them the way you explained here. Thanks again!
Jana, I’m so glad you found it helpful. Have fun with those pension files!
Which files did you order? I ordered the Civil War Compiled Service Records Files and they were only $30. Do I need to order something else?
Linda, I ordered the
Federal Military Pension Application – Civil War and Later Complete File (NATF 85D). If you go to my previous log post (linked above), there’s a link for it. You’ll get even more info about your Civil War ancestor and his life after the war (and perhaps his widow’s) if you order the pension file.
Janine,
I want to let you know that your blog post is listed in today’s Fab Finds post at http://janasgenealogyandfamilyhistory.blogspot.com/2015/06/follow-friday-fab-finds-for-june-5-2015.html
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you so much, Jana!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend too.
One of my uncles was in the Civil War, was included in after war things that got his name in the book. We can’t have his pension file because it’s been sealed or locked or something. What do you suppose could be in that file for the family to have done that? We’ve bandied about various horrible things that he may have been guilty of. After all this time, how could we get a copy of it?
Gosh, I don’t know, Toni. If your ancestor fought for the Union, have you tried placing a request via the link in this post? It was a pretty straightforward process. I wish I could be more helpful. It does get the imagination running, doesn’t it?
which link would that be? My research partner and I have both tried to get the pension file. We have each started out at the web site. Then I got an email saying they didn’t have it but to write to another address. Each repository gave me a different address to write to. THREE snail mail addresses later they sent the $30 military file which was not what I wanted but better than nothing, I guess. I tried again by ordered directly from the pension files web site a couple of weeks ago. National Archives and Records Administration.
I got this reply: We were unable to locate the records that you requested in order number:F41-233389227E. Your credit card will not be charged.
You will receive an annotated paper copy of your original request explaining why we were unable to find the requested record.
We encourage you to use our online service to submit future requests for reproductions of other National Archives records.
Should you have any questions about this order, please do not hesitate to contact us at:
Sincerely,
National Archives and Records Administration,
AI Forms Reference Section
8601 Adelphi Rd
College Park, MD 20783
Toni, The link I used to order my ancestors’ Civil War pension files was this one: https://eservices.archives.gov/orderonline/start.swe?SWECmd=GotoView&SWEPostnRowId=1-29XS&SWEView=GPEA+Product+Catalog+Category+Detail+View+FFO&SWEHo=eservices.archives.gov&SWEPostnApplet=GPEA+Product+Catalog+Category+Form+Applet+FFO. I selected the NATF-85D packet, filled out the form, and received the info for my three ancestors. Perhaps the records you seek are lost in the system. Hopefully the annotated paper copy of your original request will provide some information. I can understand why you’re frustrated!
Yes. Same web site I used.
WOW – I just watched the T”V program “Who do you think you are?” It was so interesting following a great great grandfather backwards into the civil war. It gave me ideas too – but until I can travel again – I’ll have to do research.
Can you share what you found out about our mutual George Washington Adams – he’s my great grandfather?
Kinda cheeky of that soldier George huh?
Julie
Julie, I’ll absolutely share the pension file info I got on George Washington Adams, our shared ancestor. I need to process the documents (assign sources, etc) and as soon as I do, I’ll share. I’ll send you an email with more info. I haven’t seen Who Do You Think You Are this season…thanks for the reminder!
Thanks for the wonderful article. I just tried to order the full package Civil War package with pension information for $80 for a director ancestor who died in his 90s in 1932. I got a message at checkout indicating I should check with the FOIA office as his death was after 1929. I took out the death date and submitted anyway. I tried to get in to the FOIA part the va.gov to no luck with firewall message. Has anyone else had a similar experience with either of these?
That’s peculiar; the 2nd great grandfather whose pension file I just finished transcribing died in 1938. I just submitted an order for his Compiled Military Service package and didn’t get a message like that. I’ll be interested to hear whether any readers have received info on their relatives via the Freedom of Information Act. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
Thanks for the quick note. It came when trying to place the order. The exact message was “Please correct the following: If your ancestor died after 1930, their pension is most likely in the custody of the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs (VA). Pension application files in the National Archives were…” then it runs off the page. but it gave the FOIA link.
Hmmm. Indeed the later correspondence in my ancestor’s pension file was from the VA, but I ordered his file from the National Archives. I hope they come through for you! Please let me know if you get the file.
Thank you, this is so helpful!
So glad!