Revolutionary War
Three principal types of pensions were authorized for revolutionary war veterans and their dependents: "disability" or "invalid" pensions for physical disabilities incurred in the line of duty; "service pensions" for service in a certain stated period of time; and "widows' pensions" to wives of servicemen who were killed in the war or who served a certain stated period of time. Major provisions of the pension laws are summarized below.

• 26 Aug 1776 Half pay for officers and men disabled in the service and who were [p.58] incapable of earning a living, the pension to continue for the period of disability.
• 15 May 1778 Half pay for seven years after the conclusion of the war to all officers who remained in Continental service to the end of the war; a gratuity of $80 for all enlisted men who served to the end of the war.
• 24 Aug 1780 Half pay for seven years to widows and orphans of officers who qualified under the provisions enacted 15 May 1778.
• 21 Oct 1780 Half pay for life to officers (changed to five years on 22 March 1783). Many pensions were paid by the states, especially Virginia, as an inducement for recruitment. On 29 September 1789, the federal government assumed the responsibility for paying pensions formerly paid by the states, and on 23 March 1790 provided that veterans not yet receiving pensions could apply directly to the federal government.
• 10 Apr 1806 Pensions were authorized to veterans of state troops and militias, rather than only to those who had served in the Continental Army or Navy.
• 18 Mar 1818 Pensions for life were authorized based on a period of service (in Continental service or in the U.S. Navy or the marines) of nine months or until the end of the war to those in need of assistance but regardless of whether a disability was present.
• 1 May 1820 Certified inventories of a pensioner's estate and income were required. Those not able to prove need were removed from the pension files. Upon further application and proof of need, many were restored to the rolls after a relaxation of the criteria was instituted on 1 March 1823.
• 15 May 1828 Full pay for life to officers and enlisted men who became eligible under the terms of the 15 May 1778 legislation.
• 7 June 1832 Full pay for life to officers and enlisted men who served two years in the Continental Line or state troops, volunteers, or militia. Naval officers and enlisted men were included. Those with service of less than two years but a minimum of six months were eligible for pensions of some amount less than full pay. Widows and children were authorized to receive money due the pensioner if it had not been paid before his death.
• 24 July 1836 Widows were authorized pensions that would have been authorized to the veteran if he were still alive, provided the widow had married the veteran while he was still in service.
• 7 July 1838 Widows were authorized pensions for five years if they had married the veteran before 1 January 1794.
• 29 July 1848 Widows were authorized pensions for life if they had married the veteran before 2 January 1800.
• 3 Feb 1853 All restrictions relative to date of a widow's marriage were eliminated.
• 9 Mar 1878 Widows were authorized pensions for life if the veteran had served as few as fourteen days or participated in any engagement.

To obtain a pension, the applicant was required to appear before a court of record in the state of residence to establish proof of military service. Widows were required to make a declaration and offer supporting documents, such as marriage records, property schedules, and witnesses' affidavits. The court certified the accuracy of the papers and forwarded them to the appropriate federal agency in charge of pensions. After approval (sometimes only after submission of further documentation), the applicant was placed on the pension list and began receiving checks as provided for by the then-current law. Often, applicants who were denied pensions reapplied later when requirements were relaxed.

The pension file is a...

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