by Johni Cerny

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

For Enlisted Men:
A gratuity of $80 for those who served for the duration of the war.August 24, 1780Half pay for seven years to widows and orphans of officers who qualified under the Act of May 15, 1778.October 21, 1780Half pay for life to officers. Reduced to five years by the Act of March 22, 1783September 29, 1789The federal government assumed responsibility for all state pensions.March 23, 1790Veterans not yet receiving a state pension are authorized to apply directly to the federal government.April 10, 1806Pensions authorized for veterans of state regulars and state militia.March 18, 1818Pensions for life authorized for veterans with nine months Continental service in need of assistance.May 1, 1820Certified 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, 1828Officers and enlisted men eligible for pensions under the Act of May 15, 1778 were granted full pay for life.June 7, 1832The 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, 1836Widows 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, 1838Widows who had married Revolutionary War veterans prior to January 1, 1794 were authorized a five-year pension.July 29, 1848Widows were authorized a pension for life if they could prove they had married the veteran prior to January 2, 1800.February 3, 1853All widows of Revolutionary War veterans, regardless of their date of marriage, were made eligible for a pension.March 9, 1878The 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 a Revolutionary War Pension File or theRevolutionary War Pension Abstract by contacting info@lineages.com–please register at this site in advance.