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Virginia Dept. of Accounts. Confederate Pension Records, 1884-1978. Accession 44105. State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia.
These records came in several accessions and were combined into one body of records under Acc. 44105. Included are the following accessions: 25311, 26270, 26418, 26835, 28020, 28021, 28023, 28306, & 29468.
The Virginia General Assembly passed Confederate pension acts in 1888, 1900, and 1902, and a series of supplementary acts between 1903 and 1934. The act of 1888 provided pensions to Confederate soldiers, sailors, and marines disabled in action and to the widows of those killed in action. Subsequent acts broadened the coverage to include all veterans, their widows and their unmarried or widowed daughters. The act required that applicants be residents of Virginia. Later legislation included veterans or their survivors residing in the District of Columbia as well. An act of the Assembly passed in 1924 provided a pension of twenty-five dollars to any person who accompanied a Confederate soldier in services as a body-servant or who was detailed as a guard, cook, hostler or teamster, etc. Additional subsequent acts increased pension payments and categorized pensioners into several classes based on their disability.
On 15 March 1902, the General Assembly passed an act to appropriate certain sums of money from the public treasury in aid of Confederate memorial associations having in charge cemeteries containing the graves of Confederate soldiers. This act instructed the auditor of public accounts to draw an annual warrant from the treasurer in favor of the treasurers of various memorial associations. Subsequent acts have been passed through the present time for appropriating funds for the care and upkeep of Confederate cemeteries and graves.
An act providing for the funeral expenses of Confederate soldiers or widows enrolled on the pension roll was passed by the General Assembly on 11 March 1908. This act provided twenty-five dollars for funeral expenses of any Confederate pensioner or any widow on the pension roll of the state of Virginia. The act required a certificate of the clerk of the circuit court regarding the death of the pensioner. The auditor of public accounts was then responsible for issuing a warrant for funeral expenses.
On 1 March 1928 the Office of the Comptroller in the Department of Accounts assumed the functions of the Auditor of Public Accounts with regard to Confederate pensions.
The Confederate Pension Records consist of 118 boxes and 35 volumes and are arranged in eight series. Series have been designated for Applications, Card Files, Certificates, Confederate Memorial Association, Correspondence, Funeral Expenses, Miscellaneous, and Volumes. This collection documents pension payments to Confederate veterans, widows, daughters, and servants. These records should not be confused with The Library of Virginia's Confederate Pension Rolls which should be searched before any examination of the Confederate Pension Records
This collection is arranged into the following series:
See also Confederate Pension Rolls (Searchable from Virginia Memory on the Library of Virginia website)
Oversized documents separated to Box 118.
The Applications series is housed in four archival boxes and is arranged in two subseries. Subseries have been designated for Daughters Enrolled and Rerating Applications. This series documents applications from both Civil War veterans and daughters of veterans for pensions or changes to pensions. Please note that the Rerating Applications subseries is incomplete.
Arranged into two subseries.
The Daughters Enrolled subseries is housed in two archival boxes and is arranged in chronological order. This subseries contains applications for Confederate pensions to be filed with the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The applications provide the following information: the name of the widowed daughter, the name of the Confederate veteran, his regiment, date of birth, age, & address. In addition, the application asks several questions as to whether or not their father or mother received a Confederate pension from Virginia, whether or not they own their own home, whether or not they own property, and whether or not they own stocks or bonds. The applications often include a certificate from the Virginia State Library documenting the name of the veteran, his rank, unit, captain, date & place enlisted, & remarks. The applications sometimes include correspondence from the applicant, Nancy W. Stoll who served as Confederate Pension Administrator, and others.
Arranged in chronological order.
The Rerating Applications subseries is housed in three archival boxes and is arranged by allowed applications and disallowed applications. The applications are further arranged alphabetically by locality with cities at the rear of the subseries. This subseries contains applications from Confederate pensioners to be rerated and classed as totally disabled. The applications provide the following information: name, age, address, occupation, income, disability, physician, etc. In addition, the application includes a certificate of physician, a certificate of the commissioner of the revenue, a certificate of the pension board, and a certificate of a judge. The application often also includes copies of correspondence from the pension clerk or pensioner. Note that there are only three localities present for allowed rerating applications. The location of the missing localities is unknown.
Arranged by allowed or disallowed applications, then alphabetically by locality.
The Card Files series is housed in twenty-two archival boxes and is arranged in two series. Subseries have been designated for Payroll Cards and United Daughters of the Confederacy Registration Cards. The Payroll Cards are the more useful and important subseries. The Card Files series provides a good ready reference source of Confederate pensioners. In addition, the Card Files can be used to determine a pensioner's date of death. These cards provide similar information including name, roll number, locality, veteran's name, veteran's unit, amount of annual pension, date approved, date died, date death reported, remarks, and amount paid each quarter. Some of the cards are stamped "dead" or "dropped" from pension roll. Little is known of the United Daughters of the Confederacy Convention Registration Cards, but they do contain information on veterans and widows of veterans who attended one of the UDC conventions in Richmond.
Arranged into two subseries.
The Payroll Cards subseries is housed in twenty-one archival boxes and is arranged in three sub subseries. Sub subseries have been designated for Daughters; Soldiers, Widows, and Servants; and Widows. The Soldiers, Widows, and Servants sub subseries documents the earliest payroll cards date from 1930 and include veterans, widows of veterans, and slaves who received pensions from the state of Virginia.
Arranged in three sub subseries.
The Daughters Sub subseries is housed in nine archival boxes and is arranged both alphabetically and chronologically. This sub subseries documents pension payments to maiden or widowed daughters and sisters of Confederate veterans. Alphabetically arranged files are first arranged chronologically in three chronological subdivisions: 1942-1951, 1951-1960, and 1957-1966. These chronological subdivisions are based on the printed years on the cards used to track pension payments for each quarter. Within these chronological subdivisions, the daughter payrolls are arranged alphabetically by pensioner. The other arrangement in this sub subseries represents daughters who died between 1961 and 1977. These cards are arranged chronologically by the year of the pensioner's death, then alphabetically by pensioner.
Arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by pensioner.
The Soldiers, Widows, and Servants Sub subseries is housed in ten archival boxes and is arranged both alphabetically and chronologically. This sub subseries documents pension payments to Confederate veterans, widows of veterans, and slaves who contributed to the war effort in some manner. This sub subseries is arranged chronologically in two chronological subdivisions: 1930-1938 and 1939-1966. These chronological subdivisions are based on the printed years on the cards used to track pension payments for each quarter. Within these chronological subdivisions, the payrolls are arranged alphabetically by locality, then alphabetically by pensioner. Note that widow payroll cards can also be found in sub subseries 3.
Arranged both alphabetically and chronologically (see above).
The Widows Sub subseries is housed in two archival boxes and is arranged both alphabetically and chronologically. This sub subseries documents pension payments to widows of Confederate veterans. Alphabetically arranged files are arranged by locality, then by pensioner. The other arrangement in this sub subseries represents widows who died between 1961 and 1970. These cards are arranged chronologically by the year of the pensioner's death, then alphabetically by pensioner. Note that widow payroll cards can also be found in sub subseries 2.
Arranged both alphabetically and chronologically (see above).
The United Daughters of the Confederacy Convention Registration Cards are arranged alphabetically by state, then alphabetically by attendee. This subseries documents the attendance to an unidentified UDC convention held in Richmond, Virginia. The cards provide the following information: name of veteran, wife, widow, attendant, or delegate, address, wartime command, present rank, name of attendant, and lodging which the person was assigned to. The card file includes separate tabs for hotel registrants and visitors to the convention. It appears the main purpose of these cards was to manage lodging for convention attendees. The majority of the attendees appear to have been assigned lodging at the Soldier's Home and various UDC camps.
Arranged by state, then alphabetically by attendee.
The Certificates series is housed in thirty-nine archival boxes and is arranged in two series. Series have been designated for Allowed and Disallowed certificates. These pension certificates were completed by the pensioner and sent to the Auditor of Public Accounts for payment of their pension. This series represents the largest in the collection. Although the certificates do not contain as much information as the Applications, they are useful since they contain the age of the pensioner.
Arranged into two subseries.
The Allowed Certificates subseries is housed in thirty-eight and is arranged in three sub-subseries. Sub-subseries have been designated for Servants, Soldiers, and Widows. This is the larger of the two subseries.
Arranged in three sub subseries.
The Servant's Certificates sub subseries is housed in one archival box and is arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by locality and pensioner. Servant pension certificates were provided in the act of the General Assembly of 1924 which was amended in 1926. Servant pension certificates were provided for any person who accompanied a Confederate soldier in service, performed guard duty for the Confederacy, served as cook, hostler or teamster, worked on Confederate breastworks, buried Confederate dead, worked in the railroad or blacksmith shops, or who worked in the Confederate hospitals. The certificates provide the name of the servant, age, locality, and a signed affidavit by the pensioner before a notary public. The pensioner certified that he was a resident of the state of Virginia and that they do not hold a state, national, or city office which pays a salary of more than $400 per annum. These certificates sometimes include correspondence from the pensioner to the Pension Department regarding a change of address. Also included is correspondence from John H. Johnson, Pension Clerk, Auditor of Public Accounts, regarding pension checks.
Arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by locality and pensioner.
The Soldier's Certificates sub subseries is housed in sixteen archival boxes and is arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by locality and pensioner. These certificates contain a name, age, locality, signature, witness, and date. The certificates also include the date filed in the Auditor's Office and the amounts & date of each quarterly paid warrant. Each certificate contains an affidavit signed by the pensioner and a witness avowing that they are the person named in the original application with disabilities filed in the office of the clerk of the court for aid as a soldier, sailor, or marine of Virginia in the service of the state or Confederate States of America. The veteran also certified that he is a resident of Virginia and that he does not hold a state, national, or city office which pays a salary of more that $300 per annum (this increased to $400 per annum in 1927). The certificates sometimes include change of address/notification of death cards, applications, and correspondence. The correspondence was sent to John H. Johnson, Pension Clerk, from pensioners and others regarding address changes and the death of pensioners. Noteworthy are the certificates of John Salling, Virginia's last surviving Confederate veteran who died in 1959.
Arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by locality and pensioner.
The Widow's Certificates sub subseries is housed in twenty-two archival boxes and is arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by locality and pensioner. Certificates between 1969 and 1974 are arranged chronologically, then alphabetical by pensioner. These certificates contain similar information included on the soldier's certificates. Note that these certificates do not include the name of the veteran. Blind pensioners and pensioners who died are marked accordingly on the certificate.
Arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by locality and pensioner.
The Disallowed Certificates subseries is housed in one archival box and is arranged alphabetically by locality, then chronologically with cities to the rear. This series contains both soldier and widow certificates and correspondence. The correspondence in this subseries is to/from John H. Johnson, Pension Clerk. Johnson's letters often provide reasons for the disallowance including the death of the pensioner, duplicate pension, rerated pension, paid pension, pensioner in Soldier's Home or asylum, out-of-state residency, and absence from pension roll.
The Confederate Memorial Association series is housed in thirteen archival boxes and is arranged in alphabetical order. Included are appropriations, correspondence, invoices, and reports of expenses. This series generally documents expenditures of Confederate Memorial Associations for the care and upkeep of the graves of Confederate soldiers in cemeteries throughout Virginia. Originally established an Act of Assembly in 1902, the Confederate Memorial Fund was created for the auditor of public accounts to annually draw a warrant upon the treasurer in favor of the treasurers of Confederate Memorial Associations.
The appropriations file contains legislation regarding appropriations to aid Confederate Memorial Associations and organizations of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in Virginia to be used in caring for Confederate cemeteries and graves of Confederate soldiers and sailors. The Invoices document expenditures of funds by treasurers of various chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy to the Department of Accounts. The invoices include annual reports of Confederate Memorial Funds by U.D.C. chapters. These reports contain similar information provided in Reports of Expenses, but are later in date. The Reports of Expenses are arranged in chronological order, then alphabetically by locality, chapter, or cemetery. The reports document payments to individuals for the upkeep of Confederate graves, landscaping, fence repair, flag markers, grave markers, etc. The reports often include correspondence from treasurers of various chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Chief Pension Clerk John H. Johnson, Henry G. Gilmer & Sidney C. Day, Jr., comptrollers, and the treasurer of the Confederate Memorial Association. The report provides the amount of balance on hand, the amount of appropriation by the Commonwealth for the year, a list of disbursements including date of payment, to whom paid, on what account paid, and the amount paid. Each report is certified & signed by the commissioner in chancery. Note that numerous checks & receipts documenting the disbursements have been weeded from the collection since the information they provide is documented in the report.
Arranged alphabetically.
The Correspondence series is housed in twenty-five boxes and is arranged in five subseries. Subseries have been designated for the Confederate Pension Administrator, Deceased Daughters, Deceased Widows, Incoming Correspondence, and Pension Clerk's Correspondence. This series includes mostly correspondence, but also pension applications, invoices, notification cards, death certificates, obituaries, forms, and other sundry items. All five subseries relate to the general administration of Confederate pensions, especially those awarded to the widows or daughters of Confederate veterans. The chief value of this series is in the genealogical information it provides on veterans, their wives, and those daughters who were eligible to receive a pension. Note that there is a large gap from 1926 to 1959 without administrative correspondence. Please consult the Confederate Memorial Association & Funeral Expenses series for records during this time period.
Arranged into five subseries.
The Confederate Pension Administrator subseries is housed in eleven archival boxes and is arranged in chronological order, then alphabetically by subject. This subseries contains both incoming & outgoing correspondence from Maxie Duty, Confederate Pension Administrator, until her retirement on 2 September 1970. Duty was succeeded by Nancy W. Stoll, Staff Assistant. The correspondence in this subseries relates to requests of daughters of Confederate veterans to be placed on the pension list, requests for changes of address, requests for genealogical information about veterans, requests for duplicate checks for payment, and missing or late pension payments. Correspondence originates from Ryland H. Ford, Deputy Treasurer, regarding stopped payments, Frank B. Miller, Jr., Assistant Treasurer, regarding returned pensions, and William M. Tuck, Congress, regarding constituent inquiries. The correspondence often includes bonds for duplicate warrants from the Department of Accounts and sometimes includes an application for pension.
The alphabetical files relate to the applications disapproved, eligibility letters, stopped payments, returned checks, correspondence with organizations including the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and other sundry items. The Applications Disapproved file includes correspondence from Maxie Duty, applications, & certificates of the State Library regarding Civil War service. This file also includes correspondence from the pension applicant. The Eligibility Letters files include correspondence from Nancy Stoll, Staff Assistant, regarding pensioner's eligibility or potential eligibility to receive a pension. Only widows of Confederate veterans or daughters of veterans who were maidens or widows and whose income did not exceed ninety dollars per month were eligible to receive a pension. This file also contains applications and certificates issued by the Virginia State Library. The Payments Stopped files contains correspondence from pensioners regarding lost checks, stop payment orders issued by the Confederate Pension Administrator, correspondence from Ryland H. Ford, Deputy Treasurer, concerning stopped payments on pension checks, and correspondence from Nancy Stoll requesting duplicate checks. The Checks Returned files include form no. 58 and are arranged alphabetically by pensioner (see Daughter Enrolled subseries).The Sons of Confederate Veterans file contains correspondence from Maxie Duty to A. Frankland Brandt, Administrator of Confederate Dependents, regarding statistics on pensioners, statements of cash receipts & disbursements of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, minutes of the 68th General Convention in 1963, and a report of the Adjutant-in-Chief. Also noteworthy are statistical reports which provide the number of widows on the pension roll and the amount each pensioner receives each month. Lastly, there are files devoted to several presidents of the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy including Margaret S. Palmer, F.B. Fitzgerald, Alice W. Jones, Harriett H. Armentrout, and Mrs. Fred L. Bower, Sr. Palmer's file includes lists of pensioners, their roll number, age, and ancestor as approved by the UDC and sent to the State Comptroller's Office.
Arranged chronologically, then alphabetically.
The Deceased Daughters subseries is housed in three archival boxes and is arranged in chronological order, then alphabetically by pensioner. This series contains the agency copy of the Department of Treasury form No. 58 from the treasurer to Maxie Duty or Nancy W. Stoll, Confederate Pension Administrator, concerning returned pension checks for deceased daughters of Confederate veterans. These forms provide the name & address of the pensioner, date dropped from the pension roll, roll number, date deceased, and explanation for return (e.g. unknown, moved, deceased). Also includes correspondence from Maxie Duty to individuals, usually relatives, regarding the death of a pensioner. The subseries sometimes includes notice of death cards submitted for deceased daughters, death certificates (restricted for fifty years), obituaries, and memorial cards.
Arranged chronologically, then alphabetically.
The Deceased Widows subseries is housed in one archival box and is arranged in chronological order, then alphabetically by pensioner. This subseries contains correspondence from Maxie Duty or Nancy W. Stoll, Confederate Pension Administrator, regarding the deaths of Confederate widows and their funeral allowance. These records often include the form No. 58 mentioned in the Deceased Daughters subseries, notice of death cards, invoices for funeral allowance, and death certificates.
Arranged chronologically.
The Incoming Correspondence subseries is housed in two archival boxes and is arranged alphabetically by veteran or pensioner. This subseries differs from the Pension Clerk's Correspondence subseries in that it does not include the outgoing response of the Pension Clerk. This subseries contains change of address/death of pensioner notification cards sent to the Auditor of Public Accounts. These cards have been arranged to the rear of each folder. The correspondence was sent to John H. Johnson, Pension Clerk, & C. Lee Moore, Auditor of Public Accounts, and relates to requests for pension applications - especially from county clerks, returned checks for deceased veterans & widows, and notification of deaths of pensioners.
Arranged alphabetically.
The Pension Clerk's Correspondence subseries is housed in fourteen archival boxes and is arranged alphabetically by correspondent or pensioner. This subseries documents correspondence sent to and from John H. Johnson as pension clerk. The correspondence relates to pensions for Confederate veterans & widows, the war records of veterans, payments of claims, funeral expense claims, deaths of pensioners, the rerating of pensions in cases of total disability, searches for Civil War pensioners among the Confederate war records at the Virginia State Library, and the receipt of pension payments or missing payments. The correspondence often includes change of address or death of pensioner cards submitted by pensioners or their next of kin to C. Lee Moore, Auditor of Public Accounts. Noteworthy is a letter from John Saunders, Attorney General, to the pension clerk regarding his opinion respecting the eligibility of West Virginia residents who entered the Lee Camp Home in Virginia.
Several files from 1925 were discovered after processing was completed. Though not individually processed they were filed at the end of each alphabetic letter.
Arranged chronologically, then alphabetically.
The Funeral Expenses series is housed in thirteen archival boxes and is arranged in two series. Series have been designated for Allowed and Disallowed funeral expenses. This series documents claims for funeral expenses submitted by the administrators or executors of Civil War veterans and widows according to the act of the General Assembly of 1908. The bulk of the material can be found in the Allowed funeral expenses subseries.
Arranged in two series.
The Allowed Funeral Expenses subseries is housed in eleven archival boxes and is arranged in chronological order, then alphabetical by locality with cities in the rear. This series contains lists of funeral expense claims. The earliest claims, between 1926 & 1929, provide the name of the administrator & the estate, along with the amount of the claim by the Chief Pension Clerk. The claims also include invoices sent to the Comptroller documenting the payment of funeral expenses for widows, as well as certified copies of death records. In addition, there is often correspondence from Maxie Duty, Confederate Pension Administrator, to funeral homes, undertakers, and other individuals regarding funeral expenses for Civil War veterans & widows. Occasionally, the files contain pension cards for the widows receiving funeral expenses. The later funeral expense claims, 1945 to 1967, are arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by locality with cities arranged to the rear. These claims provide the name of the administrator, administratrix, executor or executrix, name of deceased pensioner, nature of expense, amount of funeral expense, and clerk of the circuit court's certificate. These claims also include an excerpt from the funeral expense law which grants twenty-five dollars after proof of death and claim is certified for any Confederate pensioner on the pension roll of Virginia. The claims include correspondence to & from executor to the Auditor, John H. Johnson as Pension Clerk, and others regarding claims for funeral expenses. Lastly, the claims often include copies of death certificates and accounts of funeral directors & undertakers.
Arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by locality.
The Disallowed Funeral Expenses subseries is housed in one archival box and is arranged alphabetically by locality. This subseries includes funeral expense accounts, correspondence, and death certificates. The correspondence consists of mostly outgoing letters from John H. Johnson as Pension Clerk to the administrator or executor of the veteran's estate regarding the reasons for the disallowed claim. These funeral expense claims were disallowed because the claim was already paid, the claimant does not appear on the pension roll, the pensioner was in an asylum or Solder's Home, or the pensioner died before they were enrolled.
Arranged alphabetically by locality.
The Miscellaneous series is housed in three archival boxes and is arranged in alphabetical order. This series contains court orders, disbursements, legislation, ledgers, powers of attorney, treasurer's reports, and other sundry items. The Court Orders were submitted by various cities & counties and are arranged alphabetically by locality. These orders relate to the approval of rerating applications between 1917 & 1925. The orders provide the names of the pension applicant and sometimes the veteran's unit. The orders also include letters from county clerks to the auditor, C. Lee Moore. The Powers of Attorney concern to the appointment of individuals to serve as committee for pensioners, appointments to pension boards, and certificates of qualification. The Treasurer's Reports were created by the Auditor of Public Accounts between 1913 & 1925 on account of the death of pensioners. These reports include the date, check number, county, payee, & amount. Also noteworthy is a file devoted to John Salling who was supposedly the last surviving Confederate veteran from Virginia who died in 1959 at the age of 112. This file includes Salling's application for a pension in 1950. Lastly, there is a chronological list of disbursements of the appropriations for disabled soldiers which provides the name of the veteran, date of disbursement, residence, & amount of disbursement between 1884 & 1887.
Arranged alphabetically.
The Volumes series consists of thirty-five volumes and is arranged in four subseries. Subseries have been designated for Daughter Pensions, Veteran & Widow Pensions, Registers, and Warrant Registers. These volumes document the payment of pensions to Confederate veterans and the widows and daughters of veterans.
Arranged in four subseries.
The Daughter Pensions subseries consists of seven volumes and is arranged chronologically, then by warrant number. These volumes were maintained by the State Comptroller and serve as pension warrant registers. The volumes include a number, name, warrant number, and amount paid. The volumes from 1924 to 1938 include the name, address, and quarterly pension payments. These earlier volumes are arranged chronologically, then alphabetically by pensioner.
Arranged chronologically.
The Veteran and Widow Pensions subseries consists of twenty-four volumes and is arranged chronologically, then by warrant number. These volumes were maintained by the State Comptroller and serve as pension warrant registers. The volumes include a number, name, warrant number, and amount paid. These volumes also include accounts of pension & funeral expenses paid and summaries of pensions paid to veterans, widows, and servants. The earlier volumes also include the address of the pensioner.
Arranged chronologically.
The Registers subseries consists of one volume and is arranged alphabetically by pensioner. This volume includes the name, locality, date received, disposition (approved or disallowed), amount of pension by class (A-F), date, and remarks (e.g. Act of 1932, pensioner's age, date enrolled, date married, etc.).
Arranged alphabetically by pensioner.
The Warrant Registers subseries consists of three volumes and is arranged chronologically, then by warrant number. These volumes include the name of the payee, agency code, account number, book number, warrant number, and amount paid.
Arranged chronologically.