Anne Kelly wrote: > > Do you know of this Michael Kane at all? -------------------------- Sorry, but no. But BTW, since you have a Fenian connection, Mike Ruddy hosts a Fenian list. The list web page is at http://www.public.usit.net/mruddy/fenian1.htm Another place to try is the Wild Geese Forum: http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=thewildgeese -------------------------- > I'd also be very grateful if you could tell me how I could apply for the > information on Mary Ann's application for a widow's pension. -------------------------- Union pension records are at the US National Archives in Washington DC. You've two options. The first is getting a copy of the complete pension file - the fee for this is US$37.00. The other is to get a pension documents packet, which costs US$14.75. The packet consists of up to 10 pages which will include the following if they are in the file: 1. Declaration of pension 2. Declaration of widow's pension 3. Adjutant General statements of service 4. Questionnaires completed by applicants (numbered forms) 5. "Pension Dropped" cards 6. Marriage certificates 7. Death certificates 8. Discharge certificate More details about the differences of the two are at http://www.nara.gov/nara/1258fin.html First step is to request the US National Archives to mail you Form 85. You can do this by sending an e-mail to inquire@nara.gov with NATF Form 85 as the subject. In the body, tell them your name, mailing address, and the number of forms you need (ask for at least 2). Once you get the form, fill it out and send it back, settle in for a long, long wait. You pay only if they find the record. They do take plastic, which comes in handy - if you supply credit card info when you send the form in, they mail you the records as soon as the search is done; if you're paying by other means, they send you a bill which must be paid before they'll send the records, which adds to the waiting. Plus you yourself won't have to put up with the currency conversion hassle if you use a card. Here's a report JWB wrote which appears in the Army Offical Records: http://moa.cit.cornell.edu/gifcache/moa/waro/waro0087/00313.TIF6.gif Dennis mailto:fran@ees.eesc.com