The discussion about pensions is very interesting. I found the following web site http://www.blackcamisards.com/usct/pension/penacts.html#03031865 that lists all the Pension Acts. It doesn't sound as though there was a lot of "coverage" until the 1890 act, but there's not a lot of information on the site about the 1865 and 1887 acts. Does anyone else have information on these? My great grandfather had an invalid pension and spent a lot of time in and out of "Old Soldier" homes in the early 1900s. Leslie Molldrem Syracuse earlier In a message dated 08/23/1999 7:59:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, deemills@netsync.net writes: > Linda Crannell wrote: > > > > > I have become quite interested in the effect of the Civil War in > Washington > > County as reflected in admissions to the Poor House. This has been a > verrrry > > tricky one. In 1862 & 1863 there were several mentions made; ie. father > > killed in war, father away in war, husband killed in war ... even a couple > > of men of whom it was said they were hurt in the war. Then, abruptly, no > > more mention of the war in any admissions. > > > > > > Here is the example I just MUST try to track down. > > David MOUNTAIN > > Male 57 White Single born Ireland/Waterford/? > > Poor House Admission/Discharge > > 11/10/85 - 4/19/86 > > 11/13/86 - 4/25/87 > > 5/2/87 - 5/6/87 > > Comments on his certificate: > > Rheumatism -- served in the War, 16th Artillery > > > > Here's my question (obvious!) > > WHY would a man whose service in the Civil War could surely be documented - > - > > after all, they even knew which unit (sorry, guys: probably wrong term--I > > don't know military terminology from Greek!)in which he served -- who > would > > almost certainly have been eligible for a pension -- spend TWO WINTERS in > > the Poor House?!? > > > The Poor House in that era was the equvilaent of todays nursing homes, > as well as a Homeless shelter, Insane asylum, Detox center etc. > > The man probably was unable to work in the winter due to his reumatism - > so he went to the Poor house to stay. He may also have paid some board- > have you checked this possibility? Many in our county Poor house did > pay board. They were unable to care for themselves and either had no > family or the family did not want to care for them. But they did have > some income - pension, savings etc. So they paid their way. > > Hope this helps. > > To get the man's pension record you need to send to National Archives > Name and unit he served in will get you his record. >