In a message dated 6/27/98 11:50:44 AM, you wrote: <<Have seen some of the questions in here about civil war pensions. My question is . Did everyone that served get a pension or?? Any input would be greatly appreciated. >> Prior to the Civil War a soldier was often eligible for land because of service, so it would be safe to say that most Revolutionary War soldiers qualified in some way for some amount land, based on military service. Clearly only a portion of those who qualified actually claimed the land. At some points in time it was legal to sell you bounty land prior to claiming it. Not so for the Civil War, bounties (a signing bonus) where paid in cash, part at enlistment the rest at discharge. Civil War military pensions where for invalids, widows and minor children. I have seen applications based on poverty but only combined with the inability to work. Who applied for military pensions? Surprisingly many more ex-soldiers or their spouse applied than you might expect. The reason is simple, most people arrived at old age in ill health. When your 65 and all bent over you are often unable to work. Even if the soldier did not apply during his life time his widow had the option of applying after his death for a Widows Pension. It is important to remember this is before Social Security. Good luck in your search, one step at a time, backwards. Ralph Komives RalphK@aol.com http://members.aol.com/RalphK/DocumentSearch.html Document Searches in Washington, D.C. Area and Annapolis, MD. Problem searches and Common Names a specialty. Research at: DAR Library, National Archives, Library of Congress, MD State Archives