I think all veterans had to fight for pensions - at least the ones I've gotten are full of testimonies from people who testified to marriages, births, service times, illnesses - which is actually a great thing for us. I have one pension file that solved a brickwall (sort of), at least I found out my ancestor left home never to be heard from again and his wife had to fight to get a pension based on her 1st husband's military service. Laurel Susan, > Yes, most had to fight for their pensions. I had 2 greatgrandfathers > who served in the Civil War, one from Barry County, and one from Carroll > County, Ark. They both had to have several people testify that they were > who > they said they were, and that these people had known them personally for > many years. I guess that the fact that they didn't have things like > social > security numbers, birth certificates,etc, as proof of who they were, meant > that they had to have people trestify on their behalf. All pension files > that I have seen have alot of these documents. Then if the soldier had > passed away, and the widow was applying for the pension, it was even > harder. > Not only did she have to have the testimonies proving who she was, but had > to have documentation as to the fact that they were married, and still > married at his death. I f she could not prove any of these facts, she was > denied. Hope this info helps. > Lee Ann Russell > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Susan Faulkner" <denmother4@hotmail.com> > To: <mobarry@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 8:26 AM > Subject: [MOBARRY] Civil War Pensions > > >>I have two direct ancestors that were Civil War veterans that lived and >> served in Barry County. A year or so ago I ordered and received the >> complete >> Civil War Pension file of my third-great grandfather, Leeland Betterton. >> This week I received my fourth-great grandfather, Benjamin >> Whittington's, >> Civil War Pension file. >> >> >> >> These files are both fairly large and contain a lot of correspondence >> that >> covers a span of years. Leeland Betterton finally received a small >> stipend >> for a couple of years before he died in 1911. Benjamin Whittington, also >> a >> veteran of the Mexican War, was denied any pension. >> >> >> >> My question is this. did most veterans of the Civil War have to fight >> for >> their pensions? Were these pensions difficult to come by? I would like >> to >> know if my grandfather(s) are an example of the norm or an exception. >> >> >> >> Have other Barry County researchers looked at copies of their ancestors >> Civil War Pension files? Did their ancestors have to prove a lot in >> order >> to >> obtain a pension? >> >> >> >> Thanks for your input. I'm rather perplexed. >> >> >> >> ~Susan Faulkner >> >> Please tell us about your Barry county ancestors. The list-admin is >> Donna >> Cooper, address - (saarisr@sbcglobal.net) >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> MOBARRY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.9/1239 - Release Date: >> 1/23/2008 >> 10:24 AM >> >> > > Please tell us about your Barry county ancestors. The list-admin is Donna > Cooper, address - (saarisr@sbcglobal.net) > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MOBARRY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >