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 > >