Pension files for US military personnel prior to World War I, with the exception of Confederate Civil War Pensions,  are housed at the National Archives Records Administration in Washington, DC. If you had an ancestor who served his country in the American Revolution, the Indian Wars, the Mexican War, the Civil War, or the Spanish-American War; he might have received a government pension. If your ancestor did not apply, his widow, dependent children, or dependent parents might have applied for and received his pension. This is especially true for Civil War veterans.  Confederate Civil War Pensions are housed at the state where the soldier applied for a pension.   Here is a list of the agencies on the National Archives website.

Pension files and the information they contain are different than military service records.  Military Service records typically contain muster rolls and in some cases may contain enlistment or discharge records.  Not all soldiers received a pension.  Some soldiers received a Bounty Land Warrant in return for their military service.

• Pension files can  contain otherwise undocumented genealogical information such as: date of  birth, place of birth, parents' names, marriage information, places lived since serving, children's information, and date of death. The file usually contains affidavits from family, friends, and other servicemen about your ancestor's service to his country. Most files will also contain medical information.

• You will need NATF Form 85. This form can be requested at inquire@arch2.nara.gov or you can order them online.  If you request a paper form , be sure to include your snail mail address, your request for NATF Form 85, and how many copies you wish to receive. You can also request these forms by mail:

• When you receive the form fill out as much information as possible. The more information you are able to provide, the better chance the researcher has of finding your ancestor's file. You can file as many requests for files as you like, but each request must be submitted separately. 

• The usual cost of this process is $75.00 US for a full pension file Civil War and later, $50.00 US for a full pension file pre-Civil War, and $25.00 US for a Pension Packet (eight documents from the pension file).   A Military Service file is $25.00 US.  You do not send a check at the time of your request (online requests do require a credit card up front). If a file is found, the NARA will notify you and request payment or charge your credit card for online requests.  Your copies will be sent after they receive your payment. This process can take 14-16 weeks.  NOTE: To speed up the paper form request process, a little, the NATF Form 85 has a place for you to provide credit card payment information. If you use this option, your copies will be mailed to you directly and your credit card charged.

Lastly, be patient! Genealogists have learned from experience that it takes a lot of patience to put the pieces of their family puzzle together.