More Information on C and XC Pensions

When I lived outside of Washington, D.C., a large part of my genealogical business was digitally copying Civil War pension files at the National Archives. This was usually very straightforward work, but occasionally it would be a bit more complicated. Pension files that remained active into the 20th century (and that includes files from other wars, I just wasn't asked to copy those very often) were given an additional number. This number appears on the index card as a "C" or "XC."

General Pension Info

To simplify the process for clients wanting a pension file, I created a web page with additional information and links. Although I no longer offer this service, I left the page up for those who used it as a reference. You can find it, here. This page includes links to the different online indexes and a little information about the differences.

C and XC Information

Additionally, there is a link to a 2010 NARA blog (NARAtions) post about C and XC pensions. This is a really useful article to help you understand C and XC pensions. However, it is from 2010, and there is at least one update to it.

A New Home for XC Pensions

The Fall 2015 NARA Researcher News has an article about veteran claim files (including "pensions") transferred from the V.A. to the National Archives St. Louis. Since the newsletter is a pdf, the link will just open the full newsletter. You can click on the title of the article in the table of contents, and you'll be taken straight there, though (it starts on page 7 so click the title next to "7").

C Pensions in Limbo

The article is pretty straight forward, but I do want to add a little personal experience. I have a "C" Civil War file that is not at NARA that I have been trying to get for years. I contacted the National Archives St. Louis after the article came out and they were able to confirm that it is still being held by the V.A. The article states files went from a "C" file to "XC" on the claimant's death. This Civil War veteran is clearly dead, but he still has a "C" file. The article also says "XC" files were transferred. You would think (logically) that all Civil War files would have been transferred by now, but it does appear it is literally "XC" files that were transferred. I wasn't sure if the article said "XC" instead of writing out "C and XC." This makes sense if you think from a filing point of view. The pensions are purely numerical. No effort has been made to separate "C" files from earlier wars so that will have to happen before they will be transferred.
If you need a "C" Civil War pension not held at NARA I, you still have to request it from the V.A. for now.

Links from this Post

Pension page from J.P. Dondero Genealogy
2010 X & XC Pension post from NARAtions
2015 Fall Researcher News with Article on Transferred XC Pensions

Bounty Land Warrant Applications: Why Bother?

This post is for those of you who know bounty land warrant (BLW) applications exist and probably even know you should try and get a copy.
If you don't know what bounty land is you can learn more by simply googling the topic. [If you want a handy reference and more info, try Christine Rose's book Military Bounty Land 1776-1855. This is my favorite "refresher" every time I need to order or identify bounty land for a time period I haven't worked in for a while. Note: This is an affiliate link.] This post is specifically about federal bounty land, there is also state bounty land.
Unfortunately, most bounty land is "unindexed" making it much more difficult to identify than pensions. As a complication, you must know the ancestor's name and service for the unindexed land to be found by the National Archives (NARA) search staff and sometimes slight variations in spelling may result in the request being returned as "not found" even though it exists. Having the BLW number (or application no. in the case of rejected applications) helps.
NARA is creating an index to the unindexed BLW applications but it currently covers surnames starting with A through part of K but is only available on a single computer in the microfilm reading room at NARA I in Washington, D.C. [Update: This index is now available at Fold3. It is "Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Index." It covers A to Ki surnames as of the end of December 2015 and surnames listed as "[Blank]." Here's the catch, everyone is listed as serving in 1812. However, these are volunteers from all eligible wars. Soldiers from 1812 were NOT explicitly picked out for the Fold3 index so don't be confused. You can not verify the war from this index. You can use the BLM GLO website to find an image of the patent which should list the correct service details which you will need to request the file.] The index also leaves a lot to be desired if you want to use it to identify multiple applications (either all variations of a surname or all applications for a unit, which is currently impossible). In other words, when it comes to BLW applications many genealogist ask "why bother?" when it is so difficult to identify.

You never know what you'll find

I've just returned from a marathon of (digitally) copying National Archives (NARA) records in downtown D.C. For once I had time to pull a few records for myself and wanted to share an unusual  (I found it amusing) inclusion in an Indian Wars pension.

(click to enlarge)
To save space I've only shown the statement of Lemuel Tankersly accusing Thomas Highins of killing his dog.¹ Below the statement is a warrant for Thomas's arrest. What does this have to do with Jacob's service? Nothing. Here's what happened.
Jacob Deal served with my ancestor in Price's Co., Georgia Volunteers in 1838 during the Cherokee Removal. You may be more familiar with this event as the Trail of Tears. Jacob (and his fellow soldiers) became eligible for bounty land in the 1850s but weren't eligible for pensions until the 1890s. Jacob applied for both but that apparently caused a problem. (FYI, getting the bounty land warrant application is a project for another day, today only yielded the pension.)
In his pension file, Jacob has to address the issue of "Jacob Dale" receiving bounty land for the service in Price's Company. The bounty land warrant application will hopefully reveal more but Jacob was a Justice of the Peace so he submitted the above document as proof of his signature (visible in the image above but also following the warrant). The warrant was accompanied by the following affidavit.

If this image is too small to read on your monitor, Jacob claims he was a "bad scribe" often having others sign for him. This is his explanation for the name discrepancy. He starts with a statement I wish I had for my ancestors, though, "I with Father [sic] came to Habersham county Georgia when about 15 years old..."²
You never know what you'll find in pension files.

1 Warrant on Thomas Highins, Gilmer County, Georgia, issued by Jacob Deal, 2 April 1848, in Sarah Deal widow's pension application no. WA 7095, rejected, service of Jacob Deal (Price's Co. Georgia Vols., Cherokee War), survivor's application no. SO 2058, certificate no. SC 2797, Indian Wars Pension Files; Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.
2 General Affidavit by Jacob Deal explaining 1848 Gilmer County warrant's inclusion, 12 January 1893, in ibid.