A Guide to the Prince Edward County (Va.) Declarations for Revolutionary War Pensions, 1818-1850
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Barcode number: 0007845049
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
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© 2010 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.
Processed by: Greg Crawford
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Prince Edward County (Va.) Declarations for Revolutionary War Pensions, 1818-1850. Local government records collection, Prince Edward County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Acquisition Information
This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Prince Edward County.
Historical Information
On 1832 June 7, Congress enacted pension legislation extending benefits more universally than under any previous legislation. This act provided for full pay for life for all officers and enlisted men who served at least 2 years in the Continental Line, the state troops or militia, the navy or marines. Men who served less than 2 years but at least 6 months were granted pensions of less than full pay. Benefits were payable effective March 4, 1831, without regard to financial need or disability and widows or children of Revolutionary War veterans were entitled to collect any unpaid benefits due from the last payment to a veteran until his death.
Prince Edward County was named in honor of Edward Augustus, a son of Prince Frederick Louis, a grandson of King George II, and a younger brother of King George III. The county was formed from Amelia County in 1753. The county court first met on 8 January 1754.
Scope and Content
Prince Edward County (Va.) Declarations for Revolutionary War Pensions, 1818-1850, record the declarations of individuals seeking to obtain Revolutionary War pensions under an acts of Congress passed 1818 March 18, 1820 May 1, and 1832 June 7. The applicants present detailed testimony of their time of service during the Revolutionary War. Information found in the Declarations include date and location applicants entered into service, names of military companies they served in, names of military commanders they served under, names of fellow soldiers they served with, length of service, their age, and their place of birth. The predominant portion of the declarations are narratives of their tours of duty during the Revolutionary War with emphasis on battles they fought. The declarations also include affidavits from witnesses who could verify information provided by applicants.
Arrangement
Chronological by year and then alphabetical by surname of pension applicant within each year.
Related Material
Additional Prince Edward County Military and Pension Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia web site. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."
Index Terms
- Prince Edward County (Va.) Circuit Court
- Military pensions -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County
- Veterans -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County
- Prince Edward County -- History.
- United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
- Virginia -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
- Affidavits -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County
- Declarations -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County
- Local government records -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County
Corporate Names:
Subjects:
Geographical Names:
Genre and Form Terms:
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Prince Edward County -- History.
- United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
- Virginia -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783