Chambersburg War Damage Claim Applications (PA) 1866-1868

About This Collection

This series contains applications for damage claims submitted by citizens who suffered losses during the burning of Chambersburg on July 30, 1864. The applications are itemized accounts of real and personal property lost by each claimant, assigning to each item a monetary value. Sometimes included with the applications are affidavits of witnesses to the claims, a record of the award allowed the claimant by the 1866 Board of Appraisers and the subsequent 1871 Commission to re-adjudicate claims. Chambersburg entries have a record of the pro rata payment given to each claimant in conjunction with the 1866 state appropriation of $500,000 for the relief of Chambersburg citizens who lost property due to the rebel invasion. Images are arranged alphabetically by surname of the claimant. Indexed externally, by surname of the claimant, in the Index to Damage Claim Applications which is also digitized. This collection is part of the Office of the Auditor General which audits the fiscal affairs for the Commonwealth.