About This Collection
Images of petitions for veterans' pensions submitted to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. According to the Statutes at Large for 1785, these petitions were normally filed in the local county Orphans' Court. By law, the Court required substantial proof of the disability. At least one commanding officer and the surgeon who was affiliated with the soldier had to file depositions with the court affirming the soldier's service record and attesting to the wound. Once the Orphans' Court decided upon the case, it was sent to the Comptroller-General for permanent recording. The Assembly required the court to revise their proceedings every year. The entire process was revised in 1787 when, by an act of the assembly, the Supreme Court became the overseeing authority, and was given authority to review any pension case necessary in its regular sessions, or on circuit in the counties. By law, applications for pensions were only allowed within three years of the two acts. Thus, a veteran or widow could only file a claim from 1785 through 1790. Information provided by the applications may include name, rank and regiment of soldier; residence; occupation; and age. The depositions normally show name of commanding officer; the battle fought in; and the type of wound received. Other documents sometimes included are commission and enlistment papers. Related information may be found in the Orphans' Court Dockets for the respective counties. See also the following related State Archives series, and the online name index to the Revolutionary War pensioners documented therein): RG-2, Records of the Auditor General RG 002-RAMS-53 Military Pension Accounts and Related Papers, circa 1789-1883 (2 boxes, 9 volumes), RG 002-RAMS-60 Revolutionary War Pension File, 1809-1893 (4 boxes); RG-4, Records of the Comptroller General RG 004-52 Revolutionary War Pension Files And Related Accounts, 1785-1809 (8 boxes, 5 volumes); RG-7, Records of the General Assembly RG 007-B-11 House File, 1790-1903 (66 boxes, 1 carton); RG-28, Records of the Treasury Department RG 028-A-82 Revolutionary War Pension List Book, 1834-1838. (1 volume).
