Research

Scope and Content Note

This series contains copies of documents submitted by veterans claiming pensions under various State laws. The State auditor (previously auditor general) received the originals of these documents, copied and audited them, and authorized the payment of pensions.

Volume 1 (old volume Aa) contains an alphabetical list of pensioners to January 1, 1789 giving: name; rank; date pension commenced; number of months and days paid; and monthly and total amounts paid (in pounds).

Volume 2 (no old number), "abstracts of pensions paid to invalids by the State of New York in pursuance of acts of the legislature passed 1779, 1783, 1786," contains separate lists of pensions paid under each act, giving: name; rank; annual pension; date paid through; and total amount paid. Also included is a short list of pensioners paid in Continental currency, "new emissions," and specie.

Volume 3 (old volume A) contains copies of all or some of the following documents for pensioners paid 1779-1785: certificates from officers and surgeons describing the name, rank, and unit of claimant, and date, place, and nature of the disabling wound or illness; certificate from the governor in cases where the commanding officer was deceased; certificate by a justice verifying certificates by commanding officer or surgeon; Senate or Assembly resolutions awarding partial pensions; letter from auditor general or auditor to treasurer authorizing payment of pension; power of attorney from veteran authorizing another person to claim pension for him; and receipts for pension payments received.

Volumes 4-9 (old volumes "unlettered," B, C, D, Bb, Cc) contain copies of documents submitted by pension claimants under provisions of the third pension law (1786). These volumes give the amount of each annual payment plus a running total of payments for each calendar year (in pounds). It appears that pages representing accounts audited January-April 14 are missing. Copies of the following documents or information are usually present in these volumes: certificates from the persons appointed by law to examine pension claimants, generally giving name, rank, unit, date/place/nature of wound; certificate from a justice that claimant was examined and obtained a certificate from examiners; notation of amount paid and dates for which the pension was paid; and date account audited.