Revolutionary War Pensions Aren’t All About the Veteran

Revolutionary War pensions are not always about the veteran. They are always about establishing a claim to a pension benefit based upon the military service of that veteran and completely documenting that claim may involve people who were not even living during the American Revolution or did not live near the veteran until after the war was over.

Because sometimes completely proving eligibility for a military pension involved a variety of people. This 1848 deposition from Ohio references the deponent’s 1802 marriage to the soldier’s daughter. It is a part of the widow’s application for the pension based upon the military service of Elam Blaine.

“Also Abraham Wickiser of lawful age being first duly sworn by me as herein after certified deposes & says that he was Married to the oldest Daughter of Alam Blain deceased late pentioner[sic] of the United States on the 7th day of November 1802 & that his wife was then said to be a little upwards of…”

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Abraham Wickiser Deposition

This image was located on Fold3.com. They have completely indexed these pensions which is how this document was discovered. It pays to search these pension records for people who were born after the war as they may appear in these records in a variety of capacities. Sometimes the individual has a direct tie to the veteran. And other times they don’t.

But you won’t know if you don’t look.

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