Declaration

Revolutionary War applicants had to appear before a court of record in their home state and describe under oath the service for which they claimed a pension; widows also stated when and where they married. The court certified the declaration and sent it on with supporting papers.

Civil War claimants made their declarations before a local magistrate, usually on printed blank forms. Read the declaration first: it usually gives the applicant's age, residence, unit and the key dates, and the affidavits that follow back it up.