Texas Comptroller's Office: An Inventory of Comptroller's Office Claims Records at the Texas State Archives, 1835-1990, undated


Overview
	Creator:	Texas. Comptroller's Office.
	Title:	Comptroller's Office claims records
	Dates:	1835-1990, undated
	Abstract:	The Office of Comptroller of Public Accounts was initially created by the General Council of the Provisional Government of Texas on December 29, 1835, for the purpose of examining and approving or rejecting any monetary claims presented to him by the Auditor. These functions continued under the governments of the Republic of Texas (1836-1845) and the State of Texas (1845 onwards). These records document the claims (including pensions) that were audited and either accepted or rejected by the government of the Republic of Texas, and by the government of the State of Texas for civil and (especially) military service to the Republic of Texas, as well as for Confederate service, and for service in the Texas Rangers. Types of records include claim files, pension applications files, pension registers and indexes, public debt registers and indexes, drafts for payment, and associated records. They comprise more than 951 cubic ft. of loose records, plus 61 volumes, dating 1835-1990 and undated.
	Quantity:	966.81 cubic ft.
	Language:	These materials are written predominately in English with scattered Spanish throughout.
	Repository:	Texas State Archives

Agency History

The Comptroller first appeared as a constitutional officer in the first state Constitution of Texas (1845), elected for a two-year term by a joint ballot of the House and Senate. A constitutional amendment in 1850 abandoned this method of selection in favor of election by the voters of the state. The term of office was increased to four years by the Constitution of 1866, returned to two years by the present Constitution of 1876, and finally increased once again to four years by a constitutional amendment adopted in 1972. (Article IV, section 1)

On April 11, 1846, the First Legislature of the State of Texas approved an act defining the duties of the Comptroller. These included the following:

to superintend the fiscal concerns of the state;
to perform such official acts as were required of the Secretary of the Treasury under the Republic of Texas, when not otherwise provided for by law;
to report to the Governor annually, giving an exact and complete statement of the funds of the State, of its revenues, and of the public expenditures during the preceding year, with a detailed estimate of the expenditures to be defrayed from the Treasury for the ensuing year, distinguishing between special and general appropriations;
to keep all accounts between Texas and the United States, and all other accounts in which the State has an interest, and to suggest plans for the improvement and management of the public revenue;
to examine and settle the accounts of all persons indebted to the State, to certify the amount or balance to the Treasurer, and to direct the collection of all monies due the State;
to audit the claims of all persons against the State in cases where provisions for the payment thereof have been made by law;
to draw warrants on the Treasurer for the payment of all monies directed by law to be paid out of the treasury;
to number each warrant and to take a receipt for each warrant from the person receiving the same;
to furnish the Treasurer with a monthly report of all warrants drawn;
to prescribe and furnish the forms to be used by all persons in the collection of the public revenue;
to receive and file all liens, mortgages, bonds and other sureties for money given to the State or to any officer thereof for the use of the State;
to close all Comptroller accounts annually, and to allow these accounts to be examined by either house of the legislature, or by any legislative committee;
to examine all disbursements of the Treasurer quarterly, and to cancel those warrants which have been paid;
to preserve the books, records, papers, and other things belonging to his office, and to deliver the same to his successor. ( Gammel's Laws, vol. 2, pp. 1374-1378)

In other words, in the mid-19th century as in the late 20th century, the Comptroller was and is the central accounting officer or chief fiscal officer of the state, and as such is responsible for maintaining effective methods for accounting for the state's funds. He or she is the state's principal tax administrator and collector of tax revenue. The Comptroller must also provide the research and statistics necessary for revenue estimating and certification.

Other duties were added from time to time through specific legislation. These duties will be explained as required in the appropriate series descriptions in this finding aid.

In addition, the Comptroller was made an ex officio member of various other state boards and commissions, as for example the following: the Insurance Department (superintendent, 1875), the Board of Education (1876), the Capitol Building Commission (1879), the East Texas Penitentiary Board (1879), the Board to sell useless State property (1879), the Board of Claims (1883), the Land Board and the Land Fraud Board (1883), the State Tax Board (1905), the Automatic Tax Board (1907), the Texas Bond Commission (1933), etc.

As the business of the office grew in volume and in complexity, the staff of the office increased as well. In 1852 the legislature created the office of Chief Clerk of the Office of Comptroller. Other specialized clerks were added as needed, and as the state budget permitted: tax clerk(s) (about 1859); corresponding clerk(s) (about 1874); an examining clerk (about 1881); delinquent tax clerks, auditing clerks, and warrant clerks (about 1882); a redemption clerk (about 1888); a deposit warrant clerk, a sheriff and witness accountant, a stenographic clerk, and a receiving clerk (all about 1891); a direct tax clerk (about 1893); a special warrant clerk, a bond clerk, mailing and filing clerks, and pension clerks (about 1901); etc. By the turn of the 19th/20th century, the total clerical staff of the office was approximately 44. This had increased to over 400 by 1950. In 1994, the total staff exceeded 2,800.

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Scope and Contents of the Records

The Office of Comptroller of Public Accounts was initially created by the General Council of the Provisional Government of Texas on December 29, 1835, for the purpose of examining and approving or rejecting any monetary claims presented to him by the Auditor. These functions continued under the governments of the Republic of Texas (1836-1845) and the State of Texas (1845 onwards). These records document the claims (including pensions) that were audited and either accepted or rejected by the government of the Republic of Texas, and by the government of the State of Texas for civil and (especially) military service to the Republic of Texas, as well as for Confederate service, and for service in the Texas Rangers. Types of records include claim files, pension applications files, pension registers and indexes, public debt registers and indexes, drafts for payment, and associated records. They comprise more than 951 cubic ft. of loose records, plus 61 volumes, dating 1835-1990 and undated. This includes the following: audited Republic claims, public debt claims, Republic pension records, unpaid and miscellaneous Republic claims, Confederate claims, Confederate pension records, and Texas Ranger pensions.

Claims files contain such documents as claim vouchers, official authorization of services or purchases, Auditor's affidavits, War Department pay certificates, discharges, assignments of benefits, powers of attorney, pay accounts, invoices, court dockets, public debt certificates, affidavits concerning service, petitions to the legislature, acts for the relief of an individual, partial or complete lists of soldiers for whom payment was being collected by a single individual, etc. Pension application files contain such documents as affidavits of service, transcripts of county court rulings on the validity of the claim, certifications of continuing indigence, certified copies of muster rolls, powers of attorney, pension certificates, oaths of identity, additional affidavits and interrogatories relating to any of the requirements for eligibility, correspondence, original discharges, death certificates, printed material (including newspaper clippings), mortuary warrants, etc.

Audited Republic claims (including both civil and military claims) are those that were submitted to the Comptroller or Treasurer of the Republic, and were audited and approved (or allowed) and paid by that government during the Republic period; thus both the services and the payments for these services date between 1835 and 1846. Public debt claims records document the public debt of Texas (which included both the ordinary or non-revenue debt--consisting of the claims of participants in the Texas Revolution or suppliers of the Texas army; and the revenue debt--principal and interest owed to holders of Republic of Texas and State of Texas securities), accounted for by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts in claims files, registers, and indexes; the settlements of these public debt claims dated 1848-1863, 1866-1867, 1871-1873, and undated. Republic pension records document the pensions authorized by the Texas State Legislature for persons who rendered military service to the Republic of Texas (and their widows) and signers of the Declaration of Independence, to be administered by the Office of the Comptroller; they consist of 15 indexes plus the actual Republic pension files, dating 1870-1920. Unpaid and miscellaneous Republic claims include records relating to services and losses during the era of the Republic of Texas that were denied, or that simply have no documentation in the records of the Comptroller of Public Accounts of having been settled, or that do not fit easily into an existing series; these date 1836-about 1879.

Confederate audited military claims comprise the claim files for payment for military and military-related services rendered for the defense of Texas during the Civil War, submitted to the Texas Comptroller's office for auditing and approval, some of which were eligible to be submitted for reimbursement by the government of the Confederate States of America, dating 1861-1865. Like military claims, claims for payment for civil services rendered for the State of Texas during the Civil War were submitted to the Texas Comptroller's office for auditing and approval, although it is unclear whether any of these could be submitted to the Confederate States government; these "Confederate" audited civil claims dated 1861-1865. "Confederate" indigent families lists were submitted by the counties and maintained by the Texas Comptroller's Office, designating and enumerating indigent families eligible for relief from the State of Texas during the Civil War, 1863-1865. Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. The Confederate pension applications records created and maintained by the Texas Comptroller's office provide detailed documentation of those persons applying for these pensions, as well as the process itself, dating 1899-1979. The Confederate pension payment records consist of 23 volumes maintained by the Texas Comptroller's office, which document payments of these Confederate pensions, as well as mortuary warrants.

Beginning in 1959, the Texas Legislature authorized the Comptroller's office to pay pensions to qualified former Texas Rangers and their widows. Texas Ranger pension files document both the persons applying for these pensions, and the process itself, consisting mostly of the pension files (applications and other documents) of deceased recipients of Texas Ranger pensions, 1959-1990, but also federal legislation and Texas Attorney General opinions.

This finding aid describes 10 series of records from the Texas Comptroller's Office. If you are reading this electronically, click here for an introduction to the Texas Comptroller's Office records. If you are reading this in paper, the introduction is at the beginning of the first binder labeled Comptroller.

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Organization of the Records
	These records have been organized by State Archives staff into 10 series, and 14 subseries:

		Audited Republic claims, 1835-1846, 127.35 cubic ft.
		Public debt claims records, 1848-1863, 1866-1867, 1871-1873, undated, 57.73 cubic ft. (in 3 subseries) Registers and indexes of Republic of Texas public debt claims, 1848-1861, undated, 1.4 cubic ft. (4 volumes) Republic of Texas public debt claims files, 1848-about 1860, 55.62 cubic ft. Registers of State of Texas public debt claims, 1860-1863, 1866-1867, 1871-1873, 0.71 cubic ft. (3 volumes)
		Republic pension records, 1870-1920, 38.36 cubic ft. (in 2 subseries) Republic pension indexes, 1870-1920, 1.13 cubic ft. (15 volumes) Republic pension files, 1870-about 1900, 37.23 cubic ft.
		Unpaid and miscellaneous Republic claims, 1836-about 1879, 10.1 cubic ft.
		Confederate audited military claims, 1861-1865, 45.59 cubic ft.
		Confederate audited civil claims, 1861-1865, 24.44 cubic ft.
		Confederate indigent families lists, 1863-1865, 0.94 cubic ft.
		Confederate pension applications records, 1899-1979, 652.71 cubic ft. (in 5 subseries) Confederate pension applications, 1899-1979, 646.74 cubic ft. Miscellaneous material relating to Confederate pension applications, 1903-1934, 2.12 cubic ft. Confederate pension indexes, 1899-1967, 2.36 cubic ft. (12 volumes) Confederate pension registers, 1899-1909, 1915-1917, 1.15 cubic ft. (3 volumes) Affidavits of Confederate military service, 1909-1917, 0.34 cubic ft. (one volume)
		Confederate pension payments records, 1899-1905, 1909-1910, 1915-1966, 8.65 cubic ft. (23 volumes) (in 4 subseries) Quarterly Confederate pension records, 1899-1905, 1915-1916, bulk 1899-1905, 2.71 cubic ft. (6 volumes) Confederate pension affidavit registers, 1900-1901, 1917-1920, 2.02 cubic ft. (5 volumes) Confederate pension warrant registers and stubs, 1900-1903, 1909-1910, 1950-1955, 2.49 cubic ft. (8 volumes) Confederate mortuary warrant registers, 1917-1966, bulk 1917-1943, 1.43 cubic ft. (4 volumes)
		Texas Ranger pensions, 1917-1938, 1959-1990, bulk 1959-1990, 0.94 cubic ft.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Because Republic of Texas claims are fragile, access to these records is restricted to high-quality microfilmed copies of the documents. An online database provides the reel and frame location of more than 48,500 indexed names. Digital images from the microfilm are being linked to the database. The 35mm microfilm reels are available through interlibrary loan and, to view in person, at the Genealogy Collection of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Use

Most records created by Texas state agencies are not copyrighted and may be freely used in any way. State records also include materials received by, not created by, state agencies. Copyright remains with the creator. The researcher is responsible for complying with U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.).

Technical Requirements

Instructions on how to borrow or view the microfilm for Republic claims are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html#borrow.

Microfilm readers are available in the Genealogy Section, Room 110 (which is closed on Mondays), and also in Room 300 of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building (Monday-Friday).

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Index Terms
	The terms listed here were used to catalog the records. The terms can be used to find similar or related records.
	Corporate Names:
		Texas Rangers.
	Subjects:
		Claims--Texas.
		Debts, Public--Texas.
		Expenditures, Public--Texas.
		Military pensions--Texas.
		Military pensions--Texas--Revolution, 1835-1836.
		Military pensions--Texas--Republic, 1836-1846.
		Military pensions--Texas--Civil War, 1861-1865.
		Payment--Texas.
	Places:
		Texas--Appropriations and expenditures.
		Texas--Claims.
		Texas--Politics and government--1836-1846.
		Confederate States of America--History, Military.
		United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
		Texas--History--Republic--1836-1846.
	Document Types:
		Affidavits--Texas--Claims--1835-1846.
		Affidavits--Texas--Military pensions--1870-1979.
		Affidavits--Texas--Public debts--1848-about 1860.
		Applications--Texas--Claims--1836-about 1879.
		Applications--Texas--Military pensions--1836-1990.
		Application forms--Texas--Military pensions--1899-1979.
		Certificates--Texas--Military pensions--1899-1979.
		Correspondence--Texas--Claims--1836-about 1879, 1901-1913.
		Correspondence--Texas--Military pensions--1836-about 1879, 1899-1979.
		Financial records--Texas--Claims--1861-1865.
		Indexes--Texas--Military pensions--1870-1967.
		Indexes--Texas--Public debts--1848-1854, undated.
		Legal documents--Texas--Claims--1835-1846, 1861-1865.
		Legal documents--Texas--Military pensions--1870-about 1900.
		Legal documents--Texas--Public debts--1848-about 1860.
		Letterpress copybooks--Texas--Claims--1901-1913.
		Lists--Texas--Claims--1863-1865.
		Military records--Texas--Claims--1835-1846.
		Military records--Texas--Military pensions--1870-1979.
		Military records--Texas--Public debts--1848-about 1860.
		Opinions--Texas--Military pensions--1928-1938.
		Registers--Texas--Military pensions--1899-1910, 1915-1966.
		Registers--Texas--Public debts--1848-1863, 1866-1867, 1871-1873.
	Functions:
		Administering claims.
		Administering expenditures.
		Administering military pensions.
		Issuing pensions.

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Related Material


	The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.
	Texas State Archives
		Treasurer's Office records are almost totally unprocessed, but are almost always related to the records of the Comptroller's office. Where appropriate, some specific Treasurer's office records are listed as related material under the corresponding series description.
	Publications
		Annual/Biennial Reports of the Comptroller, 1847-1853, 1855-1861, 1863-1877, 1880-1977 (Note: Published annual/biennial reports from the following time periods are missing: December 26, 1835-October 30, 1847; November 1, 1849-October 30, 1851; November 1, 1853-October 31, 1855; September 1, 1861-August 30, 1863; July 2, 1866-August 31, 1867; September 1, 1870-August 31, 1871; and September 1, 1878-August 31, 1879.)
		Confederate Indigent Families Lists of Texas, 1863-1865, by Linda Mearse, San Marcos, Texas, 1995

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/003, 1933/007, 1939/004, 1960/003, 1961/006, 1961/046, 1962/218, 1963/030, 1963/145, 1964/029, 1965/042, 1968/072, 1969/002, 1970/044, 1977/080, 1980/302, 1990/069, 1992/154, and unknown

These records were transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Comptroller's office on February 21 and 24, 1934; April 7, 1939; during the September 1, 1960-August 31, 1962 biennium; on October 31, 1961; September 6, 1962; July 19, 1963; October 18, 1963; April 6, 1964; October 21, 1964; November 29, 1965; December 7, 1967; September 5, 1968; November 13, 1969; February 9, 1977; August 18, 1980; January 17, 1990; and May 26, 1992. Dates of many accessions are uncertain.

Processing Information

Jean Young and Eddie Williams, August 1975

Laura K. Saegert, September 1983, July 1990

Tonia J. Wood, November 1995

Tony Black, November 1987, March 1994, October 1994, January 1995

Connie Hoxie, September 1996

Tony Black, August 2000

Other Formats for the Records

Republic of Texas claims have been microfilmed. An online database provides the reel and frame location of more than 48,500 indexed names. Digital images from the microfilm are being linked to the database. The 35mm microfilm reels are available through interlibrary loan and, to view in person, at the Genealogy Collection of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Instructions on how to use the online database for the Republic claims, plus links to that database, are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html. Instructions on how to borrow or view the microfilm are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html#borrow. Microfilming and indexing for the Republic claims project were made possible by two generous grants from the Summerlee Foundation.

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Other Finding Aids

Instructions on how to use the online database for the Republic claims, plus links to that database, are online at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html.

The index to Confederate audited military claims in a computer printout in the search room of the Texas State Archives matches the names of claimants with claim numbers.

The index to Confederate audited civil claims in a computer printout in the search room of the Texas State Archives matches the names of claimants with claim numbers. Because numbers were duplicated, the letter "A" precedes some voucher numbers in one group to avoid possible confusion. Entries in the index preceded by a dash (-) are missing. Entries that involved some question as to the correct spelling of a name or names are preceded by an asterisk (*).

An index of the names of the Confederate indigent soldiers is in a computer printout in the Texas State Archives search room, and is also available online ( http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/cif/index.html). This is an index only; transcriptions of the records have been published by Linda Mearse. Please note that lists are not extant for every county.

An alphabetical union Confederate pension application name index is available in the Texas State Archives search room, containing the following elements: pension number if accepted, "Rej" if rejected, or "Home" if a Confederate Home pension application; name of the pensioner; county of residence at the time of the application; name of husband if a widow, and husband's pension number if applicable. Researchers should request each pension application by number or (for rejected and Home pension applications) by name of applicant. Archives staff routinely check listings in the index for mail or phone requests, and will copy the records in the files. The Confederate pension application index is also available online at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/pensions/index.html.

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Detailed Description of the Records

Audited Republic claims, 1835-1846,
127.35 cubic ft.

The Office of Comptroller of Public Accounts was initially created by the General Council of the Provisional Government of Texas on December 29, 1835, elected by the General Council and commissioned by the Governor, for the purpose of examining and approving or rejecting any monetary claims presented to him by the Auditor. These functions continued under the governments of the Republic of Texas and the State of Texas. Claims that were submitted to the Comptroller or Treasurer of the Republic, that were audited and approved (or allowed) and paid by that government during the Republic period are considered audited claims. The series includes both civil and military claims. The services and the payments for these services date between 1835 and 1846. These records comprise Republic of Texas audited claims files. Types of documents in this series include the following: claim vouchers, official authorization of services or purchases, Auditor's affidavits, War Department pay certificates, discharges, assignments of benefits, powers of attorney, pay accounts, invoices, and court dockets, dating 1835-1846.

Republic-era claims that were not paid until after Annexation are included in Public debt claims described in a separate series in this finding aid. Additional information on the laws and the procedures relating to audited claims is included below, and may also be found on the online Laws About Republic Claims page: http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/replaws.html.

Potentially, audited claim documents can provide such information as the name of the claimant; amount of claim; dates filed, approved, and issued; authorizing official; type of materials or services provided; rank, company and company commander; dates of service; date enlisted and date discharged. Some files have only the endorsement wrapper showing the number of the voucher, the type and amount of the claim, the date approved, the date paid, the authorizing government official, and the signature of the person receiving the warrant.

Instructions on how to use the online database for the Republic claims, plus links to that database, are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html.

Historical Sketch

Two acts of the Texas Consultation determined the manner in which claims would be handled throughout the Republic period: An Ordinance prescribing the manner and form of settling the accounts of the Volunteer Army of Texas (November 24, 1835. Gammels I, 923) and Ordinance and Decree, creating the offices of Auditor and Comptroller of Public Accounts for Texas (December 26, 1835, Gammels I, 1003-8) The first ordinance required that "all bills, accounts, claims, debts, dues or demands, that are now or may hereafter be due or owing by this or a future Government to any person or persons for money, corn, provisions, stores, clothing, medicines, transportation, or any service whatever rendered or furnished, to and for the Volunteer Army of the people of Texas, now in the field, shall, before the same be admitted to audit and liquidation before the Standing Committee on War Affairs, of this House, or the proper department of a future Government, contain the day, date, name and description of the article or sum furnished, and place, and the certificate of the Standing Committee of Safety and Vigilance, or the order or certificate of the commanding officer or Colonel of the Regiment, or company by whose order and at whose requisition the same may have been rendered or furnished: or the receipt of the contractor, commissary or quarter-master to whom the same may have been furnished and delivered, together with the oath or affirmation before any Judge or Alcalde, of the person or persons so presenting the same for liquidation, that the said accounts, debts, dues, demands, or services were at the time and place specified, supplied, furnished, or rendered, made use of, delivered, pressed or taken, lost or killed in the service of the Volunteer Armies of the people of Texas aforesaid." The submission usually included 1) the account or voucher for services or goods, 2) certification of the claim's validity by the authorizing party (usually a department head, company commander, or government official of some sort) either on the account itself or as a separate document, 3) affidavit by the claimant that the claim was just and had not been satisfied heretofore, and 4) receipt for payment signed by the claimant or his representative or assignee and endorsed by the Auditor or Comptroller. The Auditor was required to enter the transaction in his office ledger and to "further number and file all claims, receipts, and other evidences of debts, against the Government, in his office, so that he can at any time refer to them." Even when the claim exceeded four thousand dollars (the largest amount the Auditor was allowed to authorize), the General Council or Governor would authorize the claim, but "the Auditor shall take the same, to his office, and place it on file, with such accompanying evidence as applies to said claim." The Comptroller, in turn, would approve payment of the claim after it had been acted upon and record the information concerning the issuance of the draft "after which he shall return the claim to the Auditor, that he may place it on file, according to the requisitions of the existing laws." In other words, all agencies authorized to approve and to pay claims were required ultimately to return the claim files to the Auditor's Office to be kept as a hedge against fraud. Furthermore, all transactions concerning the payment of claims had to be recorded by both the Auditor and the Comptroller. The Auditor "if said claim is admitted...shall make a record thereof, in a neat and business like manner, setting forth the time when said claim originated, the time it was audited, the name of said claimant, the name of the officer commanding, (if a military claim) to whose company attached, (if to any) by what officer certified, and for what consideration said claim originated." The Comptroller, "when any claim is presented him, approved by the Auditor as set forth in the foregoing, (should) strictly examine it, having previously well informed himself of the existing laws, and if found in all parts consistent and containing all the requisites of the laws, he shall write 'Approved' thereon, with the date, when acted on, and shall also enter the corresponding draft of record in a summary way, setting out in whose favour drawn, date, letter, and amount...." Both the audited claim files and the various ledgers recording the Auditor's and the Comptroller's actions therein were retained in the department's archives.

The audited Republic claims are made up of records submitted to the Texas Comptroller or Treasurer to document or to verify goods or services provided to the government of the Republic of Texas in order to receive payment. Records in the claims document the following:

attendance in an official capacity at any of the conventions, beginning with the Consultation in November 1835, the Convention of 1836, and the Annexation Convention of 1845.
services as an elected or appointed national official or as an employee in the executive, legislative or judicial department--in other words, any government employee or office holder on the national level from a clerk to the president--between November 1835 and February 1846.
military service or association with any military engagement during the period October 1835 through 1845.
any goods or services (other than military) provided to the Republic government.
payments for special services, such as acting as a witness in county court cases, and payments authorized by special relief acts.

Once a person's right to receive a payment for goods or services provided the government during the Republic period (1835-1846) was established by the Comptroller or the Treasurer, a voucher would be issued. The payment could be made to:

The person who performed the service or provided the goods.
That person's assignee--someone designated by the original claimant to receive the payment instead of himself. (Because the Republic government was usually broke, claimants would frequently sell their vouchers at a lower rate to a buyer who could supply immediate cash.)
That person's attorney.
That person's legal heir(s).
An entity rather than an individual. Vouchers were issued to the Steamer Savannah, the Tow Boat Daniel Webster, and the Richmond Telescope.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff alphabetically by name of claimant.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Audited Republic claims, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: unknown

Accession records are too incomplete to determine when these records were transferred.

Restrictions on Access

Because the actual Republic claims are fragile, access to the records is restricted to high-quality microfilmed copies of the documents. An online database provides the reel and frame location of more than 48,500 indexed names. Digital images from the microfilm are being linked to the database. The 35mm microfilm reels are available through interlibrary loan and, to view in person, at the Genealogy Collection of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. (There are 130 reels of Audited Republic claims.)

Microfilming and indexing for the Republic claims project were made possible by two generous grants from the Summerlee Foundation.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Technical Requirements

Instructions on how to borrow or view the microfilm for Republic claims are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html#borrow.

Microfilm readers are available in the Genealogy Section, Room 110 (which is closed on Mondays), and also in Room 300 of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building (Monday-Friday).

Processed by

Connie Hoxie, September 1996

Tony Black, August 2000

Reel

1 thru 130

Audited Republic claims, 1835-1846

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Public debt claims records, 1848-1863, 1866-1867, 1871-1873, undated,
57.73 cubic ft.

The public debt of Texas consisted of two types of debt: the ordinary or non-revenue debt (consisting of the claims of participants in the Texas Revolution or suppliers of the Texas army, usually no more than a few hundred dollars per claim); and the revenue debt (principal and interest owed to holders of Republic of Texas securities). After the annexation of Texas into the Union, the Office of Comptroller of Public Accounts of Texas continued the task of examining and approving (or rejecting) any monetary claims presented to him by the Auditor. Republic-era claims that were not paid until after annexation are included in public debt claims, as are post-annexation claims. These records comprise the Republic of Texas and State of Texas public debt claims records. Types of documents in this series include the following: public debt certificates (1st, 2nd, or 3rd class), affidavits concerning service, powers of attorney, petitions to the legislature, acts for the relief of an individual, partial or complete lists of soldiers for whom payment was being collected by a single individual (usually a company commander), invoices, and/or court dockets (all dating 1848-about 1860); two registers and two indexes of Republic of Texas public debt claims (1848-1861 and undated); and three registers of State of Texas public debt claims (1860-1863, 1866-1867, 1871-1873). Although the dates of the services for which the claims are filed include both the Republic era (1835-1846) and the post-Republic era, the dates for the settlement of the public debt claims are 1848-1863, 1866-1867, 1871-1873, and undated.

Instructions on how to use the online database for the Republic claims, plus links to that database, are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html.

Historical Sketch

Public debt claims fall into one of two categories: claims against the Republic of Texas, and claims against the State of Texas. Claims against the Republic were for services rendered or securities purchased between 1836 and 1845. Claims against the State include only those incurred after annexation (1846).

Organization

These records have been organized by State Archives staff into three subseries:

Registers and indexes of Republic of Texas public debt claims, 1848-1861, undated, 1.4 cubic ft. (4 volumes)

Republic of Texas public debt claims files, 1848-about 1860, 55.62 cubic ft.

Registers of State of Texas public debt claims, 1860-1863, 1866-1867, 1871-1873, 0.71 cubic ft. (3 volumes)

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the subseries), Public debt claims records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/007, 1939/004, and unknown others

One register of public debt (erroneously labeled 1838-1840, but actually covering 1848-1861), along with "about 3000 documents" of "Public Debt Papers," was transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Comptroller's office on February 21, 1934. 66 "Public Debt Papers" were transferred on April 7, 1939. Dates of other accessions are uncertain.

Restrictions on Access

Microfilming and indexing for the Republic claims project were made possible by two generous grants from the Summerlee Foundation.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Technical Requirements

Instructions on how to borrow or view the microfilm for Republic claims are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html#borrow.

Microfilm readers are available in the Genealogy Section, Room 110 (which is closed on Mondays), and also in Room 300 of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building (Monday-Friday).

Processed by

Tony Black, October 1994, January 1995, August 2000

Connie Hoxie, September 1996

Registers and indexes of Republic of Texas public debt claims, 1848-1861, undated,
1.4 cubic ft. (4 volumes)

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts was responsible for accounting for the public debt of Texas, which included both the ordinary or non-revenue debt (consisting of the claims of participants in the Texas Revolution or suppliers of the Texas army); and the revenue debt (principal and interest owed to holders of Republic of Texas securities). These records help document that public debt of the Republic. This subseries consists of four volumes, including the following: two registers of Republic of Texas public debt claims, 1848-1861; a partial index to public debt claims, 1848-1854; and an index to Republic of Texas audited claims, undated.

One register, covering 1848-1852, gives the following information for each class of the public debt: date of certificate, name, number of certificate/number of warrant, amount, and remarks. Arrangement is by class of debt (2nd Class, 3rd Class, 1st Class Audited Paper, 1st Class Funded Debt, 10% Funded Debt, Miscellaneous Liabilities, and Public Debt audited under Special Act of the Legislature). Order within each class of debt is unknown.

Another register, which covers 1848-1861, includes the following information for most of the classes of debt: file number paid, to whom issued, number of receipt, number of voucher, date of receipt, amounts (under each category of debt), and remarks. Other information occasionally given in this register (depending on the class of claim) includes: nature or description of claim, ostensible value and par value, or under what act issued. The amounts are given for each of the following categories of First Class claims (1848-1856):

10% consolidated stock (Act of June 7, 1837),
10% stock (Act of February 5, 1840),
8% stock (Act of February 5, 1840),
8% Treasury bonds (Act of February 2, 1840),
10% Treasury notes,
Treasury notes without interest,
audited paper and
miscellaneous liabilities.

Also given for First Class claims are value, rate of interest, date to which interest is calculated, ostensible interest, par principal, par interest, ostensible principal and interest, par principal and interest. Arrangement within this register is by class of debt: First Class, Second Class, Third Class, Funded Debt of June 1837 (reported as “Document C--Hard cases” and audited February 6, 1856), certificates issued by Comptroller and countersigned by Treasurer under Special Acts of the Legislature (February 1848-September 1851), etc. Then within that class, arrangement is numerical (which is to say, chronological).

There is a partial index to the second register, covering 1848-1851 for 1st Class Claims and 1848-1854 for 2nd Class Claims. Next to each name--arranged by letter of the alphabet and then roughly numerical by claim--are listed each claim, consisting of two numbers: the class of claim (1, 2, or 3) over the number of the voucher. Thus, for example:

Hardin, Wm. B. 2/69
Hoya, F. Vander 2/70, 3/49, 2/762
Hart, Nathaniel 2/74 etc.

Finally, there is an Index to Republic of Texas audited claims, giving the name of the claimant (arranged alphabetically), followed by one or more file numbers. Included separately under each letter of the alphabet are lists of claims audited by Charles Mason and payments made by James W. Scott, Paymaster, usually with brief descriptions (e.g., Secretary Legation to U.S., pay as witness, military services 1836, Captain of Rangers, etc).

Historical Sketch

When Texas was annexed into the Union in 1845, the public debt of the Republic of Texas amounted to nearly $10 million, consisting of two major types of obligations:

the ordinary or non-revenue debt (consisting of the claims of participants in the Texas Revolution or suppliers of the Texas army, usually no more than a few hundred dollars per claim); and
the revenue debt (principal and interest owed to holders of Republic of Texas securities). The United States considered the revenue debt to be preferred obligations, secured by the import duties of the Republic.

According to the joint resolution of annexation, the public lands of Texas (retained by the state) were to be used to settle the public debt.

In March 1848, the 2nd Legislature of the State of Texas passed "an Act to provide for ascertaining the debt of the late Republic of Texas." This act ordered the Auditor and the Comptroller of Public Accounts to do the following:

to publish notices in weekly newspapers in the cities of Austin, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and New York (later adding Philadelphia and Louisville), requiring all persons having any claim for money against the former Republic of Texas to present those claims by November 1849 (the filing deadline was subsequently extended several times, ultimately to August 1, 1855);
to receipt jointly all these claims, setting forth the par value (i.e., face value), the name of the person to whom the debt accrued, the date, and the amount; and
each to keep "a correct list in books, kept for that purpose separately," of the three classes of claims:
- First: "the audited or ascertained claims" (e.g. bonds, Treasury notes, military scrip, etc.);
- Second: "all claims with sufficient evidences and vouchers to authorize them to audit;"
- Third: "such claims as are not sufficiently authenticated by vouchers."

In February 1850, the 3rd Texas Legislature proposed that holders of public debt liabilities surrender them to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, in exchange for land certificates at the scaled-down rate of 50 cents per acre. It also proposed that interest on all liabilities cease after July 1, 1850. This plan was rejected by the creditors who held the debt.

In September 1850, the U.S. Congress passed that part of the Compromise of 1850 which established the present northern and western boundary of Texas; in return for the 67 million acres of land which was ceded to the newly-created New Mexico Territory, the U.S. government would pay Texas $10 million in 5% U.S. bonds. Half of this sum was delivered and used to pay the ordinary (nonrevenue) debt, with $3.75 million in bonds left over. The remaining half of the settlement was retained by the U.S. government to assure the payment of the revenue debt; the U.S. refused to pay any of these claims until all claims were filed.

The U.S. Congress finally settled the controversy in an Act passed February 1855 (accepted by the Texas legislature in February 1856). The federal government appropriated $7,750,000 in cash to be prorated among the holders of the revenue debt (amounting to a payment to each creditor of about 77 cents on the dollar).

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff in two groups: registers, and indexes, and roughly chronologically within each group. The creator arranged each of the two registers by class of debt; the second register is then arranged numerically (which is also chronologically) within each class. The creator arranged each of the indexes alphabetically by name of claimant.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Registers and indexes of Republic of Texas public debt claims, Public debt claims records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Volume

304-2574

(also account ledger of assessors/ collectors and sheriffs, 1837-1839)

Volume

304-2575

Volume

304-2576

Index to public debt papers, 1848-1854

Volume

304-2577

Index to Republic of Texas audited claims, undated

Republic of Texas public debt claims files, 1848-about 1860,
55.62 cubic ft.

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts was responsible for accounting for the public debt of Texas, which included both the ordinary or non-revenue debt (consisting of the claims of participants in the Texas Revolution or suppliers of the Texas army); and the revenue debt (principal and interest owed to holders of Republic of Texas securities). These records help document that public debt of the Republic, especially the first kind. Types of documents found in this subseries include the following: public debt certificates (1st, 2nd, or 3rd class), affidavits concerning service, powers of attorney, petitions to the legislature, acts for the relief of an individual, partial or complete lists of soldiers for whom payment was being collected by a single individual (usually a company commander), invoices, and/or court dockets. They comprise the Republic of Texas public debt claims files, 1848-about 1860.

Claims for services or goods provided between 1835 and 1846 that could not be paid before Annexation in 1845 were eventually paid as public debt claims, mainly from the 1850 Boundary Compromise money awarded Texas in exchange for the territory it lost. The chief difference--apart from the payment date--between the audited and public debt claims is that many of the claims were settled by issuing one voucher to cover the separate claims of a large number of persons who had performed the same service. For example, Public Debt voucher 1634 covers payment for "Balance of Pay for Service as Minute Man in 1841." The voucher pays the debt described in certificates #3396 (John Anderson) through #3569 (Patrick Quinn)--173 certificates. The voucher and the entry in the Public Debt Warrant Register are in the name of the first certificate issued: John Anderson. All the information regarding the 173 men and their service as Minute Men, as well as documentation of attorneys and heirs, will be found in this one record. Additional information on the laws relating to Public debt is given below, and may also be found on the online Laws About Republic Claims page: http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/replaws.html.

These records, in turn, can give some or all of the following information: name, nature of service or type of debt, amount owed by Republic of Texas, amount allowed by State of Texas, endorsement (which could include supporting information concerning the claim or claimant), and amount of interest.

Where multiple claimants are paid with a single voucher, the typical file arrangement is: (1) a muster roll, company list, list of claimants, etc., that gives all the names associated with the claim. Often these lists include the signature of the claimant or his attorney or his heir, indicating receipt of the person's money. (2) the Public Debt Certificates and related matter, arranged in the order of the muster roll/list of claimants. All documents relating to an individual (affidavits of service, powers of attorney, probate information, etc.) are filed immediately in front of his public debt certificate.

Some Public Debt files, because of their size, are filmed on two reels. File 1634, for example covers payment for "Balance of Pay for Service as Minute Man in 1841." The voucher includes certificates #3396 (John Anderson) through #3569 (Patrick Quinn)-173 certificates. The initial list of claimants is filmed on Reel 132 Frames 528-534. The entire claim includes Frames 527 - 718 on Reel 132 and Frames 7 - 141 on Reel 133.

Historical Sketch

When Texas was annexed into the Union in 1845, the public debt of the Republic of Texas amounted to nearly $10 million, consisting of two major types of obligations:

the ordinary or non-revenue debt (consisting of the claims of participants in the Texas Revolution or suppliers of the Texas army, usually no more than a few hundred dollars per claim); and
the revenue debt (principal and interest owed to holders of Republic of Texas securities). The United States considered the revenue debt to be preferred obligations, secured by the import duties of the Republic.

According to the joint resolution of annexation, the public lands of Texas (retained by the state) were to be used to settle the public debt.

to publish notices in weekly newspapers in the cities of Austin, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and New York (later adding Philadelphia and Louisville), requiring all persons having any claim for money against the former Republic of Texas to present those claims by November 1849 (the filing deadline was subsequently extended several times, ultimately to August 1, 1855);
to receipt jointly all these claims, setting forth the par value (i.e., face value), the name of the person to whom the debt accrued, the date, and the amount; and
each to keep "a correct list in books, kept for that purpose separately," of the three classes of claims:
- First: "the audited or ascertained claims" (e.g. bonds, Treasury notes, military scrip, etc.);
- Second: "all claims with sufficient evidences and vouchers to authorize them to audit;"
- Third: "such claims as are not sufficiently authenticated by vouchers."

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff alphabetically by name of claimant.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Public debt claims files, Public debt claims records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

Because the actual Republic claims are extremely fragile, access to the records is restricted to high-quality microfilmed copies of the documents. An online database provides the reel and frame location of more than 48,500 indexed names. Digital images from the microfilm are being linked to the database. The 35mm microfilm reels are available through interlibrary loan and, to view in person, at the Genealogy Collection of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. (There are 69 reels of Republic of Texas public debt claims files.)

Microfilming and indexing for the Republic claims project were made possible by two generous grants from the Summerlee Foundation.

Reel

131 thru 199

Republic of Texas public debt claims files, 1848-about 1860

Registers of State of Texas public debt claims 1860-1863, 1866-1867, 1871-1873,
0.71 cubic ft. (3 volumes)

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts was responsible for accounting for the public debt of the State of Texas, which included the revenue debt (principal and interest owed to holders of State of Texas securities). These records help document that public debt of the State. This subseries consists of three registers of claims against the State of Texas, 1860-1863, 1866-1867, and 1871-1873.

There is a Register of cancelled funds, reissued in 8% Bonds (One Million Loan) under Act of April 8, 1861 (February 1862-February 1863), which provides the following information: date of cancelling, numbers of warrants cancelled, class of warrants (amount military, amount civil), total amount, and description of bond (number, date, amount).

Another register contains two lists: a Register of 10% Treasury Warrants received (December 22, 1860-September 8, 1862); and a Register of 10% Warrants funded (under Act of November 9, 1866) (June 1860-December 1861). Information provided by each list varies, but usually includes the following: date of warrant, number of warrant, number of file, to whom payable, in whose favor, on what account, date of payment, period of interest, amount of principal, amount of interest, total, and remarks.

The final register contains the following ten lists or documents:

Register of certificates of Public Debt issued by the Auditorial Board and description of claims for which they were issued (November-December 1866);
Register of public debt certificates bearing 8% interest (January-February 1867);
Alphabetical list of pay rolls of companies serving in defense of frontier prior to January 28, 1861, also called out by Governor Houston prior to March 2, 1861;
Register of claims presented and certificates of public debt issued, under Act approved November 9, 1866 (November 1866-August 1867);
Audit of 8% bonds issued under Acts of March 20 and April 8, 1861;
Memorandum of public debt certificates issued... Act approved November 13, 1871;
Memorandum of fractional certificates...;
Memorandum of 8% debt certificates (January-February 1871);
Register of Claims acted on by Auditorial Board (August 1871-April 1873); and
Reports of Auditorial Board to Governor (August 1, 1867; September 1, 1867; September 1, 1871; September 20, 1871; and January 9, 1873)

Information provided in this volume varies from list to list, but normally includes the following: date of filing, date of certificate, number of file and certificate, by whom filed, owner's name/to whom issued, nature of claim, amount of unaudited claims, total amount of audited claims, total amount of rejected claims.

Historical Sketch

The 8th Texas Legislature (at the beginning of the Civil War) passed an act which was approved on April 8, 1861, authorizing the issuance of $1 million in 8% bonds (the One Million Loan), in order to retire the debt previously accumulated for the defense of the frontier, and to meet appropriations to pay the expenses of the Secession Convention.

The 11th Texas Legislature (the first one after the end of the Civil War) passed "an Act to ascertain the amount of, and adjusting and funding the State Debt," approved November 9, 1866. This act created an Auditorial Board, consisting of the State Comptroller and the State Treasurer, to audit all claims for money against the State, and to reaudit all audited liabilities of the State not voided by the Constitution of 1866. (Any war debts incurred by the state between March 2, 1861 and September 6, 1865 had been repudiated by Ordinance Number 2 of the Constitutional Convention, March 15, 1866.) The Governor would decide all differences of opinion between the Comptroller and the Treasurer. The Attorney General was later added to the Auditorial Board, as president and legal adviser (May 2, 1871).

The 12th Texas Legislature, in an act approved November 13, 1871, confirmed the actions of the Auditorial Board in issuing bonds and certificates of indebtedness; it also extended the time within which claims could be presented to the Auditorial Board, to January 1, 1873, after which deadline claims not presented were declared forever invalid.

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff chronologically by date of legislation. Within each register, arrangement by the creator is first by type of record, then chronological.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Texas State Archives

Texas State Treasurer, Money claims for service 1835-1843, settled 1856-1859 (There is no finding aid available for this unprocessed volume. Call number is 2-1/293.)

Treasury Department, Auditor's Office: Register of claims audited, 1842-1846 (There is no finding aid available for this unprocessed volume. Call number is 2-7/912.)

2nd Auditor's Office, Journal, January 1840-January 1842 (There is no finding aid available for this unprocessed volume. Call number is 2-7/620.)

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Registers of State of Texas public debt claims, Public debt claims records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Volume

304-2578

Volume

304-2579

Volume

304-2580

Register of public debt certificates issued by the Auditorial Board, Register of claims presented and acted on, etc., 1866-1867, 1871-1873

Return to the Table of Contents

Republic pension records, 1870-1920,
38.36 cubic ft.

The Texas State Legislature authorized pensions for persons who rendered military service to the Republic of Texas (and their widows) and signers of the Declaration of Independence, to be administered by the Office of the Comptroller. These records document those pensions, consisting of claims files and indexes. The types of records in this series include the following: affidavits of service (usually handwritten, detailed accounts), transcripts of county court rulings on the validity of the claim, certifications of continuing indigence, certified copies of muster rolls (occasional), powers of attorney, pension certificates, oaths of identity, and/or widow's applications (1883 or later), plus 15 indexes and/or lists of pensioners. Although the service for which the pensions were granted included 1832-1837 and 1842, the pensions themselves date 1870-1920.

Instructions on how to use the online database for the Republic claims, plus links to that database, are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html.

Historical Sketch

On August 13, 1870, the 12th Texas Legislature, Called Session, passed "An Act granting pensions to the surviving veterans of the revolution which separated Texas from Mexico," including the Mier prisoners; this pension was to amount to $250 annually, or $500 annually for those wounded either in battle or as a prisoner of war. The Comptroller was to investigate all such claims and issue the resulting certificates. (Gammel's Laws, vi, 292-293).

On April 21, 1874, the 14th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, passed a new pension law which made the following changes:

it extended the list of those eligible for pensions to include all who had served between January 1, 1832 and October 15, 1836, plus all veterans of the various campaigns of 1842 (including survivors of Dawson's Massacre, Santa Fe Expedition, Deaf Smith's Spy Company, etc.);
it reduced the amount of the Republic pension to $150 annually ($300 to the permanently disabled);
it defined what would be accepted as proof of service and of disability;
it arranged for all arrearages of pension since the first pension law to be payable in 10 percent bonds of $100 denominations, payable 20 years after the date but redeemable at the pleasure of the state after 5 years; and
it authorized the continued payment of these pensions after the pensioner's death, to widows or surviving descendents. (Gammel's Laws, viii, 116-120).

Further changes were made by the 15th Texas Legislature on July 28, 1876: extending eligibility to all surviving soldiers serving between October 1835 and January 1, 1837, to all signers of the Declaration of Independence, and to unmarried widows of these men; requiring proof of indigence; and shifting the duty of consideration of the pension applications from the Comptroller to the county courts. (Gammel's Laws, viii, 897-899).

The 18th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, on March 28, 1883, limited eligibility to residents of Texas, and specified the information to be included in the application presented to the county judge. (Gammel's Laws, ix, 342-344).

On March 5, 1885, the 19th Texas Legislature, Regular Session further refined the qualifications to include only those surviving indigent soldiers who were in actual military service at the time of the siege of Bexar (December 1835) or the battle of San Jacinto (April 1836), or who served at least six weeks between October 1835 and July 1836, plus surviving indigent signers of the Declaration of Independence, plus their surviving indigent unmarried widows. (Gammel's Laws, ix, 714-718). On April 4, 1889, the 21st Texas Legislature, Regular Session amended the law to include also anyone who actually participated in any battle in Texas in 1836. (Gammel's Laws, ix, 1071-1072).

Organization

These records have been organized by State Archives staff into two subseries:

Republic pension indexes, 1870-1920, 1.13 cubic ft. (15 volumes)

Republic pension files, 1870-about 1900, 37.23 cubic ft.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the subseries), Republic pension records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: unknown

Accession records are too incomplete to determine when these records were transferred.

Restrictions on Access

Microfilming and indexing for the Republic claims project were made possible by two generous grants from the Summerlee Foundation.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Technical Requirements

Instructions on how to borrow or view the microfilm for Republic claims are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html#borrow.

Microfilm readers are available in the Genealogy Section, Room 110 (which is closed on Mondays), and also in Room 300 of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building (Monday-Friday).

Processed by

Tony Black, March 1994

Connie Hoxie, September 1996

Tony Black, August 2000

Republic pension indexes, 1870-1920
1.13 cubic ft. (15 volumes)

These records document the pensions authorized by the Texas State Legislature for persons who rendered military service to the Republic of Texas (and their widows) and signers of the Declaration of Independence, to be administered by the Office of the Comptroller. This series consists of 15 indexes concerning Republic of Texas pensions, dating 1870-1920. The first index is a list of pensioners under four Acts of the Texas Legislature, 1870-1883. The lists of pensioners under the Acts of August 13, 1870 and April 21, 1874 are combined, and include certificate number, name, county, and amount per annum. The lists of pensioners under the Acts of July 28, 1876 and March 28, 1883 are listed separately, and include number of warrant, year (1876-1879), name, and county.

The second index is to pension bonds issued between August 1, 1874 and September 17, 1878, and includes the following items: name of pensioner, (serial?) number and amount of fractional bond, (serial?) numbers of $100 bonds, date of issue, and to whom delivered.

The other 13 indexes cover 1888 through 1920, with each volume covering two or three years (i.e., seven to twelve quarters). The information given varies somewhat, including name of pensioner, husband's name if a widow (until 1905), county, town or city (1901-1920, listed as “address”), occasional notations as to date of death, dates of service (1888-1889 only), and warrant numbers for each quarterly payment (this is sometimes omitted for a given quarter, and is replaced by a simple check-mark for most quarters after 1908).

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff chronologically. Arrangement by the creator within each index is roughly alphabetical by last name of pensioner. The first index is further arranged by Act within the letter of the alphabet. The second index is further arranged chronologically within each letter of the alphabet.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Republic pension indexes, Republic pension records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Volume

304-2581

List of (Republic) pensioners under Acts of 1870, 1874, 1876, 1883

Volume

304-2582

(Republic) Pension bonds index, 1874-1878

(Republic) Pension indexes:

Volume

304-2583

1888-1889

Volume

304-2584

1890-1892

Volume

304-2585

1893-1894

Volume

304-2586

1895-1896

Volume

304-2587

1897-1898

Volume

304-2588

1899-1900

Volume

304-2589

1901-1902

Volume

304-2590

1902-1905

Volume

304-2591

1905-1908

Volume

304-2592

1908-1911

Volume

304-2593

1911-1914

Volume

304-2594

1914-1917

Volume

304-2595

1917-1920

Republic pension files, 1870-about 1900,
37.23 cubic ft.

These records document the pensions authorized by the Texas State Legislature for persons who rendered military service to the Republic of Texas (and their widows) and signers of the Declaration of Independence, to be administered by the Office of the Comptroller. They comprise the pension files, including the following types of documents: affidavits of service (usually handwritten, detailed accounts), transcripts of county court rulings on the validity of the claim, certifications of continuing indigence, certified copies of muster rolls (occasional), powers of attorney, pension certificates, oaths of identity, and/or widow's applications (1883 or later). They date 1870-about 1900.

Pensions for service to the Republic were not generally awarded before the 1870s, although the congress or the legislature might, in an act passed during a legislative session, authorize a special pension for an individual. At first pensions were confined to "Each and every surviving veteran of the revolution which separated Texas and Mexico, including the Mier prisoners." Beginning in 1874, pension acts added later military services that would qualify pension applicants, but these acts required that the pensioner be indigent to qualify. More information on the pension laws and their different requirements and payments follows; information is also found on the online Laws About Republic Claims page: http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/replaws.html.

Statements of military service found in these files are among the most detailed in the Republic records. Affidavits testifying to the applicant's worthiness also provide considerable personal information. These records can provide name of claimant, date filed, by whom filed, disposition, amount of pension, company commander, service information, age, residence, heir's name, husband's name (for widow's pension), date of death, widow's age, widow's residence (county). The fact that a person has a Republic Pension file does not guarantee that he or she received a Republic pension.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff alphabetically by name of claimant.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Republic pension files, Republic pension records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Restrictions on Access

Restrictions on Use

None.

Reel

200 thru 247

Republic pension files, 1870-about 1900

Return to the Table of Contents

Unpaid and miscellaneous Republic claims, 1836-about 1879,
10.1 cubic ft.

Some of the claims relating to services and losses during the era of the Republic of Texas were denied. Many others, however, simply have no documentation in the records of the Comptroller of Public Accounts of having been settled. Other records do not fit easily into an existing series. These files include those kinds of records. The types of documentation in this series include the following: cover letters for inquiries addressed to the Court or Commissioner of Claims about the validity of land certificates issued to veterans, claims for compensation for Indian or Mexican depredations, applications for veteran's pensions, and/or claims for military service pay. Although the services for which these claims were filed date from the years of the Republic of Texas, 1836-1845, the documents themselves date 1836-about 1879.

Although claims submitted to the government that were not audited or allowed may be found in the Unpaid and miscellaneous Republic claims, the "unpaid" designation in this series usually refers to the absence in the file of any record of the final disposition of the claim or the inquiry. The series also includes records that do not fit into the Audited Republic claims, Public debt, or Republic pension records series. The most noteworthy of these are letters received by the Commissioner/Court of Claims between 1856 and 1861.

The letters to the Court or Commissioner of Claims do not contain personal information: they note that certain numbered land scrip certificates were being forwarded to the Claims Court. Neither the land script certificates nor information about the outcome of these inquiries are in the holdings of the Texas State Library. A few files have nothing in them but the "wrapper" once used to enclose documentation. When that occurs, the "Claim Number" field will show "Wrapper #xxx." The wrapper has only a name or names and a file number: it has little or no research value.

Instructions on how to use the online database for the Republic claims, plus links to that database, are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff alphabetically by name of claimant.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Texas State Archives

Texas General Land Office, Inventory of copies of county and district clerk returns (reports of headright certificates), 1857 (originals date from 1836 to 1855), 8.46 cubic ft. (used by Court of Claims to review legitimacy of land claims)

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Unpaid and miscellaneous Republic claims, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: unknown

Accession records are too incomplete to determine when these records were transferred.

Restrictions on Access

Microfilming and indexing for the Republic claims project were made possible by two generous grants from the Summerlee Foundation.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Technical Requirements

Instructions on how to borrow or view the microfilm for Republic claims are at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/repclaims/rephowto.html#borrow.

Microfilm readers are available in the Genealogy Section, Room 110 (which is closed on Mondays), and also in Room 300 of the Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building (Monday-Friday).

Processed by

Connie Hoxie, September 1996

Tony Black, August 2000

Reel

248 thru 259

Unpaid and miscellaneous Republic claims, 1836-about 1879

Return to the Table of Contents

Confederate audited military claims, 1861-1865,
45.59 cubic ft.

During the Civil War, the Texas Legislature authorized and required the Comptroller of Public Accounts to audit and settle claims for military supplies and services, some of which were eligible to be submitted for reimbursement by the government of the Confederate States of America. Therefore the Comptroller maintained these audited military claims files, which have been labeled (rightly or wrongly) "Confederate" claims. These records comprise the claims for payment for military and military-related services rendered for the defense of Texas during the Civil War, submitted to the Texas Comptroller's office for auditing and approval. This series includes vouchers, accounts, powers-of-attorney, warrants, and claim jackets, dating 1861-1865. The majority of the claims were submitted by the men serving in the various volunteer companies ordered out by the Governor or Committee of Safety of Texas. There were also individual claims for quartermaster or commissary supplies, for munitions, for construction of fortifications and defenses, and for monies advanced for and use by any of the Texas State Troops. In addition, payments of claims for services and supplies furnished to the Adjutant General's office were made out of military appropriations as well.

Only 2,787 claims were submitted, but this included over 11,000 persons (whose names appear in the index in the computer printout in the search room of the Texas State Archives). Frequently groups of individuals, in some case entire companies of soldiers, would file a joint claim through an agent; thus, many of the claims contain individual powers-of-attorney, authorizing an agent to receive any monies due the claimants. These powers-of-attorney usually indicate the company or regiment, rank held, and term of service, or the amount and types of supplies provided.

All claims for goods and supplies were required to be authenticated by vouchers and accounts approved by the Acting Quartermaster or Commissary of a particular regiment, battalion, or company. These vouchers usually indicate dates, types, and amounts of goods provided. Accounts and vouchers specifying amounts due for pay, clothing, forage, and subsistence for an individual, and in some instances for his servant, were often included to support claims for military or military-related services.

However, not all the claims files provide such specific information. Approximately one-fifth of the claims consist of little more than the claim jacket and one or more Ten Per-Cent Treasury Warrants. These cancelled warrants provide basic but valuable information, such as name of claimant, amount, number and title of appropriation from which payment was drawn, service provided, and rank and company if military service. Claims comprised of these cancelled warrants have been so indicated by the use of the letter "A" preceding the entry number. In a few instances no cancelled warrants accompany the claim jacket. In such cases, only general information regarding the service performed and amount paid may be obtained by searching the various appropriation and warrant registers maintained by the Comptroller's office, described elsewhere in this finding aid (see especially Special appropriations ledgers: other, Frontier defense, 1860-1865 (Volume 304-2440).)

The index in a computer printout in the search room of the Texas State Archives matches the names of claimants with claim numbers.

Historical Sketch

On January 4, 1862, the 9th Texas Legislature approved "An Act to provide for auditing and settling all claims against the State on account of Volunteer Companies called out by the Governor or Committee of Safety, and for the defense of the State, and providing payment for the officers and men thereof." The Comptroller of Public Accounts was authorized and required to audit and settle these claims "for and during the term of service actually rendered the State according to the rules and regulations of the Confederate States for the government of the army thereof, upon the return of the muster-roll of each company to the Comptroller, duly authenticated; and also to audit and allow all claims and accounts brought against the State by any individual for Quartermaster or Commissary supplies, for munitions of war, for the construction of fortifications and all defences, and moneys advanced for the same...provided all such claims and accounts are authenticated and approved by the Acting Quartermaster or Commisary of the regiment, battalion or company." This law also provided "that the Comptroller shall keep a separate register of all claims presented under this act, and properly chargeable to the Government of the Confederate States, and arrange the vouchers and accounts as directed by the laws of the said Government for presentation thereto." $300,000 was appropriated at the time, plus an additional $200,000 on March 6, 1863, "to carry out the provisions of this act."

Note that although the legislation was approved in January 1862, the claims covered would begin in 1861.

Another piece of legislation that applied to this type of claim was approved by the 8th Texas Legislature on February 14, 1860, whereby warrants unable to be redeemed immediately were allowed to draw 10 percent interest per annum until paid. Once the warrant had been re-submitted for payment, it was cancelled and a new warrant for the initial amount plus interest was then issued.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged--probably by the creator--numerically by claim number. The index in a computer printout in the search room of the Texas State Archives matches the names of claimants with claim numbers.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Confederate audited military claims, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: unknown

Accession records are too incomplete to determine when these records were transferred.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Processed by

Jean Young and Eddie Williams, August 1975

Confederate audited military claims

Box

2-12/852

1-20

Box

2-12/853

20-40

Box

2-12/854

41-60

Box

2-12/855

61-80

Box

2-12/856

81-100

Box

2-12/857

101-120

Box

2-12/858

121-140

Box

2-12/859

141-160

Box

2-12/860

160-180

Box

2-12/861

181-200

Box

2-12/862

201-220

Box

2-12/863

221-240

Box

2-12/864

241-260

Box

2-12/865

261-280

Box

2-12/866

281-300

Box

2-12/867

301-330

Box

2-12/868

331-360

Box

2-12/869

361-390

Box

2-12/870

391-420

Box

2-12/871

421-460

Box

2-12/872

461-490

Box

2-12/873

491-520

Box

2-12/874

521-540

Box

2-12/875

541-560

Box

2-12/876

561-590

Box

2-12/877

591-620

Box

2-12/878

621-650

Box

2-12/879

651-660

Box

2-12/880

661-680

Box

2-12/881

681-720

Box

2-12/882

721-750

Box

2-12/883

751-780

Box

2-12/884

781-810

Box

2-12/885

811-840

Box

2-12/886

841-870

Box

2-12/887

871-910

Box

2-12/888

911-940

Box

2-12/889

941-970

Box

2-12/890

971-1000

Box

2-12/891

1001-1030

Box

2-12/892

1031-1060

Box

2-12/893

1061-1090

Box

2-12/894

1091-1130

Box

2-12/895

1131-1160

Box

2-12/896

1161-1190

Box

2-12/897

1191-1220

Box

2-12/898

1221-1230

Box

2-12/899

1231-1260

Box

2-12/900

1261-1299

Box

2-12/901

1300-1330

Box

2-12/902

1331-1361

Box

2-12/903

1362-1399

Box

2-12/904

1400-1440

Box

2-12/905

1441-1481

Box

2-12/906

1482-1512

Box

2-12/907

1513-1553

Box

2-12/908

1554-1584

Box

2-12/909

1585-1599

Box

2-12/910

1600-1630

Box

2-12/911

1631-1660

Box

2-12/912

1661-1690

Box

2-12/913

1691-1720

Box

2-12/914

1721-1750

Box

2-12/915

1751-1780

Box

2-12/916

1781-1810

Box

2-12/917

1811-1840

Box

2-12/918

1841-1870

Box

2-12/919

1871-1901

Box

2-12/920

1902-1932

Box

2-12/921

1933-1963

Box

2-12/922

1964-1999

Box

2-12/923

2000-2030

Box

2-12/924

2031-2050

Box

2-12/925

2051-2080

Box

2-12/926

2081-2111

Box

2-12/927

2112-2142

Box

2-12/928

2143-2173

Box

2-12/929

2174-2204

Box

2-12/930

2205-2235

Box

2-12/931

2236-2256

Box

2-12/932

2257-2287

Box

2-12/933

2288-2318

Box

2-12/934

2319-2349

Box

2-12/935

2350-2381

Box

2-12/936

2382-2412

Box

2-12/937

2413-2443

Box

2-12/938

2444-2474

Box

2-12/939

2475-2505

Box

2-12/940

2506-2536

Box

2-12/941

2537-2567

Box

2-12/942

2568-2599

Box

2-12/943

2600-2630

Box

2-12/944

2631-2661

Box

2-12/945

2662-2692

Box

2-12/946

2693-2723

Box

2-12/947

2724-2754

Box

2-12/948

2755-2787

Return to the Table of Contents

Confederate audited civil claims, 1861-1865,
24.44 cubic ft.

Like military claims, claims for payment for civil services rendered for the State of Texas during the Civil War were submitted to the Texas Comptroller's office for auditing and approval. This series includes vouchers, affidavits, powers-of-attorney, claim jackets, and associated correspondence, dating 1861-1865. Claimants included elected and appointed state and county officials, along with the numerous members of their staffs, and private citizens. Civil services varied from serving as a member of the legislature, to serving as a district judge, to serving as an assistant clerk in one of the various state departments. Payments for goods and supplies furnished state and county offices were included along with payments for actual civil service.

The index in a computer printout in the search room of the Texas State Archives matches the names of claimants with claim numbers. Because numbers were duplicated, the letter "A" precedes some voucher numbers in one group to avoid possible confusion. Entries in the index preceded by a dash (-) are missing. Entries that involved some question as to the correct spelling of a name or names are preceded by an asterisk (*).

(Researchers should please note that with these civil claims--unlike the military claims--the term "Confederate" may be incorrect and misleading, since these were claims against the government of the State of Texas.)

The claims jackets and accompanying supportive affidavits, vouchers, and powers-of-attorney provide such information as name of claimant, position held or service performed, length of service, and amount of payment. There are more names in the index than there were claims, because of the practice of several individuals frequently submitting joint claims.

Further documentation of payments for civil services performed during the Civil War can be found in other series, especially Warrant registers and Appropriation registers.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged--probably by the creator--numerically by claim number.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Confederate audited civil claims, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: unknown

Accession records are too incomplete to determine when these records were transferred.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Processed by

Archives staff, date unknown

Confederate audited civil claims

"Series I" vouchers:

Box

2-12/949

13272-13321

Box

2-12/950

13322-13371

Box

2-12/951

13372-13422

Box

2-12/952

13423-13474

Box

2-12/953

13475-13525

Box

2-12/954

13526-13575

Box

2-12/955

13576-13625

Box

2-12/956

13626-13675

Box

2-12/957

13676-13724

Box

2-12/958

13726-13774

Box

2-12/959

13776-13825

Box

2-12/960

13826-13875

Box

2-12/961

13876-13925

Box

2-12/962

13926-13975

Box

2-12/963

13976-14025

Box

2-12/964

14026-14075

Box

2-12/965

14076-14125

Box

2-12/966

14126-14168

"Series II" vouchers:

Box

2-12/967

1-50

Box

2-12/968

51-100

Box

2-12/969

101-150

Box

2-12/970

151-200

Box

2-12/971

201-250

Box

2-12/972

251-285

"Series III" vouchers:

Box

2-10/948

1A-100A

Box

2-10/949

101A-200A

(folder 170A missing)

Box

2-10/950

201A-285A

(no voucher #277A)

286-300

Box

2-10/951

301-400

Box

2-10/952

401-500

(no voucher #423 or 497)

Box

2-10/953

501-600

(no voucher #574)

Box

2-10/954

601-700

(no vouchers #623 or 639)

Box

2-10/955

701-800

Box

2-10/956

801-900

Box

2-10/957

901-1000

(no vouchers #958 or 981)

Box

2-10/958

1001-1100

(no vouchers #1024-1027, 1036-1040, or 1086-1093)

Box

2-10/959

1101-1200

Box

2-10/960

1201-1300

Box

2-10/961

1301-1400

Box

2-10/962

1401-1500

Box

2-10/963

1501-1600

Box

2-10/964

1601-1700

(no vouchers #1627 or 1649-1650)

Box

2-10/965

1701-1800

Box

2-10/966

1801-1900

(no voucher #1891)

Box

2-10/967

1901-2000

(no voucher #1999)

Box

2-10/968

2001-2100

(no voucher #2020)

Box

2-10/969

2101-2200

(no voucher #2156)

Box

2-10/970

2201-2300

Box

2-10/971

2301-2400

(no voucher #2359)

Box

2-10/972

2401-2500

Box

2-10/973

2501-2600

(no vouchers #2587-2588)

Box

2-10/974

2601-2700

(no vouchers #2621 or 2664)

Box

2-10/975

2701-2721

Return to the Table of Contents

Confederate indigent families lists, 1863-1865,
0.94 cubic ft.

The Texas Legislature pledged and appropriated monetary relief for the support of indigent families of Texas Civil War soldiers. This series consists of lists submitted by the counties and maintained by the Texas Comptroller's Office, of indigent soldiers eligible for relief from the State of Texas during the Civil War, 1863-1865. The information given in these lists varies somewhat from county to county. While the number of dependents is always given, additional information may include some of the following: name of the soldier; whether currently in service; whether disabled or killed in service; the military unit; and/or the acting head of the household.

An index of the names of the soldiers is in a computer printout in the Texas State Archives search room, and is also available online ( http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/cif/index.html). This is an index only; transcriptions of the records have been published by Linda Mearse. Please note that lists are not extant for every county. There is a remote possibility that additional lists may be found in Comptroller's Office unprocessed records.

(Researchers should please note that the term "Confederate" may be incorrect and misleading, since there was no contribution from the government of the Confederate States of America. Also, soldiers enlisted in State military units as well as Confederate units qualified for this relief. The term "Confederate" has been used for so long, however, that to rename it might add to the confusion.)

Historical Sketch

On November 24, 1863, the 10th Texas Legislature (Regular Session) passed a Joint Resolution stating that the government pledged "support and maintenance of (the soldiers') families during their absence from home." In accordance with this Resolution, an "Act to Support the Families and Dependents of Texas Soldiers" passed on December 15, 1863. The Act set aside $1,000,000 annually to be paid to the "families, widows, and dependents of soldiers currently serving in State or Confederate forces, or of soldiers killed or disabled in service." Chief Justices of the counties, on or before March 1 in 1864 and 1865, submitted lists of servicemen and the number of their dependents eligible for relief. The County Clerk administered the money distributed to the county for this purpose.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff alphabetically by county.

Related Material

The following materials are offered as possible sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the records. The listing is not exhaustive.

Publications

Confederate Indigent Families Lists of Texas, 1863-1865, by Linda Mearse, San Marcos, Texas, 1995

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Confederate indigent families lists, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: unknown

Accession records are too incomplete to determine when these records were transferred.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

In order to help preserve the original records, researchers are requested to use the transcriptions prepared by Linda Mearse. This publication may be requested through interlibrary loan; please contact your local library for further details.

Processed by

Archives staff, date unknown

Box

304-1

Anderson thru Hunt Counties, 1863-1865

Box

304-2

Jackson thru Wood Counties, 1863-1865

Return to the Table of Contents

Confederate pension application records, 1899-1979,
652.71 cubic ft.

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. The Confederate pension applications records provide detailed documentation of these persons, as well as the process. This series consists of the following records maintained by the Texas Comptroller's office: Confederate pension applications, 1899-1979; miscellaneous material relating to Confederate pensions, 1904-1934; plus 16 volumes that document applications for Confederate pensions. These volumes include 12 indexes, 3 registers, and a volume of affidavits of Confederate military service.

An alphabetical union name index is available in the Texas State Archives search room, containing the following elements: pension number if accepted, "Rej" if rejected, or "Home" if a Confederate Home pension application; name of the pensioner; county of residence at the time of the application; name of husband if a widow, and husband's pension number if applicable. Researchers should request each pension application by number or (for rejected and Home pension applications) by name of applicant. Archives staff routinely check listings in the index for mail or phone requests, and will copy the records in the files. The Confederate pension application index is also available online at http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/pensions/index.html.

Historical Sketch

On May 12, 1899, the 26th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, passed the Confederate Pension Law, carrying into effect a Constitutional amendment to grant aid to disabled and dependent Confederate soldiers, sailors and their widows. To qualify for a pension, an applicant had to meet the following requirements, which were modified over the years:

Residency: The applicant must have lived in Texas since 1880 if they (or their husband, if a widow) had enlisted in the Confederate military from a state other than Texas, or since 1899 if they had originally enlisted in Texas. Subsequent legislation gradually lowered the required length of continuous residence for all pensioners (regardless of where they enlisted): thus applicants must have moved to Texas prior to 1900 (1913), prior to 1910 (1925), prior to 1920 (1929), ten years prior to approval (1930), and prior to 1928 (1931). The applicant must have been a resident of the county where he or she made application, for at least six months. Leaving the state for more than six months would disqualify a pensioner.
Age: Male applicants had to be at least 60 years old, unless totally disabled as a direct result of an injury sustained in actual service. (Between 1899 and 1909, soldiers' applications included affidavits of physicians; by 1909, soldiers applying would presumably have met the age requirement.) As of 1913, a widow must have been born prior to 1861 (i.e., she had to be at least 52 years old). As of 1929, she must have been born prior to 1873.
Military service: The soldier must have served at least three months in the Confederate States Army or Navy, and never deserted. In 1913, legislation extended eligibility to those who served at least six months of the Civil War in the Texas militia (Texas State Troops or Home Guard) or in an organization for the protection of the frontier. Proof of service involved the testimonies of two witnesses, and/or a copy of the soldier's service record on file in the War Department in Washington, D.C., and/or other documentation, such as discharge papers.
Indigence: Applicants had to prove that they were unable to support themselves, "in actual want and destitute of property and means of subsistence." In 1909, indigence was more precisely defined, as follows. Applicants' annual income could not exceed $150 (raised to $300 in 1913). They must not have received any pension or land grant from the federal government (until this provision was dropped in 1927), or from any state government. They could own no real or personal property exceeding $1,000; after 1923, real or personal property could not be worth more than $1000 exclusive of the homestead, and the assessed value exclusive of household goods could not exceed $2000. (Between 1909 and 1930, tax assessors' certificates were required for proof.) At first, they could not be a resident of the Confederate Home or any other state-supported institution. (Beginning in 1921, residents of either of the Confederate Homes would receive one-half the normal pension.)
Widow's Marital Status: Widows originally had to have been married to an eligible Confederate soldier at least by 1866. In subsequent years this requirement was gradually relaxed, from 1866 to 1880 (in 1909), to 1900 (in 1913), to 1910 (in 1925), to 1912 (in 1929), and to 1921 (in 1931, if they had been married at least ten years before his death). She could not have been separated, divorced, or remarried; in 1925, however, remarried widows were made eligible.

The procedure for applying for a Confederate pension in Texas involved appearing before the county judge, who (with the commissioners' court) made an initial ruling and forwarded applications deemed acceptable to the Comptroller's office, where the Pension Clerk or (after 1909) the Commissioner of Pensions made a final ruling. If accepted, the application would be assigned a unique (and consecutive) number. Rejected pension applications were retained in the Comptroller's (or the Pension Commissioner's) Office, and many who were rejected later reapplied and were accepted if their circumstances (or the law) had changed.

Pensioners were initially entitled to a maximum of $24 each quarter, with totally disabled pensioners being paid first, and the rest paid a portion of the appropriated total (not to exceed the allotted maximum, always less in reality). After 1917, every pensioner was given an equal portion of the appropriated money, with those on the Totally Disabled roll classed with other pensioners. Due to the large number of pensioners at first, the initial quarterly payment in 1899 was only $6.81; not until 1920 did the actual payment reach the maximum. During the 1920s, the quarterly payment steadily increased. In 1929, pensions began to be paid monthly, amounting to $25 per month for unmarried soldiers and widows, and $50 per month for married soldiers.

Effective April 1, 1917, mortuary warrants began to be issued, originally not to exceed $30, to help cover burial expenses of deceased pensioners. In 1923 this allotment was raised to $65, in 1929 to $100, and in 1947 to $200. Applications for mortuary warrants had to be received within 40 days of the pensioner's death, and the pension warrant for the quarter in which the death occurred had to be returned unpaid.

Organization

These records have been organized by State Archives staff into five subseries:

Confederate pension applications, 1899-1979, 646.74 cubic ft.

Miscellaneous material relating to Confederate pension applications, 1903-1934, 2.12 cubic ft.

Confederate pension indexes, 1899-1967, 2.36 cubic ft. (12 volumes)

Confederate pension registers, 1899-1909, 1915-1917, 1.15 cubic ft. (3 volumes)

Affidavits of Confederate military service, 1909-1917, 0.34 cubic ft. (one volume)

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the subseries), Confederate pension application records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/003, 1933/007, 1960/003, 1961/006, 1961/046, 1962/218, 1963/030, 1964/029, 1965/042, 1968/072, 1969/002, 1970/044, 1977/080, 1980/302, 1990/069, unknown

Confederate pension applications were transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Comptroller's office in numerous accessions: on February 21 and 24, 1934; during the September 1, 1960-August 31, 1962 biennium (from the Confederate Pension Division); on October 31, 1961 (Confederate Pension Division); November 29, 1965; December 7, 1967; September 5, 1968; November 13, 1969 (via the Records Division of the Texas State Library); February 9, 1977; August 18, 1980; and January 17, 1990.

The Texas Comptroller's office transferred the following to the Texas State Archives: the index to pensioners who were inmates of Confederate Homes, and a list of living Confederate widows drawing pensions, on October 18, 1963; and the index of totally disabled pensioners on October 21, 1964.

25 boxes of Confederate pension affidavits (1919-1931) were apparently transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Comptroller's office (via the Records Management Division of the Texas State Library) on September 6, 1962.

Dates of the other accessions are uncertain.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Processed by

Laura K. Saegert, September 1983

Tony Black, March 1994, October 1994

Confederate pension applications, 1899-1979,
646.74 cubic ft.

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. The Confederate pension applications files provide detailed documentation of these persons, as well as the process. This subseries consists of more than 54,600 Confederate pension applications files created by the Texas Comptroller's office, dating 1899-1979. Each file contains an application to the State of Texas for a Confederate pension, plus supporting documents. Accepted applications comprise roughly 89 percent of the total; rejected applications comprise roughly 11 percent of the total; and there are 62 Confederate Home applications.

The contents of each file varies, but nearly always includes a four-page application containing the basic information listed below, plus affidavits of witnesses to the military service, an affidavit of a physician as to disabilities if applicable (especially prior to 1909), certificates of the county judge and county commissioners who approved the application at its initial level, and (between 1909 and 1930) a certificate of the state and county assessor as to the value of any property. Also usually included in the file is a request from the Comptroller or Commissioner of Pensions to the U.S. War Department (Adjutant General's office) for proof and details of military service, accompanied by the official reply. Beginning in 1917, most files also contain a mortuary warrant application and a copy of the warrant for payment. Other materials may include: additional affidavits and interrogatories relating to any of the requirements for eligibility; correspondence between the Comptroller or Commissioner of Pensions and the applicant, relatives, or friends; original discharges; death certificates; printed material, including newspaper clippings; etc.

The information provided by the pension application varies over time, but at one time or another includes the following, for veteran's pension applications: name of veteran, age, where born, length of residence in Texas, county where residing and length of residence there, post office address, whether previously rejected for a pension (when and where), occupation, physical condition, disability, state in which enlisted, length of service, date and place of discharge, military unit designation (letter of company and number of regiment, battalion, or battery), name of command and length of service if transferred, branch in which enlisted (infantry, cavalry, artillery, or navy), whether recipient of another pension and/or veteran's land certificate, real and personal property and its value, property sold within the previous two years and its value, income, and estate of wife and its value.

The widow's pension applications provide the following: name of widow, widow's age, birthplace, length of residence in Texas, county of residence, length of time in the county, post office address, occupation, physical condition, name of her husband, date and place of marriage, date of husband's death, county and state where he died, whether divorced or remarried (and if so, whether widowed again), state in which the husband enlisted, length of his service (enlistment and discharge dates when known), name of unit in which the husband served, name of command and date if transferred, branch of service, whether previously rejected for a pension (when and where), whether recipient of another pension and/or veteran's land certificate, real and personal property and its value, property sold within the previous two years, income, property outside of the county, and number of husband's pension if any.

The Confederate mortuary warrant applications (beginning in 1917) provide the following information on the veteran or the widow: date of death, city or county of death, where death occurred (in home, hospital, etc.), relation of person (s) in whose home the pensioner died, relationship of the petitioner to the pensioner, petitioner's post office address, physician's certification (including ailments of pensioner), and undertaker's certification.

A number of application files are known to be missing (based on information from the Confederate pension indexes and registers); these are marked with an asterisk in the pension index in the State Archives search room.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff numerically by pension number (which is also chronologically) for accepted pension applications, and alphabetically by name of applicant for rejected pension applications, as well as for Confederate Home pension applications. This arrangement was probably the same used by the creator of the records.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Confederate pension applications, Confederate pension application records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1933/003, 1933/007, 1960/003, 1961/006, 1965/042, 1968/072, 1969/002, 1970/044, 1977/080, 1980/302

Approved Confederate pension applications:

#00001 thru #52094, #99999

Confederate Home pension applications:

Aiken, W.C. thru Wright, R.S.

Rejected Confederate pension applications:

Abernathy, T.C. thru Zuniga, Felipa Flores de

Miscellaneous material relating to Confederate pension applications, 1903-1934,
2.12 cubic ft.

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. This subseries consists of records maintained by the Texas Comptroller's Office which pertain to Texas Confederate pension applications, but which for various reasons cannot be assigned to a particular Confederate pension application file. Types of records include military service records, physician's statements, witness affidavits, mortuary warrant applications, and related correspondence, dating 1903-1934.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff alphabetically by name of applicant.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Miscellaneous material relating to Confederate pension applications, Confederate pension application records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Box

304-3

Adams, Edgar Sheppard (Nacogdoches County)

Adams, Robert S.

Adams, S. S. (Limestone County)

Adamson, J. Q.

Aiken, J. D.

Ainsworth, Spencer Montague

Alexander, H. T.

Allen, G. W.

Altum, Newton R. (Bell County)

Alvis, G. W.

Anderson, Archibald T.

Anderson, Marcella J. (Potter County)

Arnett, N. C.

Arnold, William B.

Autrey, A. B.

Bagby, Arthur P.

Bailey, J. W. (Hill County)

Bailey, W. H.

Ballard, Milton Neal (Shelby County)

Barrett, J. D. (Tarrant County)

Barrett, W. B.

Bass, T. (Smith County)

Bateman, N. M.

Battles, Anderson

Beasley, J. R.

Bell, John L.

Blackstone, James H. (Upshur County)

Blake, John A.

Bourer, S. (Caldwell County)

Bowers, Joe

Bramlett, H. M.

Bridges, William

Brooks, John R. (Tarrant County)

Brown, H. W. (Mrs.) (Harris County)

Brown, J. A.

Brown, John

Brown, W. M.

Bryan, Sydney B.

Burchard, J. Everett

Butler, Benjamin F.

Cage, R. W. (Milam County)

Capman, A. J.

Carlisle, T. R.

Carter, Jake

Catteron, J. B.

Chapmore, G. W. (Hood County)

Clardy, M. J.

Clark, C. C.

Clark, W. J.

Clements, T. W. (Erath County)

Cleveland, J. W. (Shelby County)

Clifton,? (Wood County)

Conaway, John

Cooley, S. A. (Limestone County)

Corker, M. H. (San Saba County)

Crabtree, Isic Newton

Craddock, Erasmus D. (Burnet County)

Crawford, William A.

Cronk, Joseph L.

Crow, Rufus J.

Box

304-4

Davis, F. M.

Davis, Henry H.

Davis, Susan (Tarrant County)

Davis, W. G.

Dean, E. A.

Dearen, Hampton

Depew, J. N.

Draper, G. W. (Travis County)

Duncan, J. P.

Edwards, T. J. (Comanche County)

Eubank, Carter H.

Evans, Samuel

Everitt, Joseph R.

Ewing, E. M.

Ferguson, Plea F.

Fleming, J. S.

Forrest, Calvin J.

Foster, John C. (Parker County)

Fox, W. H.

Freeman, Jesse M.

Gantier, G. R.

Gentry, George W.

Gilbert, J. F. (Mrs.) (Limestone County)

Gillion, E. M.

Glenn, Thomas B.

Grace, James

Graham, W. B.

Graves, Robert Lewis

Green, John F.

Gresham, Henry M.

Guinn, Andy

Guitry, Virginia (Travis County)

Gullin, H. H. (Cooke County)

Hail, Lewis (Hunt County)

Hale, J. W.

Hammack, James J.

Hammonds, J. W.

Hampton, W. H.

Hand, W. S.

Hanes, F. M. (Fannin County)

Hanscomb, W. H.

Hansen, J. C.

Hardin, A. R. (Uvalde County)

Hardin, G. E.

Hargrove, J. E.

Hawkins, E. H. (Erath County)

Heath, Levi

Henderson, C. M.

Hendrick, S. J.

Hendrick, Thomas H.

Henry, Thomas

Hickman, John M.

Hill, James W.

Hill, John

Hill, Richard D.

Hinard, Elija

Hodge, G. A.

Hodges, R. C.

Holder, Henry

Holmes, Seymour W.

Howard, John R.

Hubbard, C. G. (Waller County)

Hughes, R. H. L.

Hunter, Edward F.

Box

304-5

Ireson, A. B. (Nacogdoches County)

Jahn, Frank C. (Waller County)

Jeffries, R. D. (Mrs.)

Johnson, Asa

Johnson, R. J. (Eastland County)

Johnson, T.

Jones, Andrew T. (Lampasas County)

Jones, D. C. W.

Jones, J. C.

Jones, William

Joyner, Lawrence R.

Karnes, Gordon M. (Johnson County)

Killion, G. M.

Lambert, William E.

Landers, James W.

Latham, William (Houston County)

Lawrence, W. D.

Lealling, W. J. (Hunt County)

Lee, Isaac J.

Lee, T. T.

Lewis, Daniel

Lindsey, W. H. (Hunt County)

Locke, Mary F.

Lockhart, C. H.

Loving, J. P. (Fannin County)

Lowrimore or Larrimore, M.

McBride, Wade A.

McCall, Thomas P.

McCarr, H. M.

McDade, R. R. (Waller County)

McDonald, Thomas Benton

McDuffie, Martin A.

McFarland, J. S.

McKinney, William

McLeroy, Olive J. (Hopkins County)

McMahon, Sanders

Madden, James M.

Magee, Abe G. (Harris County)

Mahaffey, W. A. (Tyler County)

Majors, W. J. (Bonham, Fannin County))

Manning, F. M.

Marshall, R. F.

Martin, William J.

Marriott, John W.

Mayfield, George W.

Miller, David A.

Milner, T. F.

Mitchell, Jabez

Mitchell, William C.

Montgomery, J. M.

Moore, J. B.

Moore, J. F.

Moran, John H.

Morgan, William

Morris, A. J.

Munsch, Andrew J.

Box

304-6

Neel, J. C. (Anderson County)

Nichols, J. W.

Norris, A. N.

O'Banion, Peter

Odom, J. S.

O'Neal, Francis

Owens, J. W.

(see S. A. Owens, #34077)

Owings, William A.

Parker, Tom

Parks, Leroy (black)

Paschall, Ben F. (Denton County)

Patillo, John Z.

Patrick, John T.

Payne, M. P.

Perkins, Jeremiah W.

Peterson, John Q.

Phillips, Richard (Walker County)

Pier, Sam B. (Waller County)

Porter, J. C.

Post, Wiley G.

Pressler, C. W.

Previt, T. F.

Purviance, John S.

Raines, C. W.

Rains, W. A. (Walker County)

Reich, E. B.

Richardson, D. K.

Richey, A. F.

Riddle, N. B.

Roberts, William

Robinson, I. G. (Red River County)

Rogers, J. S.

Rogers, William T.

Roguemore, J. R.

Ross, Benjamin

Rutlege, J. A.

Sampson, Henry

Sanford, G. A.

Schmidt, Ed. W.

Scott, Robert

Sears, J. R.

Shappard, A. M.

Shay, Thomas

Shepherd, Samuel

Shugart, L. C.

Simmons, B. P. (Bastrop County)

Simmons, R. A.

Simmons, S. W.

Smith, J. A.

Smith, J. W.

Smith, John Henry

Smith, Lycurgus (Denton County)

Smith, Nicholas

Smith, W. C.

Smith, William H.

Smith, William R. (Bexar County)

Spring, Henry F.

Spruill, M. J. (Mrs.) (Travis County)

Stephens, G. W.

Stewart, D. A. (Navarro County)

Stoutz, August

Stovall, William J. (Denton County)

Strange, William C.

Strother, W. W. (Mrs.) (Sabine County)

Sutter, H. Marion

Box

304-7

Talley, P. T.

Temple, R. H.

Temple, T. F.

Thaveness, Joseph

Thomas, W. J.

Thompson, Thomas Franklin (Waller County)

Thompson, Warren T.

Tillman, Leroy

Toull, G. W.

Traweek, A. B.

Victor, W. O.

Walden, David M. (Concho County)

Walker, Mary A. (Harris County)

Walsh, J. G. (Fannin County)

Walton, George

Ward, Preston B.

Weaver, L. C.

Wells, Billie (Hopkins County)

Wells, John (Houston County)

West, Thomas Lee

White, E. J.

Williams, Mary (Ellis County)

Wills, W. J.

Willson, J. J.

Wilson, A. J. (Tarrant County)

Wilson, John R.

Wilson, T. A.

Wingose, Fannie (Harris County)

Wood, Thomas

Wooley, R. C.

Wright, J. W. (Somervell County)

Wyatt, John C. (Callahan County)

Young, Emanuel M.

Confederate pension indexes, 1899-1967,
2.36 cubic ft. (12 volumes)

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. This subseries consists of twelve indexes to Texas Confederate pension applications, covering the period 1899-1967.

Seven of the indexes are to Confederate pensioners, whose applications were accepted between 1899 and 1959. Information given in each index includes surname, Christian name, file number, county, and remarks (most commonly, "Dead," often followed by a date from approximately 1921 onward). At least in volumes 1 and 2, rejected ( "returned") applications are listed in the back, with the town or city substituted for the file number, and the remarks column indicating the date the application was returned. Indexes Numbers 4 and 6 contain only men, and Numbers 5 and 7 contain only widows; for the latter, the husband's name and number (if he drew a pension) were often added. Please note that the dates provided for each volume in the inventory below correspond to the dates of the applications; later notations, especially concerning deaths, would extend the date span for each volume, up to 1967, the date of the last death recorded.

Separate indexes cover totally disabled pensioners (through 1917), inmates of the Confederate Homes, and rejected applications (1899-1958). This latter index includes surname, Christian name, date, county, and remarks (usually giving reason for rejection: e.g., "no proof," or "too much property," or "not married 10 years," or "age," or "came to Texas in 1946," or "substitute," or "deserter," or "oath of allegiance," or "Georgia reserves," or "drawing (pension) in Arkansas.")

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff chronologically by groups of years during which applications were filed: 1899-1907, 1907-1913, 1913-1915, 1915-1928, and 1928-1948/1959. Within each volume, arrangement by the creator is alphabetical by surname, and within a given surname, numerical (i.e. chronological).

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Confederate pension indexes, Confederate pension application records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1963/030, 1964/029, unknown

Volume

304-2596

Index 1, Confederate pensioners, 1899-1907

Volume

304-2597

Index 2, Confederate pensioners, 1907-1913

Volume

304-2598

Index 3, Confederate pensioners, 1913-1915

Volume

304-2599

Index 4, Confederate pensioners, 1915-1928

Volume

304-2600

Index 5, Confederate widows, 1915-1928

Volume

304-2601

Index 6, Confederate pensioners, 1928-1948

Volume

304-2602

Index 7, Confederate widows, 1928-1959

Volume

304-2603

Index, inmates of Confederate homes

Volume

304-2604

Index, totally disabled pensioners, about 1899-1917

Volume

304-2605

Index, totally disabled pensioners, about1899-1915

Volume

304-2606

Index, rejected applications, 1899-1958

Volume

304-2607

Old rejected pension record, 1902-about 1917

(pp. 1-146)

Confederate pension registers, 1899-1909, 1915-1917,
1.15 cubic ft. (3 volumes)

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. This subseries consists of three registers of Texas Confederate pension applications, covering October 1, 1899-March 31, 1909, and March 1, 1915-December 4, 1917. Information provided includes name of applicant, post office (town or city), county, number of application, date filed (until #8203, September 18, 1901), widow of, service or command (beginning with #8204), disposition (and date, e.g. "approved," or "rejected," or "dead," or "later approved #___.") The number of the warrant is provided until November 14, 1899.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff chronologically. Two volumes are arranged by the creator numerically by application number, which is also chronologically. The third volume, covering May 1902-April 1903, is arranged by the creator alphabetically by county; but this volume is incomplete, not covering all the counties for the entire time span.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Confederate pension registers, Confederate pension application records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Confederate pension registers

Volume

304-2608

1899-1909

Volume

304-2609

1902-1903
(incomplete)

Volume

304-2607

1915-1917
(pp. 198-298)

Affidavits of Confederate military service, 1909-1917,
0.34 cubic ft. (one volume)

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. One of the key requirements was proof of service in a military unit of the Confederate States of America. This subseries consists of one volume created by the Texas Comptroller's office, containing longhand and typescript transcripts of affidavits of Confederate military service, sworn to between 1909 and 1917. An index is at the front of the volume.

Arrangement

These records have been arranged by State Archives staff chronologically.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Affidavits of Confederate military service, Confederate pension application records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Volume

304-2610

Affidavits of Confederate military service, 1909-1917

Return to the Table of Contents

Confederate pension payments volumes, 1899-1905, 1909-1910, 1915-1966,
8.65 cubic ft. (23 volumes)

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. This series consists of 23 volumes maintained by the Texas Comptroller's office, which document payments of Confederate pensions. Volumes include 5 quarterly Confederate pension records, 5 affidavit registers, 9 pension warrant registers or volumes of stubs, and 4 mortuary warrant registers, with overall dates of 1899-1905, 1909-1910, and 1915-1966.

Historical Sketch

Residency: The applicant must have lived in Texas since 1880 if they (or their husband, if a widow) had enlisted in the Confederate military from a state other than Texas, or since 1899 if they had originally enlisted in Texas. Subsequent legislation gradually lowered the required length of continuous residence for all pensioners (regardless of where they enlisted): thus applicants must have moved to Texas prior to 1900 (1913), prior to 1910 (1925), prior to 1920 (1929), ten years prior to approval (1930), and prior to 1928 (1931). The applicant must have been a resident of the county where he or she made application, for at least six months. Leaving the state for more than six months would disqualify a pensioner.
Age: Male applicants had to be at least 60 years old, unless totally disabled as a direct result of an injury sustained in actual service. (Between 1899 and 1909, soldiers' applications included affidavits of physicians; by 1909, soldiers applying would presumably have met the age requirement.) As of 1913, a widow must have been born prior to 1861 (i.e., she had to be at least 52 years old). As of 1929, she must have been born prior to 1873.
Military service: The soldier must have served at least three months in the Confederate States Army or Navy, and never deserted. In 1913, legislation extended eligibility to those who served at least six months of the Civil War in the Texas militia (Texas State Troops or Home Guard) or in an organization for the protection of the frontier. Proof of service involved the testimonies of two witnesses, and/or a copy of the soldier's service record on file in the War Department in Washington, D.C., and/or other documentation, such as discharge papers.
Indigence: Applicants had to prove that they were unable to support themselves, “in actual want and destitute of property and means of subsistence.” In 1909, indigence was more precisely defined, as follows. Applicants' annual income could not exceed $150 (raised to $300 in 1913). They must not have received any pension or land grant from the federal government (until this provision was dropped in 1927), or from any state government. They could own no real or personal property exceeding $1,000; after 1923, real or personal property could not be worth more than $1000 exclusive of the homestead, and the assessed value exclusive of household goods could not exceed $2000. (Between 1909 and 1930, tax assessors' certificates were required for proof.) At first, they could not be a resident of the Confederate Home or any other state-supported institution. (Beginning in 1921, residents of either of the Confederate Homes would receive one-half the normal pension.)
Widow's Marital Status: Widows originally had to have been married to an eligible Confederate soldier at least by 1866. In subsequent years this requirement was gradually relaxed, from 1866 to 1880 (in 1909), to 1900 (in 1913), to 1910 (in 1925), to 1912 (in 1929), and to 1921 (in 1931, if they had been married at least ten years before his death). She could not have been separated, divorced, or remarried; in 1925, however, remarried widows were made eligible.

Organization

These records have been organized by State Archives staff into four subseries:

Quarterly Confederate pension records, 1899-1905, 1915-1916, bulk 1899-1905, 2.71 cubic ft. (6 volumes)

Confederate pension affidavit registers, 1900-1901, 1917-1920, 2.02 cubic ft. (5 volumes)

Confederate pension warrant registers and stubs, 1900-1903, 1909-1910, 1950-1955, 2.49 cubic ft. (8 volumes)

Confederate mortuary warrant registers, 1917-1966, bulk 1917-1943, 1.43 cubic ft. (4 volumes)

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the subseries), Confederate pension payments records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1963/030, 1969/002, unknown

These records were transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Comptroller's office on July 19, 1963; September 5, 1968; and unknown other transfers.

Two "indexes to mortuary warrants" (1917-1936) were transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Comptroller's office on September 5, 1968.

An unknown quantity of Confederate pension warrants was transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Comptroller's office on July 19, 1963.

Dates of the other accessions are uncertain.

Restrictions on Access

None.

Restrictions on Use

None.

Processed by

Laura K. Saegert, September 1983

Tony Black, March 1994, October 1994

Quarterly Confederate pension records, 1899-1905, 1915-1916, bulk 1899-1905,
2.71 cubic ft. (6 volumes)

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. This subseries consists of six registers created by the Texas Comptroller's office: five labeled "Quarterly Confederate pension records," 1899-1905, plus one labeled "Record of pension warrants," 1915-1916, the bulk of the entries dating 1899-1905.

For each county, the first five registers give name of pensioner, number of application, amounts and numbers of warrants issued for each quarter, and memoranda (e.g., "Dead, mail no. 325, Feb. 18, 1902;" or "At Confederate Home, March 1902;" or "Cancelled, remarried in 1867--see mail no. 1631, Aug. 17, 1903.") The first register (covering October 1, 1899-September 30, 1901) also gives husband's name for widows, plus post office address (i.e. town or city). Since mortuary warrants were not issued until 1917, probably the most valuable use of these registers is to determine when pensions stopped for pensioners who died, moved from the state, or otherwise became ineligible between October 1, 1899 and September 30, 1905.

The register which covers December 1, 1915-February 29, 1916 gives pensioner's name, original county, file number, warrant number, post office, and amount. This is the latest record of payment of Confederate pensions before the issuance of the first Mortuary warrants in 1917.

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff roughly chronologically. Therein, the records are arranged by the creator mostly alphabetically by county, then numerically (i.e. chronologically) within each county. The exception is the 1915-1916 register, which is arranged by the creator roughly alphabetically by name of pensioner (first by surname, then by given name), then alphabetically by county, then numerically by pension number.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Quarterly Confederate pension records, Confederate pension payments records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Quarterly Confederate pension records, 1899-1905

Volume

304-2611

Anderson-Zavala County, 1899-1901

Volume

304-2612

Anderson-Knox County, 1901-1903

Volume

304-2613

Lamar-Zavala County, 1901-1903

Volume

304-2614

Anderson-Hopkins County, 1903-1905

Volume

304-2615

Houston-Zavala County, 1903-1905

Record of (Confederate) pension warrants, 1915-1916

Volume

304-2929

December 1, 1915-February 29, 1916

Confederate pension affidavit registers, 1900-1901, 1917-1920,
2.02 cubic ft. (5 volumes)

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. Each pensioner was required to file a quarterly affidavit that conditions affecting his eligibility had not changed since the last payment. This subseries consists of five volumes documenting the filing of Texas Confederate pension affidavits, 1900-1901 and 1917-1920. The two volumes covering July 2, 1900-July 3, 1901 are registers. These give name of pensioner, number (of affidavit, NOT the number of the Confederate Pension Application), when received, when issued, and warrant number. The last two items of information are omitted after March 29, 1901. Occasional notations include "held up," or "rejected," or "returned." The three volumes covering June 1, 1917-March 1, 1920 give the following information: name of pensioner, number of application, and check marks under columns representing each of the eleven quarters covered. When appropriate, quarterly columns are stamped "Dead."

Historical Sketch

Section 7 of the original Pension Law of 1899 required each pensioner to file quarterly with the Comptroller an affidavit "that he is the identical person to whom a pension has been granted...and that the conditions...on which a pension was originally granted still exist."

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff chronologically. Then, the two earlier volumes are arranged by the creator numerically by affidavit number, which is also chronologically. The three later volumes are arranged by the creator alphabetically by county, and therein numerically by Confederate pension application number.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Confederate pension affidavit registers, Confederate pension payments records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Confederate pension affidavit registers, 1900-1901

Volume

304-2616

July 1900-April 1901

Volume

304-2617

April-July 1901

Quarterly affidavits of Confederate pensioners, 1917-1920

Volume

304-2927

Anderson-Hutchinson Counties, 1917-1920

Volume

304-2926

Irion-Pecos Counties, 1917-1920

Volume

304-2925

Rains-Zavala Counties, 1917-1920

Confederate Pension warrant registers and stubs, 1900-1903, 1909-1910, 1950-1955,
2.49 cubic ft. (8 volumes)

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. This subseries consists of eight volumes which document the issuance of Confederate pension warrants by the State of Texas.

Three of the volumes contain the stubs of Confederate pension warrants for scattered quarters between July 1900 and April 1903. Each stub gives warrant number, amount, appropriation number, name of pensioner, quarter, application number, county, and date. The third volume includes blank stubs with blank warrants attached.

Five volumes are registers of Confederate pension warrants issued, December 1909-June 1910, December 1910, and September 1950-August 1955. Those for 1909-1910 give date of issue, warrant number, name to whom issued, and amount. Those for 1950-1955 also include pension number and address, and include mortuary warrants as well as pension warrants.

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff chronologically. Arrangement by the creator within each of the stubs volumes is numerical. Arrangement by the creator within each of the registers is chronological, i.e. numerical by warrant number.

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Confederate Pension warrant registers and stubs, Confederate pension payments records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Confederate pension warrant stubs, 1900-1903

Volume

304-2622

July 1900

Volume

304-2623

February 1901

Volume

304-2621

November 1901-May 1903

(includes blank warrants)

Registers of Confederate pension warrants, 1909-1910

Volume

304-2618

Number 1, December 1, 1909-June 1, 1910

Volume

304-2619

Number 2, December 1, 1910

Confederate Pension Fund: registers of warrants issued, 1950-1955

Volume

304-2624

1950-1951

Volume

304-2625

1951-1953

Volume

304-2626

1953-1955

Confederate mortuary warrant registers, 1917-1966, bulk 1917-1943,
1.43 cubic ft. (4 volumes)

Beginning in 1899, the Texas Legislature authorized pensions for eligible, indigent Confederate veterans residing in Texas, and their widows. Beginning in 1917, mortuary warrants began to be authorized to help cover burial expenses. This subseries consists of four volumes which document the issuance of Confederate mortuary warrants by the State of Texas between 1917 and 1966, bulk 1917-1943. Two of them (1917-1966) give the following information: date, mortuary warrant number, claimant, name of pensioner, pension application number, and amount. The other two volumes (1917-1943) are registers. The register covering May 1917-March 1931 gives number, payee, amount, and date paid; the register covering June 1933-August 1943 gives date of issue, unit amount ($100), month, to whom issued, and warrant number. Mortuary warrants issued beginning September 1943 were included in the registers of monthly pension warrants. (Those for 1950-1955 are listed separately, in the subseries Confederate pension affidavit registers.)

Historical Sketch

Effective April 1, 1917, mortuary warrants began to be issued, originally not to exceed $30, to help cover burial expenses of deceased Confederate pensioners. In 1923 this allotment was raised to $65, in 1929 to $100, and in 1947 to $200. Applications for mortuary warrants had to be received within 40 days of the pensioner's death, and the pension warrant for the quarter in which the death occurred had to be returned unpaid.

Arrangement

These volumes have been arranged by State Archives staff roughly chronologically. Two of the volumes are arranged by the creator alphabetically by county, and therein numerically (i.e. chronologically) within each county. The two registers are arranged by the creator numerically (and therefore roughly chronologically).

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item), Confederate mortuary warrant registers, Confederate pension payments records, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession numbers: 1969/002 and unknown

Two "indexes to mortuary warrants" (1917-1936) were transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Texas Comptroller's office on September 5, 1968.

Record of Confederate mortuary warrants (by county), 1917-1966

Volume

304-2628

1917-1936

Volume

304-2629

1936-1966

Registers of Confederate mortuary warrants issued (numerical), 1917-1931, 1933-1943

Volume

304-2620

1917-1931

Volume

304-2627

1933-1943

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Texas Ranger pensions, 1917, 1928, 1931, 1936, 1938, 1959-1990, bulk 1959-1990, 0.94 cubic ft.
	Beginning in 1959, the Texas Legislature authorized the Comptroller's office to pay to qualified former Texas Rangers and their widows. These records document both the persons applying for these pensions, and the process itself. This series consists mostly of the pension files (applications and other documents) of deceased recipients of Texas Ranger pensions, 1959-1990. Also included are copies of U.S. Congressional legislation, 1917, and of Texas Attorney General opinions, 1928, 1931, 1936, and 1938. Information available from the pension application includes the name of the applicant and his/her spouse; death date of the ranger (if widow's pension); address; date and county of birth; county in which married; service record--Ranger companies served with, age at the time of service, and length of service; whether the applicant had worked for the state; and whether the applicant was eligible for the Employees Retirement System of Texas.
	The pension applications may be accompanied by proof of service--oaths of service or copies of service records from the Archives Division or the Department of Public Safety; mortuary warrants, often accompanied by death certificates; affidavits certifying the identity of the pensioner; and routine correspondence--concerning the pension status, change of address, or notification of the death of the pensioner. Most files also contain a filing card used by the Comptroller's staff in their index, listing the pensioner's name, address, service record, and usually, date of death. In addition to the pension files are copies of legislation and Attorney General opinions concerning Confederate and Indian War pensions.
	Historical Sketch
	The 56th Texas Legislature passed legislation in 1959 (Senate Bill 53) which authorized pension payments for Texas Rangers or their widows. In order to be eligible for a pension, the ranger had to have served a minimum of two years as a regular Texas Ranger prior to September 1, 1947 (Special Ranger service was not counted); he could not be eligible for membership in the Employees Retirement System of Texas; he could not have been dismissed from the ranger service for incompetence, misconduct, or breach of duty; and he had to be at least sixty years old. Widow requirements were that she have been married to the ranger prior to January 1, 1957 and at the time of his death; and that her husband have fulfilled the above described requirements for a ranger pension.
	The ranger pensions were issued through the Comptroller's office and paid out of the Confederate Pension Fund. The pensioner received $80 a month and a $200 mortuary warrant payment was available for burial expenses. In 1990 there were still a few pensioners receiving payments. Their files are maintained in the Claims Division of the Comptroller's office.
	Arrangement
	These records have been arranged by State Archives staff by type of record, with opinions/legislative materials filed first, followed by the pension files. Pension files have been arranged by State Archives staff alphabetically by last name of pensioner. (Entries preceded by "--" instead of a folder number are cross references only: a pension file is not present for that name.) The original arrangement by the creator was apparently numerical, which was probably also chronological by date of filing or of approval.
	Preferred Citation
	(Identify the item), Texas Ranger pensions, Texas Comptroller's Office claims records. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
	Accession Information
	Accession numbers: 1963/145, 1965/042, 1990/069, 1992/154
	These records were transferred to the Texas State Archives by the Comptroller's office (via the Records Division of the State Library) on April 6, 1964; November 29, 1965; January 17, 1990; and May 26, 1992.
	Restrictions on Access
	None.
	Restrictions on Use
	None.
	Processed by
	Tony Black, November 1987
	Laura K. Saegert, July 1990
	Tonia J. Wood, November 1995
		Legislation
Box	Folder
1990/069-1	1.		Act to Pension Survivors of Indians, U.S. Congress, 1917
		Attorney General opinions
Box	Folder
1990/069-1	2.		Attorney General Opinion regarding who is eligible for Confederate Pensions, 1931
	3.		Attorney General Opinion regarding rights of those who under Special Laws of Texas, during the Civil War served in organizations for the protection of the frontier, 1928
	4.		Attorney General Opinion as to the effect of repealing clause in Chapter 82, Acts Fifth called Session of the Forty-first Legislature, 1936
	5.		Attorney General Opinion regarding Confederate Pension warrants as non-negotiable instruments, 1938
		Pension files
Box	Folder
1990/069-1	6.		State Ranger pension applications (lists), 1959-1961
	7.		Andrews, Walker William
	8.		Baker, Lena Sentenia (widow of Anderson Yancy Baker)
	9.		Baker, Lillian Estelle (widow of Alfred Randolph Baker)
	10		Barker, Lillie (widow of D.S. Barker)
	11.		Barnhill, Luna Monroe (widow of Pinkney Barnhill)
	12.		Bates, Winfred Finas
	13.		Beach, Lila Alpha (widow of Walter Cleveland Beach)
	14.		Beach, Walter Cleveland
	15.		Bishop, Leo Henderson
	16.		Bishop, Ruby (widow of Leo Henderson Bishop)
	17.		Blackwell, Clell Miller
	18.		Blackwell, Lena Mae (widow of Clell Miller Blackwell)
	19.		Boyd, Abraham
	20.		Burell, Robert Louis
	21.		Burton, Marvin
	22.		Campbell, Kathryn Jo (widow of Zollie Koffer Campbell)
	23.		Cardwell, Annie Elizabeth (widow of Olive Deets Cardwell)
	24.		Carnes, Letha Lux (widow of Herff Alexander Carnes)
	25.		Chesshir, Fay Willie (widow of Ollie Burnet Chesshir)
	26.		Collins, Harry Warren
	27.		Collins, Ruth Hanks (widow of Harry Warren Collins)
	28.		Covington, Doney Ernest
	29.		Cox, Charlene C. (widow of Dwight W. Cox)
	30.		Cox, Dwight W.
	31.		Craighead, Ygnacia (Agnes) Garcia (widow of Charlie A. Craighead)
	32.		Craven, Margaret Garlington (widow of Franklin Asbury Craven)
	33.		Crawford, Majorie Ethel (widow of Pete Crawford)
	34.		Crow, Elleen McDonnell (widow of John F. Crow)
	35.		Cummings, Daisy (widow of Alfred Parrish Cummings)
	36.		Curry, Charles Boothe
	37.		Darlington, Claude
	38.		Delling, Minnie Havre (widow of Manoah George Delling)
	39.		Dial, William Angelo
	40.		Ezell, Clarence Marvin
	41.		Ezell, Roma Mae (widow of Clarence Marvin Ezell)
	42.		Franklin, Claude
	43.		Franks, Eva Rumsey (widow of Tom C. Franks)
	44.		Fuller, Nathan N.
	45.		Glasscock, Henry Doil
	46.		Glasscock, Melba M. (widow of Henry Doil Glasscock)
	47.		Gonzalez, Emilia Clarke (widow of Juan C. Gonzalez)
	48.		Gray, Jerry
	49.		Gray, Myrtle (widow of Jerry Gray)
	50.		Grimes, Nell Beall (widow of William Thomas Grimes)
	51.		Hall, Howard N.
	52.		Hall, Larry L.
	53.		Hall, Marguerite Elizabeth (widow of Howard N. Hall)
	54.		Hamer, Dennis Estill
	55.		Hamer, Gladys Johnson (widow of Frank A. Hamer)
	56.		Hamer, Harrison Lester
	57.		Hamm, Margaret Catherine (widow of Sebren Orville Hamm)
	58.		Hamm, Sebren Orville
	59.		Hawkins, Thelma Nona (widow of Richard C. Hawkins)
	60.		Hensley, Lyna Wright (widow of John Edward Hensley)
	61.		Hickman, Tina Martha (widow of Tom R. Hickman)
	62.		Hickman, Tom R.
	63.		Hoffer, Flora Jahns (widow of Frank W. Hoffer)
	64.		Holland, Fred Darwin
	65.		Holland, Mattie Mae (widow of Fred Darwin Holland)
	66.		Hudson, Martha Ila (widow of Robert M. Hudson)
	67.		Hunnicutt, Grigsby Lillie (widow of J.R. Hunnicutt)
	68.		Hunnicutt, J.R.
	69.		Johnson, Bertha Maud Natus (widow of Joe Natus)
	70.		Johnson, Ester Sexcelia (widow of George H. Johnson)
	--		Jones, Arthur Hastings, see Gertrude Jones Lusk
Box	Folder
1990/069-2	1.		Jones, Gus T. “Buster”
	2.		Jones, Mary Ann (widow of Gus T. Jones)
	3.		Kelso, Sidney Nolan
	4.		Keene, Henry
	5.		Lamkin, Mattie Lee (widow of Lem Lamkin)
	6.		Latta, Oscar (Mrs.) (widow of Oscar Latta)
	7.		Lusk, Gertrude Jones (widow of Arthur Hastings Jones)
	8.		Lynch, Lilla Eugenia (widow of Don Lawson Lynch)
	9.		Magee, Lula Bessie (widow of Edgar Silivan Magee)
	10.		Martin, Oscar Thomas
	11.		Mayes, Violet Hilid (widow of Sam Cloud Mayes)
	12.		McCoy, Fannie Cloud (widow of James Edward McCoy)
	13.		McCoy, James Edward
	14.		McMahan, Elizabeth Helm (widow of Frank Donaldson McMahan)
	15.		McMurrey, Will
	16.		McWilliams, Ella Mae (widow of R.E. McWilliams)
	--		Miller, J.A., see Erma Davenport Miller Smith
	17.		Mills, Frank William
	18.		Mills, Mabel E. (widow of Frank William Mills)
	19.		Moore, Alice Yarbro (widow of Harry Moore)
	20.		Mundricks, Lambert
	21.		Murchison, Ivan
	--		Natus, Joe, see Bertha Maud Natus Johnson
	22.		Neal, Maid J. (widow of Edgar Thomas Neal)
	23.		Nichols, Nellie McKinnie (widow of Roy C. Nichols)
	24.		Nichols, Roy C.
	25.		Oliphant, Boone
	26.		Osoba, Millie Josephine (widow of Joseph Osoba)
	27.		Perkins, James C.
	28.		Perkins, Opal McCall (widow of James C. Perkins)
	--		Pharies, Hugh J., see Marguerite Pharies Robey
	29.		Price, Carrie Ruth (widow of Charles Wesley Price)
	--		Ransom, Henry Lee, see Anna Cooke Ransom Williams
	30.		Riggs, Mildred Rosiland (widow of Walter Everett Riggs)
	31.		Riggs, Walter Everett
	32.		Robey, Marguerite Earle Pharies (widow of Hugh J. Phaires)
	33.		Rogers, Bettie Chesher (widow of Curren Lee Rogers)
	34-35.		Rush, (Kelly) Willie Jo Farmer (widow of Carroll G. Rush)
	36.		Sanders, Ruth Branch (widow of Jesse Calvin Sanders)
	37.		Saulsbury, Ethel (widow of Lee Saulsbury)
	38.		Shelton, Nell Oveta (widow of Richard Swan Shelton)
	39.		Smith, Agnes Lister (widow of Henry B. Smith)
	40.		Smith, Erma Davenport Miller (widow of J.A. Miller)
	41.		Sterling, William Warren
	42.		Sterling, Zora Lee (widow of William Warren Sterling)
	43.		Stevens, Trixie Cross (widow of Charles Frances Stevens)
	44.		Taylor, Blanche Ertelah (widow of Thomas Creed Taylor)
	45.		Taylor, Thomas Creed
	46.		Townsend, Eliza Goff (widow of Asa Light Townsend)
	47.		Trejo, Martin Edward
	48.		Vivian, Otho Dee, Sr.
	49.		Wachtendorf, Cherry Bob (widow of Herbert Dick Wachtendorf)
	50.		Wachtendorf, Herbert Dick
	51.		Westbrook, Dan W.
	52.		White, Bessie Patterson (widow of Thomas Bruce White, Sr.)
	53.		White, James C.
	54.		White, Mary Bacon (widow of Goff White)
	55.		White, Rosa Selma (widow of John Dudley White)
	56.		White, Thomas Bruce, Sr.
	57.		Williams, Anna Cooke Ransom (widow of Henry Lee Ransom)
	58.		Woelber, Mary E. (widow of Albert Henry Woelber)
	54.		Young, Lula Moore (widow of William Early Young)
	55.		Young, Minnie Pauline (widow of Sharp L. Young)
	56.		Young, William Early

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