New York (State). Auditor.

During and immediately after the Revolutionary War, the U.S. Congress passed resolutions recommending that the states make provisions to pay pensions to soldiers and sailors wholly or partially disabled from earning a living by means of wounds, illness, or accidential injury sustained while in military service. Pensions were to be paid with federal funds.

In 1779, New York established procedures for paying these pensions. Claimants were required to submit certificates from their commanding officer and surgeon verifying that the veteran received a disabling wound or injury during military service. Certificates were received by the auditor general (later auditor) who recorded them in this series and authorized the state treasurer to pay the pensions. Fully disabled veterans received half pay and those partially disabled received lesser amounts determined by the legislature. In 1783 the legislature set the amount of pensions for disabled "soldiers" at $5.00 per month.

In 1786, the legislature revised the procedures for claiming pensions. Six persons were appointed to examine claimants and their certificates in New York City and Albany and verify that the certificates were valid. These examiners then issued the claimant a certificate indicating the amount he was entitled to (half pay for commissioned officers; $5.00 per month maximum for non-commissioned officers and privates). The examiners forwarded copies of these certificates to the state auditor who recorded them in this series. Before they could receive each annual pension payment, "invalids" were required to take an oath before a justice that they had been previously examined by the persons so appointed.

From the guide to the Certificates submitted by disabled Revolutionary War veterans claiming pensions and audited accounts of pensions, 1779-1789, (New York State Archives)