A record created as a result of the legislative Act of April 30, 1866 (with subsequent supplemental acts) that granted annuities, gratuities or pensions to Pennsylvania soldiers (or their widows) who had served at least two months duty, or who had been wounded or otherwise disabled during the war. Files usually contain either of the following two types of notarized documents: Applications of Soldiers, submitted by veterans themselves, show name, signature, residence, rank, regiment and military unit of veteran; the name of the officer under whom he served; the period of service; and the approximate dates of his enlistment and honorable discharge. Applications of Widows, filled out by wives of deceased veterans, contain the same information found on the soldiers' applications. From the 1870's onward, however, the dates of the marriage and of the husband's death are frequently recorded. Some applications mention not only the widow's age but even her spouse's age and place of death.
