Relatively few veterans applied for pensions, but very few refused or failed to apply for and receive a bounty-land warrant. Bounty land warrants were sold for their ready cash value to land speculators, so that you will not often find the veteran living on the land assigned.

A veteran of U. S. service, U. S. Volunteer or State militia service rendered in behalf of, for or what was later deemed in the interest of the U. S., was entitled to Federal bounty-land* Such service must have been rendered between the Revolutionary War and before the passage of the Act of 1855. Warrants were issued entitling the recipients to a given number of acres of land to be located within and on lands owned by or under the juridsdiction of the Federal Government.

After the Revolutionary War grants of land based on military service were limited to 160 acres with the exceptions noted. During the Mexican War (1846-48) non-commissioned officers and other enlisted men serving in either the U. S. or volunteer regiments were entitled to receive 160 acres of land of $100 in script for twelve months service. Those serving less than twelve months were entitled to 40 acres or $25- The Act of September 28, 1850, extended land benefits to some en-listed men who failed to qualify under previous acts passed since the Revolutionary War land act, and to officers for the first time since the Revolutionary War. That law also allowed those who received less than 160 acres for nine months' service during the War of 1812, Mexican, or in the Indian Wars (1812-1850) to receive the amount of land which when added to the amount previously granted totaled 160 acres. Those who served for six months were entitled to 80 acres and those who served one month entitled to 40 acres. An Act of March 22, 1852, amended the Act of 1850 to include those State or territorial troopd who had served since 1812.

The Act of March 3, 1855, provided 160 acres to all who had served 14 days or were in any battle in any war in which the U. S. had engaged from 1790 to the passage of the Act. Revolutionary War veterans who had received less than 160 acres could apply under this act.

A claim file for bounty-land can include several approved claims, and some disapproved claim's papers. As in the case of a pension claim satisfactory evidence of service was required to satisfy the claim.

A widow or legal guardian of minor children followed very closely the same assembly and submission of evidence to prove relationship as that normally furnished in a pension claim, which included her age, marriage date and place, veteran's death date and place.

The following abstracts from the Bounty-land Warrant Application Files for the surname Wells, will give you the location the veteran was living at date of application and the place from which he served. In the instance of a widow or guardian applying it will give more specific genealogical data. If you know the place of residence of your ancestor ca. 1850 but not where he was ca 1812-1815 or 1832-1838, these files may lead you to the right area for search. Enclosed is a form to be used to order the entire file from the National Archives which will be furnished for $2.

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