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From 1775 to 1855 the United States granted
bounty-land warrants
for military service, primarily to encourage volunteer
enlistments, but also to reward veterans for service during the
Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and a
variety of Indian wars, Indian removals, and other military
actions during the 1850s. Early warrants could only be used in
military districts, principally in Ohio and several other public
land states in the former Northwest Territory. Eventually,
Congress expanded eligibility to include service in the Regular
Army and the Navy, as well as volunteer
militias.
Bounty-land warrant files can contain supporting documents such
as statements and signatures of witnesses. Bounty-land warrants
generally do not contain as much personal information as the
pensions. The Government ceased issuing bounty-land-warrants
after 1855.
The records are part of Record Group 15, Records of the
Department of Veterans Affairs. Unindexed Bounty-Land Warrant
Files
___Case Files of Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on
Service Between 1812 and 1855 and Disapproved Applications Based
on Revolutionary War Service (RG15, Entry 26). Arranged
alphabetically by surname, these files cover service in the War
of 1812 as well as the Old
Indian Wars. An automated index is currently being created and
is available in the Microfilm
Revolutionary War Research Room.
Congress authorized bounty-land warrants for military service in
the Revolutionary War under acts of 1788, 1803, and 1806.
Surviving Revolutionary War veterans also qualified under the
final bounty-land act of 1855. Many bounty-land claims for
Revolutionary War service have been
combined with other Revolutionary War pension files.
.
___M804, Revolutionary War Pensions and Bounty-Land Warrant
Applications. 2,670 rolls. DP.Arranged alphabetically by
surname.
___M829, U.S. Revolutionary War Bounty-Land Warrants Used in the
U.S. Military District of Ohio and Related Papers (Acts of 1788,
1803, and 1806), 1788–1806. 16 rolls. DP. Arranged numerically
by warrant number. Roll 1 contains indexes and registers.
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