Revolutionary Soldiers Disabilities Claims

There were thousands of soldiers who put in for a claim, many would receive it and many would not. Before 1778, only the soldiers of the Army and Navy would receive a pension or a disability claim. Then on May 28th, 1778, a bill passed Congress that give the rights to the widows and children of the soldier to put in a claim for his disability claim or his pension. Providing the soldier was killed while in the service of the United States, died as a result of wounds received, or died of any illness while in active duty. Many people knew nothing about this bill and because of this, it would be years after 1778 before they would put in a claim.

Note: I have hundreds of names for these claims and pensions. If you have a name, I will be happy to look it up. But keep in mind, that even though I have hundreds of names, I may not have yours and many claims were not put in for. Below there are three claim reports to show the information you may receive.

Ebenezer Tinkham of Lyme, New Hampshire, Private, station Warren frigate, was disabled July, 1779, at Penobscot. His disability was the following: Wounded by a musket ball, which entered his right should, went through a joint of the neck, and came out by the collar bone. His pension is to be one-third.

Wiliam Proctor, Massachusetts, Sgt. Major of the 2nd. Rhode Island, his disability was the following: Ruptured in his belly, occasioned by a stick thrown at him by one Kelly, because he refused to play at cudgels with him.

Peter Charlont, under the command of General Hazen, is a native of Canada, was at the commencement of the late war and was a volunteer in the service of the United States, and continued in that service in various characters till he was wounded and taken prisoner by the enemy. And after his return, he again engaged in that service and was disabled. His disability is the following: Peter Charlont was employed to carry letters to and from Canada, and that on one of these errands, he was wounded by having a ball pass into his body, another through his left hand,and a third off his skull fracturing it, thereby deprived the use of his left eye. " We have considered he is entitled to half-pay of a sergeant, and to two hundred dollars as arrears of pay."
From the Circuit Court, Boston, Massachusetts, May, 1792.