In June 2023, NGS signed an agreement with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to preserve and digitize the Bounty Land Warrant Application files from veterans of early American wars. This $2.5 million project is the second phase of the Preserve the Pensions initiative, now managed by the National Genealogical Society. The Preserve the Pensions initiative began over a decade ago with leadership from the Federation of Genealogical Societies (since merged with NGS) and the genealogy community, to digitize the War of 1812 pension files. That project continues today with significant support from Ancestry.
The Veteran Bounty Land Records (VBLR) project kicked off with a capital fundraising campaign in 2023. To date, the campaign has raised over $1 million towards its $2.5 million goal. The Daughters of the American Revolution and FamilySearch are the lead partners.
Genealogists, historians, teachers, patriotic societies, history buffs, and anyone interested will have access to the digitized images of the Bounty Land Warrant Applications on the National Archives website when the project is completed. The project will preserve, index, and digitize all VBL records.
The federal government granted land in lieu of pay to attract enlistments and reward service in the Revolutionary, 1812, Indian, and Mexican-American wars. Those who served before 1850, including Native and Black soldiers, were eligible for 160 acres of land. Widows and/or children could apply for benefits as well. The records contain family names; data on births, marriages, and deaths; historic documents such as pages from family Bibles; handwritten testimonies; affidavits; regimental history; and more.
Two examples provide insight into the historical importance of these records.
The Society of Preservation Patriots (SPP) recognizes donors who have contributed $250 or more to the Stern-NARA Gift Fund or to either the War of 1812 or Veteran Bounty Land Records projects of Preserve the Pensions.
The honorary society, created by FGS before its merger with NGS, named Rabbi Malcolm H. Stern as its first member in recognition of his vision and leadership. As chair of the Genealogical Coordinating Committee, he established the NARA Gift Fund, which was later renamed the Stern-NARA Gift Fund in his honor after his death. Long known for his tireless efforts, he asked member societies of the Federation of Genealogical Societies to ask each member of their society to contribute $1 per year toward the fund – a request that still stands today.
