Daniel A. Adams, 31st Mass. Inf.

[John Hartwell]

Not an ancestor, but one of many Mass. men I'm researching. Dan Adams was a 28 year old farmer in Auburn, Mass., when he enlisted in Co. G (some say 'C') of the 31st Mass. Vols. (28 Dec 1861). The 31st was one of Ben Butler's regiments in the Gulf, and was the first to enter New Orleans. The regiment rarely was together as a unit after the first month or so, being scattered around Louisiana in detachments for much of its service. I have no real information on Pvt Adams until 20 Sept. 1864, when he was reported apprehended for desertion. Ten days later he is reported as having deserted yet again, and he was dropped from the regimental rolls on Nov. 21st.

His wife, Brigid, apparently applied for a pension in 1878, however, as a War Dept. Letter of 14 April reports: "The charge of desertion has not been removed from the record of this man in whose case there is no record of capture and death while a prisoner of war." According to the Pension Index, however, Brigid applied again in 1890, and was granted a pension (appl. #503; cert. #447). I'd love to know what 'new information' must have come to light between '78 & '90 to justify granting her second application.

I expect the Pension file will answer at least part of the question. It's one of 120 or so pension and service records I want to examine -- but at $60 to $75 a pop, it will cost a lot less (and be a lot more fun) to spend a week or two in DC researching them myself (I'm still saving my pennies).

One question, however. Does anyone know if rejected Pension Applications were kept on file? If so, are they accessible?

Cheers,

jno

 

[XVfortyrounds]

Rejected pension applications are retained at NARA. The pension index that you used to obtain the application and certification number will illustrate whether or not the pension was granted. If a certification number is present, the pension was granted. If it is absent, it was not. That does not, however, mean that subsequent requests and applications for increase of pension were granted. That information will be contained within the pension packet itself.