Viewing page 91 of 219

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]] 

WAR DEPARTMENT
Bureau R.F. & A.L., CLAIM DIVISION,
Washington, Oct. 19, 1866

[CIRCULAR, No. 7.]
The following extracts from regulations of the Pension Office with reference to claims for pensions, under the 2d Sec. of the Act of July 25th, 1866, are republished for the information of officers of this Bureau:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
PENSION OFFICE,
October 1, 1866.

CIRCULAR, No. 26.
You are hereby informed that a supplementary affidavit of the applicant is required in all claims of widows for pensions now on file, in which the claimant is entitled to the increase provided in Sec. 2, Act of July 25th, 1866.

The names and dates of birth of the children, under sixteen years of age, of the deceased soldier by the claimant must be stated, and the number of the pending claim given, and if the soldier left minor children by a former marriage, the fact should appear. She must aver that she has not married since the death of her husband, nor abandoned the support of any one of their children under sixteen years of age, not permitted any one, for whom increase is claimed, to be adopted by any person or persons, and that they are the only legitimate children of herself and her deceased husband, now living. These averments must be established by the testimony of competent witnesses, and the dates of birth must be proved as now required in the claims of minors.

All applications for pension hereafter filed, in which the claimant is entitled to the increase, should contain the necessary averments therefor.

In the case of minors the dates of birth of the wards must be proved by baptismal or other public record, or by the affidavit of the attending physician; or, in the absence of such evidence, which must be shown, by the testimony of parties having the requisite personal knowledge, who will state the source of their information.

In all cases, deponents should state they have no interest in the claim, and their credibility should be duly certified. The person administering the oath must certify that he has no interest in the claim, and that the affiants, if they sign by mark, knew the contents of the paper or papers before so signing.

By order of Maj. Genl. O.O. HOWARD,
WM. FOWLER,Brt. Maj. & A. At General.

OFFICIAL
J F. Conyngham
1st Lt 15th U S I
A A.A.G.

Transcription Notes:
Not sure what is written at the bottom of this letter so I did not transcribe it.