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REPORT

'OF

THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS PENSIONS

FOR

THE YEAR 1867.

DEPARTMENT of the InteriOR, PENSION Office,

November 1, 1867.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the transactions and condition of this bureau for the past year:

ARMY PENSIONS

The number of original applications for invalid pensions, by reason of casualties occurring in the army service, admitted during the last fiscal year, was 16,452, at an average annual rate of $71 73 each, and an aggregate annual rate of $1,180,194 72. The number of applications for increased pensions of the same class admitted during this period was 13,946, at an average annual rate of $78 09 each, and an aggregate annual rate of $1,089,003 62.

Of original applications of widows, orphans, and dependent relatives for pensions, by reason of deaths incident to the army service, 19,660 were admitted during the year, at an average individual rate of $100 66 per annum, and an aggregate yearly rate of $1,979,062 67. Of applications for increased pensions, of the same class, 19,309 were admitted, at an average additional rate (chiefly on account of minor children under the age of sixteen years, as provided by the act of July 25, 1866) of $59 59 each-at a total annual rate of $1,150,646.

The total number of enrolled invalid pensioners on the 30th day of June, 1867, was 70,802, the total amount of whose pensions was $6,478,004 14; and the total number of widows, orphans, and dependent relatives enrolled as pensioners was, at the same date, S2,291, and the yearly amount of their pensions $9,664,075 83; making an aggregate of 153,093 army pensioners, of both classes, at a total annual rate of $16,142,079 97.

Since the date of my last annual report the only surviving revolutionary soldier then receiving a pension, Samuel Downing, of Edinburg, Saratoga county, New York, has died. By special acts of Congress two other veterans, John Gray, of Ohio, and Daniel F. Bakeman, of New York, have been granted pensions as revolutionary soldiers, at the rate of $500 per annum, who were not enrolled prior to the close of the fiscal year.

Of the widows of revolutionary soldiers, married before the close of the revolutionary war, but one enrolled pensioner survived at the close of the fiscal year, viz., Nancy Serena, widow of Joseph Serena, of Pennsylvania. Of those married before the 1st day of January, 1794, there were, on the 30th day of June, 1867, 68 surviving pensioners; of those married before January 1, 1800, 50; and of those married after the last named date, 878. The total number of

the widows of revolutionary soldiers whose names were on the pension rolls at the end of the fiscal year was 997. This aggregate includes a small number residing in southern States, whose pensions were restored on proof of continuous loyalty. Of the widows of revolutionary soldiers married prior to January 1, 1800, but 119 remained of the 158 whose names were on the rolls at the beginning of the year. Of these 119 pensioners, 18 reside in New York; 14 in Maine; 11 in New Hampshire; 10 in Kentucky; 9 in Massachusetts; 9 in Virginia; 9 in North Carolina; 8 in Pennsylvania; 6 in Connecticut; 5 in Ohio; 5 in Tennessee 4 in Vermont; 3 in New Jersey; 3 in the District of Columbia; 2 in West Virginia; and 1 in each of the States of Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri.

The number of widows and orphans pensioned by reason of deaths incident to service in the wars subsequent to the Revolution and prior to the rebellion was, on the 30th day of June, 1867, 1,310-an increase of 83 during the year, chiefly by reason of the restoration of pensions to residents of the States lately in insurrection. The invalid pensioners of this intermediate period, as well as the widows and orphans, are included in the preceding aggregates.

The whole amount paid to invalid pensioners during the last fiscal year was $6,428,532 58; and to widows, orphans, and dependent relatives, $11,873,182 71; making the grand total of payments to army pensioners, (including expenses of the disbursing agencies,) for the year, $18,301,715 26.

The balance of funds in the hands of the agents for paying army pensions was, on the 30th day of June, 1867, $1,702,296 86.

NAVY PENSIONS.

The original applications for invalid pensions, by reason of casualties occurring in the navy service, admitted during the year ending June 30, 1867, numbered 137, at a total yearly rate of $10,317; and the admitted applications for increased pensions, of the same class, 206, at an annual aggregate of $17,892. Of original applications of widows, orphans, and dependent relatives for navy pensions, 233 were admitted during the same period, at an aggregate rate of $31,856 per annum; and 120 pensioners of this class were increased, at a total yearly rate of $6,792.

The total number of navy invalid pensioners whose names appeared on the rolls June 30, 1867, was 1,054, at an aggregate yearly rate of $89,652 25; and the total number of widows, orphans, and dependent relatives whose names were on the navy pension rolls at the same date was 1,327, requiring an aggregate annual amount of $305,742 25.

The whole amount paid to navy invalid pensioners during the last fiscal year was $77,241 28; and the whole amount paid to widows, orphans, and dependent relatives of officers or seamen of the navy was $240,999 92, making the total amount of navy pensions paid during the year $318,241 20.

The balance of funds in the hands of the agents for paying navy pensions was, on the 30th day of June, 1867, $175,796 82.

GRAND AGGREGATE.

The total number of pensioners of all classes whose names remained on the rolls June 30, 1867, was 155,474. The number of new pensioners added to the rolls during the year was 36,482, and the number of pensioners dropped from the rolls on account of deaths, remarriages, or other causes was 7,932. The number of pensions increased during the last fiscal year, chiefly under the acts of June 6 and July 25, 1866, was 33,581. The total annual amount of pensions was, at the close of the year, $16,447,822 22, and the amount paid during the year, (including arrears and expenses of disbursement,) $18,619,956 46.

STATISTICAL TABLES.

For fuller details, showing the transactions of this office in the several States and at the various pension agencies, reference is made to the tabular statements appended to this report.

The following summary will aid in a ready comparison of the transactions of this bureau for the three fiscal years ending June 30, 1867:

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The number of pensioners of the several classes whose names were on the rolls at the close of each fiscal year was, during the last seven years, as follows:

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During the year ending September 30, 1867, the number of applications for bounty land admitted was as follows:

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No. of acres.

640 120

4 warrants for 160 acres each. 3 warrants for 40 acres each.. 887 warrants for 160 acres each. 39 warrants for 120 acres each. 19 warrants for 80 acres each.. 2 warrants for 40 acres each..

141, 920

4, 680 1, 520

80.

954 Whole number of acres... 148, 960

There were 39 duplicates issued during the same period, in lieu of lost warrants, and 32 warrants were cancelled. Original applications to the number of 908 were received, and 3,114 suspended applications were re-examined.

PENSION SURGEONS.

The subjoined list comprises the names of the examining surgeons for this office, designated in accordance with the provisions of the eighth section of the act of July 14, 1862, and acting as such at this date:

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