Preserve the Records. Discover the Stories.
Support the Veteran Bounty Land Records Project.
Help preserve an important part of America’s military and family history for future generations.
The Texas State Genealogical Society (TxSGS) is joining the National Genealogical Society (NGS) in supporting the Veteran Bounty Land Records Project, a nationwide effort to preserve, index, and digitize approximately 360,000 bounty land warrant application files held by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
This $2.5 million initiative is the second phase of Preserve the Pensions. The project will help protect these valuable historical records and make their contents freely accessible online.
More Than Military Records
During America’s early history, the federal government offered land to eligible veterans of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Indian Wars, and Mexican-American War. In certain circumstances, widows and heirs could also qualify for benefits.
The resulting application files may contain a wealth of genealogical information, including:
- Names and relationships of family members
- Birth, marriage, and death information
- Family Bible pages
- Affidavits from relatives, neighbors, and fellow soldiers
- Military service records and regimental information
- Personal testimonies and other historical documents
For genealogists, these records may provide the evidence needed to identify family relationships, resolve research questions, or discover previously unknown details about an ancestor.
A Family Story Preserved in the Records
Consider the bounty land application file of Richard Shanklin, a colonel in the Virginia militia during the War of 1812.
His file contains an affidavit from his widow, Catherine, identifying her maiden name as Alexander and documenting her husband’s death in 1841. A family Bible entry provides birth dates for Richard and Catherine, along with their marriage date. Other documents include military discharge papers and affidavits from people who knew him.
Together, these records help reconstruct a family history that might otherwise remain incomplete.
Imagine what similar discoveries could mean for thousands of other families.
Why These Records Need Our Help
Approximately 360,000 bounty land application files are at risk of deterioration. Preserving and digitizing these records will help protect their contents while making them available to researchers everywhere.
When the project is completed, the digitized records will be freely accessible through the National Archives website.
TxSGS Continues Its Commitment to Preservation
TxSGS has a history of supporting national records preservation initiatives, including the original Preserve the Pensions campaign.
Now, we are inviting members, partner societies, and the broader genealogical community to join us in supporting the Veteran Bounty Land Records Project.
Double the Impact of Your Gift
TxSGS has proposed a matching-funds commitment of up to $5,000. Our goal is to raise $5,000 in contributions from members, partner societies, and friends of genealogy, bringing our combined contribution to $10,000.
Every contribution, regardless of size, helps preserve these important historical records.
How You Can Participate
The TxSGS fundraising campaign launches November 6, 2026, during the TxSGS Family History Conference.
Together, we can preserve the records that connect families to their past.
The Veteran Bounty Land Records Project is administered by the National Genealogical Society in partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration. FamilySearch and the Daughters of the American Revolution are lead partners in the project.