The purpose of this Web site is to provide the names of African-Americans, mostly former slaves, who applied for pensions in Tennessee claiming to have served with the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.

The names were compiled by John V. Brogden using sources at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville, Tennessee. Additional research has been done by the Webmaster, Willie L. Robinson.

This information is provided with the hope that it will be helpful to other genealogists in their research. Listed on this site are the names of the applicants, birth data, organization with which they claimed service, and the disposition of their application. Some names are of persons who applied for the pensions on behalf of others. Additional information is available upon request on most names listed.

The following notice appeared on the the “Colored Man’s Application for Pension”:

“The Negros’ pension law passed by the Tennessee Legislature, provides that Negros Pensioned by this Act must have been bona fide residents of this State three years if they served with a Tennessee Command, and ten years if they served with a command from any other State. They must have remained with the army until the close of the war, unless legally relieved from service. They must be indigent. Unless you come clearly under the law, it is useless to file an application.

Click here to visit the site maintained by Willie L. Robinson.