Following is a list of Barnett Pensioners for Confederate Service in the State of Arknsas. The chart gives the Pension number for both the veteran and his widow, the name of the veteran and/or his widow, the Company, Regiment and Division in which he serve (Infantry, Calvary, Artillery, etc), his years of service giving a W if he served through the War, a D if he was Disabled  and a K if he died during the War, the date of the veteran or widow application, the county of residence and the date of death for the veteran and or widow.

Anyone obtaining a copy of these pensions is asked to send a copy of the information to me so we can share the information with other Barnett researchers.

The surname Barney was checked but there were none listed.

Background of Pensions for Confederates in Arkansas

Information from Ingmire's book was extracted from records created by the State Pension Board dating from 1891 to 1936 and kept by the State Auditor. The original index was made 1935-1936 by the Works Project Administration. All of these records are now located in the Arkansas History Commission in Little Rock, One Capital Mall , Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

Act 91, April 1, 1891 allowed for the granting of pensions to Arkansas's former Confederates and their widows. Arkansas was on of the first states to provide for their Confederte veterans. Almost 50,000 Arkansans received pensions for Confederate service under this program which was adminsitered from  1891 until 1939, the creation of the State Department of Public Welfare. After 1939 the State Department of Public Welfare adminstered pension activity.

Act 91 created a State Pension Board with seventy five local pensions boards, one in each county. These boards oversaw the granting of pensions.

Initially, only Indigent or disabled, honorably discharged veterans or unmarried indigent widows of veterans, who lived in Arkansas for twelve months prior to applying were eligible. In 1915 needy widows who had re-married, but who were born before 1878 and widowed mothers of veterans-(few actually applied) became eligible.

The definition of "indigency" was defined as one owning less than $500 worth of real estate or having an annual income of less than $250, was added to the law. In 1937 widows marrying veterans before 1927 became eligible. However, as of 1939, these widows had to have been born prior to 1870. Upon a veteran's death his widow automatically became eligible for his pension. During the 1920's and 1930's it was common for legislators to add names of individuals to the pension rolls without regard to their qualifications. In such cases there may or may not be a pension file created.

From 1891 until 1915 the annual pension payment was $25.00. After 1915 the amount was raised to $100.00. However, due to inadequate funding pensioners often received less than the mandated amount.

Applications for pensions were submitted to the local board each year on July 1. Payment in the form of State Treasury Warrants were mailed out once a year after September 1. The warrants were sent to the local pension board and by them distributed to the pensioner.

A typical pension file contains an application form, a doctor's certificate of disability, and sworn statements of two "comrades in arms". After 1927 widows submitted additional biographical information such as discharges, paroles, letters or other family documents. Inmates of the Arkansas Confederate Home were eligible for any pensions.

Source of this information is:

Ingmire, Frances ARKANSAS CONFEDERATE VETERANS AND WIDOWS PENSION APPLICATIONS, 1985, St Louis, Mo. by Frances Ingmire Publications