The above transcribed from the tax book at the Montgomery County Courthouse, Mount Ida, Arkansas.

The Southern Claims Commission

An Act of Congress, as a result of pleas from citizens who had sustained losses during the Civil War, approved March 3, 1871, provided that the President nominate 3 commissioners of claims to receive, examine, and consider the claims of "those citizens who remained loyal adherents to the cause and the government of the United States during the Civil War, for stores and supplies taken or furnished during the rebellion for the use of the army of the United States in states proclaimed as in insurrection against the United States". The commissioners were to satisfy themselves of the loyalty of each claimant; certify the amount, nature, and value of the property taken or furnished; report their judgement on each claim in writing to the House of Representatives at the beginning of each session of Congress; hold their sessions in Washington; and keep a journal of their proceedings and a register of all claims brought before them. The Act provided further that of the claims within its provisions only those presented to the commissioners could be prosecuted, and that all others were to be barred. The commission addressed claims (for personal property only) from residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. The claim files include interesting detail about people and about the Civil War period. Each claimant was required to describe his losses in detail, and to prove his loyalty to the Union. Witnesses gave testimony in support of his allegations. The paperwork in the files is often extensive. All of the Southern Claims Commission files are located at the National Archives, but the disallowed and barred claim files have been microfilmed and are also available at the State Library and at Footnotes.  Allowed claim files are available only by consulting the National Archives. Claims were either allowed, disallowed, or barred. The Commissioners disallowed $55 million in claims. They authorized $4,636,229.75 in claims. 

ALLOWED. The U.S. paid the claim, and the only records that survive are the name of the claimant, place of residence, what the claim was for, and the amount paid.

BARRED. Claim was either filed too late or the commissioners ruled the claimant a Confederate supporter. In this case, only the name, place, and description of loss are given. Check these anyway, as there are exceptions.

DISALLOWED 1872, 1871. Claim was not paid, but for reasons other than late filing or the fact that the claimant was a Confederate supporter. A disallowed claim usually gives the most information for the genealogist and/or historical researcher.

This index lists Montgomery County, Arkansas men who filed claims with the Southern Claims Commission before the Commissioners of Claims from 1871 to 1873. These men claimed their property had been taken by United States military personnel for use in the Civil War. Questions Archives. [All four were living in Mountain Twp in 1872] 

Southern Claims Commission
State: Arkansas
County: Montgomery

Claimant: Eli Bledsoe
Claim Number: 22291 Claim
Date: 03 Mar 1873
19 pages

Claimant: Hugh Calhoun
Claim Number: 14986
Claim Date: 07 Jul 1872
Roll Number: 034
83 pages

Claimant: Alexander Mays
Claim Number: 16393
Claim Date: 14 Sep 1872
34 pages

Claimant: William Williamson 
Claim Number: 16290
Claim Date: 30 Aug 1872
33 pages
[1880 census shows he was suffering from consumption]

Montgomery County ArkansasGenWeb Project
Montgomery Co. Genealogical Resources