Southern Claims Commission Records | St. Louis County Library

American Civil War

Background

Between 3 March 1871 and 3 March 1873, Southerners filed 22,298 claims before the Southern Claims Commission (SCC) based on the fact they

were loyal to the Union during the Civil War
had quartermaster stores or supplies taken by or furnished to the Union Army during the rebellion (Later, materials supplied to or taken by the U.S. Navy were also included.)

Southern Loyalists made 22,298 claims for property losses totaling $60,258,150.44. However, only 7,092 claims (32%) were approved for settlements totaling $4,636,920.69. Claimants had to prove their loyalty and loss through the testimony of others. The paper trail created by the claimants and the people who came forward to testify, for or against, included relatives, neighbors, friends, former slaves, and free people of color. Their testimony provides a wealth of information about individuals living in the South during the Civil War.

States Affected

Mention in this guide is made to Ancestry and Fold3 subscription databases in relation to Southern Claims Commission indexes and document images they make available. Ancestry refers to either Ancestry.com (for individuals) or Ancestry Library Edition (for institutions), and Fold3 refers to Fold3.com. Ancestry Library Edition and Fold3 can be used for free in the History and Genealogy Department and at any St. Louis County Library branch. Fold3 is also available remotely with a valid library card (some restrictions apply).

Southern Loyalists in the Civil War, by Gary B. Mills, R 973.745 M657S and circulating copy; also available on Ancestry

Lists all claimants in alphabetical order; further tells state and county, commission (claim) number, office and report numbers (needed to find disallowed claims), year, and status of claim. This is considered the definitive index for Southern Claims.

Civil War Claims in the South: An Index of Civil War Damage Claims Filed Before the Southern Claims Commission, 1871–1880, by Gary B. Mills, R 973.717 M657C

Lists claims by states, then alphabetically by name of claimant and includes the county and claim number. Use Southern Loyalists or Consolidated Index for the additional information needed to pursue a claim.

Consolidated Index of Claims Reported by the Commissioner of Claims to the House of Representatives from 1871 to 1880, compiled under supervision of J. B. Holloway R 929.3 U58C

Lists all claimants in alphabetical order; further tells state, commission (claim) number, office and report numbers (needed to find disallowed claims), year, amount claimed, amount allowed, amount disallowed, status, and nature of claim (animals, crops, lumber, etc.)

This index is available on the following National Archives microfilm publications:

P2257, Part 1, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives: Southern Claims Commission, 1871–1880 [Best copy]
M87 – roll 14, Records of the Commissioners of Claims (Southern Claims Commission, 1871–1880)
M1407, first four fiche, Barred and Disallowed Case Files of the Southern Claims Commission, 1871–1880.

A Descriptive Pamphlet (DP) tells about the records on a particular film/fiche set. It also includes an individual fiche list or roll-by-roll list which can determine the fiche or roll of film needed for a specific claim. The following links lead to complete copies of the DP for each listed film/fiche set (in PDF format) on the History and Genealogy Web site:

The Southern Claims Commission (SCC) film/fiche listed below are part of the Julius K. Hunter & Friends African American Research Collection in the History and Genealogy Department. Records that are also available on Ancestry and Fold3 subscription databases are noted accordingly.

Barred and Disallowed Case Files of the Southern Claims Commission, 1871–1880, M1407 [fiche, Ancestry, and Fold3]
Records of the Commissioners of Claims (Southern Claims Commission, 1871–1880), M87 [Familysearch]
Records of the U.S. House of Representatives: Southern Claims Commission, 1871–1880 (part two includes summary reports of the Commissioners of Claims in all cases reported to Congress as disallowed under the Act of March 3, 1871 – 4 vols.) P2257 [film]
Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims, 1871–1880: Alabama, M2062 [Familysearch, Ancestry, and Fold3]
Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims, 1871–1880: Georgia, M1658 [fiche, Ancestry, and Fold3]
Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims, 1871–1880: Virginia, M2094 [Familysearch, Ancestry, and Fold3]
Southern Claims Commission Approved Claims, 1871–1880: West Virginia, M1762 [film, Ancestry, and Fold3]
U.S. Court of Claims Docket Cards for Congressional Case Files, ca. 1884–1943, M2007 [film]
U.S. Court of Claims Docket Cards for Congressional Case Files, ca. 1884–1943

There were three versions of the questions to be asked of claimants and witnesses:

PART 1

Contents	Beg. Frame
Consolidated Index of Claims	0

PART 2

Volume	Contents	Beg. Frame
1	Summary Reports	137
	1st Report (1871) PDF version on another site	145
	2nd Report (1872) PDF version on another site	166
	3^rd Report (1873)	249
	4^th Report (1874)	345
2	Summary Reports	439
	5^th Report (1875)	443
	6^th Report (1876)	505
3	Summary Reports	573
	7^th Report (1877)	578
	8^th Report (1878)	659
4	Summary Reports	730
	9^th Report (1879)	733
	10^th Report (1880)	855

APPENDIX

Volume	Contents	Beg. Frame
SCHEDULE OF CLAIMS	Reported As Disallowed & Barred for Non-prosecution	884