Finding a War of 1812 soldier -- Preserving the pensions. What is a pension ; Genealogical value of military pensions ; The War of 1812 Preserve the Pensions project -- Original NARA record sources not online. Compiled military service records ; Bounty-land warrant application files ; Regular Army records ; Navy records ; Prisoner of war records -- Other record resources. Lineage societies ; State records ; National parks and battlegrounds -- The more you know -- Online resources -- Research checklist for militiamen