Subseries 1 - Soldiers' Benefit Fund Committee

Subseries consists of records pertaining to the Soldiers’ Benefit Fund Committee, which was created by Hamilton City Council during the First World War to administer the fund and provide assistance to the dependents of soldiers killed overseas. The committee consisted of the mayor and the treasurer along with five citizens of Hamilton, who met monthly at City Hall to review the applications made by or on behalf of dependents. Claimants would apply to the fund and their applications would be thoroughly investigated by an officer of the committee, and then reviewed further at the meetings by all the members, to determine whether the application would be approved or denied. The subseries consists of the meeting minute book for the committee, which records the bylaws, polices, reports, examinations of individual claims, as well as the decisions to approve or deny the claims. The examinations determined whether or not the individual had other forms of insurance, was truly dependent on the soldier who had died, and if approved, what amount the person would be entitled to receive. Most of the claimants were granted payments, which were payable on the third day of each month in the amount of either $15.00 in the case of unmarried soldiers, or $20.00 if the soldier was married. Some individuals received other sums depending on the results of the review of their circumstances and the money available. The records indicate that some individual claims were denied if the person was unable to prove true dependency, or relation to the soldier. The subseries also includes a few accounts payable volumes that alphabetically record the names of the dependents of soldiers (most of whom are female), and in the case of the large ledger, the page number that corresponds to the specific account page that lists the details of payments. There are also a few other insurance account books.