idows applying for benefits under various pension laws were required to provide proof of marriage in order to determine their eligibility for benefits and the rate at which they were to be paid. Many of the widows were unable to provide official documents or family records. Furthermore some widows could not provide an exact date, place, or name of an official who performed the ceremony. However many were able to obtain affidavits of witnesses, relatives and neighbors who could testify that the widow and veteran were legally married or consider so within their community.