United States Statutes at Large/Volume 5/26th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 39
Chap. XXXIX.—An Act making provision for the payment of pensions to the executors or administrators of deceased pensioners in certain cases.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,In case of a pensioner leaving children, but no widow. That in case any male pensioner shall die, leaving children, but no widow, the amount of pension due to such pensioner at the time of his death shall be paid to the executor or administrator on the estate of such pensioner, for the sole and exclusive benefit of the children, to be by him distributed among them in equal shares, and the same shall not be considered as a part of the assets of said estate, nor liable to be applied to the payment of the debts of said estate in any case whatever.
In case of a pensioner who is a widow leaving children.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That in case any pensioner who is a widow shall die, leaving children, the amount of pension due at the time of her death shall be paid to the executor or administrator for the benefit of her children, as directed in the foregoing section.
In case of any pensioner leaving children.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That in case of the death of any pensioner, whether male or female, leaving children, the amount of pension may be paid to any one or each of them, as they may prefer, without the intervention of an administrator.
Approved, June 12, 1840.