Civil War Pension File for William J. Gay, Randolph, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/randolph/military/civilwar/gaywillj.txt ============================================= USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file is copyrighted and contributed by: Candace Gravelle ============================================= August 2003 Civil War pension file of William J. GAY and his widow Mary J. FINCHER GAY. William J. GAY served as a Private in Company K, 34th Georgia Infantry Regiment. He moved to Randolph County, Alabama, by 1899. -------------------- July 8, 1903 State of Alabama, Randolph County Application for the Relief of Confederate Soldiers and Sailors To the Honorable Board of Pension Examiners in said County and State Your Petitioner, W. J. Gay respectfully represents to your Honorable Board that he is a resident of Randolph County in the State of Alabama and that he resided in the said State on the first day of January 1899; that he enlisted in the service of the Confederate States as a private in Company K of the 34th Georgia Regiment in May 1862 at Salem Church in the State of Georgia, and was honorably dischrged from such serice on the day of Johnson's Surrender 1865.  That he did not desert the services of the Confederate States or the State of Alabama. That he is now unable to make a living by manual labor on account of old age and Rheumatism; that he is at the time of filing this application 76 years of age, and that his post office address is Omaha, Randolph County, Alabama; that he does not own property valued at over $400; that his annual income does not exceed $400. nd that he has no children upon whom he can depend on for support.   W.J. Gay,   Applicant. Wedowee, Alabama  [undated] Regarding W.J. Gay.  On oral examination we find this applicants family consists of himself and wife who is in decrepit old age.  On physical examination we find that from the effects of rheumatism and declining years he is incapacitated for manual labor. Both his eyesight and hearing are quite defective.  For these causes we recommend that he be granted a pension and be placed in the Fourth Class.  T.J. East, Joseph R. Hood, Pension Board for Randolph County, Ala. State of Alabama, County of Randolph Personally appeared,    W.J. Gay (before Joseph R. Hood, Pension Examiner) who after being duly sworn, deposes and says that the statements made in said application are true and correct.   W.J. Gay Sworn to and subcribed before me this 8th day of July 1903.  Joseph R. Hood, Pension Examiner for Randolph County, Alabama. July 8, 1903 State of Alabama, County of Randolph Schedule of Property filed with Application for Pension Real Estate - - - 127 acres of land in Randolph County, Alabama   $200. Description of Improvements Thereon:  Log Dwelling and two small tenant houses. Log Barn and two stalls delapidated and old. 2 Horses and Mules  $50. 2 cattle of all kinds  $20. 6 Hogs, Sheep and Goats  $5. 1 pistol, gun  $1. 1 watch, clock or jewelry $2. 1 bicycle or vehicle $25. 1 Mechanical and farming tools or implements $1. W. J. Gay after being duly sworn, deposes and says that the foregoing schedule embraces all the property owned by himself and his wife and the the valuation is fixed as a fair and just value thereof.  W.J. Gay January 4, 1908 State of Alabama, Randolph County Your Petitioner,  W.J. Gay, respectfully respresents to your Honorable Pension Board that he is a citizen of Randolph County in the State of Alabama, and was such on the first day of January 1899, that he is over the age of 80 years, that he was 80 years old on the 30th day of September 1907 and desires to be placed on the Rolls as First Class now.  Last Warrant was number 23572.   This January 4, 1908, Respectfully, W.J. Gay January 4, 1908 State of Alabama, Randolph County I,   John Shelnutt, do solemnly swear tht I am personally acquainted with W.J. Gay whose name is signed to the foregoing application and that I know of my own personal knowledge that from the record of the family that he is over 80 years old.   John Shelnutt.    Witness:  T.J. Camp, NP and JP July 13, 1908 Pension Application of Widow of Deceased Soldier or Sailor of the Army of the Confederate States of America State of Alabama, Randolph County To the Honorable Board of Pension Examiners of said County and State Your Petitioner,   Mrs. Mary J. Gay, respectfully represents to your Honorable Board that she is a citizen of Randolph County in the State of Alabama and was such on the first day of January 1899; that she is the widow of  W. J. Gay, who served as a Private in Company K of the ??? Volunteers;  That her husband died on the 10th day of May 1908; that at the time of the death of her said husband, his name was on the State Pension Roll as now existing and numbered 23572, the number of his pension check;  That she has not remarried since the death of her said husband.  She therefore respectfully asks your Honorable Board to place her name on the pension rolls of the State as a member of the Fourth Class, that she may participate in the division of the fund provided for the relief of the needy confederate soldiers and sailors and their widows, by an Act of the General Assembly of Alabama approved on February 10, 1899.    Respectfully,    Mrs. Marh J. Gay   (X  her mark) July 13, 1908 State of Alabama, County of Randolph Affadavit for Witnesses for Application of Widows I,  J.W. Fincher, do solemnly swear that I am personally acquainted with Mrs. Mary J. Gay whose name is signed to the foregoing application, and that I know of my own knowledge that she is the widow of  W.J. Gay, and that she has not remarried since the death of her husband.    J.W. Fincher July 13, 1908 State of Alabama, County of Randolph Affadavit for Witnesses for Application of Widows I,  W.L. Gay, do solemnly swear that I am personally acquainted with Mrs. Mary J. Gay, whose name is signed to the foregoing application, and that I know of my own knowledge that she is the widow of  W.J. Gay and that she has not remarried since the death of her said husband.    W.L. Gay Sworn to before Joseph R. Hood, a Pensioner Examiner in and for said county and state, this 13th day of July 1908.    Joseph R. Hood. July 13, 1908 State of Alabama, County of Randolph Schedule of Property filed with application for pension by Mrs. Mary J. Gay Real Estate 1 Horse or Mule  $40. 1 pistol or gun  $3. 1 watch, clock or jewelry $3. 1 household and kitchen furniture $15. 1 Mechanical or farming tools or implements $4. Mrs. Mary J. Gay after being duly sworn, deposes and says that the foregoing schedule embraces all of the property owned by herself and that the valuation as fixed is a fair and just value thereof.   Mrs. Mary J. Gay  (X, her mark) May 8, 1915 State of Alabama, County of Randolph Mrs. M. J. Gay, personally appeared (before L.E. Harris, a Justice of the Peace) who after being duly sworn, deposes and says:  That she is a resident of Randolph County in the State of Alabama; that her post office address being Roanoke, Alabama;  that she is the widow of William J. Gay who served in the Confederate army as a Private;  that she was born at or near Mountville in the County of Troup, State of Georgia on the 14th day of May 1838, being 76 years of age at the time of making this affadavit;  that she is now on the pension rolls of Randolph County.      Mrs. J.J. Gay  (X, her mark). Sworn to and subcribed this 8th day of May 1915,  before L.E. Harris, a Justice of Peace. Undated deposition in the file of widow's application for pension: Regarding Mrs. Mary J. Gay.    On oral examination this lady states that she has no family and lives with one of her sisters.  On physical examination we find her to be a very feeble and elderly lady with partial ankylosis of left knee. She walks with difficulty and an unsteady gait.  We recommend that she be granted a pension 4th Class. T.J. East,  Joseph R. Hood, Pension Board for Randolph Co, Ala.