CIVIL WAR WIDOW'S PENSION APP. - STELLA (HALL) AVERA, WIDOW OF ALEXANDER AVERA, Alachua Co., FL File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Janet Steadham, (steaddanjan@earthlink.net) ******************************************************************************* USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or publication by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ******************************************************************************* CONTRIBUTOR'S NOTE: I have no relationship to anyone mentioned in the below file. ******************************************************************************* Widow's Pension Application To Be Signed by Widow (FORM A) I, Mrs. Stella Avera, do hereby make application to the State Board of Pensions for a pension, to be granted to me under the act of 1907, Chapter 5600 of the Laws of Florida, on the following grounds: I am the widow of Alex Avera, deceased who departed this life on the 10th day of January, A. D. 1909, in the County of Alachua in the State of Florida. I was married to him on the 17th day of July, A. D. 1894, in the county of Lake, in the State of Florida. I have not remarried since the death of my said husband Alex Avera. My husband, the said Alex Avera enlisted and served in the military service in the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States, and he did not desert the Confederate or State service. I have been a resident of the State of Florida for ten consecutive years prior to the date of this application, and that I am not receiving a pension from any other State. Stella Avera, Applicant Gainesville, Fla. Post Office State of Florida,} County of Alachua} Before me, S. H. Wienges Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County and State, personally came Mrs. Stella Avera who, being by me duly sworn, deposes and says that she is the applicant named in the foregoing petition, and that the statements therein made are true. Stella Avera Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23 day of January, A. D. 1909. S. H. Wienges Clerk Circuit Court Questions To Be Answered by Applicant (FORM B) State of Florida,} Alachua County} On this 23 day of January, A. D. 1909 before me S. H. Wienges, Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County and State, personally came Mrs. Stella Avera, who being by me first duly sworn, deposes and says that the answers written herein to the following questions numbered from 1 to 12, inclusive, are true: 1. What is your name, and where and when were you born? Stella Avery [sic] April 10th 1870 Fairfield County South Carolina 2. Are you the widow of Alex Avery? [sic] Yes 3. When and where were you married to Alex Avery [sic] 17th day of July 1894 4. When and where did he die? 10th January 1909 in Gainesville Florida 5. Have you remarried since the death of your husband? No 6. When and in what company or organization did your husband enlist during the war between the States? see proof on application of Pensioner No. 5032 7. Did he desert that service? No see No. 5032 8. Of what State and county are you a resident? Florida Alachua County 9. How long have you resided in this State? ever since 1883 10. From what date have you continuously resided in this State? ever since 1883 11. Have you lived in any other State than Florida? Yes 12. If you answer yes, give name of the State or States and when you resided there. in South Carolina from birth until December 1883 Stella Avera, Applicant Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 23 day of January, A. D. 1909. S. H. Wienges Clerk Circuit Court Questions for Witnesses (FORM C) State of Florida,} County of Alachua} Before me S. H. Wienges, Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said county and State, personally came J. T. Hall and ____ who appeared as witnesses in support of the application of Mrs. Stella Avera for an annuity under the laws of the State of Florida providing for annuities for widows of deceased Confederate soldiers and sailors of the State of Florida, and said witnesses, after being duly sworn true answers to make to the following questions, each for himself deposes and says: 1. What is your name and where do your reside? John T. Hall Gainesville, W. D. Dickinson, Gainesville, Florida 2. How long have you known the applicant? Hall all her life. Dickinson since 1894 3. Where does she reside and how long has she been a resident of this State? in Gainesville ever since 1883 4. Were you acquainted with her husband? Yes 5. Where and to whom was she married? Alex Avera 6. Is he dead? If so, when and where did he die? Yes Jany. 10th 1909 in Gainesville Florida 7. Was he a soldier or sailor in the State of Confederate service during the war between the States? see proof on application of Pensioner No. 5032 8. When did he enlist, and in what organization? same as No. 7 9. When was he discharged, and for what cause? see Pensioner No. 5032 10. Where and in what campaigns did he perform regular military duty? same as No. 7 11. Were either or both of you members of the same Company or Regiment with him? No 12. Did he desert the Confederate or State service? same as No. 7 13. Were either of you with the command when it surrendered? No 14. Was Alex Avera, the husband of the applicant, present when the command surrendered? same reference as No. 7 15. If not, where was he? No. 5032 16. When did he leave his command? No. 5032 17. Have you any personal or financial interest in the granting of this annuity to the applicant? No John T. Hall W. D. Dickinson Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23d day of January, A. D. 1909. S. H. Wienges Clerk Circuit Court (FORM D) State of Florida,} County of Alachua} I, S. H. Wienges, Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County and State, do hereby certify that the witnesses named in the foregoing affidavit are reliable and trustworthy persons, and their statements are entitled to full faith and credit. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Circuit Court this 23 day of January, A. D. 1909. S. H. Wienges Clerk Circuit Court (FORM E) We, the undersigned members of the Board of County Commissioners in and for Alachua County, Florida, do hereby certify that at a meeting of the said Board of County Commissioners, held on the third day of Feb., A. D. 1909, the foregoing application for annuity on behalf of Mrs. Stella Avera was presented to the said Board and the same was thereupon duly investigated. We do further certify that in our opinion the said application is just, and should be granted. J. G. Dampier, Chairman J. T. Townsend C. W. Summers J. W. May O. P. Connors County Commissioners By the County Commissioners-Attest: S. H. Wienges Clerk Circuit Court ******************************************************************************* S. H. Wienges Clerk Circuit Court, Recorder and County Auditor Alachua County Gainesville, Fla., Feby 4th 1909 Hon. A. C. Croom Tallahassee, Fla. Dear Sir I herein inclose [sic] application of Mrs. Stella Avera the widow of an old friend of mine and I write this in support of her application and ask if possible that she be placed on the list to draw from end of last quarter. She is a very feeble and sickly person and from all appearances cannot long survive her husband. She is a consumptive and need all the assistance that can possibly be rendered. This is one of the few cases I have taken any interest in and trust that the request can be granted. With kind regards & best wishes Yours very truly S. H. Wienges ******************************************************************************* Claim For Pension By Mrs. Stella Avera of Alachua Widow of Alex Avera Filed In Pension Department Feby 5-09 Approved Feby 5th 1909 With pay from Jan 10 1909 At the rate of $120 per annum Jefferson Bell Secretary of Board ******************************************************************************* Widow's Pension Claim Under The Act Of 1909 (FORM A) State of Florida,} County of Alachua} On this 28th day of July A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and 9, personally appeared before me, a Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for the County and State aforesaid Mrs. Stella Avera a resident of Gainesville County of Alachua State of Florida, who being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain a pension under the provisions of Chapter 5885, Laws of Florida, approved June 7, 1909. That she is the widow of Alex Avera who was enlisted under the name of Alex Avera, on the ____ day of see application 5032, 186_, in Company ____ Regiment of the State of see 5032 and who was honorably discharged at see 5032. That she was lawfully married to the said Alex Avera under the name of Stella Hall in the County of Lake, State of Florida on the 17 day of July, 1894, and that she was not divorced from him and that she has not remarried since his death which occurred on the 10 day of January, 1909, in the County of Alachua State of Florida. That she is a resident of ____ County, Florida, and has continuously resided in the State of Florida since the 19 day of December 1883. That she does not own property, including real estate, personal property, mortgages or other collateral securities, stocks or bonds in this or any other State to exceed in value the sum of Five Thousand Dollars. That the following is a true and correct statement of all property owned by me in this or any other State: Real estate, located at house and lot in ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 600.00 3 2/4 acres of land & Lots 1, 2, & 3 - Millers plat of Clinch Grant. . $ 300.00 Personal property household & kitchen furniture. . . . . . . . . . . . $ 100.00 Cattle, horses and other live stock 3 head of cattle . . . . . . . . . $ 30.00 Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1030.00 That she has heretofore been granted a pension from the State of Florida under Certificate No 5032. That she is not a pensioner of any other State. That her Postoffice address is Gainesville, County of Alachua, State of Florida. Stella Avera Attest: (1) Annie Wimberly (2) Mrs. R. L. Lang Sworn and subscribed before me this 28 day of July A. D. 1909; and I hereby certify that the above declaration, etc., were fully made known and explained to the applicant before swearing; and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. S. H. Wienges Clerk Circuit Court (FORM B) State of Florida,} County of Alachua} We, the undersigned citizens of Alachua County, State of Florida, do hereby certify that we personally know Mrs. Stella Avera, who is an applicant for a pension under the Laws of Florida, and that from our own personal knowledge, and from the best information available, we believe that the applicant does not own property to exceed in value the sum of $5,000, and that the statements made by her relative to the value of her property are true and correct. Mrs. R. L. Lang J. T. Hall Sworn and subscribed before me this 28 day of July 1909. S. H. Wienges Clerk Circuit Court ******************************************************************************* Report of County Commissioners We, the undersigned, County Commissioners in and for the County of Alachua, Florida, do hereby report that at a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held this day, the foregoing application of Stella Avera for a pension under the Laws of Florida, was investigated by us; that we are satisfied that the applicant does not own property to exceed the value of $5,000, and that the representations made in the petition and affidavits are true and that a pension should be granted to the applicant. Witness our hands this 4 day of Aug., A. D. 1909. (1) J. G. Dampier, Chairman (2) O. P. Connors (3) C. W. Summers (4) J. F. Townsend (5) J. W. May County Commissioners By the County Commissioners. Attest: S. H. Wienges Clerk Circuit Court ******************************************************************************* Claim For Pension By Stella Avera Of Gainesville Postoffice Alachua County Widow of Alex Avera Of See 5032 7th Fla. Regiment Filed In Pension Department Aug 11 1909 Approved Sep 9 1909 With pay from Jul 1 1909 At the rate of $120 per annum Secretary of Board