Pasco County FlArchives Military Records.....VALENTINE, Henry Thomas 1931 Civilwar - Pension South Carolina ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jimmy R. Polk http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00022.html#0005485 April 19, 2008, 8:35 am FLORIDA CONFEDERATE PENSION APPLICATION FILES PENSION APPLICATION A10574: Surname: VALENTINE Given Names: Henry Thomas Service Unit: South Carolina Reference: Wife’s Name: Hulda Smith Application County & Year: Pasco Co 1931 Page 001 A10574 Page 002 Received 1949 Mar 2 AM 10:05 Comptroller’s Office State of Florida HMC WIDOW’S PENSION CLAIM Under General Pension Law Of Florida Form A. State of Florida} County of Pasco} On this 7th day of September, A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and forty-eight, personally appeared before me a ……………….. in and for the County and State aforesaid Hulda Rowena Valentine a resident of Trilby, County of Pasco, State of Florida, who being duly sworn according to law, makes the following declaration in order to obtain a pension under the provisions of the General Pension Laws of Florida. That she is the lawful widow of Henry Thomas Valentine who enlisted under the name of Henry Thomas Valentine on the ……day of ……., 186…, in Company………….. Regiment of the State of …………as a member of a squad of the home guards in Orangeburg Dist. S.C. and served as a home guard for a period of about 8 months during the war and who was honorably discharged at ………………………, 186….., on account of …………………………………………………………………………………………. (Here give complete statement of other service, if any.) That he also served…….For proof of war service refer to Application No. 8901, Henry Thomas Valentine, Special Act of the Legislature of 1931. (State here if husband drew a pension, and when.) ……………………………………………………………………………………………… That she was lawfully married to the said Henry Thomas Valentine under the name of Hulda Rowena Smith in the County of Hernando State of Florida on the 27th day of March, 1898, and that she was not divorced from him before nor has she remarried since his death, which occurred on the 13th day of July, 1947, in the County of Pasco, State of Florida, except as hereinafter stated. ……………………………………………………………………………………………… That she is a resident of Pasco County, Florida, and has continuously resided in the State of Florida since the 15th day of February, 1874. Page 003 That she was heretofore granted a pension from the State of Florida under Certificate No. ……… That she is not a pensioner of any other State. That her Postoffice address is Trilby, County of Pasco, State of Florida. Hulda Rowena Valentine (Signature of Claimant.) Attest: (1) L. L. Tucker (2) Margaret H. Geiger Sworn and subscribed before me this 7th day of September, A. D. 1948. I hereby certify that the above declaration, etc., was made known and fully explained to the applicant before swearing, and that I have no interest, direct or indirect, in the prosecution of this claim. ………………………………………. ………………………………………. (a) State of Florida County of Hernando I, E. S. MacKenzie, County Judge, of Hernando County, Florida hereby certify that the records in this office show that a marriage license was issued to Henry T. Valentine and Roena H. Smith on the 26th day of March, A. D. 1898. The records further show that the above named parties were married on the 27th day of March, A. D. 1898, and that the ceremony was performed by G. V. Ramsey, County Judge Hernando County, Florida. E. S. MacKenzie County Judge (Seal) (b) State of Florida County of ………….. Before me, a …………………, in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared …………………… and ………………………., who, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says each for himself that he was present at the marriage of Hulda Rowen Smith and Henry Thomas Valentine which occurred at four miles East of Brooksville, Florida, on the 27th day of March, 1898 in the County of Hernando, State of Florida, and that the ceremony was performed by Judge Ramsey, County Judge of Hernando County. ……………………………..(L.S.) ……………………………..(L.S.) Sworn and subscribed before me this …….day of September, A. D. 1948. …………………………………….. …………………………………….. (Seal) Page 004 (c) State of Florida County of Pasco Before me, a Notary Public, in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Ardelle Anderson and J. D. Geiger who, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says, each for himself, that he knows of his own personal knowledge of the death of Henry T. Valentine which occurred at ………………, County of Pasco, State of Florida on the 13 day of July, A. D. 1947. Ardelle Anderson (L.S.) J. D. Geiger (L.S.) Sworn and subscribed before me this 30 day of Sept., A. D. 48. A. J. Burnside Clerk Circuit Court (Seal) REPORT OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS We, the undersigned, County Commissioners in and for the County of Pasco, Florida, do hereby report that at a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held this day, the foregoing application of Hulda Rowen Valentine for a pension under the Laws of Florida, was investigated by us; that we are satisfied that the applicant has been a bona fide citizen of the State of Florida for eight years just preceding the date of this application, and that the representations made in the petition and affidavits are true, and that a pension should be granted the applicant. Witness our hands this 7th 30 day of September, A. D. 1948. (1) O. H. Schnider (2) D. S. Bishop (3) Otis A. Allen (4) ………………….. (5) W. J. Baillie County Commissioners By the County Commissioners. Attest: A. J. Burnside Clerk Circuit Court Note – All Blanks must be filled out. All information required must be fully and accurately given. Applicant may use either form (a) or (b) for proof of marriage, or she may attach certified copy of marriage certificate. Applicant may attach certified copy of official record of husband’s death in lieu of form (c) if preferred. Where the applicant for pension has remarried since the death of the soldier husband, upon whose service she is applying for a pension, she must establish the fact that she has again become a widow in the same manner as prescribed in above paragraph, or, if divorced, she should forward certified copy of decree granting a divorce annulling such marriage. APPLICANT MUST GIVE PERMANENT ADDRESS Page 005 Received 1949 Mar –2 AM 10:05 Comptroller’s Office State of Florida HMC These Blanks to be filled in by Pension Board Claim No. ……………. Name…………………. Property………………. Co. Com……………… Res…………………… PROOF OF WAR SERVICE Witnesses………………….. …………………………….. …………………………….. Company…………………… Regiment…………………… Enlisted……………………. ……………………………... W. D. RECORD Company…………………… Regiment…………………… Enlisted…………………….. ……………………………… REMARKS ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… ……………………………… Former Claim No. ………….. Application No. 24307 Pensioner No. 10574 CLAIM FOR PENSION By Hulda Rowena Valentine Of Trilby Postoffice Pasco County WIDOW OF Henry Thomas Valentine Of ………………………Company ………………………Regiment FILED IN PENSION DEPARTMENT March 2nd, 1949 Special Act APPROVED AND FILED IN COMP- TROLLER’S OFFICE April 2, 1949 Will pay from March 2, 1949 At the rate of $120.00 per annum Roumelle Bowen Secretary of Board ……………………………… Artcraft Printers, Tallahassee, Florida Page 006 ALICE V GRINER, DESIGNATED,06/01/67,1-103-8400,136543,0940617 96.80 AGENT & BENEFICIARY OF MRS HULDA ROWENA VALENTINE, CONFEDERATE PENSIONER, DECEASED 1 96.80 Page 007 C-660 STATE OF FLORIDA COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE 136543 TALLAHASSEE May 31, 1967 Jun 1 1967 Inv. Or Object War. Emp. No. Payee Code Amount Amount No. Alice V. Griner, designated Agent & Beneficiary of Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine, Confederate Pensioner, Deceased 4200 $96.80 $96.80 Pensioner died May 20, 1967 See certificate attached Subject to payment of 20 days @ 4.84 per day, based on total allowable of $150.00 per month 4200 $96.80 $96.80 PAYABLE FROM: CODE No: Confederate Pensions-Benefits ACCOUNT: GR 1-10-103-0400 APPROVED: CHARLES V. PAGE, JR Charles V. Page Jr., Secretary State Board of Pensions Page 008 June 5, 1967 Mrs. Alice V. Griner Trilby, Florida Re: Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine Confederate Pensioner #10574 Deceased Dear Mrs. Griner: Enclosed you will find, state warrant #940617 dated June 1st, 1967, in the amount of $96.80, payable to your account as designated agent and beneficiary to receive all amounts accruing from the last check of the above captioned Confederate Pensioner. The above amount was prorated for 20 days in the month of May, 1967, the period of time that Mrs. Valentine survived that month, and pays in full the last amount due in this case. We were sorry to learn of the passing of Mrs. Valentine and extent (sic) to you and her family our sincere sympathy in your loss. Very truly yours, FRED O. DICKINSON, JR., COMPTROLLER By_____________________________________ Charles V. Page, Jr., Secretary State Board of Pensions CVP/ mfs check enclosed Page 009 This page contains a photocopy of an envelope addressed to Mr. Fred O. Dickinson, Jr., Comptroller, Capital, Tallahassee, Florida 32304, with a return address of Mrs. Alice V. Griner, P. O. Box 595, Trilby, Fla. 33593, postmarked Trilby, FL. Jun 2 A.M. 1967 33593. Page 010 Deceased Trilby, Fla. June 2 – 67 Mr. Fred O. Dickinson, Jr., Comptroller Capital, Tallahassee, Fla. Dear Mr. Dickinson, Am enclosing death certificate of my mother as requested; would you please advise if I as beneficiary will continue to receive her pension each month untill (sic) all monies are used. As stated in papers that she received and signed to that effect about 4 or 5 years ago. Please let me hear from you as soon as possible as I have taken care of mother for more than 18 yrs. And am receiving a small widow’s pension and unable to work. Respt yours 04-61 Mrs. Alice V. Griner Page 011 This page consists of a certified copy of a Florida Certificate of Death, Pasco County Health Department, Post Office Box 1046, Dade City, Florida, showing the death of Hulda Rowena Valentine on May 20, 1967; date of birth shown as Feb. 15, 1874. Father: William Hopp Smith; Mother Mary Seals. Certificate is signed by W. H. Walters, M.D., Lacoochee, Fla. on 5-21-67. Page 012 May 31, 1967 Mrs. Alice V. Griner P. O. Box 595 Trilby, Florida Dear Mrs. Griner: Re: Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine Confederate Pensioner #10574 This will acknowledge your letter of May 30th, advising the passing of your Mother and I wish to extend to you and her family and friends our sincere sympathy in your loss. The law provides that a death certificate must be filed with the Confederate Pension Department or in lieu thereof of a certificate executed by the attending physician in the pensioner’s last illness will be accepted. Two copies are enclosed to be completed by the attending physician and must be returned to this office, in duplicate. The law also states that the pensioner’s beneficiary shall receive all monies due for the number of days of survival, therefore you as her named beneficiary will receive her pension prorated on a daily basis at the rate of $150.00 per month for a thirty-one day month. Again let me express to you and yours our sympathy in your loss. Very truly yours, FRED O. DICKINSON, JR., COMPTROLLER By: _____________________________ Charles V. Page, Jr., Secretary State Board of Pensions CVP/mfs 2 enclosures Page 013 CANCELLATIONS Month of May 31, 1967 ( ) Regular ( X) Payroll Date Restored____________________ ( ) Journal Voucher ( ) Prior Year (Do Not Restore to Appropriations) Warrant Number 0916264 to ______________ Date of Issue: May 24, 1967 Name of Payee: Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine #10574 Amount: $150.00 NAME OF ACCOUNT: OBJ Code 4200, GR 1-10-103-0400 Confederate Pension Payroll Code: _______________________ (Please list full code: as, G.R.O.- 00- 000- 0000) Check issued in amount of $150.00, for Pension for May 1967. Pensioner died May 20, 1967. Check cancelled and new one to be issued to the pensioner’s beneficiary—Mrs. Alice V. Griner. Page 014 Trilby, Fla. P. O. Box 595 May 30 – 67 Mr. Fred O. Dickinson, Jr., Comptroller Tallahassee, Fla. Dear Sir: I am enclosing check to my mother, Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine who died May 20th. Resp’t. yours, Mrs. Alice V. Griner Page 015 This page contains a photocopy of an envelope addressed to Mr. Fred O. Dickinson, Jr., Comptroller, Capital, Tallahassee, Florida 32304, with a return address of Mrs. Alice V. Griner, P. O. Box 595, Trilby, Fla. 33593, postmarked Trilby, FL. May 30 A.M. 1967 33593. Page 016 This page contains a photocopy of an envelope with After 5 Days Return To Fred O. Dickinson, Jr., Comptroller, Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida 32304, and postmarked Tallahassee, Fla., May 29’67. Page 017 State of Florida Office of Comptroller Tallahassee Ray E. Green Comptroller February 25, 19-Safety-5 Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine Trilby Florida Dear Mrs. Valentine: Reference to your Confederate Pension Records indicates that under date of July 23, 1959 you filed designation of beneficiary naming, Mrs. Alice V. Griner, the person to whom you wish any amount of your accrued pension paid in the event of your death. It has been our experience that in some instances the named beneficiary has pre-deceased the pensioner, and the courts have been required to determine beneficiary to whom any accrual due might be paid. To bring your file up to date, you will find enclosed form for your use. If you desire to leave your beneficiary designation as indicated above in the first paragraph of this letter, and the beneficiary is still alive, please advise that this is your wishes. If the beneficiary designated has died, or you wish to change the name of your beneficiary, please execute the enclosed form before a Notary Public, indicating the name of the new beneficiary, and return the form to the under-signed. Your assistance will be appreciated in bringing your record up to date. Very truly yours, RAY E. GREEN, COMPTROLLER BY: W. C. Hoffman (signature) W. C. Hoffman, Secretary State Board of Pensions WCH/vm Please leave beneficiary as stated in date of July 23, 1959. Pays Mrs. Alice V. Griner Resp’t yours, Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine Page 018 This page contains a photocopy of an envelope addressed to Ray E. Green, Comptroller, Capital, Tallahassee, Florida, with a return address of Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine, P. O. Box 595, Trilby, Florida. 33593, postmarked Trilby, Fla. Mar 2 A.M. 1965. Page 019 Ray E. Green, Comptroller State of Florida Comptroller’s Office Tallahassee Pursuant to the conditions and provisions of (Chapter 291,) Section 291.32, Florida Statutes of 1957, I hereby designate Mrs. Alice V/ Griner, (Dau.) of (Address of nominee) Trilby, P. O. Box 595, Florida, to receive from the State of Florida after my death, all amounts accruing to me as a Confederate pensioner of the State of Florida from the date of the last payment of my pension that may be made to me until the date of my death. This 23rd. day of July 1959. Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine (Signature of Pensioner). Witness: Gregg O’Berry V. G. Hilliard State of Florida County of Pasco Before me, a Notary Public, or other officer authorized to take acknowledgements, personally appeared Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine who acknowledged that she signed the foregoing instrument for the purposes therein expressed. Dated at Trilby, Florida, this 23 day of July 1959. Gregg O’Berry Justice of the Peace Third District Pasco County Florida (Title of Officer) My Commission expires ___________ (SEAL OF OFFICER) Page 020 C. M. Gay Comptroller State of Florida Comptroller’s Office Tallahassee Pursuant to the conditions and provisions of (Chapter 18045,) Section 291.32, Florida Statutes of 1953, I hereby designate Alice Griner of (Address of nominee) Trilby, Florida, to receive from the State of Florida after my death, all amounts accruing to me as a Confederate pensioner of the State of Florida from the date of the last payment of my pension that may be made to me until the date of my death. This 1st day of July 1954. Hulda Rowena Valentine (Signature of Pensioner). Witness: Cecil Lee Smith V. Alton Sheppard State of Florida County of Pasco Before me, a Notary Public, or other officer authorized to take acknowledgements, personally appeared Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine who acknowledged that she signed the foregoing instrument for the purposes therein expressed. Dated at Dade City, Florida, this 1st day of July 1954. Cecil Lee Smith Notary Public, State of Florida at Large My Commission expires (month illegible) 29, 1954 (Title of Officer) My Commission expires _________ (SEAL OF OFFICER) Page 021 State Of Florida County Of Pasco Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared Mary Pitts and Omie Roller, who, on being by me first duly sworn, each for herself deposes and says: That they, and each of them, are personally acquainted with Hulda Rowena Valentine, and that they have known her, the said Hulda Rowena Valentine, for fifty-five (55) years, and they, and each of them, know that she is the widow of Henry T. Valentine, who died in Pasco County, Florida, on July 13, 1947; and they and each of them know that she was Hulda Rowena Smith prior to her marriage to Henry T. Valentine in 1898, and that Roena H. Valentine, Hulda Rowen Valentine, Rena Valentine, Rowena Valentine and Hulda Rowena Valentine is one and the same person, and that she is the widow of Henry T. Valentine, deceased. Mary A. Pitts Omie Roller Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 10th day of October March, A. D. 1947 1949. Gregg O’Berry Notary Public, State of Florida at Large My commission expires Nov. 12, 1952 Bonded by American Surety Co. of N.Y. Page 022 March 2, 1949 Dayton, Dayton & Dayton Dade City, Florida Gentlemen: I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of March 1st, enclosing application for pension of Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine, which has been filed in the Confederate pension department for the attention of the State Board of Pensions at its next meeting. You will be advised immediately when action is taken thereon. I note that in the affidavit signed by the County Judge with reference to the marriage of Mrs. Valentine, the records show that Henry T. Valentine and Raena H. Smith were married on the 27th day of March, 1898, and the application is signed Hulda Rowena Valentine. It might be well for you to furnish an affidavit stating that Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine and Raena H. Valentine is one and the same person. With kind regards and best wishes, I am, Yours very truly C. M. GAY, COMPTROLLER By: R. G. Higgins Chief Warrant Officer RGH/H/RB Page 023 This page contains a photocopy of an envelope with: After 5 Days Return To Law Offices of Dayton, Dayton & Dayton, Dade City, Florida; addressed to Honorable C. M. Gay, Comptroller, Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida; postmarked Dade City, Fla. Mar 1 5:30 PM 1949; stamped Received 1949 Mar –2 AM 10:09 Comptroller’s Office State of Florida. Page 024 Law Offices of Dayton, Dayton & Dayton Dade City, Florida Orvil L. Dayton Orvil L. Dayton, Jr. George C. Dayton March 1, 1949 Honorable C. M. Gay, Comptroller Capitol Tallahassee, Florida Dear Sir: Mrs. Geiger has just found the application for Mrs. Rowena Valentine, which her husband had failed to send off before his death and we are enclosing the same to you for your consideration. Very truly yours, By O. L. Dayton OLDs:pb Stamped Received 1949 Mar –2 AM 10:05 Comptroller’s Office State of Florida HMC Page 025 Trilby, Fla. August 8, 1931 Hon. Ernest Amos, Tallahassee, Fla. Dear Sir:- No doubt you will recall that I spoke to you in the interest of Mr. H. T. Valentine of this place and his claim for a pension. It appears that there is much doubt just now as to whether he can furnish proof or satisfactory proof of his service to the Confederacy. Recently he submitted affidavits from old settlers here stating that they were acquainted with his father and that his father constantly referred to the fact that his son (now applicant for pension) served in the Home Guard. By some means or other the affidavit conveyed the idea that Mr. Valentine’s father was not of sound mind. This is entirely a mistake and the affidavit was not intended Page 026 to convey that idea. I recently talked to Mr. Elmore Saxon of Brooksville about Mr. Valentine’s claim and he offered to assist me in any way in getting satisfactory proof. The old gentleman is rather old as I explained to you before and is my neighbor and friend and of course is my duty to assist him if I can. Would you consider an affidavit or petition signed by persons who have known him more than forty years, stating that they believe he should have the pension? If this will do any good please advise me. It is difficult to get persons to testify to events 66 years ago. Mr. Valentine is now 81 years of age. Thanking you in advance for any assistance that you can render us, I am – Very respectfully yours, Rubrey V. Withers Page 027 Trilby, Fla. August 8, 1931 State Pension Board Tallahassee, Fla. Dear Sirs: Your letter recorded and contents noted. I will say my dad was all right, and I can prove the same, he was only off when he talked of the war, just like you would be if you’d lost everything you had worked for all your life. My friends & I think his evidence, worth more as to my service, than any witness I could get, for the reason, he told this story without any constraint of any idea doing good or evil. I do not see how you gentlemen can ignore this evidence. My father’s evidence would be considered in any court. As for father and self, I can give as good a character as any man in Florida. There is only one thing for you or Board to do and Page 028 pg. 2 is to say, you don’t believe us on oath or give us credit for our oaths. Of course you have it in your power to do whatever you like. I have several lawyers and good citizens who tell me my evidence ought to stand the test, and would in any court. You have the right to turn me down, but I want to beg you not to do that. You take this matter to yourself in everyway – how you would feel to be turned down. I can get one hundred leading men in Pasco and Hernando Cos. to sign a petition, they thought it right for me to have a pension. If it were left to my friends, I would get it without a word. I will get this petition if it will do any good but, if you have already turned me down in your minds it is no use for me to go to all of this trouble. I want to say to you, you will never lose any- Page 029 pg. 3 thing by getting me a pension Any of my friends will tell you that I ought to have a pension. Hoping that this will be considered, I remain Yours, H. T. Valentine Trilby, Fla. Page 030 This page contains a photocopy of an envelope with: After 5 Days Return To [Law Offices of Dayton, Dayton & Dayton, Dade City, Florida] Mrs. Hulda Rowena Valentine, Trilby, Florida; addressed to Hon. R. G. HIggins, General Auditor, Office of C. M. Gay, Comptroller, Tallahassee, Florida; postmarked Trilby, Fla. Jul 1 AM 1954. Page 031 Trilby, Fla. August 5, 1931 Mr. Roumell Bowen, Secretary of the Pension Board, Tallahassee, Fla. Dear Sir, I have your letter today with enclosed copy of the law for establishing your board, but I did not understand from your letter just what is required for me to do. Of course it is impossible for me to find any of my former associates who were in the war with me for they have been dead a long time. However, I felt that the affidavits that I sent you last week would convince you that I had regular service in the war. Will you advise me just what you would like for me to do? Since the Legislature passed Page 032 2 the bill for me to have a pension, is it now possible that your board will refuse to let me have it? Since the service I rendered was in South Carolina and since I have been in Florida since right after the close of the war there is no one there who can vouch for me, still I have already presented evidence in the affidavits that I recently sent in. Now I shall greatly appreciate your advice as to just what you will require of me. Thanking you in advance for your advice and assistance, I am, Yours very truly, H. T. Valentine Page 033 Trilby, Fla. August 1st, 1931 Pension Board Tallahassee, Fla. Gentlemen: Your notice of the Aug. 1st contents noted. Do you mean to say the affidavit I sent you of my father’s, through innocent witnesses, hearing him talk about his fine boys being in the war do not amount to anything, and all so my evidence is not any good? If you think that way about it, there is no use for me to say any more about a pension. Of course I know what the intention of the law is – it means for you gentlemen to condem (sic) whether I am a traitor or not, to down me, is to say, that I am. If you think I am telling the truth you can grant me a pension. I would be glad if you would see it as my friends see it. I would be willing to Page 034 pg. 2 leave it with any jury of twelve men, so I am going to ask the Board to give me a fair trial. I wish I could come up there and talk with the board. I want to beg you all to help me, as I cannot help myself. If I was able to work, I would not want your help, gentlemen. I want to beg you again, to not turn me down, if you can help it. I have much longer to live and nothing to go upon. Cordially, H. T. Valentine Trilby, Fla. Page 035 State of Florida, County of Hernando Before me, the undersigned authority, this day personally came W. E. Hope, who being by me first duly sworn, on oath says that he is 76 years of age and he is now and has been for the past fifty years a resident of the State of Florida and is now a resident of Hernando County in said State; that he was well acquainted with W. D. Valentine, who was the father of Henry Thomas Valentine, now 80 years of age and a resident of Trilby, Florida; that affiant remembers when the said W. D. Valentine came from South Caroline to the State of Florida in the year 1869, at which time the said W. D. Valentine was an aged man, apparently about 65 years of age. That affiant has had many conversations with the said W. D. Valentine, in each of which he mentioned his misfortunes as a result of the war between the States. His mind appeared to have been somewhat affected by his losses and misfortunes as a result of this war and he never missed an opportunity to narrate them. He usually told about the same story every time he talked about the matter. He said that he had lost 25 slaves in the war and more than $50,000.00 in Confederate money, which he had saved and accumulated from work as a wheel-wright and a blacksmith; that he had three sons who volunteered for service in the Confederate army, one of whom was killed in battle, that he, being too old for military service, served as a homeguard in his County and that his two younger sons who were too young for military service also served as homeguards in his home county of Orangeburg in the State of South Carolina; and that one of these younger sons was named Henry Thomas and the other was named Elijah Calhoun; that he and his two younger sons served together as homeguards during the last eight or ten months of the war; that he had lost everything in the war and for that reason moved away from South Carolina into Florida. That affiant has heard W. D. Valentine tell this story of his misfortunes at different times, over and over to almost any person who would listen to him. W. E. Hope Witnesses: [Subscribed and sworn to before me this ____ day of July, 1931.] L. E. Nott W. E. Hope, Jr. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20th day of July, 1931. Ella Mande Hice Notary Public, State of Florida at Large My Commission Expires Jan. 21, 1934 Page 036 Filed: 7/23/31 By Roumell Bowen Page 037 State of Florida, County of Hernando Before me, the undersigned authority, this day personally came Mrs. A. P. Crum, who being by me first duly sworn, on oath says that she is 77 years of age and she is now and has been for the past fifty years a resident of the State of Florida and is now a resident of Hernando County in said State; that she was well acquainted with W. D. Valentine, who was the father of Henry Thomas Valentine, now 80 years of age and a resident of Trilby, Florida; that affiant remembers when the said W. D. Valentine came from South Carolina to the State of Florida in the year 1869, at which time the said W. D. Valentine was an aged man, apparently about 65 years of age. That affiant has had many conversations with the said W. D. Valentine, in each of which he mentioned his misfortunes as a result of the war between the States. His mind appeared to have been somewhat affected by his losses and misfortunes as a result of this war and he never missed an opportunity to narrate them. He usually told about the same story every time he talked about the matter. He said that he had lost 25 slaves in the war and more than $50,000.00 in Confederate money, which he had saved and accumulated from work as a wheel-wright and a blacksmith; that he had three sons who volunteered for service in the Confederate army, one of whom was killed in battle; that he, being too old for military service, served as a homeguard in his County and that his two younger sons who were too young for military service also served as homeguards in his home county of Orangeburg in the State of South Carolina; and that one of these younger sons was named Henry Thomas and the other was named Elijah Calhoun; that he and his two younger sons served together as homeguards during the last eight or ten months of the war; that he had lost everything in the war and for that reason moved away from South Carolina into Florida. That affiant has heard W. D. Valentine tell this story of his misfortunes at different times, over and over to almost any person who would listen to him. Mrs. A. P. Crum Witnesses: [Subscribed and sworn to before me this ___ day of July, 1931.] J. S. Evans L. E. Nott Subscribed and sworn to before me this 20th day of July, 1931. Ella Mande Hice Notary Public State of Florida At Large My Commission Expires Jan. 21, 1934 Page 038 Application No. 23810 Pension No. 8910 Special Claim For Pension By Henry Thomas Valentine Of Trilby, Florida. Widow Of ____________________ Home Guards, Co. Filed In Pension Dept. Chpt. #14817 Act 179 6/19/31 Approved And Filed In Comptroller’s Office _________________ Became A Law 6/15/31 61.33 Page 039 Trilby, Fla., July 6, 1931. State Pension Board Foumelle (sic) Bowen, Secretary Tallahassee, Florida, Gentlemen; Replying to yours of the 3rd instant. I thank you for sending me a copy of the bill granting me a pension, also a copy of the general pension law. As you will see from the recitals in the bill granting me a pension all the other members of the company of home guards with whom I served are now dead and it is not possible for me to procure affidavits of two witnesses that they have personal knowledge of my service. I was back in my old home county in South Carolina about twenty-seven years ago, at which time there were only three persons living by whom I could have proved my service, one of these being my sister. Since that time these three have died. I was hardly fifteen years of age when I entered the service, and now eighty years old, and nearly all of the people of my acquaintance have passed away. It is my understanding that the only reason a special bill was necessary in my case was my inability to procure affidavits required under the general law. If I could have procured this evidence to begin with I do not suppose any special bill would have been necessary. I would like to appear before your Board in person in order to satisfy you of my service an that I deserve the pension provided for in the bill; but I am neither physically or financially able to make the trip to Tallahassee. I did not make application when my witnesses were living for the reason that I was in fairly good circumstances then and did not need the pension. I was told by friends that I would wait so long to make application that my witnesses would be dead, and now I find that this prediction is true. I am confident that I could have been drawing a pension all these years had I made application long ago, and I hope that your Honorable Board will not turn down my application now because I did not make it sooner and thus be drawing a pension when I did not need it. At the best, I can last only a few years and knowing as I do that I have earned and deserve a pension many times more than others who are drawing them, I would be greatly disappointed if any act of this Board should deny me relief in this my time of need. Thanking you in advance and hoping for a kind and considerate action on your part, I am, Yours respectfully, Henry T. Valentine Page 040 23810 AN ACT GRANTING A PENSION TO HENRY THOMAS VALENTINE, AGE 80 YEARS, OF TRILBY, FLORIDA. Whereas, Henry Thomas Valentine, age eight years, of Trilby, in Pasco County, Florida, enlisted as a member of a squad of the home guards in Orangeburg District (now Orangeburg County), State of South Carolina, and served therein as a home guard for a period of about eight months during the last year of the Civil War, said service being rendered under Captain Johnson, who was a muster officer of and for the Confederate forces; and Whereas, The said Captain Johnson and all other members of the said home guards with whom the said Henry Thomas Valentine served as aforesaid are now dead, and the said Henry Thomas Valentine is therefore unable to produce any evidence of his service as home guard as aforesaid save and except his own affidavit; and, Whereas, The said home guards protected the lives and preserved the homes and property of the families of Confederate soldiers who were at the front fighting for the Confederate States; and, Whereas, The service of the members of said home guards were military in nature and contributed as substantially to the protection of lives, homes and other property in the South as did the services of the regularly enlisted soldiers; and, Whereas, The said Henry Thomas Valentine is now aged and feeble and unable longer to support himself and is deserving of a pension and should have his name placed on the pension roll of the State of Florida; therefore, BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA: Section 1. That Henry Thomas Valentine be granted a pension and that the State Board of Pensions be and they are hereby directed to place his name on the pension roll of the State of Florida to be paid in the same manner as at the same rate as other pensioners of the State are paid. Filed Sect. States Office 6/15/31 – unsigned by Gov. Page 041 Section 1A. Provided that nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the right if (sic) the State Pension Board under the General Law of 1923 to remove the name of the pensioner from the Pension Roll if after investigation such Board shall find that the alleged soldier upon whose service the pension is based did not render service during the war between the States such as would entitle him to receive a pension or that he deserted the service. Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately upon its passage and approved by the Governor or upon its becoming a law without such approval. Page 042 This page is a listing of Death Registrations, Persons 21 Years and Over, Report for Pasco County-City, May, 1967, Page 2, and the name of Valentine, Hulda Rowena, P. O. Box 595, Trilby, Fla., age 93, Certificate No. 27089, May 1967, is listed therein. Additional Comments: Words in [] are lined through in original. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/pasco/military/civilwar/pensions/valentin551gmt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 36.8 Kb