CIVIL WAR WIDOW'S PENSION APP. - RUTH ROCILA (PATTERSON) BILLINGS, WIDOW OF WILLIAM JETHRO 
BILLINGS, St. Johns Co., FL 

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Application No. A11501

WIDOW'S PENSION APPLICATION 
TO BE SIGNED BY WIDOW

(FORM A)

I, Mrs. Ruth R. Billings, do hereby make application to the State Board of Pensions for a 
pension, to be granted under the act of 1907, Chapter 5600 of the Laws of Florida, on the 
following grounds:

I am the widow of William J. Billings, deceased, who departed this life on the 19th day of 
October, 1888, in the county of St. Johns in the State of Florida.  I was married to him on 
the 25th day of February, 1844, in the county of Wilkinson, in the State of Georgia.  I have
not remarried since the death of my said husband.

My husband, the said William J. Billings, enlisted and served in the Confederate States Service 
of the Company "B" 3rd Regt. Alabama Cavalry AND Company "H", 17th Alabama Regiment 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.

Her X mark:  Ruth R. Billings
             St. Augustine Post Office.

STATE OF FLORIDA,}
COUNTY OF ST. JOHNS}

Before me, W. Wallace Snow, Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County and State, 
personally came Mrs. Ruth R. Billings 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.

Sworn and subscribed before me this 19th day of October.

W. Wallace Snow, Clerk Circuit Court

QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED BY APPLICANT

(FORM B)

STATE OF FLORIDA,}
ST. JOHNS COUNTY.}

On this 19th day of October, 1908 before me, W. Wallace Snow, Clerk of the Circuit Court in 
and for said County and State, personally came Ruth R. Billings, 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?  Ruth R. Billings, Wilkinson Co., 
     GA, Feb 10, 1829
 2.  Are you the widow of William J. Billings?  Yes
 3.  When and where were you married to William J. Billings? Feb 25, 1844 in Wilkinson Co., GA
 4.  When and where did he die?  In St. Johns County, FL Oct 19, 1888
 5.  Have you remarried since his death?  No
 6.  When and in what company or organization did your husband enlist during the war between 
     the States?  He first enlisted in Co. B, 3rd AL Cav., he served in that Co. until 
     discharged & there enlisted in Co. H, 17th Alabama Inft. & served until discharged by reason
     of wounds.
 7.  Did he desert that service?  No
 8.  Of what State and county are you a resident?  St. Johns County, Florida
 9.  How long have you resided in this State?  35 years
10.  From what date have you continuously resided in this State?  Since 1873
11.  Have you lived in any other State than Florida?  Georgia and Alabama
12.  If you answer yes, give name of the State or States and when you resided there.  Resided 
     in GA from birth until 1855, then in Alabama until 1873 when we came to Florida.

Her X mark:  Ruth R. Billings

Sworn & subscribed before me this 19th day of October, 1908.

W. Wallace Snow, Clerk Circuit Court

(FOMR C)

QUESTIONS FOR WITNESSES

STATE OF ALABAMA,}
COUNTY OF MONROE}

Before me, John M. Coxwell, Clerk of the Circuit Court in and for said County and State, 
personally came John J. Watson and James H. Tucker who appeared as witnesses in support of 
the application of Mrs. Ruth R. Billings for an annuity under the laws of the State of Florida 
providing 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 you reside?  John J. Watson, Canoe, AL and James H. 
     Tucker, Monroe, AL
 2.  How long have you known the applicant?  We knew her during the Civil War.
 3.  Where does she reside and how long has she been a resident of this State?  She resides 
     at St. Augustine Florida, 29 Shenandoah St.  We do not know how long she has resided 
     there.
 4.  Were you acquainted with her husband?  We were
 5.  Where and to whom was she married?  She was married to William J. Billings, before the 
     war
 6.  Is he dead?  If so, when and where did he die?  He is dead, we do not know when and where 
     he died.
 7.  Was he a soldier or sailor in the State or Confederate service during the war between the
     States?  He was a soldier in the Confederate Service.
 8.  When did he enlist, and in what organization?  In the fall of 1861, 3rd Alabama Regiment
 9.  When was he discharged, and for what cause?  He was discharged immediately after the 
     Battle of Shilo having become sick and unable to serve longer.
10.  Where and in what campaigns did he perform regular military duty?  At the Battle of 
     Shilo
11.  Were either or both of you members of the same Company or Regiment with him?  We were 
     both members of the same Company.
12.  Did he desert the Confederate or State service?  He did not.
13.  Were either of you with the command when it surrendered?  We were both there.
14.  Was William J. Billings, the husband of the applicant, present when the command surrendered? 
     He was not
15.  If not, where was he?  At home having been discharged owing to sickness
16.  When did he leave his command?  After the Battle of Shilo
17.  Have you any personal or financial interest in the granting of this annuity to the 
     applicant? We have none.

John J. Watson
James H. Tucker

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23rd day of October, 1908.

John M. Coxwell, Clerk Circuit Court.

(FORM D)

STATE OF ALABAMA,}
COUNTY OF MONROE}

I, John M. Coxwell, 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 & credit. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Circuit Court this 23rd 
day of October, 1908.

We, the undersigned members of the Board of County Commissioners in and for St. Johns County,
Florida, do hereby certify that at a meeting of the said Board of County Commissioners held 
on the 4th day of November, 1908, the foregoing application for an annuity in behalf of Mrs.
Ruth R. Billings as 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.

B. Genovar, Chairman
J. L. Colee
H. E. Mahr
H. P. Pillirs
County Commissioners

Attested by: W. Wallace Snow, Clerk Circuit Court.

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11871

CLAIM FOR PENSION 
BY
RUTH R. BILLINGS 
OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FL,
Widow of 
William J. Billings 
Of Company "B", 
3rd AL Cav., & Company "H", 17th AL Inf.
Filed in Pension Department
Nov 28, 1908
Approved
Dec 22, 1908
With pay from Nov 28, 1908 at the rate of $120 per annum.
Jefferson Bell, Secretary of Board.

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WIDOW'S PENSION CLAIM UNDER THE ACT OF 1909

(FORM A)

STATE OF FLORIDA,}
COUNTY OF SAINT JOHNS}

On this 27th day of August, A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and Nine, personally appeared 
before me a Notary Public in and for the County and State aforesaid, Mrs. Ruth Rocila Billings,
Widow, a resident of Saint Johns at Picolata, 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 William Jethro Billings who was enlisted under the name of William 
Jethro Billings on the ____ day of April, 1861 in Company "B", Went Adams Regiment of the 
State of Alabama and who was honorably discharged after the Battle of Shilo, 1863 on account
of disability.

That he also served in Company "H", 17th Alabama Regiment Infantry Capt. W. W. McMillan, and
was wounded at New Hope Church.

That she was lawfully married to William Jethro Billings under the name of Ruth Rocila Patterson 
in the County of Wilkerson, State of Georgia on the ____ day of February, 1844 and that she 
was not divorced from him and that she has not remarried since his death, which occurred on 
the 19th day of October, 1888 in the county of St. Johns, State of Florida.

That she is a resident of St. Johns County, Florida, and has continuously resided in the State
of Florida since the winter of 1866.

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 the value of $5000.

That the following is a true and correct statement of all property owned by me in this or any 
other State.
            
NOTHING

That she has heretofore been granted a pension from the State of Florida under Certificate 
No. 7432.  That she is not a pensioner of any other State.

That her postoffice address is Colee, County of St. Johns, State of Florida.

Her X mark:  Ruth Rocila Billings

Attest:  

N. R. Fitzhugh
Ella L. Melzer

Sworn & subscribed before me this 27th day of August, 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. 

N. R. Fitzhugh, Notary Public, State at Large.

(FORM B)

STATE OF FLORIDA,}
COUNTY OF ST. JOHNS}

We, the undersigned, citizens of St. Johns County, State of Florida, do hereby certify that 
we personally know Ruth Rocila Billings, 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 the value of $5000, and that 
the statements made by her relative to the value of her property are true and correct.

H. H. Floyd
C. B. Manucy

Sworn & subscribed before me this 30th day of August, 1909.

W. Wallace Snow, Clerk Circuit Court.


REPORT OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

We, the undersigned, County Commissioners in and for the County of St. Johns, Florida, do 
hereby report that at a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held this day, the 
foregoing application of Ruth R. Billings 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 $5000, and that the representations made in the petition and affidavits are true
and that a pension should be granted to the applicant.

B. Genovar, Chairman
J. L. Colee
Wm. M. D?
H. E. Mahr
H. J. Pill?s
County Commissioners

By the County Commissioners Attest: 

W. Wallace Snow, Clerk Circuit Court.

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Former Claim, No. 7432
Application No. 17690
Pensioner No. 4887

CLAIM FOR PENSION 
BY
Mrs. Ruth R. Billings
Of Colee Postoffice, 
St. Johns County 
Filed in Pension Dept. Sep 18, 1909
Approved: 
Sep 23, 1909 
with pay from Jul 1, 1909
at the rate of $120 per annum.