CIVIL WAR WIDOW'S PENSION APP. - MINNIE LEE (NESMITH) GAY, WIDOW OF LEWIS F. GAY, UNION 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. ******************************************************************************* Application No. 23872 Pensioner No. 10336 Widow's Pension Claim Under General Pension Law Of Florida FORM A State of Florida,} County of Union} On this 24th day of October, A. D. One Thousand Nine Hundred and thirty-one, personally appeared before me a Clerk of Circuit Court in and for the County and State aforesaid Minnie Lee Gay a resident of Union County of Union 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 Louis F. Gay who enlisted under the name of Louis F. Gay. For proof of husband's war service, refer to Pension No. 5195, filed in the Comptroller's Office, Tallahassee, Fla. That she was lawfully married to the said Louis F. Gay under the name of Minnie Lee Nesmith in the County of Union, then Bradford State of Florida on the 19th day of April, 1919, and that she was not divorced from him before nor has she remarried since his death, which occurred on the 16th day of October, 1931, in the County of Union, State of Florida except as hereinafter stated. That she is a resident of Union County, Florida, and has continuously resided in the State of Florida since the 14th day of September 1881. 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 Lake Butler, County of Union, State of Florida. Mrs. L. F. Gay Attest: (1) ? (2) Mary Richard Sworn and subscribed before me this 24th day of October, A. D. 1931; 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. S. T. Dowling Clerk Circuit Court (a) Blank (b) State of Florida County of Union Before me, a Clerk of Circuit Court, in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Mr. W. O. Brooks and Mrs. Francis Brooks, who, being duly sworn according to law, deposes and says each for himself that he was present at the marriage of Louis F. Gay and Minnie Lee Nesmith which occurred at Mr. W. O. Brooks residence on the 19th day of April, A. D. 1919, in the County of Union, State of Florida, and that the ceremony was performed by Mr. W. O. Brooks. Sworn and subscribed before me this 24th day of October, A. D. 1931 (c) State of Florida County of Union Before me, a Clerk of Circuit Court, in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared N. H. Stokes and D. T. McGill 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 Louis F. Gay, which occurred at his residence, County of Union, State of Florida, on the 16th day of October, A. D. 1931. N. H. Stokes D. T. McGill Sworn and subscribed before me this 24th day of October, A. D. 1931. S. T. Dowling Clerk Circuit Court ******************************************************************************* Report of County Commissioners We, the undersigned, County Commissioners in and for the County of Union, Florida, do hereby report that at a meeting of the Board of County Commissioners held this day, the foregoing application of Mrs. Louis F. Gay 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 2nd day of Nov., A. D. 1931. (1) S. M. Dukes, Chairman (2) W. S. Croft (3) B. E. Brown (4) J. M. Conner County Commissioners By the County Commissioners. Attest: S. T. Dowling Clerk Circuit Court ******************************************************************************* HOUSE BILL NO. 437 AN ACT TO GRANT A PENSION TO MRS. MINNIE GAY, WIDOW OF L. F. GAY, OF UNION COUNTY, FLORIDA. WHEREAS, L. F. GAY enlisted in the Confederate Army in May, 1861, in Company "F", Fourth Florida Regiment, and was honorably discharged and mustered out of service in April, 1865, after the surrender of the Southern forces; and WHEREAS, the said L. F. Gay departed this life, having died on the 16th day of October, 1931, leaving him surving [sic] Minnie Gay, his widow, to whom he had been married for twelve years prior to his death and they having lived and resided in Union County during said period of time and were residing there at the time of his death; and WHEREAS, the said Minnie Gay is in destitute circumstances and without any means of support whatsoever and is entitled to a pension as the widow of said Confederate Veteran, L. F. Gay, as provided by the laws of this State; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA: SECTION 1. That the name of Minnie Gay of Union County, Florida, (the widow of L. F. Gay) is hereby directed to be placed upon the Pension Roll of the State of Florida and the said Minnie Gay shall be paid a pension in like manner and in like amount as other pensioners drawing a widow's pension of the State of Florida are paid; and it shall be the duty of the Comptroller of the State of Florida to draw his warrants on the Treasurer of the State of Florida as other warrants are drawn in payment of said pension. And further, it is made the duty of the Treasurer to pay said warrants as other warrants are paid. SECTION 1-A. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit or prejudice the right of the State Pension Board under the General Law to remove the name of the above named 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 State such as would entitle him to receive a pension, or that he deserted the service. SECTION 2. All laws and parts of laws in conflict herewith are hereby repealed. SECTION 3. This Act shall immediately take effect upon its being made a law. Became a law without the Governor's Approval. 6/12/33 ******************************************************************************* Veterans Service Centers Elmer R. Kelley, County Service Officer Jacksonville, Florida July 9, 1958 Mr. Melvin T. Dixon State Service Officer P. O. Box 1437 St. Petersburg, Florida In Reply Refer To: Confederate War Vet. Gay, L. F. Att: Dear Melvin: Attached hereto please find the following to be submitted in support of claim on the above veteran, his widow and/or next-of-kin: 2-22 executed in favor of American Legion VB 8-534 Proof of death of widow's former marriage and veteran's former marriage is forthcoming. Your kind and prompt attention to the above will be greatly appreciated by this office. Yours very truly, Bob Fowler For ERK - County Service Officer BF/nw ******************************************************************************* July 10, 1958 Veterans Benefits Office GAY, L. F. Munitions Bldg., 880 - Misc File Washington 25, D. C. Confederate Widow: Minnie L. Gay 3234 - Myra St. Jacksonville, Fla. 2-22 A. L. Dear Sir: Attached hereto please find Confederate Widow's application VB 8-534 completed to the best of her ability. P-22 is to the American Legion. This widow is in receipt of $100.00 per month Confederate pension from the State of Florida. It would be deeply appreciated if the attached application could be placed in line for immediate consideration. Very truly yours, Melvin T. Dixon State Service Officer MTD1:V encl Form 534 Form 2-22 A. L. cc: Bonnie B. Blanton, Sr. Asst. County Service Officer Room 301 County Court House Jacksonville, Fla. ******************************************************************************* Veterans Administration Veterans Benefits Office Munitions Building Washington 25, D. C. Sep. 5, 1958 State Board of Pensions In Reply Refer To: Tallahassee, Florida XC-21,001,686 GAY, L. F. 3072-212B Gentlemen: This office is endeavoring to verify the service of L. F. Gay in connection with a claim filed by Minnie L. Gay as widow of a Confederate veteran. Mrs. Gay is shown to be in receipt of $100 per month Confederate pension from the State of Florida. Therefore, it would be appreciated if you furnish a certification as to the service of the veteran, including, if possible, the date and place of entry into active service, serial number, date and place of separation from service and character of separation or discharge; also, the veteran's last grade, rate or rank and organization. In addition, it will be appreciated if you furnish your certification on the enclosed VA Form 4184 as to the contents of the documents in your file to establish proof of: 1. The ceremonial marriage of the veteran to the claimant; 2. Age of the claimant. Very truly yours, E. E. Johnston Director, Claims Service Encl: (1) ******************************************************************************* September 17, 1958 Mr. E. E. Johnston Director, Claims Service Veterans Administration Veterans Benefits Office Munitions Bldg. Washington 25, D. C. Re: XC-21-001, 686 GAY, L. F. 3072-212B Dear Mr. Johnston: I have your letter of September 5th, with reference to the service of L. F. Gay, in connection with a claim filed by Mrs. Minnie L. Gay, widow, who receives a pension from the State of Florida under Certificate No. 10336. I am enclosing photo copy of Mrs. Gay's claim for pension and proof of service furnished by Mr. Gay when he applied for a pension, also copy of Special Act of The Legislature, Chapter 16097, 1933, placing Mrs. Gay's name on the roll because the date of her marriage did not come within the provisions of the General Pension Law. Under the General Pension Law, Chapter 291, Florida Statutes of 1957, a widow is required to have been married to the solider upon whose record of service she bases her claim for pension on or prior to June 1, 1917. With best wishes, I am, Yours very truly, Ray E. Green, Comptroller By: Secretary of Pensions /RB ******************************************************************************* Oct. 9, 1958 Mrs. Minnie L. Gay XC 21 001 686 3234 Myra Street GAY, L. F. Jacksonville, Florida 3072-212B Dear Mrs. Gay: This is with further reference to your claim for death pension as the widow of a Confederate veteran. It is requested that you sign the enclosed duplicate copy of your application form, on which all information has been copied, using your own given first name, instead of the veteran's initials. Where evidence requested is not received within one year from the date requested, benefits may not be paid based on that application. Very truly yours, E. E. Johnston Director, Claims Service CC: American Legion 1608 K Street, N. W. Washington 6, D. C. ******************************************************************************* Claim For Pension Special Act of the Legislature of 1933 - Chapter 16097 By Mrs. L. F. Gay Rt. 2, Box 52 Lake Butler, Union County Widow of Lewis F. Gay Filed In Pension Department Nov. 12, 1931 Approved and Filed In Comptroller's Office July 27, 1933 Became a Law June 12, 1933 At the rate of $480.00 per annum Roumelle Bowen Secretary of Board