For Use of Widows of Soldiers Who Are In Indigent Circumstances
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THE STATE OF TEXAS

County of  __Collins______

    I, Mrs. __Emily F. Gay________  do hereby make application to the Commissioner of Pensions for a pension, to be granted me under the Act passed by the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Texas, and approved April 7, A. D. 1913, on the following grounds:

    I am the widow of    John W. Gay    , deceased, who departed this life on the
 28    day of  July    , A. D. 1909  , in the county of   Collin   , in the State of
  Texas                                         
                                                                                              
    I have not remarried since the death of my said husband, and I do solemnly swear that I was never divorced from my said husband, and that I never voluntarily abandoned him during his life, but remained his true, faithful and lawful wife up to the date of his death. I was married to him on the  6    day  September    A. D.  , in the county   Collin        in the State of   Mississippi          

    My husband, the said  John W. Gay  , enlisted and served in the military service of the Confederate States during the war between the States of the United States, and that he did not desert the Confederate Service. I have been a resident of the State of Texas since prior to January 1, A. D. 1900, and have been continuously since a citizen of the State of Texas. I do further state that I do not receive from any source whatever money or other means of support amounting in value to the sum of $300.00 per annum, nor do I own in my own right, nor does anyone hold in trust for my benefit or use, estate or property, either real, personal or mixed, either in fee or for life, of the value of one thousand dollars, exclusive of the home of the value of not over $1,000.00; nor do I receive any aid or pension from any other State, or from the United States, or from any other source, and I do further state that the answers given to the following  questions are true:

    1.    What is your age?       66 years old                                                                    
    2.    Where were you born ?     Marshall Mississippi                                                
    3.    How long have you resided in the State of Texas   20 Years                                        
    4.    How long have you resided in the county of yonr    present residence? And what is your postoffice address?
   about 20 years - McKenney Rt. No\ 5 -                                                                      
    5.    What was your husband's full name?   John Wiley Gay                                         
    6.    What was the date of his death?   July 28 - 1909                                                     
    7.    In what State was your husband’s command originally organized  Mississippi           
    8.    How long did your husband serve? If known to you, give date of enlistment and discharge  Enlisted the
Second year of war - and served three years -    
    9.    What was the name or letter of the company, or name or number of the battalion, regiment or battery of artillery in which your husband served? If he was transferred from one branch of service to another, give time of  transfer, description of command and time of service
  Co. "I," 9th Miss.                                  
    10.    Name branch of service in which your husband served, whether infantry, cavalry, artillery or the navy, or if commissioned as an officer by the President his rank and line of duty, or if detailed for special service, under the law of conscription, the nature of such service, and time of service
                  Infantry                                                                                 
    11. Have you transferred to other any property of any kind for the purpose of becoming a beneficiary under this law?
            No -                                                                                                   
     Wherefore your petitioner parays that her application for a pension be approved and such other proceedings be had in the premisses as are required by law.
                                     (Signature of Applicant)      Emily F. Gay                                                        
     Sworn to and subscribed before me, this   26      day of    August        A.D. 1913 
                                                                              H L Davis                                                            
             [Seal]                                                       County Judge       Collin            County, Texas

There are several other pages in the file (no. 23807) and will be abstracted here:

Jack Sportsman and H.E. Morgan were witnesses.

L.T. Gay, County Assessor signed that she had no property in her name.

In the deposition of R.R. Stone of Lamar, Marshall Co., Miss. R.F.D. No. 1 taken by C.H. Wright, Clerk of the Chancery Court, Marshall Co., Miss. Mr. Stone states that he is 71 yeas old and knew John W. Gay all his life. We were raised together. I knew him in Early Grove, Marshall Co., Miss. and were school boys from early boyhood. He states that he was as good a soldier as ever toted a musket. He was a member of Co. I, 9th Miss. Infty., he enlisted in 1862, Holly Springs, Miss., and he served about 3 years. He was a private. He was not detailed on any special field, but stayed with his Co. and regiment. The reason I know that John W. Gay enlisted in the above Co. and regiment was because we were together, and enlisted together and belonged to the same company and regiment, and he was the only John W. Gay in that Co. and regiment. I never knew any other J.W. Gay, except the one now applying for pension. He did not desert his command nor did he ever abandon his post of duty.

In the deposition of W.H. Walker before C.H. Wright, Mr. Wright states he is 71 years of age and resides in Holly Springs, Marshall Co., Miss. R.F.D. No. 5. I first knew him in Holly Springs, Miss., on or about the 18th day of May, 1862. He was in Co. I Ninth Miss. Infty Regiment, on or about May 18, day of May, 1862. and served about three years in the Army of Tennessee, which were in the campaigns in the states of Miss., KY, NC., SC., and VA. He was a high private and as good one as ever carried a gun. He was a soldier in the ranks all the time and did not have a furlough during the war. I was with him in the same Co. during the war. He states that John W. Gay served up to the time he was wounded at Nashville, Tenn. which was in or about the latter part of Dec. 1864, and was still wounded at the surrender, but am under the impression that he was paroled in Memphis, Tenn. in 1865. When asked if he ever deserted his command he said No sir, he did not, there was no such a thing in his makeup.

W.E. Gay, her son applied for Mortuary Warrant when Emily F. Gay died Dec. 24, 1920 near Emory, Rains Co., TX. She died at the home of C.N. Harbin, her son in law. There is a certificate of Undertaker, S.H. Hood of Rains, Co. Tx. He states the body was buried by him Dec. 26, 1920 in Altoga Cemetery in Collins, Co.

Certificate of Physician L.T. Waller states she died of Chronic Bronchitis and old age.

Mortuary Warrant Account to W.E. Gay, Emory TX Rt. 3 dated Jan. 15th 1921. 1 Casket $75.00, $45.00 paid by W.E. Gay 12/29/1920, balance dure and unpaid $30.00. Mortuary Warrant issued for Thirty Dollars maximum.

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This page was last updatedDecember 10, 2005