Clement BILLINGSLEY

     Clement BILLINGSLEY, son of James Walter BILLINGSLEY and Nancy REEVES, was born in 1753 in Stafford County, Virginia.^1,2 He was a farmer or planter.

Clement saw military service circa 1776 in Stafford County, Virginia, Clement served as an Ensign in Virginia during the American Revolution. In the Census of 1840 when a statement was required of all who were Revolutionary
Pensioners his name is recorded as a pensioner. There does not appear any record of this man in the Pension Office and the only explanation is that he answered the query as of “Service in the Revolution” which seems to be borne out by his oath made in 1821. He was a resident of Stafford County, Virginia until 1823, when he sold out to Chadwell Turner, his brother-in-law, and moved to newly opened lands in Autauga County, Alabama where he engaged in farming. The town of Billingsley in northeast Autauga County is named for Clement Billingsley.^3,4

Clement married Cynthia Rebecca TURNER in January 1781 in Stafford County, Virginia. Clement and Cynthia are said to have had a lot of children, and some died in infancy. The only proven children were the nine named in Clement's will.^1,2

Clement BILLINGSLEY appeared on the 1810 Federal Census of Falmouth, Stafford County, Virginia, 2 males under 10, 1 male 10-15, 2 males 16-25, 1 male 45 or older [Clement], 4 females under 10, 1 female 26-44 [Cynthia], and 5 slaves.

Clement BILLINGSLEY appeared on the 1820 Federal Census of Stafford County, Virginia, 1 male age 10-15, 1 male age 16-25, 1 male age 26-44, 1 male 34 or older [Clement], 2 females under 10, 2 females 10-15, 1 female 16-25, 1 female 45 or older [Cynthia], and 10 slaves.

Clement BILLINGSLEY and Joseph Reeves BILLINGSLEY were listed as customers at the Vernon Mercantile Store in 1827 in Vernon, Autauga County, Alabama. Vernon was a very active town on the Alabama River in early Autauga. It was eventually upstaged by Autaugaville and is now a ghost town.⁵

Clement BILLINGSLEY appeared on the 1830 Federal Census of Capt. McKenzey's District, Autauga County, Alabama, C. Billingsley household, 1 male 20-29.⁶

Clement BILLINGSLEY appeared on the 1840 Federal Census of Autauga County, Alabama, He claims to be a Revolutionary War pensioner. His age was 84.

Clement BILLINGSLEY died in December 1841 in Autauga County, Alabama. Family traditional states that he and Cyntha died the same day in 1844, five minutes apart and that both were buried in family graves near their home. Probate records prove that this is not correct. He wrote his will in 1839 and it was recorded in January 1842. An inventory of slaves had previously been conducted 14 Dec 1841. It is presumed then that Clement died late November or early December 1841.⁷ He was buried in Gaines Cemetery, Vida, Autauga County, Alabama. Clement and Cynthia was originally buried in a family plot near their home, but were later moved to the Gaines Cemetery.²

Clement left a will dated 7 September 1839 in Autauga County, Alabama. The will was recorded in January 1842 and in it he names the following heirs: his wife, Rebecca (believed to be the middle name of Cynthia), sons, George, Bowls, Clement T, Joseph, daughters, Catherine Burt, Deborah Tyus, Rebecca Kirk, Mary Burt, daughter-in-law, Nancy Hollowell (widow of son William), grandchildren, Christopher C, John, Mary, Martha, Napoleon, Catherine (children of William.)² His estate was probated on 18 November 1844 in Autauga County, Alabama. His executors William G. Tyus and Clement T. Billingsley on this day made final settlement of the estate. The heirs were: George Billingsley, Clement Billingsley, Joseph Billingsley, Catherine Burt (S. R. Burt), Deborah Tyus (Wm. G. Tyus), Rebecca Kirk (Wm. Kirk), Mary Burt (Z. Burt), Bolls(sp) Billingsley and William Billingsley's heirs - Mary, Martha, Napoleon, Catherine.

Clement left his lands equally to sons George and Bowles Billingsley and that Bowles received the parcel with the home place and buildings. He left 21 slaves and an additional cash value of $11,566.26 (not including real estate) to his children. One interesting note was that he specifically left a family of slaves to his son Bowles and specified that "he is to take care of and not sell or separate them." One of the slaves in this family was elderly and it is believed that he had traveled from Virginia with Clement.⁸