[or-roots] Finding ancestors in Revolutionary and Civil War

[Kith-n-Kin]

Too true, Bill, but so many people "assume" that supporting the Revolution
meant taking a musket, wad and balls and shooting them Redcoats <G>, that I
appreciate being reminded.

I knew that some of mine had land warrants, some pensions, etc., which
eventually lead us back to the Revolution, but it was only when a cousin
found dear Henry in a book of patriots of Virginia, that we knew he was
included -- someone found a "service" record that had to do with the
government paying him for some fodder or something.  His daughter, Rachel,
is also listed as a patriot, but I've not found out what she did to deserve
the honor.  

(Caveat -- I did the research that led to the time and place that would
support that these two were "mine" -- just the "name" wouldn't do it for me.
These were Clays -- and way too many of them.)

Again, the search yields the "goods" -- or "bads" depending on your
viewpoint. We are all too often jumping ahead of ourselves to "look my
family up in the. . . " and then try to connect the dots to them, rather
than finding one dot at a time and seeing where the trail leads. 

Not counting your "deserter" probably almost all of your forebears (who were
"here" anyway) were patriots -- and we wouldn't want to forget them.  Or, I
wouldn't.

As to the Civil War -- I have maybe one Civil War ancestor (and a few
relatives) -- since almost my entire gang was at least in Missouri, if not
in Oregon, well before that war!  

Pat
In Tucson

 

-----Original Message-----
From: or-roots-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
[mailto:or-roots-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Chris &
Bill Strickland
Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 3:59 PM
To: or-roots mail list
Subject: Re: [or-roots] Finding ancestors in Revolutionary and Civil War

You make some very excellent points, Dale, which we should all remember, 
but let's also recall that the original question was not one of 
"Patriot" status, but whether "my ancestors were in the Revolutionary or 
Civil War"