Re: Lorentz(Lawrence) Fisher - York Co., Pa. Militia-Camp Security
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In reply to:
Lorentz(Lawrence) Fisher - York Co., Pa. Militia-Camp Security
mary ann machen 3/01/09
Mary Ann,
It is very difficult to be certain which same-named person had X miitia service unless a wife applied to the County Court for some support while her husband was away from home, or the person who made out the muster roll or (in the case of active duty service) pay roll made some notation as to where the person lived or concerning relative age.
If you can document that the two men lived in different Townships at the time, and can document where the Captains lived and the areas from which each Company was drawn, that could be some evidentiary help in distinguishing two or moremen's service.County Court or local Committee of Safety records might define the County Battalions' or even Company areas geographically.In many areas these designations varied over time during the war.Land records (searched in person) and tax assessment rolls can be very helpful here.
For instance, if you get an actual muster roll or pay roll for the specific Companies, and can document that the men listed were all from X Twp using tax rolls for the same period, that can be very useful.Then, if you can refine neighborhood definitions where these men lived using land records, and find one specific identifiable individual of your target persons living in the same neighborhood, you will have a pretty good indication.
All able-bodied free white males aged roughly 16 to 60 (varied by time and place) were required to be available for militia duty, including turning out for regular drill and nose-counting.The latter do not constitute "active duty", but as you have found, some militiamen did have some active-duty service.
Good hunting,
Jade