Just because two individuals are born in the same place with the same unusual name combination, do not conclude that they are one and the same. There were at least two Andrew Trautvetters born in the early 19th century in Saxeweimar, Germany, who served in the United States military. Don’t assume based on name alone that two individuals are one and the same.
Posts about Andrew (the younger) and Andrew (the older) are on my Rootdig blog.
2 Responses
So true! I have an ancestor, Hardiman Crews, that must have had a dozen cousins with the SAME NAME! All were born either in Virginia or North Carolina (just across state lines from each other) within a 20 year window. And they ALL moved to Tennessee within the same time frame. Figuring out who was who in old Tennessee records, where so many courthouses burned and records were lost, is like unsnarling knotted thread.
So true! I only wish more people knew this. It’s amazing how many people assume that if the name is unusual and a match is found, it must be the correct person. Thank you for this great tip.