Running across this picture in my great-aunt’s collection of photographs made me remember several genealogical truths: We sometimes don’t see the obvious–I didn’t immediately recognize my mother in this photograph and might not have without the identification that was already written on it. Now I clearly recognize her. At first I did not. We need to view things in context–other pictures on the same page provided additional information about this photograph that were not stated on photograph. You may not recognize things that have changed. I’ve been in the house this picture was taken in front of many times. I don’t recognize this back porch because it was altered when a den area was added to the back of the house in the 1960s
Based on when your ancestor was born, what wars could he have reasonably had service in?Teenagers under the actual service age can lie about their age in order to enlist. Those whose ages are a little on the high side may enlist, possibly in units geared towards older enlistments–there was a “Graybeard Regiment” in the US Civil War comprised of men beyond typical enlistment age. If someone enlisted, think about accessing their service records and potential benefit records. For those ancestors who didn’t serve is it possible that at some point in their life they may have married someone whose military service entitled their spouse to a benefit?
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