Hayes Lowe
Sorry, but I disagree.
Thu Jan 25 10:47:19 2001


>The best place to study reliable information is at the state archives where the original muster roles can sometimes be viewed under supervision.<

I have spent considerable time at the State Archives, and while it is very helpful in many instances, in other instances they have almost nothing of help. I have found the NARA information to be much more extensive.

>The key is to know who you are trying to research by working census and or accurate family records authenticated by official government census records and verifing the wherabouts of the individuals you seek. This can be done next with the official government records on file and recorded by archivists. There is enough information there to corraborate the origin of the individuals noted and mentioned in the muster roles company battle records.<

I have found this to be the case only about 50% of the time. One big hurdle than can be impossible to overcome is a man enlisting in a county that he is not a resident. Happened all the time. Even in a *State* where he is not a resident. No other record of him may ever be found in that county/State other than his enlistment in service. Unless a military service record (usually a parole or POW record) is found that shows his place of residence, there is never going to be a way to prove which "John Doe" that he really was.

• Disagree about what? — Tim, Thu Jan 25 13:41
• where to start — Alan Pitts, Thu Jan 25 15:33
• The trouble — Tim, Thu Jan 25 15:43
• Unfiled Confederate Papers and Slips — Hayes Lowe, Thu Jan 25 15:42
• Unfiled slips — Alan Pitts, Thu Jan 25 16:36
• Wallace State — Wayne Dowdle, Thu Jan 25 18:06
• Wallace State — Hayes Lowe, Thu Jan 25 20:16
• Library resources — Tim, Thu Jan 25 18:52