J
Jesstar76
Guest
Hi, I have done hundreds of hours of family history research revolving around the Civil War era and oddly, have found numerous ancestors who were alive and well during the Northern draft of 1863 yet appeared to have dodged the bullet somehow.
Most were in their early 20's to early 30's. In some cases I have found their draft registration cards but no evidence whatsoever that they actually entered service. Places of residence were in states such as Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, etc. This confuses me as most were average families / poor farmers, some married with children, some not.
I highly doubt they arranged substitutes or had the finances necessary to buy their way out of the draft. I also find it hard to believe they just "avoided" the whole thing and went about their business. Physical disabilities are unlikely as well considering most have occupations listed that involve physical labor such as farming, mill work, mining, carpentry and the like.
Google has provided no information on why or how this was possible!! Am I missing something?
I have exhausted searches via the soldiers database, fold3, ancestry.com as well as regimental roster searches and cemetery/headstone checks, 1890 veterans schedules and 1910 census indicators for those who were still alive at the time and have come up empty. Was it easier or more plausible than we think to have "opted out" of service??
Scratching my head on this one...!!
Feedback welcome
Most were in their early 20's to early 30's. In some cases I have found their draft registration cards but no evidence whatsoever that they actually entered service. Places of residence were in states such as Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, etc. This confuses me as most were average families / poor farmers, some married with children, some not.
I highly doubt they arranged substitutes or had the finances necessary to buy their way out of the draft. I also find it hard to believe they just "avoided" the whole thing and went about their business. Physical disabilities are unlikely as well considering most have occupations listed that involve physical labor such as farming, mill work, mining, carpentry and the like.
Google has provided no information on why or how this was possible!! Am I missing something?
I have exhausted searches via the soldiers database, fold3, ancestry.com as well as regimental roster searches and cemetery/headstone checks, 1890 veterans schedules and 1910 census indicators for those who were still alive at the time and have come up empty. Was it easier or more plausible than we think to have "opted out" of service??
Scratching my head on this one...!!
Feedback welcome
Bringing the