Two William Harlans same County, now what?

[6yanks+2rebs=1me]

If I can possibly figure out if one of these two William Harlan's are the same one in my family tree than I'm up to 7 yanks 2 rebs for grandfathers. (Not bragging.. OK, maybe a little.) The problem is they are both from Belmont county one is with the 78th Ohio infantry D.co the other with the 122nd Ohio infantry A.co. All I know is the William I'm looking for Was born 1848 died 1901 making him a little young but I Question the birth year cause he had a son in 1863.

 

[OldSarge79]

The 1850 census for Belmont County, Ohio shows William Harlen, son of Daniel and Margaret Harlen. The spelling difference is not surprising back then. This William clearly shows 7 years of age, which would mean born in about 1843. Although the "7" in his age slot is a bit faded, and could potentially be mistaken for a "1", it absolutely is a 7, as the family is listed according to age. His sister, Penina, age 9, is shown just before him and his brother, James, age 6, is listed immediately after.
Family trees do seem to show this same William as born in 1848, but my best guess is that they are mistakenly basing that on this census, which AT FIRST GLANCE, appears to show his age as 1, but it is without a doubt, a 7.
This would certainly be a CW veteran.

There was another William HARLAN in the 1850 Belmont County census, born 1849, son of Samuel and Eleanor, another reason why some family trees could be attributing a younger age to the other William, simply confusing the two.

Unfortunately, my access to fold3 through my local library is down at the moment, but I will check later.

 

[lupaglupa]

The William Harlan in the 122nd enlisted in 1862 at age 38, giving him an approximate year of birth of 1824. This does not sound like your ancestor.

The William Harlan in the 78th enlisted in 1861 at age 24, giving him an approximate year of birth of 1837. He went on to serve as a major in the 159th.

 

[Gary Morgan]

If it helps, the one in the 78th had the middle initial S. The one in the 122nd had a wife named Mary Jane and children named Samuel, Mary and Charles, according to his widow's 1866 pension app.

 

[Fairfield]

Finding two individuals, with the same name, of similar ages, in the same neighborhood is a familiar nightmare to genealogists. Have you followed the tried-and-true procedure of methodically tracking back? If so, you have a good idea of his households--both birth and marital. You can use the correct household to hone in on your William Harlan. Leap-frogging backwards never is a good idea.

Edit for grammar (forgot a comma)

 

[Gary Morgan]

Finding two individuals, with the same name of similar ages, in the same neighborhood is a familiar nightmare to genealogists.

Tell me about it! I have a grandmother, great grandmother, two aunts, four cousins, a sister in law and a daughter who are all named Mary Gorman. Yup. We're Catholic.

 

[6yanks+2rebs=1me]

The 1850 census for Belmont County, Ohio shows William Harlen, son of Daniel and Margaret Harlen. The spelling difference is not surprising back then. This William clearly shows 7 years of age, which would mean born in about 1843. Although the "7" in his age slot is a bit faded, and could potentially be mistaken for a "1", it absolutely is a 7, as the family is listed according to age. His sister, Penina, age 9, is shown just before him and his brother, James, age 6, is listed immediately after.
Family trees do seem to show this same William as born in 1848, but my best guess is that they are mistakenly basing that on this census, which AT FIRST GLANCE, appears to show his age as 1, but it is without a doubt, a 7.
This would certainly be a CW veteran.

There was another William HARLAN in the 1850 Belmont County census, born 1849, son of Samuel and Eleanor, another reason why some family trees could be attributing a younger age to the other William, simply confusing the two.

Unfortunately, my access to fold3 through my local library is down at the moment, but I will check later.

This is the one, father Daniel mother Margret.

 

[6yanks+2rebs=1me]

I really am thankful for all the help.

 

[Mike Serpa]

I really am thankful for all the help.

"I'm up to 7 yanks 2 rebs..." You might have to change your screen name!