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Archiver > NYDELAWA > 2002-06 > 1025088178


From: "Randall Brown" <>
Subject: [NYDELAWA-L] Civil War draftees....
Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2002 06:46:34 -0400


Hi, are there any CW experts who can possibly explain something to me? I
recently found some letters that my gg-uncle, Howard Lee wrote when he was
16 years old. He was working on the farm of Samuel Keator in So. Kortright
and he mentions how Sam was drafted. The letter was dated Sept. 20, 1863 and
he wrote this....

". Sam was drafted and some of our neighbors. Sam belonged to a club he will
not have to pay only 100 Dols. One club of about 20 only had one or two
drafted out of it so it cost the drafted man about 25 Dols. They joined
together you see and paid 50 Dols apice so it came verry light on the
drafted man. Our club had about 30 in it and 10 or 12 were drafted so
everyone of the 30 has to pay 100 Dols whether he is drafted or not. "

I transcribed this exactly as it was written and I find it somewhat
confusing. What are these "clubs"??....the only thing I can think of is that
they pooled their money together and paid someone to go in their place if
drafted into the war??? My uncle did mention where Sam had to go to Norwich
to get a physical. I found on the county website where Samuel B. Keator was
indeed drafted but I have been unable to find anything yet to indicate that
he actually served in the war.

Any suggestions??? Thank you in advance.

Sue Brown

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