It never ceases to amaze me how some objects can be related to one another, but that relationship is unknown until you are bitten with the research-bug. As I was preparing to write this I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write about, but then I came across a powder horn that had the same family name for two swords I have been researching, and sure enough, they all shared the same donor. And, since I was writing this around Veteran’s Day, I thought it might be nice to talk about this family’s service.
Samuel Campbell, born in Londonderry, New Hampshire, in 1738, served in the New York Militia during the American Revolution during a stay at Fort Schuyler. He had a son, James, in 1772, but by 1778 the “Cherry Valley Massacre” had separated Samuel from his family. His wife, Jane, and his children were taken captive and held for two years.
Do you know of a family member that served in the Civil War, or any war for that matter? The National Park Service hosts a site called the “Soldiers and Sailors System” and with a little bit of information provided by you, you could find basic information on a family members’ involvement in the Civil War. If your relative served in any other war, check out the National Archives and Records Administration where you can find a whole host of resources, some available online and some that you’ll have to mail in or call about, but all available to the public.