Sometimes you hit pay dirt.......................

Sat down at the computer this morning determined to pay bills and take care of some other paperwork that keeps piling up and, of course, I get an email which leads me on a merry chase..................

So here I sit, about an hour later, still haven't paid the bills, but I'm SO glad that I decided to 'chase' the email I received cause I hit paydirt!

Bottom line, I found out some more information about my 4th great grandfather, John F. Bryant, and his Civil War experience.

It's not so much that I found out new information, but that I'm fairly sure I now have a copy of his signature.

I was led to the original Muster In Rolls for the State of Maine and after some searching and lots of squinting [the print is so small!] I was able to find that he joined the Bethel Rifle Guards.

Sorry, it's so small. If I make it bigger than I have to crop some of the words. Just take my word for it that it says 'Bethel Rifle Guards'

Here's the cool part though..............

Over in the right hand column is his signature!! 

and then on the back side of this document is the proof of his taking the oath..............

another cool/not so cool piece of info I found was more confirmation of his death as listed in the Muster Out Rolls.

So sorry that some of these pictures are so small. I'm hoping once I publish this you'll be able to click on them and make them bigger, but not sure. Still learning here folks!!

Hoping to do a post on one of my Rev War ancestors, Charles White, in honor of Independence Day, but no guarantees. Those bills are now screaming at me!!