Samuel Witter vs. Samuel Witter: Separating Same Name Men, War of 1812

Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL
May 25, 2023
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Content

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Welcome
3m 20s
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Speaker's Introduction
53s
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Introduction
10m 01s
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Today's Problem
7m 06s
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3 Basic Strategies
6m 19s
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Records to Add to Our Plan
9m 40s
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Using Associates
11m 10s
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Study All Candidates
8m 27s
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Possibilities
9m 12s
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Announcements / prizes
3m 17s
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Questions / answers
15m 47s

About this webinar

Online research today is immensely rewarding. Major genealogical data sites and software perform automatic searches for us and suggest documents bearing the names of people we are pursuing. However, every document we collect presents an identity issue we have to resolve before we can validly use it to build our family tree. This presentation demonstrates why, using three men named Samuel Witter whose descendants have all claimed for him the same War of 1812 service. As Mills separates the three Samuels, she explores the standards that govern our development of evidence, the Congressional laws that must guide our decisions, and the strategies needed to differentiate between men and correctly assign military service.

About the speaker

About the speaker

Across a long career, Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG, FUGA, FNGS, has been an innovator of research methods and strategies. Published widely by academic and popular presses, she edited a national-level scholarly journal for 16 years, taught
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  1. TT
    tina tuttle
    6 months ago

    This is one of the very best presentations I have ever seen on genealogy. I thought I was doing reasonably exhaustive research, but I can see I need to dig deeper and wider, and definitely starting writing research reports (for my own benefit, and others.) I have a lot of what I call Doppelgangers–same name folks during a given timeframe. I do excel sheets to map out their lives to come to same determinations. But I have never tried to gather an entire unit’s records. Thanks everyone for this webinar, esp., thank you Ms. Mills.

    Reply
  2. Janice Bobic
    10 months ago

    It can be frustrating. In my ancestors there are many people who have the same names over generations. So I always have to look at the birth dates of them. My grandfather and his cousin had the same name, Wasyl Kulij, and they were about the same age, and came to Canada about the same time. Grandfather stayed in Canada, and his cousin moved to the USA. I found a passenger list to Canada with Wasyl Kulij, but that was not my grandfather as the birth date was not his, but his cousin’s.

    Reply
  3. BB
    Blessed Blessed
    10 months ago

    My G5, Samuel Hall, 1787-1856 served with Samuel Witter – I had no idea until I watched this webinar. Just last week I was researching his military unit but now I found so much more on Historic Pathways. Thank you ESM- you are truly the best, I have learned so much from you!

    Reply
  4. JJ
    Josephine Johnson
    10 months ago

    It is always a pleasure and educational to listen to Elizabeth Shown Mill’s webinars. The Q&A are invaluable.

    Reply
  5. MC
    Matt Cross
    10 months ago

    Another reason a Legacy Family Tree Webinars subscription is the best investment in genealogical education.

    Reply
  6. NE
    Norah Erb
    10 months ago

    I always learn so much from Elizabeth Mills.

    Reply
  7. JN
    Jean Nickell
    10 months ago

    The step-by-step case study is so beneficial to understanding a process. Elizabeth Shown Mills always delivers an educated, informative and entertaining presentation. Thank you for the opportunity to hear her series.

    Reply
  8. BS
    Becky Satchell
    10 months ago

    Excellent presentation as always. I appreciate the way Elizabeth gives insight into the thought process of why she does something. Her case studies with specific details are extremely helpful for learning and remembering methodologies.

    Reply

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