I believe my G-Uncle died in the Civil War. He was un-enlisted, under-age (16) and a drummer. Although I can find his siblings throughout the Census Records in New Jersey until they died, the last Census I can find Elijah Hamler/Elisha Homler in was the Census of 1860, Sussex County, NJ when he was living with his widowed mother and mostly older brothers. The whole family was born in Sussex County, NJ. And most of them were to live in Sussex County, Warren County, NJ or occasionally, off and on, Pennsylvania which is right next door to NJ.

What can I do? Did some mothers just never hear about their sons who died on the battlefield and had no idea of where the sons were buried??

Someone told me that the Census of 1865 showed sons who had fought in the Civil War, had come home ill and died at home. But in the Census of 1865, there are great black places that cover up many names for Sussex County, NJ. Couldn't find my family under an older son's name- William H. Hamler, wife Annie -- as Head ( as I find them in the Census of 1870) nor do I find them as in the Census of 1860 with the widowed mother-- Noyetta Hamler-- as head. (Her name is mightily abused in the spelling of it whereever I have found it in the Census! The Census of 1860 has her as "Henrietta"!)

Thanks for any help!

Kathleen Hamler Purchase
LPurch6636@aol.com