Just found out that an ancestor testified in the Salem Witchcraft Trials

[Sherman A1]

11. It was my Mom's family that links

to the slave owners in VA, I haven't traced their Civil War service, although one member in Illinois did serve in the Blackhawk War for a bit. He also had 4 wives & 20+ children, so an interesting character.

My Dad's (my Dad's Mother's side) family was the one of which I spoke and although southerners did not to my knowledge own slaves. The 2 brothers (the elder my GG Grandfather) enlisted the their local NC regiment, served for a bit and eventually the older one deserted and moved with his family away, we think with a stop in Indiana before Illinois. The younger served on for a few months, then was apparently home for the harvest (service was a bit fluid around that time of year) and was caught by the Home Guard at a corn shucking. We understand that this branch of the family came to the area through a Revolutionary war land grant, but haven't traced anything of yet.

On the Dad's (Dad's side) I visited my G Grandfather's grave in Ohio a few years ago & found a GAR marker, so I am assuming this Irish immigrant served somewhere in the Union Army, but haven't nailed it down yet. There are a couple of possibilities, but I really can't be certain.