Beatrice, I've checked through census records and found Parham Y. Oats living with his family at Bear Creek Township, Chatham County, North Carolina in the 1880 United States Federal Census. I tried finding more recent information on him, but was unable to come of with anything, but I'll keep checking. Just in case you don't have the information from the 1880 Census, I'll list it here for you. 1880 United States Federal Census June 19, 1880 Bear Creek Township Chatham County, North Carolina Parham Y. Oats, Age 65, Farmer, suffered from paralysis Nancy Oats, Age 50, Wife, Keeping House Samuel Oats, Age 20, Working on the Farm James W. Oats, Age 13, At Home Margaret Oats, Age 9, At Home I don't know if you already have this information but I hope it might be of some help. I'll keep checking to see if I can find anything more on him. Edward

A fellow genealogy researcher sent me a photo of a possible civil war uniform item or that of a subsequent social organization's accouterment. It is made of off-white, course woven material, in the shape of a square with a handle at one corner (like a square pan with handle at corner). It is about three inches wide, and four inches long (with handle part upright, opposite corner pointed down (imagine a baseball diamond looking from center field to home plate). The "handle" part has a button hole which looks to be hand stitched. There is a square (diamond) within, the points being bronze stars (two painted red) with four bronze studs between each star forming the sides. In the middle of this diamond is another star painted dark blue. A lot of the paint/coating of the stars is worn off. If anyone has an inkling of what this might be, or wants me to email the photo, please let me know. Thanks, Les Williams

Could you try to post the photo of the item? That would help us figure it out. Thanks, Meri On Dec 1, 2007 10:55 AM, les williams <lesliebwilliams@msn.com> wrote: > A fellow genealogy researcher sent me a photo of a possible civil war > uniform item or that of a subsequent social organization's accouterment. It > is made of off-white, course woven material, in the shape of a square with a > handle at one corner (like a square pan with handle at corner). It is about > three inches wide, and four inches long (with handle part upright, opposite > corner pointed down (imagine a baseball diamond looking from center field to > home plate). The "handle" part has a button hole which looks to be hand > stitched. There is a square (diamond) within, the points being bronze stars > (two painted red) with four bronze studs between each star forming the > sides. In the middle of this diamond is another star painted dark blue. A > lot of the paint/coating of the stars is worn off. > > If anyone has an inkling of what this might be, or wants me to email the > photo, please let me know. > > Thanks, > > Les Williams > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I would like to see a photo as well if possible. Meri Schoof wrote: > Could you try to post the photo of the item? That would help us figure it > out. > > Thanks, > Meri > > On Dec 1, 2007 10:55 AM, les williams <lesliebwilliams@msn.com> wrote: > > >> A fellow genealogy researcher sent me a photo of a possible civil war >> uniform item or that of a subsequent social organization's accouterment. It >> is made of off-white, course woven material, in the shape of a square with a >> handle at one corner (like a square pan with handle at corner). It is about >> three inches wide, and four inches long (with handle part upright, opposite >> corner pointed down (imagine a baseball diamond looking from center field to >> home plate). The "handle" part has a button hole which looks to be hand >> stitched. There is a square (diamond) within, the points being bronze stars >> (two painted red) with four bronze studs between each star forming the >> sides. In the middle of this diamond is another star painted dark blue. A >> lot of the paint/coating of the stars is worn off. >> >> If anyone has an inkling of what this might be, or wants me to email the >> photo, please let me know. >> >> Thanks, >> >> Les Williams >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CIVIL-WAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >