This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Tripp Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/2RB.2ACE/5875.3.1 Message Board Post: I am doing this from memory so might not have all the details. This will be lengthy but is interesting. My grandfather, Lynn Sprague, operated a funeral home. He died about 1960 and my father was executor of the will. Among the belongins was a small metal box. In the box was an original civil war discharge paper which was in an envelope postmarked 1930 something from Pontiac, MI. Just to let you know ahead of time - I don't know where that discharge paper is and it drives me nuts because I always intended to give it over to a Tripp descendant should I ever find any. Get comfortable because this is a long story. The discharge paper was for Nathan Tripp. Since it was among stuff belonging to my grandfather, I thought he might be related so I wanted to do some researching. I live in the metro DC area and got down to the National Archives to see what might be there. Nathan had applied for a pension as a civil war soldier. The papers indicated this and that which might be wrong with him to the extent you think he might keel over any day but he did live to about 1932 or thereabouts - close to 90 years old I believe. He was denied a pension on the grounds of being a deserter. He had enlisted from NY state and at a later time from Michigan. I believe it was not uncommon for men to leave their regiments, go home to bring in crops or whatever and then re-enlist. The discharge paper probably was presented to my grandfather in the 1930's to get a discount on the funeral. Records indicate Nathan is buried in Riverside cemetery in Gouverneur, NY (my hometown) and I went to the place he should be buried but there is no headstone there. I figured he died poor and childless but I had no proof one way or another. I believe his pension papers did not list a wife or children. I was researching some old newspapers and found an article that mentioned the 'notorious' Nathan Tripp and I believe it mentioned Michigan. Apparently he was wanted on some burglary or robbery charge. I was sure I had all the papers in one place (pension, newspaper article and maybe the discharge paper). I was thinking I could put together a story for the historical society but when I searched for the papers could not find them. You likely could order a copy of the civil war papers from the national archives. I'm pretty sure he was discharged from a Michigan unit (not NY). If I can find the other papers mentioned, I will certainly try to contact you. Russ Sprague Kensington, Maryland