I am new to this list and wonder if anyone can give me some ideas about where to look for more info about how my ggg grandfather Josiah Frost b. in 1790 in Allegany Co. MD qualified for the purchase of about 8 plots of land from the Military survey lands. He bought them in 1829 - 1839 period, and I have downloaded the images of the deeds. I thought he might have been in the War of 1812 but when I look at the rosters, I find only Josiah Frosts from NY and MA. He was still living in MD in 1812. Does anyone have any ideas where to look -- e.g. were there other wars he might have been in between 1812 and 1829? Could he have somehow purchased the right to these lands from a veteran? One of my research constraints is that I live in CA so I can't go to the source in Ohio or Maryland. Thanks, Charnee Smit