On 3/9/2012 8:12 AM, Ruth Barton wrote: > > ==================== > Joan Bixby started all this with a seemingly innocuous transcription > (thank you Joan!!): > -------------------- > Source, The Brandon (Vt) Post--Thurs. July 11, 1850. > DIED. In Perkinsville, on the 5th ult., Capt. Ephraim S. Martin, aged 66. > -------------------- > > 4. The deceased is given a military title. In 1850, this would have > suggested one of the following, although other possibilities exist: ... > > OR: It was simply a title he acquired for some reason, having nothing to > do with military, as sometimes happens. Ruth Ruth: Yes, there are (as I said) "other possibilities". But if I were researching this in more detail, I would make the assumption that the title was military. It is by far the most likely to prove true. Darrell