Ken and all, At 07:53 PM 1/12/01 -0500, Kenneth Whitney wrote: >WRG: > > I have an inquiry which I have faith one of our astute members can > answer. It is based on a statement made by F.C. Pierce in his Whitney > genealogy. On page 23, under #4. Richard (John) he makes the following > statement: > "Apr. 7, 1697, Richard Whitney of Stow, being 70 years of age, was > released from training by the court." > Does anyone in the group understand the meaning of that statement? I > would appreciate knowing its meaning. Thanks for you help. > > Ken Whitney > Silver Spring, MD Each town had a so-called "train band" who were a local militia defensive force. Every adult male between 16 and 60 years of age had to "train," that is, train in the use of arms and in the art of war, for protection of each town from marauders. Apparently Richard WHITNEY had passed the age of 60 and found the training burdensome. Thus he petitioned the court to be released, and this was granted. Regards, Robert Robert L. Ward WHITNEY Research Group <http://www.whitneygen.org/>