Yes they did. I have a few of those in my own family history - a long list of them so it must be in our blood.
One of my ancestors was a Civil War Vet that lied about his age to join one of the Iowa regiments. He was 15. Even my own father tried that one to join the Air Force back in the early fifties. I think he was almost 17 at the time. They weren't buying it. He went back when he turned 18 and joined. He was stationed in Germany. It wasn't hard to figure out he was lying because both my parents never looked their age. Even when he was 25 he was still being carded to buy cigarettes.
I have an ancestor that was under George Washington's command. He was just a kid - about 16 and was a drummer. The first 3 drums that were shot up the government replaced. The last few he had to pay for himself. Those guys were always in the front. Some real cajones for a young guy - or really stupid. Maybe both.
15 year olds used to lie about being older so that they could shoot redcoats in this country
Yes they did. I have a few of those in my own family history - a long list of them so it must be in our blood.
One of my ancestors was a Civil War Vet that lied about his age to join one of the Iowa regiments. He was 15. Even my own father tried that one to join the Air Force back in the early fifties. I think he was almost 17 at the time. They weren't buying it. He went back when he turned 18 and joined. He was stationed in Germany. It wasn't hard to figure out he was lying because both my parents never looked their age. Even when he was 25 he was still being carded to buy cigarettes.
I have an ancestor that was under George Washington's command. He was just a kid - about 16 and was a drummer. The first 3 drums that were shot up the government replaced. The last few he had to pay for himself. Those guys were always in the front. Some real cajones for a young guy - or really stupid. Maybe both.