Kay Derner-Brown wrote that her ancestor came to America in order not to be drafted in the army. JNM, NN and Marilyn wrote something similar. A very old aunt of mine told me that there was a story in the family that the first Paradies to come to Holland did so in 1853 as a deserter.
Are there more families with similar stories?
Could these stories have been introduced to hide the shame of leaving your country because of poverty or is there some truth in them?
Would there be sources in Oldenburg concerning deserters?
Carel Paradies