The presence of multiple men of the same name in your ancestor’s community can make confirming Revolutionary War service challenging. How do you know that it was your ancestor who served and not the other man of the same name? Learning how the militia functioned in your state can help.
In New England, militia officers were often nominated or elected by their community. Connecticut officers were nominated by their companies.[1] The nomination was then forwarded to the General Court and finally to the governor for commissioning.[2] It seems logical that an older individual would be more likely to have the respect of the community and earn that nomination – so an election can be a viable marker of age at time of service.
[1] Acts and Laws of His Majesties Colony of Connecticut in New England, 79.
[2] Acts and Laws of His Majesties Colony of Connecticut in New England, 79.