Daily Ancestor"The 20th ult." in a January paper
Weekly Messenger (Richmond, Ky.), January 7, 1853, page 3
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DIED.
In Rockcastle county on Monday the 20th
ult, JOHN CHASTEEN, in the 60th year of his age.
This notice ran in the Weekly Messenger of January 7, 1853. When did John Chasteen die?
Correct
Not quite
"ult." (ultimo) means last month. In a January 1853 paper, last month is December, and the year rolls back too: December 20, 1852. The calendar agrees, because December 20, 1852 fell on a Monday. "In the 60th year of his age" means he was 59.
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