Soldiers who chose to settle in the country were often given land grants, and depending on the jurisdiction, were treated as well as the Loyalists. Hessian soldiers played a large role in the American Revolutionary War. He is also known as the Headless Horseman, and is the secondary antagonist of the 1999 horror fantasy film Sleepy Hollow. 1959. The extent and severity The settlement of former German auxiliary troops in Canada after the . How can I find the names on rosters of Hessian soldiers, particularly those who may have settled in the NY area? Again, in 1745 during the Scots Rebellion, 7,000 Hessians were hired to help garrison England and Scotland. 6 vols. He was 20 when America declared its independence. Revolutionary War, the Landgrave Frederick II of Hesse-Kassel and other German leaders hired out thousands of conscripted soldiers. The Hessians of Upper Canada by Johannes Helmut Merz. These German soldiers were sent by the thousands to America to reinforce the British. The first members of the Knatz family who came to the United States came as Hessian soldiers. The presence of German prisoners of war in Reading, Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary War has been covered by various authors since Andrew Schaaber in 1910 ("The Hessian Camp at Reading, Pa., 1781-83," The Pennsylvania German, Aug., 1910). The term Hessian Soldiers generally refers to German auxiliary troops hired by Great Britain to fight in the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) alongside British troops. The German Battalion suffered most severely. ''If anyone in the Middle Atlantic States has any idea that his or her ancestor was a Hessian, the first place to look is on this list.'' The names of nearly all the more than 1,000 soldiers . 39° 50.384′ N, 75° 4.829′ W. Marker is in Glendora, New Jersey, in Camden County. Hessian Soldiers 40 to 50 who died of wounds from the battle of Fort Mercer names known only to God. Sincerely, Cindy S. Drake. by John Merz Names of Ansbach - Bayreuth Troops during and after the Revolutionary War, by Jochen Seidel Waldeck deserters in Louisiana listed by name by John Merz, also can be found in the mailing lists archives List of 10,000 Revolutionary Soldiers 1775-1783. The database also usually states when each soldier was recruited, appointed, transferred, took leave, died, and/or deserted. The presence of German prisoners of war in Reading, Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary War has been covered by various authors since Andrew Schaaber in 1910 ("The Hessian Camp at Reading, Pa., 1781-83," The Pennsylvania German, Aug., 1910). Rather, they were generally excellent soldiers. They were principally drawn from the German state of Hesse-Cassel, although soldiers from other German states also saw action in America. They were called Hessians for two reasons: One them being that, out of the 30,000 that fought in the American Revolution, a group of 12,000 soldiers came from Hesse-Cassel, German; all the others came from various German villages. "A Hessian Diary of the American Revolution" By Johann Conrad Dohla. Ewing's soldiers would work to prevent the Hessians from retreating from Trenton. Larry Wildemuth elaborated on the encampment in 1970 ("Hessians and the Citizens of Reading.". Other Hessian forces had heard the first shots being fired at the Americans and began to regroup along the major streets in Trenton to overpower them. Brunswick sent 5,723 men, Waldeck sent 1,225 men, Brandenburg-Anspach sent 1,040 men, and Anhals . Simply type in a Hessian town name like "Nentershausen" or a name like "Schuchardt," and see all the Hessians who fought in the American Revolution from that town or with that name. Hessians suffered significant losses with 22 dead, 83 wounded, and nearly 1,100 troops captured. Hessian soldiers in the American Revolution: records of their marriages and baptisms of their children, in America, performed by the Rev. Additionally, we suggest the following sources concerning the Hessians held prisoner at Reading, Pennsylvania: Andrew Schaaber, "The Hessian Camp at Reading, Pa., 1781-83," The Pennsylvania German, Aug., 1910. If your last name is Schneider, Sigman, Henry, or André, or it has "von" in it, you may be of German descent. 4. My husband has a Hessian soldier ancestor who deserted, married, and lived the rest of his life in the United States. Americans only suffered 2 dead and 5 wounded. Johann was born February 11, 1756, in Waldeck, one of the six principalities to rent troops to the British. The Hessian soldiers who capture . The farm of Cornelius and Elizabeth Van Tassel was burnt down by Hessian and British soldiers in 1777. A Hessian soldier made a natural choice for this fearsome ghost. In the next article I will discuss sources which can be used when searching for "Hessian Soldier" ancestors. The entire collection was transferred to the National Archives in 1938. Hessian Books and Research The Hessians and the American Revolution He had a high sense of social hierarchy and often was despised by his peers. — vanityfair.com, 24 Jan. 2017 A gust of wind lifted a roadside . Many reasons were behind this declaration, including excessive . German soldiers whose service was purchased by King George to fight against the American rebels. The loyal German auxiliary soldiers of King George III, who settled in America after the American Revolution (1776-1783). Most Hessian soldiers were born between 1736 and 1760. Please understand that we cannot conduct research concerning specific soldiers, nor can we conduct searches for the name of an ancestor "thought to have been a Hessian". This is a compilation of the names of soldiers by Dr. Inge Auerbach of the Staatsarchiv (State . It details the daily life of a solider and at the same time it gives a good number of names of other Hessian Soldiers who served. During the U.S. 1574) Anna(b. Soldiers who chose to settle in the country were often given land grants, and depending on the jurisdiction, were treated as well as the Loyalists. Unanhängigkeitskrieg" (Hetrina) (Hessian troops in the American Revolution). Hessiam Soldiers were at the very end of the supply route. Date: April 19, 1775 - September 3, 1783 . Location. A word that inspired fear in Washington's army. They were hired mercenaries, used by the British to fight American colonial forces. The Hessian Soldiers were German Regiments hired through their rulers by the British Empire. Nor is there direct evidence that he was a Hessian soldier, but circumstances point to his service in this army of conscripts who faced harsh discipline. Nebraska State Historical Society. Have you ever wondered what happened to them? Recent Examples on the Web Remember that iconic image of Washington crossing the Delaware to make a surprise attack on the Hessians? Historical Review of Berks County. As the majority of the German troops came from Hesse, Americans use the term "Hessians" to refer to all German troops fighting on the British side. At the time, Washington's troops were in bad shape. The Hessians of Nova Scotia by Johannes Helmut Merz. Hessian / Henning Graveyard The Hessians were Eighteenth Century Soldiers. Hessian Soldiers and Organizations in the American Revolution (1775-1783) Hessian regiments that deployed to America and fought there during the American Revolutionary War included: Hesse-Cassel: (12,805 troops) But even with the myths of the rapacious Hessian hussars dispelled, the comparison makes . Larry Wildemuth elaborated on the encampment in 1970 ("Hessians and the Citizens of Reading.". Most of the rolls are from 1781 and 1783 and include lists for soldiers captured at Yorktown. Reitz(d. 1643, Sehlucturm(? This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War of 1812 • War, US Revolutionary. Those who think they may be a descendant should stop by the SAR table at the on Saturday, or write to the Hessian Descendant Project at PO Box 3712, Frederick, Md., 21701, send an email to hessian . I am particularly interested in Parker Zar/Zarr, naturalized in 1821, lived in Bedford (Chestnut Ridge), Westchester County,NY, and died in 1824. Cincinnati: The C. J. Krehbiel Co. Coster, G.C and Marie Paula Dickore. Hessians got their name as many of these soldiers were from Hesse-Kassel in Germany. No marriage data has been found to date. "According to unconfirmed family records, she married a Hessian soldier who deserted the British and fought for some period with American patriots. Hessians were greatly feared by Americans during the Revolutionary War. The term "Hessians" refers to the approximately 30,000 German troops hired by the British to help fight during the American Revolution. In the time of the Yankee Doodle Spies . In 1776, the Thirteen Colonies declared the United States of America to be independent from Great Britain. The name Katrina likely came from Elanor's aunt, Catrina. American skirmishers in front of the main army ambushed the approaching columns of British and Hessian soldiers, then withdrew before their superior force. What's interesting is that the real Van Tassels may have ties to the Hessian soldier. They took their name from the German state of Hesse-Kassel. In fact, 3,000 Hessian soldiers chose to remain in American after the Revolution was over. Great Britain hired 34,000 German soldiers, of which more than half, 18,000, were from the Principality of Hesse-Kassel, which resulted in all German soldiers being generalized as "Hessians.". Hessian soldiers also wore black boots with a semi-pointed toe, designed to make it easier for the soldier to slip his foot into a stirrup, and a tassel at the top of the boot which fell just below the knee. Brunswick sent 5,723 men, Waldeck sent 1,225 men, Brandenburg-Anspach sent 1,040 men, and Anhals . For headgear, most Hessians wore the black tricorne hat worn by American troops but Hessian grenadiers wore a tall hat with a brass plate. Lincoln, NE 68501-2554. cdrake@nebraskahistory.org. This was an ambitious plan, one that even well rested and . 1584) About 900 Hessian soldiers and officers were taken prisoner by General Washington and the Continental Army following the Battle of Trenton on December 26, 1776. G. C. Coster, 1776-1783, chaplain of two Hessian regiments. (FHL 971.6 D3mj). This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Journals, correspondence, and orders relating to the service of German troops in North America, 364 microfiches. Marburg: Archivschule, 1971-1976, 1987-. The victory inspired new hope for the Patriot Army. The country of Hesse-Kassel was located between two parts of Prussia between some of their major military routes (Showalter). This publication includes personal data files of 235 Hessian Soldiers. (LDS microfilms 1,020,516 item 6-7 and 1,020,542 items 5-6) Indexes from this series list each soldier's name, year of birth, place of origin, rank, and military unit and the source of the information. The remaining soldiers were from states such as Anhalt-Zerbst, Anspach-Beyreuth, Brunswick, Hannover, Hesse-Hanau, and Waldeck. Hessians! . Other references include Claus Reuter's Brunswick Troops in North America, 1776-1783, and Clifford Neal Smith's Monographs. The British advance halted as they confronted the American front line, and they took up opposing positions on Quaker Hill, Turkey Hill and Almy Hill on the south side of this valley. PDF (Personal Data Files) of Hessian Soldiers . The rolls contain details such as the rank and names of the Hessians, casualties, and remarks, such as "sick in the Barracks." These rolls are certified by British commanding officers. 1567) Elsa(son b. The Hessian was a mercenary sent by German princes during the Revolutionary War. The rest decided to make their way in the new United States or head to Canada to try out a new life up there. The second reason was that the name "Hessians" was another word for saying "assassin". Hessians were German mercenaries hired by the British army to fight in the American Revolution. To enlist the services of a professional genealogist in your area and/or locally in researching your ancestor, a list of researchers is provided through the Association of Professional Genealogists (We cannot/will not offer . The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.. American Revolution Quick Facts. They were professional soldiers, and the Americans mere farmers who had already lost New York. 5. His given name was Jacob and we believe he was born abt. Supplies were low, and the soldiers were losing hope that they would ever be able to defeat the British. Aftermath 1500 R Street, P.O. These men were hunted by the British for being deserters, and by many of the colonists as an enemy. That generation would be men of age 20 to 40 in the period of the Revolutionary War, 1776 to 1783. The meaning of hessian is a native of Hesse. The names of the Hessian soldiers are never revealed in the story. Friederich Wilhelm II, Landgraf of Hesse Cassel, was the most renowned of the German prince-lings and he had the best mercenary force on the continent. contingent of Hessians under General von Knyphausen to abandon the [29] initial attack. They were called "Hessians," because a good proportion came Hessen-Kassel, but Braunschweig (Brunswick)-Wolfenbüttel,. This book includes biographies of 190 Hessian Soldiers. The English hired Hessian soldiers during the War of the League of Augsburg, the War of the Spanish Succession, the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. SOURCES FOR HESSIAN SOLDIERS Undoubtedly, one of the major events in genealogical research into the descendents of Hessian soldiers occurred in 1976 with the publication of the "HETRINA" (Hessische Truppen im Amerikanischen Unabhangigkeitskrieg). I am particularly interested in Parker Zar/Zarr, naturalized in 1821, lived in Bedford (Chestnut Ridge), Westchester County,NY, and died in 1824. They were highly trained soldiers and had a "take no prisoners" attitude. — Erin Blakemore, Smithsonian, 4 May 2017 A gust of wind lifted a roadside hessian screen, revealing Hitler's army, mustered for the invasion. The account of one Hessian soldier, found in The History of Chester County, Pennsylvania, states that, "We killed three hundred of the rebels with the bayonet. The Sons of the American Revolution are looking for descendants of the Hessian soldiers who settled in the newly formed United States after the . the hessians were professional soldiers that were hired to fight for britain that needed mercenaries "Hessian" is a name given to all German troops deployed by the Crown Forces during the American . Here is an alphabetical list of Revolutionary Soldiers "compiled chiefly from The Depreciation Account books in the office of the Auditor General of Pennsylvania". 1760 in Germany. Topics. I stuck them myself like so many pigs, one after the other, until the blood ran out of the . Hessian Documents of the American Revolution, 1776-1783, MG23 K38. Records copied from the Provincial Archives of Wolfenbüttel, Germany. Even the spelling of his name varies. The Hessian army originated when King Charles of Hesse-Kassel adopted the system of hiring out soldiers to foreign powers as mercenaries to help improve the national finance (Reese). Want to know the worldwide geographical distribution of your surname? It is a good read, and at times rather fun. ), Hesse, Germany) Reitz(m. 1604) Theophilis(d. 1598) Thonges(a pet form of Anthonius) (m. 1584) Werner(granddaughter m. 1584) Women's Names Anna(of Neunenhess., daughter b. Bayer, Karl Gottlieb (Beyer) Hesse-Cassel, Leipzig; Assistant Medical Officer; von Bose Co. 5; HETRINA Vol II; Deserted on 5 June 1779 while enroute to NYC from Dobbs Ferry; Took oath of allegiance to PA on 13 Nov 1782 as Carl Beyer; Married Polly Heilman and settled in Lewisburg, PA. Hessian officer (later General) Adam Ludwig Ochs estimated 1,800 Hessian soldiers were killed, but many in the Hessian army intended on staying in America, and remained after the war.. Because the majority of German troops came from Hessen, Americans sometimes refer to all German troops generically as " Hessians ". Hessians /ˈhɛʃən/ is the term given to the 18th century German auxiliaries contracted for military service by the British government, which found it easier to borrow money to pay for their service than to recruit its own soldiers. Eleanor Van Tassel Brush is likely to be the inspiration for Katrina Van Tassel. Dates and Places of birth for everyone should be . At the commencement of the war, King George III of Great Britain needed additional troops to increase his fighting power. The Hessian troops were completely surrounded and were forced to surrender. During the battle, Colonel Rall was fatally wounded. Significant Hessian Officers Carl Emilius Ulrich von Donop - Donop was thirty-six years old during the American Revolutionary War and was a well-connected, albeit arrogant, aristocrat. Although its contents span the period 1629-1915, the . Library Curator. But then tactical mistakes and rivalry on the part of some American commanders and a superb strategy of the British and Hessian forces led to a disastrous defeat. A popular myth following the American Revolution was the story of the headless Hessian soldier. Names of Additional Soldiers not found in the Hessian Guide - Link (Can't find your Hessian check here, if you have your solider and proof of units list him here.) For genealogical and ancestry purposes, the Association's website provides particularly valuable information. There is also important information about the meaning of your last name, its most popular first names and the genealogy of your last name. The Society's website and its publication The Hessians are its main educational resources. He was given command over the highly coveted Jåger corps. 1572) Anna(daughter m. 1584) Anna(m. 1609) Elizabeth(1589) Elizabeth(son b. Hessian descendants: SAR wants to talk to you. A STRAIGHT-LINE GENEALOGY consists of names for everyone in a line of descendants from the Hessian to someone of the present generation. Last name directory. According to The Hessian Web Page compiled by Matt Kriebe, the state of Hessen-Kassel sent 17,000 officers and soldiers, Hesse-Hanau sent 2,422 men officers and men, while other so-called "Hessians" "actually came from all over what is now Germany. In the next article I will discuss sources which can be used when searching for "Hessian Soldier" ancestors. Though used in several conflicts, they are most widley associated with combat operations in the American Revolution. Deployment Hessian troops included Jägers, hussars, three artillery companies, and four battalions of grenadiers. Washington and his troops wasted little time moving their new prisoners away from the scene of the battle, says Pat Seabright, a historical interpreter at Washington Crossing Historic Park. Nicholas Bahner (t), Jacob Strobe, George Geisler, and Conrad Kramm are a few of the Hessian soldiers who deserted the British forces after being returned in exchange for American prisoners of war. Great Britain: Army, German Auxiliaries and Hessian Troops, MG 23 K35. Greene and Sullivan joined their troops together in hopes of containing the Hessians in one area. Washington attacked the Hessian military base in Trenton, New Jersey, on Christmas Day 1776. (FHL 971.3 D3m). Box 82554. Larry Wildemuth, "Hessians and the Citizens of Reading.". Hessian Soldiers of "OUR" Members and Others . Story in JSHA 1989 Journal (The Hessians of Lewis Miller). Statewide Cemetery Registry Coordinator. According to The Hessian Web Page compiled by Matt Kriebe, the state of Hessen-Kassel sent 17,000 officers and soldiers, Hesse-Hanau sent 2,422 men officers and men, while other so-called "Hessians" "actually came from all over what is now Germany. As to when 'Hessian' became 'hesher' and started getting applied to owners of sleeveless Slayer tees and bitching Camaros, well, that's less well-recorded. Researcher, John Merz who has devoted significant time to uncovering the names of Hessian soldiers who both survived the war and remained in America, states "The name MUELLER/MILLER has covered quite a few Hessians, there are a total of 15 Trenton prisoners with that name, but fortunately only one Christian, of the Hessen-Kassel Regiment v . ''If anyone in the Middle Atlantic States has any idea that his or her ancestor was a Hessian, the first place to look is on this list.'' The names of nearly all the more than 1,000 soldiers . Canada and the German mercenaries of the American Revolution. The S# numbers are explained on these pages. incorporated into the English Army. Their name originated from the fact that the many of the soldiers (almost 13,000) came from the germanic state of Hesse-Cassel, as did their commander General Wilhelm von Knyphausen. His name was Josef William Bennett and he was the second son of William Robert Bennett II and Maria Robecht, born to them on the 29th September 1752. In 1914 and 1915, under authority of an act of March 2, 1913 (37 Stat. 723), the War Department made photographic copies of Revolutionary War records in the custody of public and private institutions in VA, NC, and MA. Josef William Bennett was an Officer in the British Army who had been seconded to the Hesse . 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