What happened to the Hessians?
What happened to the Hessians taken prisoner after the battle at Trenton?
This will have to be oral history without authentication. I don't have my source material to check. The part I know is what happened in Rockaway New Jersey.
First, who were those "Hessians"? They were mostly NOT professional soldiers.
We call them Hessians but they came from various minor principalities in what is now Germany. The Prince, Landgrave, whatever got a contract from the British to supply men. It was a money deal. His officers rounded up men, ordinary men, and marched them off. When they got to England they had neither uniforms or weapons. It was the responsibility of the Officer in charge of the larger unit to supply that out of his pocket. It was part of his responsibility that came with his commission.
Off they went to the colonies and the unfortunate encounter in Trenton. They were held there for awhile as prisoners. Then marched off somewhere else. That was delayed by another military action so they were sent back to Trenton. (sorry that I can't be more specific) In the 18th century officers could be patrolled or exchanged. Common soldiers were left to their fate. But they could be "lent out".
John Jacob Faesch had iron mines in Rockaway New Jersey. In 1780 he had a contract with the Congress to supply shot and shell for Washington's Army. Faesch needed men and applied to have Hessians. He specified in his list he would like a barber and a brewer if available. This was a good deal for the Hessians as Faesch was Swiss-German and could speak with them and understand their culture. I have forgotten how many men Faesch obtained.
Fast forward. Men employed in essential work were exempt from service in the army. But the army needs men. An officer arrives in Rockaway to impress men into the army. He comes to Faesch with a deal. He can "ransom" his men - money in exchange for having his laborers. Faesch is outraged. He refuses and says - Take them!. And the officer marches the men away. Next day Faesch has second thoughts, sends the money and gets his men back. He makes the men sign indenture papers to pay back the money.
The end of the war comes. At least some of the men want to go home. Faesch wants his money back. He goes to see the American officers and gets no satisfaction. He goes to see the British, "not our problem". Faesch never gets his money back. Most of the Hessians go home. But at least one of the families in Rockaway traces its lineage back to one of those Hessians.
This will have to be oral history without authentication. I don't have my source material to check. The part I know is what happened in Rockaway New Jersey.
First, who were those "Hessians"? They were mostly NOT professional soldiers.
We call them Hessians but they came from various minor principalities in what is now Germany. The Prince, Landgrave, whatever got a contract from the British to supply men. It was a money deal. His officers rounded up men, ordinary men, and marched them off. When they got to England they had neither uniforms or weapons. It was the responsibility of the Officer in charge of the larger unit to supply that out of his pocket. It was part of his responsibility that came with his commission.
Off they went to the colonies and the unfortunate encounter in Trenton. They were held there for awhile as prisoners. Then marched off somewhere else. That was delayed by another military action so they were sent back to Trenton. (sorry that I can't be more specific) In the 18th century officers could be patrolled or exchanged. Common soldiers were left to their fate. But they could be "lent out".
John Jacob Faesch had iron mines in Rockaway New Jersey. In 1780 he had a contract with the Congress to supply shot and shell for Washington's Army. Faesch needed men and applied to have Hessians. He specified in his list he would like a barber and a brewer if available. This was a good deal for the Hessians as Faesch was Swiss-German and could speak with them and understand their culture. I have forgotten how many men Faesch obtained.
Fast forward. Men employed in essential work were exempt from service in the army. But the army needs men. An officer arrives in Rockaway to impress men into the army. He comes to Faesch with a deal. He can "ransom" his men - money in exchange for having his laborers. Faesch is outraged. He refuses and says - Take them!. And the officer marches the men away. Next day Faesch has second thoughts, sends the money and gets his men back. He makes the men sign indenture papers to pay back the money.
The end of the war comes. At least some of the men want to go home. Faesch wants his money back. He goes to see the American officers and gets no satisfaction. He goes to see the British, "not our problem". Faesch never gets his money back. Most of the Hessians go home. But at least one of the families in Rockaway traces its lineage back to one of those Hessians.