Who Were Hessian Soldiers in the American Revolution?

Learn More from Kris White, Deputy Director of Education at the American Battlefield Trust.

[bobwallace]

Not only did a bunch stay on after the war but ones that returned home picked up their wife and family and moved back to America.

[robertsutphen]

There is a burial ground in Fort Ticonderoga NY . It only has an historical marker mentioning it is a burial site of many European/foreign soldiers. There are no marked graves or headstones. I pay my respects to these Lost & unknown soldiers even though they were enemies of my country.

[Jesusiscominglookup]

My 5th great grandfather was a life guard to George Washington and served during the winter of Valley Forge. Deo Vindice.

[Sons_Of_Liberty_]

My 7th great grandfather was a hessian soldier Arnold Haupt. My 5th great grandfather was a Patriot, Son of Liberty, and Boston Tea Party participant Thomas White. Gives me joy to know my blood has the revolution of the United States in it.

[TheWolfElder]

My ancestor was a hessian. He was captured by Washington, held in Lancaster, and went home after the war.

[rmanVC]

My father's first ancestor here in America was a Hessian soldier who stayed. 😂

[gregoryzechmeister]

My Brother-in-law Jack Railing from Poughkeepsie New York . His first ancestor in America . Was a Hessian soldier, who stayed for his own Freedom.

[jollygoodfellow]

Legend has it one Hessian lost his head and haunts a Hollow that is Sleepy.

[fannybuster]

I think most of the Hessians settled in Pennsylvania, its full of German Ancestry

[geraldpawlish]

The painting used as a thumbnail is Jaegers Advance at Thornbury Farm Battle of Brandywine 1777 by Pamela Patrick White

[Humina_Humina]

Phillip Hinkle (Hinckel) (1751-1835)
Hanau Regt. Erbprinz.
By: Butch Willard Phillip is my 6th or 7th G-grandfather (RH Hinkle)
Phillip Hinkle was a soldier from the German province of Hesse-Hanau Erprinz. Coming through Canada to America in Dec of 1776 as part of British General John Burgoyne’s Army, Phillip was captured and taken prisoner by the Americans near Albany, New York on Oct. 17, 1777 and eventually transported to prisoner barracks in Albemarle County, Virginia. Phillip deserted the Albemarle Barracks June 20, 1780. He was 28 years old at the time and made his way to the Shenandoah Valley, reaching a well established German settlement near Harrisonburg, Virginia. There he blended in with his countrymen, thus escaping recapture by the British. It is believed that soon after his escape Phillip opted to join the Americans and fought with the Rockingham, VA Militia.

Phillip married a Pennsylvania girl by the name of Barbara Fulmore (daughter of Lewis Fulmore) on April 5, 1782 at Peaked Mountain Church in Rockingham Co., VA. Phillip later moved to Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia) and lived in a community called “Unus” (near Frankford). He owned and operated a store until his death on June 28, 1835. The couple had six sons: Philip born in 1787, Samuel born 1789, Jacob born 1786, John born 1785, Samuel born 1793 and Abraham born 1802. The couple had three daughters: Clare HINKLE Shirley born 1792, Polly HINKLE Branc born 1796 and Elizabeth HINKLE Correll born 1803. The names Philip, Jacob, Samuel and John are common in successive Hinkle generations. Phillip died at the home of his daughter, Elizabeth Correll and was buried at the McClintic Family Cemetery, Williamsburg District, Greenbrier Co, VA (WV) in 1835.

Philip II was a successful surveyor and county commissioner in Greenbrier County. Philip II married Nancy Ann Williams who was born around 1800 and the daughter of John “Captain Jack” Williams and Martha “Patsie” McMillion.

Philip II's son, John, born April 15, 1814, married Lydia HANNA, born December 20, 1820. She was the daughter of Nathan Hanna and Nancy Alice MCCOY. John and Lydia moved from Greenbrier Co., VA (WV) to Nicholas Co., VA (WV) about 1858. John’s uncle Abraham (youngest son of Phillip Hinkle Sr.) purchased property in Nicholas County, known as Hinkle Mountain, in 1828. John and Lydia were the parents of 13 children, one of whom, Philip III, was elected to the West Virginia State Legislature.

Philip III married Mary Elizabeth SPENCER. The couple raised ten children. Their son, WillardGrant Hinkle, was my great grandfather. Willard married Ellen McClintic BRIGHT. They resided next to the Nicholas County, WV home place where John and Lydia raised their family.

Willard Grant Hinkle and Ellen BRIGHT Hinkle raised two children, Wallace Benjamin and Nannie Lucille. Wallace married Lela Irene PERKINS Hinkle. Nannie Lucille Hinkle married Gerald Shawver. Wallace Hinkle was my grandfather. Their daughter, Phyllis Arden HINKLE Willard, is my mother. I’m very proud of my heritage and admire the journey from which I’ve arrived.

[patriciaaturner]

My paternal 4th GGF was a member of the Hessian mercenary units, but he wasn’t a Hessian by birth; he was Swiss, born in Reinach, Canton Aargau. He deserted some time before Yorktown and stayed in North Carolina.

[ladolcevita-kb]

My German hubby is from Kassel in Hesse Germany. This is so interesting because we recently found relatives in the us dating back from this period. Also we're both big Tim Burton fans and we love sleepy hollow 😁

[jonathanowen]

Good overview of the Hessian soldiers 🇺🇸🇩🇪

[chancewebster]

I kind of knew the answer before this video. But, much more knowledgeable now. Another great video.

[blukeblue]

Great information. Do some more of these please.

[loriminnesota]

My Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather...might even be more 'Greats' in there than that...came over from Germany as a Hessian soldier during the American Revolution. After the war, he went back to Germany, promptly married his sweetheart, and they returned to the colonies on the very first ship they could get. He loved it here, could definitely see why the colonists were fighting so hard for their freedom, and assimilated.

[dagruddicker]

great info and nicely presented! keep it up.

[The_PaleHorseman]

My 5th great grand parents came here with their 8 kids because my family were hessians BEFORE the revolution and they came here to escape in 1749 on board the ship HMS Phoenix. They would land in Philadelphia and make their way west toward present day Irwin PA and would serve in the American revolution on the frontier fighting in a unit called Trubys Rangers for the Colonies. Not all Hessians were bad. Most were forced here against their will and had no say.

[KenseiSwords]

My great x6 grandfather was a Hessian soldier from Solms who retired to Nova Scotia after the war for independence.