Hello, fellow researchers. I'm new to the list and wonder if any of you are researching the Stevens family of Chester and/or Tancook Island, Nova Scotia. My 4G grandparents are Johann Georg Steebing / Steuben (later Stevens) and his first wife, Catherine Elizabeth Halter, the widow of Balthazar Weinacht. Georg was born about 1753 in Solms, Hessen-Kassel, Germany. He was on the muster rolls from 1775-1783 as a private in the Hessen-Kassel Regiment von Seitz, stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He stayed in Halifax after his military service and lived on Tancook Island, then in Chester, in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, until his death on 27 Jan 1831 in Chester. I have fairly complete information about the early Stevens family and would be happy to share what I have with anyone who is also researching this family. I am wondering if any of you could recommend any websites or books dealing specifically with the Hessian community of early Halifax. I haven't been able to find much information about this and would love to know more. If any of you could steer me in the right direction, I would greatly appreciate it. Ironically, it wasn't until I began my research that I learned I have a strong German heritage. My father always insisted that "Stevens" spelled with a "V" indicated Welsh origin and not English, never knowing that he was part German. My sister-in-law, who was born in Germany, was finally able after 20+ years of marriage to my brother to tell her parents that she had married a "good German boy." Needless to say, we're all very interested in this aspect of our ancesty. Thanks in advance for any help and advice you can give. Donna Stevens

> The taglines for this mailing list have been changed. Here are > the current settings; > Tag 1: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > For Hessian research in Canada contact the Marilyn Adams Genealogical Research Centre, Ameliasburg, Ontario e-mail 7thtownmagrc@kos.net or check the mail list archives of this list for address. > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=amrev-hessians > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/AMREV-HESSIANS-L > This list was started by Johannes Helmut Merz, Hessian researcher. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Tag 2: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Our mail list archives: > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=amrev-hessians > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/AMREV-HESSIANS-L > Try them they are a treasure grove of information. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Tag 3: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > HETRINA - "Hessische Truppen im Amerikanischen Unabhaengigkeitskrieg" > Six Volumes covering Hessen-Kassel, Hessen-Hanau, and Waldeck. > HETRINA does not cover Braunschweig/Brunswick, Ansbach- Bayreuth or Anhalt-Zerbst. Those are partly covered by other publications. > This list was started in 1998 by Johannes (John) Helmut Merz, and you will find his explanations about HETRINA in our mail list archives. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Tag 4: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Mail List archives are your best bet to find information, try > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=amrev-hessians > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/AMREV-HESSIANS-L > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Tag 5: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > To unsubscribe click on AMREV-HESSIANS-L-request@rootsweb.com > and write one single word unsubscribe in subject line and text field. > No other words or explanations or it won't work. > HONOR YOUR HESSIAN SOLDIER ANCESTOR - order our HESSIAN SOLDIER plaque - http://www.crbronzeworks.com/hessian/ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Tag 6: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > 6000 Hessian soldiers remained in North America after the Peace in 1783, the majority settled in the Eastern United States and Canada. > A quick check http://archiver.rootsweb.com/AMREV-HESSIANS-L > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Tag 7: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Please stick to our published subject - Hessian Soldiers of the > American Revolution, not WWII or the Civil War. No other Immigrants. > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=amrev-hessians > One more tip - do not use signature lines (with names) when posting. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Tag 8: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > The Source HETRINA has been discussed more often than anything > else, you find the explanations by checking our key word archive > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=amrev-hessians > You can find it by typing in "26 feb 1999" and look for HETRINA. > Or check the Threaded Archives for February 1999 - Hetrina publication. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Tag 9: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > The subject of this list - Hessian Soldiers of the American Revolution > No other wars - no other German immigrants. Please stick to the subject. > Please no signature lines, they confuse our mail list archives. > WANTED: Person with knowledge and time to run this list - no financial costs involved, only time and patience - talk to John Merz. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Tag 10: > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Taglines are supposed to give you instructions on how this AMREV-HESSIANS mail list works. Please read them faithfully, and then erase such taglines before sending out an answer to a message. This message was written by John Helmut Merz, the founder of this list. > One last word - Messages should not exceed what you can type > on two letter pages, if you want to say more, > make it two messages - Part one and Part two. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > >

Forwarded to AmRev-Hessians list without comment: by John Merz (first posting since Sunday - been sick with flu) ----- Original Message ----- From: Domenick Reese To: hessian@sympatico.ca Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 7:42 PM Subject: My ancestor was Johannes Christain Ries (Reese) Hello, I know he was from Hesse-Kassel. We was captured at the battle of trenton and exchanged and recaptured on the ship Molly. He pledged allegiance and fought with the Americans. He settle in Center County PA. Can you give me any information on him? His life in Germany and his life as a soldier. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you Domenick Reese

Date: Thu, 20 May 1999 12:12:45 -0700 From: John Helmut Merz <hessian@cgocable.net> To: AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <37445EAD.7FDE@cgocable.net> Subject: Re: Hessian Ancestor Johannes Ries Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit In reply to this query I submit the following: >From HETRINA III #11802-807: Ries, Johannes, born 1753/54 at Schrecksbach D3579, Private in Hesse- Kassel Regiment v.Knyphausen, 1.Comp., listed to be on leave on Muster Roll in 1775 (Reserve), and listed in Regt. Muster Roll as POW with following dates 2/1777, 9/1779, 9/1782, 11/1782, and 5/1783. There are no other entries for this soldier, no discharge or desertion date given. (Probably kept on POW list to collect his pay) There is also a Christian Ries listed, born 1754/55 at Schrecksbach, who also served in the same comp. of this Regt., and has the same dates entered on the Muster Roll. One Johannes Ries of the Hesse-Kassel Regt.Erbprinz died in the USA in Dec.1779. Trenton Prisoner list as published in JSHA Journal Vol.3/1 - 1985: Christian and Johannes Riess both listed as having been taken to Lancaster. >From the Lancaster Exchange lists as taken from Johannes Schwalm book: Ries, Johannes, KNY1, worked for Sebastian Graff, Lancaster. on Exchange list #1, sent from Lancaster, 17 June 1778 to Philadelphia. Same for Ries, Christian. On a list of Hessian and Waldeck prisoners received July 1778 from Wm.Attlee, Esq., Lancaster to be exchanged (published with the gracious permission of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Mr.J.Moody, Dir.) >From the Knyphausen Regt.: Christian and Johannes Ries.----------- Here the trail grows cold. John. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dallas R. Reese wrote: > Dear list and Mr. Merz: > Wondering if anyone on the list has info on my Fourth Great- Grandfather Johannes RIES who was a Hessian soldier in the Knyphausen > Regiment and was possibly captured at Trenton, NJ in 1776. <SNIP> > Dallas Reese DalAmyReese@compuserve.com Charlotte, NC

Hi, Mailing lists are run by the computers at rootsweb.com... the correct way to up date your email address is to unsubscribe from the old addy and resubscribe with the new one... or if your already suscribed with the new addy and want a certain email message in the archives to show your new addy then go to the archives find the message then use the exact subject line of the old message and resend the message to the list by copy pasting the message into a new email... the new email will then show your new email address and should be linked to the old.. if not at least a search will of the archives should bring both the new and the old message up.... hope that helps nelda list manager since 99, just not this list... Nelda L. Percival nee Gilpin, IBSSG Beatty #005 & #10; Graves #231 & #105 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gillock/ http://www.doodleartgraphics.com/

hOW DO YOU CHANGE YOUR EMAIL on record for this list? -----Original Message----- From: John Merz [mailto:hessian@sympatico.ca] Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 9:35 PM To: AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Dolly Graves married Hessian Johann David Arndt. ----- Original Message ----- From: David Sisson To: John Merz Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 9:08 PM Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Dolly Graves married Hessian Johann David Arndt. Hello John, No, I'm not on the Hessian list. Does the SAR have material on Hessians who never fought on the American side? whose only participation was marching up and down the colonies/states? Yes, David, hundreds of Hessians joined the Patriots and fought for Freedom, many of their descendants cherish their S.A.R. certification. John David ==== AMREV-HESSIANS Mailing List ==== 6000 Hessian soldiers remained in North America after the Peace in 1783, the majority settled in the Eastern United States and Canada. A quick check http://archiver.rootsweb.com/AMREV-HESSIANS-L

BlankIn October I was fortunate enough to spend some time going through the Hessian material at Carlisle Barracls new library and the Jos. Schwalm collection at Franklin and Marshall College. The material was immense and fascinating. By going through all the resources I could I was able to discern quite a few names that could well have later become my Dunmire surname. 1.Caspar Dormeyer under capt.v. Lohnusen and Gen. Breyman (Claus Reuter) Captured at Saratoga and served in Charlottesville,Va. and Ft. Loudoun, Winchester ,Va. 2. Fredrick Dormeyer musketeer Prince Fredrich unit obrist. (Smith) Desert in Quebeck, recaptured and supposedly at Saratoga. 3. Christian Dammeyer from Bindheim, musketeer Reg. von Riedesel (Reuter) indentured himself to remain in U.S. 4. Joh. Heinrich Christian Dammeyer a sheperd Ilse, Windham, Westphalia 5. Joh, Heinrich Dammeyer Reg v. Lossvurg co. #3 Neuman (Smith) Lancaster Barracks 6. Heinrich Dammeyer Fusilier under Knyphausen Marburg (Smith) Lancaster Barracks 7. Gotlieb Dommeyer Marburg (Hetrina) 8. John Dommer Jaeger Corps. von Creutzburg (Smith) I have read many of the bibliography books from both Carlisle and Schwalm. I am trying to obtain others including the Dohla, Slagle.. There are some Hist. Soc. material I will try and get copies of (Wildemuth, Tanner, Schaaber and Meiser ).I have ordered Volm, Miles on Winchester Barracks, Kipping and the diaries of Engl...... (sorry, it's late at night). Next I plan on searching each Historical Society and Co. Lib. of the prison locations. Lastly I will begin to read the census from each including 1820.Va.'s loss of early census doesn't help. Early church records should help too. My Dunmire's didn't own land until 1890 so those records are pretty useless to me! Anybody got any more ideas for me? I know the whole Hessian search is a long stretch but some family clues do help make me try and connect the 2 generational gap. Keep up the help. Ann agatha1@flash.net

This is embarrassing! The name of the firtst organization that I was referring to, and belong to, is the Sons of the Revolution - NOT the Sons of the American Revolution (a fine organization also). Sorry ----- Original Message ----- From: John Merz <hessian@sympatico.ca> Date: Sunday, January 9, 2005 10:34 pm Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Dolly Graves married Hessian Johann David Arndt. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Sisson > To: John Merz > Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 9:08 PM > Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Dolly Graves married Hessian Johann David > Arndt. > Hello John, > No, I'm not on the Hessian list. > > Does the SAR have material on Hessians who never fought on the > Americanside? whose only participation was marching up and down > the colonies/states? > > Yes, David, hundreds of Hessians joined the Patriots and fought for > Freedom, many of their descendants cherish their S.A.R. certification. > John > > David > > > ==== AMREV-HESSIANS Mailing List ==== > 6000 Hessian soldiers remained in North America after the Peace in > 1783, the majority settled in the Eastern United States and Canada. > A quick check http://archiver.rootsweb.com/AMREV-HESSIANS-L > >

Hi, I'd just like to mention that the Sons of the American Revolution welcomes men that are descendants of Revolutionary War soldiers, or others, that fought on the American side, or otherwise put their lives on the line for the American side. It's a similar (and older) organization the the Sons of the American Revolution, but the requirements are more stringent, concerning their definition of "service". Happy New Year everyone! Bill Smith - member of the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York and descendant of Daniel Engelcke (aka Angle), Brunswick/von Riedesel private (captured at Saragoga) and member of the Mass. Continental Army for three years. ----- Original Message ----- From: John Merz <hessian@sympatico.ca> Date: Sunday, January 9, 2005 10:34 pm Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Dolly Graves married Hessian Johann David Arndt. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: David Sisson > To: John Merz > Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 9:08 PM > Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Dolly Graves married Hessian Johann David > Arndt. > Hello John, > No, I'm not on the Hessian list. > > Does the SAR have material on Hessians who never fought on the > Americanside? whose only participation was marching up and down > the colonies/states? > > Yes, David, hundreds of Hessians joined the Patriots and fought for > Freedom, many of their descendants cherish their S.A.R. certification. > John > > David > > >

----- Original Message ----- From: David Sisson To: John Merz Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 9:08 PM Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Dolly Graves married Hessian Johann David Arndt. Hello John, No, I'm not on the Hessian list. Does the SAR have material on Hessians who never fought on the American side? whose only participation was marching up and down the colonies/states? Yes, David, hundreds of Hessians joined the Patriots and fought for Freedom, many of their descendants cherish their S.A.R. certification. John David

Hello Margaret, Thanks for writing - all I can do at this point in time is give you some directions - as you can see, I am forwarding your e-mail to the AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com mailing list and open your query up to the readers of that list. I would suggest to review the mail list archives, and since you are a Rootsweb supporter already, you'll know where to find us. Good luck in your search for your BIRD - (or Vogel) Cheers, John Merz ----- Original Message ----- From: Margaret To: hessian@sympatico.ca Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 7:18 PM Subject: Hessian research Hello John,I was searching on rootsweb for the names of Hessian deserters, or whatever you want to call them for wanting to stay in America, and wondered if you would check for a name for me. I am really reaching,but my husband's great great something grandfather was Abraham Bird/Byrd we think born in VA.We can't find anything on him except marriage and death and that he served in the War of 1812.But I found a book in our local library that said he went from IN back to KY to visit his father and could hardly understand him because he spoke such broken English,that he was from Germany. Now to get to my question,I wondered if you might have something on a Bird/Byrd or possibly Vogel(I understand that means Bird in German) that lived in VA or possibly KY.From what I understand he was living in KY when Abraham enlisted in the war of 1812 and also when he died.Abraham enlisted from Shelby Co.KY. Thank you for your time,I hope you have something or can head me in the right direction.Any help will be deeply appreciated. Margaret Green green702@claynet.com

Hi, I do have Vogel pre War in Germany.. anyone interested? Nelda Nelda L. Percival nee Gilpin, IBSSG Beatty #005 & #10; Graves #231 & #105 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gillock/ http://www.doodleartgraphics.com/

John, I have a Byrd that could be hers... would you ask her to write me as this isn't a Hessian but might be the son Abraham Bird she talks about.. Thanks Nelda Nelda L. Percival nee Gilpin, IBSSG Beatty #005 & #10; Graves #231 & #105 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gillock/ http://www.doodleartgraphics.com/

Margaret There is a Jonas Bird in the Rev War. He was from North Carolina. maybe related??? Had a son William who married Faitha Parker have you checked the early census?? Mary Anne ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Merz" <hessian@sympatico.ca> To: <AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 5:36 PM Subject: [HESSIAN] Re: Hessian research - BIRD - VOGEL > Hello Margaret, > Thanks for writing - all I can do at this point in time is give > you some directions - as you can see, I am forwarding your > e-mail to the AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com mailing list > and open your query up to the readers of that list. > I would suggest to review the mail list archives, and since you > are a Rootsweb supporter already, you'll know where to find us. > Good luck in your search for your BIRD - (or Vogel) > Cheers, > John Merz > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Margaret > To: hessian@sympatico.ca > Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 7:18 PM > Subject: Hessian research > > > Hello John,I was searching on rootsweb for the names of Hessian > deserters, or whatever you want to call them for wanting to stay in > America, and wondered if you would check for a name for me. > I am really reaching,but my husband's great great something grandfather > was Abraham Bird/Byrd we think born in VA.We can't find anything on him > except marriage and death and that he served in the War of 1812.But I > found a book in our local library that said he went from IN back to KY to > visit his father and could hardly understand him because he spoke such > broken English,that he was from Germany. > Now to get to my question,I wondered if you might have something on a > Bird/Byrd or possibly Vogel(I understand that means Bird in German) that > lived in VA or possibly KY.From what I understand he was living in KY when > Abraham enlisted in the war of 1812 and also when he died.Abraham enlisted > from Shelby Co.KY. > Thank you for your time,I hope you have something or can head me in the > right direction.Any help will be deeply appreciated. > > Margaret Green > > green702@claynet.com > > > ==== AMREV-HESSIANS Mailing List ==== > Mail List archives are your best bet to find information, try > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=amrev-hessians > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/AMREV-HESSIANS-L > >

Hello David, I am surprised to hear from you again after we discussed your Hessian on this list in 2001. Seems not much more information has come in since, and I can understand your frustration. Looking at your dates, there seems to be a small discrepency as far as his date of marriage is concerned. Our mail list archives show in a posting of 12.Nov.2001 that he married Dolly on 1. June 1784 and their first son David was born exactly 9 months later on 1. March 1785. This information was given by our subscriber Jane Curci, who is still participating on our list, perhaps she still has the sources of her data. Trusting that you will make some progress, I remain yours ruly, John Helmut Merz. ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Sisson" <dsisson2@rochester.rr.com> Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 3:54 PM > Source: CTMIDDLE-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Dolly GRAVES of 18th century Middletown > > Dorothy/Dolly Graves, widow of William Graves, of Middletown, CT, is my > most difficult brick wall. > > I descend from Dolly and her second husband. I am seeking her maiden > name and parentage. > > I have found no record of marriage for anyone named Dolly or Dorothy to > any William Graves in New England. There is only one record of such a > marriage anywhere in America during the right time, in the 1760s or > 1770s - the marriage of a William Graves and a Dolly Barker - which took > place on 20 September 1770 in Swedes' Church, Philadelphia. > > The "son of William and Dolly," a second William Graves, was born on 1 > August 1776 in Middletown (Barbour index). On 7 October 1782 Dolly was > named administratrix of William Graves' estate. > > On 6 July 1783 Dolly married John David Arent (aka Arnd and Arndt, a > Hessian soldier who had deserted his regiment) in Christ Church > (Episcopal), Middletown. The Middletown Vital Records call her "Dolly > Graves," widow of William Graves, and they date the marriage on 1 June > 1783, probably the date of their "intention" to marry. The records of > Christ Church, Middletown, show that "David Arnd" and "Mrs. Dorothy > Graves" were married 6 July 1783. (The church records are now held by > Holy Trinity (Episcopal) Church, Middletown, which absorbed Christ Church.) > > I'd appreciate any research ideas and would jump for joy for anyone's > recognition of Dolly or William. Thanks, > > David Sisson >

Hi David, Have you tried the Graves surname mailing list or the Graves family assoication.. . http://www.gravesfa.org/ They were quite helpful with my two Graves connections.... Nelda Nelda L. Percival nee Gilpin, IBSSG Beatty #005 & #10; Graves #231 & #105 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gillock/ http://www.doodleartgraphics.com/

Hello John and List: My document on Johann Friedrich Luecke is now up to 29 pages. I am still disappointed that I have been unable to find more documentation such as his marriage record and the birth records of more of his children. He married into the well-documented Stone family of New England, marrying Elizabeth (known as Betsey) Stone, daughter of Lieut. Abel Stone of Stark's Brigade. We also have good circumstantial evidence that he was connected to the Stone family. I have also found many land records in Vermont, a total of 16 land transactions documenting his existence there from 1783 to 1799, following which he moved to German Flats, Herkimer Co., New York and appears on the census there in 1800. John Luke and members of his family have also turned up in all US censuses from 1790 to 1830. In addition, his wife Betsey Luke, was found living with her daughter Hannah Beach in the Canadian 1851 census in Osgoode, Ontario, at the age of 88. This past summer, I met with Robert Webler who was on vacation in Nova Scotia with his wife, in Truro, NS. I showed him my document and he felt that there was enough there to profile John Frederick Luke for a possible article in the JHSA journal. We have been able to trace him practically his entire life on this side of the pond until his death on 15 Dec 1839 in South Gower, Ontario. As you know, enquiries concerning his birth record to the church in Elbe (previously Gross Elbe) have been disappointing, as the church records there are only reliable beginning in 1818 as they stated in an e-mail to me following my enquiry. THe family of his son, Levi Luke, were instrumental in tracing John Luke's family members throughout the 19th century, and we have texts of letters written in the 19th century between Luke family members and their Beach and Moon relatives in Ontario confirming his status in Burgoyne's army, inasmuch as such documents are able to verify such facts. At any rate, the document is currently being assessed by an editor of the JSHA journal for possible inclusion in a future issue. I have made it clear that this document is not solely my work, but a composite of contributions by many people, including you, Georglyn Lamphier of California, Ronald Patrick of Ontario, Lt.-Col Paul Ericksen and his wife Elsie and an article by a descendant of John's son Abel Luke. I will let you know the result of their assessment. Thank you again John for all your assistance and interest in my Hessian ancestor. Kind regards, Alice

Here's an article from <german.about.com>: ==================================================== What's with the German Christmas Pickle? It never fails. Every December someone asks about the German Christmas pickle ornament that's supposed to have a long tradition in Germany. Here's the pickle “legend” from one Web site: “A very old Christmas eve tradition in Germany was to hide a pickle [ornament] deep in the branches of the family Christmas Tree. The parents hung the pickle last after all the other ornaments were in place. In the morning they knew the most observant child would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas. The first adult who finds the pickle traditionally gets good luck for the whole year.” This Christmas pickle story, with a few minor variations, can be found all over the Web and in print inside the ornament package. It says that Germans hang a pickle-shaped glass ornament on the Christmas tree hidden away so it's difficult to find. The first child to find it on Christmas morning gets a special treat. Of course, anyone familiar with German Christmas customs can see the flaws in this “legend.” First of all, the German St. Nick doesn't show up on Christmas Eve. He arrives on the 5th or 6th of December. Nor do German children open their presents on Christmas morning. That happens on Christmas Eve in Germany. (See our German Christmas Guide for more about German Christmas customs.) But the biggest problem with the German pickle (saure Gurke) tradition is that no one in Germany has ever heard of it. Over the years this question has often come up on the AATG (German Teachers) forum. Teachers of German in the US and in Europe have never been able to find a native German who has even heard of the pickle legend, much less carried out this Christmas custom. It seems to have been some German-American invention by someone who wanted to sell more glass ornaments for Christmas. 1847 wurden die ersten Früchte und Nüsse aus Glas [in Lauscha] hergestellt, aus denen sich bald die Weihnachtsbaumkugeln entwickelten. Erst wurden diese mit einer Blei-Legierung verspiegelt, später sorgte Silbernitrat für den weihnachtlichen Glanz. - ZDF - (See German Christmas Ornaments for more about Lauscha and glass ornaments.) A number of years ago when she was About's “Germany for Visitors” Guide, Rita Mace Walston wrote an article about the Christmas pickle ornament tradition. Despite her German background, she also had never heard of it. She wrote: “I did some first-hand research, asking friends, acquaintances, and even a few Christmas market vendors if they knew of the custom. I consulted my family in Bavaria, my best friend in Swabia, and folks who hailed from the different regions of Germany. No one had a clue as to what I was talking about. One acquaintance wanted to know if I wasn't trying to pull one over on her...” Then Rita heard from someone who claimed to have an answer that might solve the mystery. A descendent of a soldier who fought in the American Civil War, John Lower (Hans Lauer?), born in Bavaria in 1842, wrote to tell about a family story that had to do with a Christmas pickle. According to family lore, “John Lower was captured and sent to prison in Andersonville, Georgia. ...In poor health and starving, he begged a guard for just one pickle before he died. The guard took pity on him and found a pickle for John Lower. According to family legend, John said that the pickle—by the grace of God—gave him the mental and physical strength to live on. Once he was reunited with his family he began a tradition of hiding a pickle on the Christmas tree. The first person who found the pickle on Christmas morning would be blessed with a year of good fortune.” Whether this Bavarian-American pickle story is true or not, and if it really gave rise to the Christmas pickle legend or not is open to question. It's a long way from a real pickle and a glass pickle ornament! The Civil War ended in 1865, but glass Christmas tree ornaments did not become popular in the US until around 1880, when F.W. Woolworth began importing them from Germany. However, one thing is certain: the “German” Christmas pickle tradition is neither German nor a tradition in Germany. The Lauscha Connection There may be, however, a somewhat tenuous German connection to the glass pickle ornament. As previously mentioned, glass Christmas ornaments were being produced in Germany. As early as 1597, the small town of Lauscha, now in the German state of Thuringia (Thüringen), was known for its glass-blowing (Glasbläserei). The small industry of glass-blowers produced drinking glasses and glass containers. In 1847 a few of the Lauscha craftsmen began producing glass ornaments (Glasschmuck) in the shape of fruits and nuts. These Glaskugeln were made in a unque hand-blown process combined with molds (formgeblasener Christbaumschmuck). Soon these unique Christmas ornaments were being exported to other parts of Europe, as well as England and the US. Today Lauscha exports pickle ornaments to the US—where they are sold along with the fake German tradition story. As far as I know, the pickle ornaments are not marketed in Germany at all. ===================================================== George McCallum (in direkter Linie abstammen von J.L.Kratz)

Hello Nelda: I have no idea what region of Germany this custom would have originated, but here is the text from a small card included in the box in which the pickle arrived, a gift from my daughter-in-law when I first found out about our Hessian ancestor. "In Germany, the pickle is considered a symbol of good luck. Traditionally, on Christmas Eve, parents decorated the tree, hiding the pickle amongst the branches. The lucky child who found the pickle was rewarded with an extra gift. May this ornament be the start of a new Christmas tradition in your family". It sounded like a fun thing so I started this new tradition right away and we have enjoyed it ever since. Our other ancestry is overwhelmingly French and Scottish, so this was a nice change from these other traditions, although I have no idea if our Hessian ancestor ever participated in such a tradition. Alice Garner

Dear fellow Hessians - I can't help it - I am hanging on the CNN News day and night, Aaron Brown reporting with great emotions from Sri Lanka, Harrison Cooper from Thailand, and with their reports you are right with them in the middle of the tragic events. President Busch announced help and 350 Million U.S.Dollars, Japan even more, and so goes the reporting, money flowing to the South East Asia region hit so hard. I just hope they keep some money here for our poor, helpless and homeless, and for those in our hemisphare, like Haiti. But I have not heard one news service reporting on the contributions and help Germany is providing. Reading the Internet webseite of German newspapers, I learn that the German Government has pledged 500 Million Euros, equivalent to US$660 Million to the Tsunami affected areas. This is the largest financial help of all. The unemployment rate in Germany is over 10 percent, how can they do it? Whoever doubts this statement, please ckeck under www.google.de Please do not respond to me about this, support Colin Powell and the two former Presidents in their efforts to help the world. We are all in the same boat ! John Helmut Merz Canada.