Just a small correction is in order. The ARCHER was not lost, but rather was separated from the fleet and eventually made it's way to Halifax and then to Prince Edward Island (then St. John's) where that part of the regiment spent the winter of 1779-80. The regiment then went on to Quebec the next summer. Best regards, Fred Vickerson -------Original Message------- From: Nelda Percival Date: 4/8/2005 6:32:21 PM To: AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [HESSIAN] RE: Michelsberg #1 Copy sent to list ----Original Message Follows---- From: "Bob Brooks" <rcbrooks@pivot.net> To: <AMREV-HESSIANS-L@rootsweb.com>, <Aumag@web.de> Subject: Michelsberg Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2005 12:27:59 -0600 Herr Gobel -- The three men from Michelsberg whom you mention all served in America in infantry companies of the Regiment von Knyphausen. The garrison town of that regiment was Ziegenhain and I understand that some early records are at the fortress there; however, the majority of the records of the Regiment von Knyphausen for the period of the American War of Independence are at the Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg. The records have been indexed in _Hessische Truppen im Amerikanischen Unabhängigkeitskrieg (HETRINA), Index nach Familiennamen, Bd. III_. HETRINA's code for the Regiment von Knyphausen is KNY followed by the number designating the company; i.e, KNY1 through KNY5. The Regiment von Knyphausen can not be considered a "lucky regiment" because: 1. The majority of the Regiment v. Knyphausen was captured 26 Dec 1776 at Trenton, New Jersey. The Prisoners of War (POWs) were sent originally to Philadelphia and then moved to various locations elsewhere in Pennsylvania. An attempt was made to exchange these POWs in June 1778, just prior to the British evacuation of Philadelphia in mid-June 1778, however, the exchange missed occurring by several days. The exchange finally was made in July and August 1778 in the vicinity of Elizabeth, New Jersey. 2. The Regiment was embarked on three transport ships (ARCHER, MOLLY, and TRITON) bound from New York to Quebec when on 15 Sep 1779 they encountered a hurricane four days after departing New York. The ARCHER was lost with all hands and the TRITON and MOLLY were dismasted and then captured by the Americans off the New Jersey coast. The POWs were sent to Philadelphia, the second time for most of the men. The inormation on the men form Michelsberg that you named includes: Vogel, Georg, Gemeiner, KNY5 (5.Kompanie), born circa 1755-56, from Michelsberg: He was one of those who avoided capture at Trenton; however, he was onboard the MOLLY and taken POW. Johannes Kappes' Tagebuch gives his name as Georg Adam Vogel, born: 1756, residence: Michelsberg, Ziegenhain, height: 5 Fuß 7 Zoll 0 Strich (this is the old Prussian system where 2.62 cm = 1 Zoll = 4 Strich), religion: Reformed, service entry date: 10 June 1773, occupation: Tailor The Johannes Schwalm Historical Association has a file on him which says he deserted 26 Sep 1779 and married Deborah Thomas and remained in America. http://pages.prodigy.net/halschwalm/jshacomb.html The POWs from MOLLY arrived at Philadelphia on 26 Sep 1779. Vogel, Hans Heinrich, Gemeiner, KNY1 (Leibkompanie), born circa 1754-55, Michelsberg. He was among the POWs taken at Trenton and later exchanged. He is probably the "Henrich Voght" of KNY1 who listed on the 17 June POW exchange list dated three days after the evacuation of Philadelphia. If so, then he was employed by Henry Scheffer, Esq., of Heidelberg PA, while a POW. He was lost at sea on the ARCHER circa 15 Sep 1779. Wickert, Johannes, Gemeiner, KNY5 (5.Kompanie), born circa 1751-52, from Michelsberg. He was taken POW at Trenton and probably deserted while a POW as he is not listed as a POW from the MOLLY. Kappes lists him as Johann Daniel Wieckert, born: 1755, residence: Michelsberg, Ziegenhain, height: 5 Fuß 5 Zoll 0 Strich, religion: Reformed, service entry date: 29 June 1774. CAUTION: There were at least two deserters named Johannes Wickert wandering around Pennsylvania in 1778. The JSHA has a file on Johannes Wickert which says: "Hesse-Cassel; Borken; Private; Von Donop Reg., Co. 4; HETRINA Vol. II; Deserted 10 Feb. 1778 from quarters in Philadelphia; Straight line genealogy established." This latter man was born circa 1751-52 and was from Borken who was listed as a deserter in Feb 1778. HETRINA II also lists a Johann Georg Wickert/Wickart, a musician (Hautboist/Trompeter), born circa 1749-1751 from Rinteln or Borken (both places given) who was a member of the Regiment von Loßberg who was taken POW at Trenton. He appears to have been exchanged and to have returned to Germany in 1783. Other men from Michelsberg who served in the Regiment von Knyphausen include: Gerlach, Johan Hienrich, Gemeiner, KNY5, born ca. 1757-58, died from non-battle causes Mar 1777. Kappes lists him as Henrich Gerlach, born: 1758, height: 5 Fuß 5 Zoll 0 Strich, religion: Reformed, "Died." Hoeck, Johannes, Gemeiner, KNY1, born ca. 1757-58, escaped at Trenton, POW on MOLLY, probably deserted in America. Schmidt, Adam, Gemeiner, KNY5, born ca. 1751-52, promoted Korporal Oct 1783. Kappes lists him as Korporal, born: 1752, height: 5 Fuß 7 Zoll 3 Strich, religion: Reformed, service entry date: 1774. It appears that he returned to Germany at the end of the war. There is some confusion in HETRINA III re: Adam Schmidt as it has a Korporal Adam Schmidt, KNY5, from Heringen, on the Trenton POW list and the same Korporal Adam Schmidt of Heringen, born ca. 1736-37 in Germany on the 1785 Stammrolle. I would expect Adam Schmidt to appear either on the Feb 1777 list of Trenton POEs or on the Dec 1776 list of those who escaped captivity. The only other possibilities were that he was sick in the hospital or was in some rear echelon assignment in New York. Likewise, he should have been on the MOLLY with the rest of his company unless, of course, he was left in New York on duty. ==== AMREV-HESSIANS Mailing List ==== 6000 Hessian soldiers remained in North America after the end of the war in 1783. The majority settled in the Eastern United States and Canada. You can search the archives for a specific message or browse them, going from one message to another. 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