>>> It would be interesting to know how and why this John Dirlam, probably >>> from from Hesse, enlisted in the 23 British Regiment of Foot (The Welsh >>> Fusiliers). <<< One of the lesser-known groups of German soldiers who served in the American War of Independence were the "von Scheither recruits." In 1775 and 1776 Col. G.H.A. von Scheither of Hanover recruited in Germany 2000 German replacement recruits to serve in undermanned British Regements. For serveral years the JSHA has been working on a project to identify the majority of those recruits with the intent of publishing a list in their annual Journal.. WO 43/405 at the PRO (now called "The National Archives") is the principal collection of documents concerning the von Scheither recruits. My understanding is that, unfortunately, only something like 600 of the recruits are named in that collection. You also wrote >>> However, the rolls indicate that John Dirlam died July 18, 1777. <<< If my memory serves, at this time the 23d Regt was at New York, either embarked or preparing to embark for Howe's Philadelphia campaign. I don't think the 23d Regt was invoved in comat in July which suggests John Dirlam died of disease. The 23d Regt arrived at New York in June 1773, then at the end of 1774 went to Boston. When Boston was evacuated in March 1776, the Regt evacuated to Halfax, then came with the army to New York later that summer and were involved in the Howe's New York area campaign. At least one of the officers of the 23d had his journal published but the name(s) now escape me. I hope that these "hints" may help direct your research. Bob Brooks