I have a question as to when and how a Hessian deserter would have become a "legal" citizen in the State of Virginia. According to a recent posting: [On August 27, 1782, Garrison orders were: "Every prisoner of war who has the desire to remain in this country shall be set free at once and receive a Certificate from the Minister of War permitting him to enjoy the liberties as a native of the country. In this case he must pay the sum of 80 dollars." Signed: John Wood, Colonel.] In this case, I assume it would render him a legal American citizen at that point. But what about deserters? If one had deserted and was essentially hiding out until the war was over, and then suddenly showed up on the 1783 Shenandoah County tax list and was recorded as marrying within six months after his troops boarded ships to return to Germany, would he be a "legal" citizen? If, a few years later, he were recorded in the Russell County Court records as having performed his civic duty, such as sitting on several juries, including grand juries, serving as a road surveyor, estate and slave appraiser, and being both a plaintiff and a witness in court proceedings, etc., would he not have to be a "legal" citizen? My brother John, who is an attorney, tells me that you must be a legal citizen to sit on juries (don't know if this was the case back then or not). My question is this: were the Germans who were deserters that were here after their fellow countrymen left just considered "legal" citizens by default, or was there a process that they needed to go through? Thanks, Marie Rasnick Fetzer

Hi Marie, Good Question... Are you and I connected from George Fetzer Shannadoah Valley, VA? (died 1792?) Is he the Hessian? Interesting we need to talk off list.. Nelda Pax et bonum! Nelda L. Percival nee Gilpin http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gillock/ http://doodleartgraphics.com