Hi John; Just got in this evening from Marseilles after an eleven hour flight (take-off delayed two hours while we sat in the plane) and read Denis' message of appreciation. I don't have as good a way with words as he, but I'd like to add my own appreciation to Denis' even though my Johann Giest Halbaer is still as elusive as ever. (But I'm not giving up!) What Denis wrote about your making the name of the Hessians known throughout our own coun try, as well as to that of the US is dead-on. Like Denis, and I'm sure many others who may not even be descendants of those brave soldiers, I have learned a lot about their contribution to both countries, and especially here in Quebec where it seems that there must have been a conspiracy of silence to have been able to keep their presence a secret for so long. Admittedly, Virginia E. De Marce, Pierre Willhelmy, and others from the Société de généalogie canadienne-française did publish books and articles on the Hessians, or Brunswickers as we like to call them here in Quebec. But no one, until you came along, went into each individual in such depth, and gave so much of their time to each one of us without regard for your own time and expense. That has to be recognized and appreciated. Like Denis, I'd like to wish you a long and healthy retirement and God Bless. Best regards as always. Frank Watters St-Bruno, Qc..

Dear Frank Watters; Going on line this morning, I find your posting and am really overwhelmed by it. Let me thank you for your good wishes, I do appreciate your recognition of my work, but let me say this - I did it not alone, you and so many others were my inspiration, your case in particular was a great challenge, which unfortunately has not been solved, although I thought we had some good leads. Perhaps it needs a fresh look at all the known facts, and perhaps Dominique Ritchot with her experience may find the missing puzzle pieces. As you so rightly mentioned, Jean-Pierre Wilhelmy, Virginia DeMarce, and Herbert W. Debor, lead the way, and their early work on the Hessians (and Brunswickers), the German auxiliary troops serving for the British King George III, made me aware of the historical facts, and lead me into this adventure, which provided me with excitement for the last 19 years after my forced retirement from business life. In all these 19 years there was never a dull moment, through the mails or phones, and later through the Internet I met thousands of Hessian descendants, many of them became good friends, and now this all will end, but not forgotten. Last Monday the Head Librarian of the 'Sons of the American Revolution', of their Library in Louisville, Kentucky, visited me here in Hamilton, and inspected my research material, and this will now be packed and have a special place in their Research Library. I have to add, that this is the material which deals with the Hessians who settled in the U.S.A. The Canadian material has gone already to the Marilyn Adams Research Centre in Ameliasburgh, Ontario. Thanking you all for your help and support in the past, I will keep in touch as long as I am able to, and hope that you all have a nice Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. Yours very truly John Helmut Merz, Hamilton, Ontario ----- Original Message ----- From: "Francis T. Watters" <wattersft@gowebway.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 8:45 PM Subject: Re: Farewell and Thank you! > Hi John; > > Just got in this evening from Marseilles after an eleven hour flight > (take-off delayed two hours while we sat in the plane) and read Denis' > message of appreciation. > > I don't have as good a way with words as he, but I'd like to add my own > appreciation to Denis' even though my Johann Giest Halbaer is still as > elusive as ever. (But I'm not giving up!) > > What Denis wrote about your making the name of the Hessians known > throughout our own coun try, as well as to that of the US is dead-on. > > Like Denis, and I'm sure many others who may not even be descendants of > those brave soldiers, I have learned a lot about their contribution to > both countries, and especially here in Quebec where it seems that there > must have been a conspiracy of silence to have been able to keep their > presence a secret for so long. > > Admittedly, Virginia E. De Marce, Pierre Willhelmy, and others from the > Société de généalogie canadienne-française did publish books and > articles on the Hessians, or Brunswickers as we like to call them here > in Quebec. But no one, until you came along, went into each individual > in such depth, and gave so much of their time to each one of us without > regard for your own time and expense. That has to be recognized and > appreciated. > > Like Denis, I'd like to wish you a long and healthy retirement and God > Bless. > > Best regards as always. > > Frank Watters > St-Bruno, Qc.. >