Forwarded to list: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Plante" <paul.plante@sympatico.ca> Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 10:52 PM Subject: Re: [HESSIAN] Are our subscribers with us? > My name is Paul Plante and I am still here. My ancestor was Nicolaus > Weitzel. > Paul Nikolaus WEITZEL, Hessen-Hanau Regt. Erbprinz, born Schluechtern, 1755/56, deserted 6 Jan 1779 at Frederick, Maryland. see sources #17, #100, #147, last recorded at Frederick, Maryland, on 27. April 1782 as a communicant at the Christ Reformed Church in Middletown. Hello Paul, I guess we have to stick our heads together to get to the bottom of this mystery. You do know that there were two of the same name in the same Grenadier Company of the Hanau Erbprinz. The other one, born 1750/51 in Hohenzell, today incorporated into Schluechtern, deserted already shortly after the Battle of Saratoga on 25 Oct. 1777 at Barrington, was recaptured and sent to Canada. He was discharged in Canada in July 1783. In my book 'The Hessians of Upper Canada' on pages 211-212 I tried to come to terms about these two soldiers, one who apparently joined the Butler's Rangers, and is also known as Nicholas Whitsell and also as WITZEL, Nicholas, perhaps also known as Nicholas WESSELS, who settled in Sophiasburg, who stated in his land petition that he came into Province in 1787 with wife and 5 children. (Reel C-2950) My book came out in 1997, has sold over 500 copies, is deposited with many libraries and Historical & Genealogical Societries, but nobody has yet to confirm or dispute my conclusions. I would appreciate any help with this, it should be solved. Cheers, John H. Merz.