In a message dated 11/2/2003 8:00:58 AM Lisa wrote the Hessen List: > The story is handed down in the family that our immigrant ancestor had to > leave the old country to avoid being conscripted into the Prussian army. He > > arrived here in 1857 as a single 22 year old. > > Does this make sense? I know the Hessians were mercenaries in the American > Revolution. Did they also fight in other countries' wars? > > I was thinking that the story was wrong. That he was trying to avoid the > Hessian army. He came from Allendorf on the Werra. We also had family from this area, Lisa. Would you care to share names and anything more? Researching Theiss, Schutz, Muller/Moller, Ochs, Happel, and many more from that general area. Margie in FL