Hi Lisa Was most interested to see your message about conscripts into the Prussian army. We have the same story about my Grandfather from Hesse-Darmstadt. Also a story that he and a brother "escaped" to Italy and came to Australia from there in 1856. (He was then 37). We have on record (in his obituary) that he was injured in the "Civil War" which I assumed was the Revolution of 1848. I have not been able to trace him as an emigrant from Hamburg and passenger lists for arrivals at Moreton Bay in 1856 were lost in a flood. I don't know what other records are available. Some time ago I read an article which stated that at that time young German males were snatched from their families and conscripted into the Prussian army, which was hired out to other countries. Apparently that is how there came to be a Hessian army in the American war, hired by George III. Most of the soldiers were unwilling participants and some managed to escape and even fight with the Americans. For some interesting reading (fact + fiction) see if your library has a copy of "Right hand of God". I don't have a record of the author... it was one of a series. History is a mystery!!!! Sylvia - Melbourne ----- Original Message ----- From: <MrDodger@aol.com> To: <HESSE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 11:49 AM Subject: [HESSE] Hessian Soldiers > 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. That is definitely in Hesse, > right? > > Any light on the subject would be greatly appreciated. > > Thanks from Lisa > in mild and lovely > upstate NY. > > > ==== HESSE Mailing List ==== > Going on Vacation? Longer than 4 days? Go to > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/DEU/HESSE.html > to unsubscribe >