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Archiver > AMREV-HESSIANS > 1999-01 > 0915422601


From: "Nelson R. Sulouff" <>
Subject: Re: Barnhart Sauer, Hessian Soldier
Date: Sun, 03 Jan 1999 21:03:21 -0700


> WAYNE & JEAN MOWER wrote: mailto:

(Snip)
> >
> > Barnhart came to the U.S. with the 3rd Reg't, 4th Company as a Corporal.

Usually regiments were not known by numbers but by a name. Where did you
learn he was from the "3rd Reg't." Do you have any idea to what Brigade
his regiment was attached, or in what battles he fought? If so, I might
be able to help you find more info about his company.

> > He deserted 4 Apr. 1777. He next shows in Lebanon, Pa., when he took
> > the oath of allegiance 30 May 1778.

Please tell me what evidence there is for the exact date he deserted.

You would help me if you would describe how you went about finding the
place where he took the Oath of Allegiance. My Hessian ancestor was
captured on a storm-damaged ship at sea 26 September 1779, was held POW
in Reading, Berks Co. PA, married in March 1783 in Alsace Twp., Berks
Co., and was taxed in Robeson Twp., Berks Co. in 1784. I have not been
able to find an Oath Of Allegiance for him. If I knew how you tracked
down your ancestor's Oath, perhaps that would help me. I suppose you
found it in the Lancaster Co. courthouse, but how did you track it there
and in what office did you find it?

(Snip)

> > Where was he between 5 Apr. 1777, when he deserted, and 30 May 1778,
> > when he took the oath of allegiance? Was he captured after he deserted
> > and sent to the prisoner of war camp at Lebanon?

There were very few desertions from duty posts as early as April 1777. I
believe it is much more likely that he was captured at the First or
Second Battle of Trenton or at the Battle of Princeton, taken to
Lancaster as a POW, allowed to work for a farmer or tradesman in that
area, and failed to make a muster in April 1777.

Do you have any evidence there was a POW camp at Lebanon in that time
period? There was a POW camp in Lancaster where POWs captured in the
battles of Trenton and Princeton were held in 1777, but I have not read
that any were held in Lebanon.

> > Did he go there
> > possibly knowing there were relatives in that area? Any help would be
> > appreciated.

Perhaps he went there not seeking relatives, but simply to mix with
people who spoke the dialect of German familiar to him. If he was trying
to maintain a low profile, it would have been logical for him to mingle
with the people in that area.

I look forward to hearing from you. I have been researching the
questions about "Hessian" prisoners in Pennsylvania for about ten years
and perhaps I will be able to shed some light on your quest.

Nelson R. Sulouf

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