Christian Almas UE (1752 - 1843)

Born 1752 in Braunschweig, Niedersachsen, Germany

Husband of Magdalena (Baker) Almas — married 1779 in New Jersey, United States

Descendants

Died 30 Nov 1843 at about age 91 in Ancaster, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

Christian Almas UE served with United Empire Loyalists during the American Revolution.

Christian Almas was a United Empire Loyalist.
UEL Status:Proven
Date: Undated

Christian Almas UE was a prisoner of war during the American Revolution.

Almas, Christian (1752-1843) was born in Germany. During the American Revolution, Christian Almas came to America with the German (Hessian) Troops in the British service. He married in America during the war Magdalena Baker/Bacher (1746-1838).

He was a soldier in the German troops and served under General Burgoyne ^[1]. Several attempts to break through the enemy lines were repulsed at Saratoga in September and October 1777. On 17 October 1777, Burgoyne surrendered his entire army, numbering 5,800. This was the greatest victory the colonists had yet gained, and it proved to be the turning point in the war.

Christian Almas 1752–1843 • LHG2-RPF married Magdalena Baker (Backer) 1746–1838 • KGPD-SN5 Abt 1769 in New Jersey, USA

Children:

1. Adam Bowman Almas 1780–1871 • L2PC-SXK ​^[2]
2. Anna Justina Almas 1782–1812 • KLBT-WLJ ​^[3]
3. Henry Almas 1784–1830 • KLBT-W6Q ^[4]​
4. David Almas 1786–1872 • LWLB-CFT ^[5] ​
5. Margaret Almas 1790–Deceased • MKRV-SRY ^[6] ​
6. Catherine Almas 1792–1795 • MKRV-SYQ ^[7] ​
7. John Baker Almas 1796–1860 • KT41-DG5 ^[8] ​
8. Augustus A Almas 1798–Deceased • MKRV-SVB ^[9] ​
9. Frederick Almas 1801–1885 • KZZ9-4M1 ^[10]

After the American Revolution, the couple continued to live in the United States until 1787 then came to Upper Canada.

Christian and Magdalena Almas settled on Lots 55 and 56 Concession 3, Ancaster Township on the Niagara Escarpment east of the village of Ancaster. He also owned Lot 19, Concession 8 in Barton Township and was later given grants of Lot 20, Concession 8, Barton Township and Lots 42 and 45, Concession 5, Ancaster Townhip.

Christian was also one of the original 15 share-holders of the Union Mill Company in Ancaster (also called 'The Willson Mill) which was operating as early as 1806. They did not buy the mill from Jean Baptiste Rosseau until 4 May, 1809. During the Ancaster ‘Bloody Assizes’ of 1814, the Union Mill was used as a jail for the traitors that were to be tried. The mill changed hands again in 1816.

The first Union School – S.S. #3, located in Barton (also serving Ancaster and Glanford Townships) was built in 1810, on a lot granted by Christian Almas.

Christian worked with surveying parties, 1787 - 1791, with Augustus Jones as leader.

Christian spoke German all his life. He was struck blind, suddenly one Sunday morning while on his way to church. Christian died at his residence in Ancaster Township on the 30th of November, 1843.

He and Magdalena, his wife, were buried in Barton Union Cemetery (St. Peter's), on Mohawk Road, West. The gravestones decayed and disappeared in the 1920's.

Sources

1. ↑ * General Burgoyne
2. ↑ * Family Search
3. ↑ * Family Search
4. ↑ * Family Search
5. ↑ * Family Search
6. ↑ * Family Search
7. ↑ * Family Search
8. ↑ * Family Search
9. ↑ * Family Search
10. ↑ * Family Search

• Why They Came - Almas Family by Laurie Barber

• Almas Family by Laurence Barber

• Wikipedia - Hessian Soldiers

• Wikipedia - Battles of Saratoga

• Supplementary List, Old Loyalist List, p. 282

• "Squatter Loyalists: The Early Settlement of Ancaster Township, Wentworth County" Angela E.M. Files, November 1998, Vol.10 No.1, Pages 14-18 - 2. Almost, Christopher or Almas, Christian (1752 - 1843) Lot 55 and 56, Concession 3, Lot 20/8 Barton, 42, 43/5 Ancaster Petitioner 12

• Rootsweb Ancestry

• The Ontario Pioneers

• Clan Waddell

• Geni Entry

• Find a Grave

• Family Search

• Dave Naylor's Genealogy Pages

• HISTORY OF THE HUNGARIANS IN BRANTFORD - Pages 25-27