Ludwig Louis Demuth (abt. 1756 - abt. 1820)

Born about 1756 in Rinteln, Lower Saxony, Schaumburg district, Germany

Husband of Marie Blanchet — married 2 Jun 1794 in Québec, Église Anglicane Sainte-Trinity, Québec, Canada

Husband of Pelagie Dauphin — married 25 Nov 1815 in Québec, St-Andrew's Presbyterian, Québec, Canada

Descendants

Died about 21 Feb 1820 at about age 64 in Quebec, Canada

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Biography

Ludwig Demuth has German Roots.

Ludwig Louis Demuth was born about 1756 in Rinteln, Lower Saxony, Schaumburg district, Germany.

He was recruited as a drummer into the army of Hessen-Kassel with the Von Lossberg Regiment, Company 3 commanded by Col. Von Loos in April of 1775. This regiment arrived in New York in August 1776. As part of this unit, Demuth would have participated in all major battles in New York and also in the Battle of Trenton in December of 1776.

According to Johannes Helmut Merz in the book, "The Hessians of Quebec: German Auxiliary Troops in Canada 1776-1783", part of the Von Lossberg Regiment escaped following the Battle of Trenton and reassembled in New York. They were ordered to sail for Canada in the Fall of 1779 but were thwarted by a hurricane losing a ship and an entire company. After wintering in New York, they sailed again for Canada in May 1780. This time they were successful.

The Regiment disembarked in Quebec City on June 27th and marched to new quarters at Beauport. Here fragments of other regiments joined them to form a new Brigade. They moved camp to the Plains of Abraham with orders to defend the town from the west while at the same time constructing a new system of fortifications. Over the next two years the Regiment would be renamed Regiment Alt-von Lossberg and would winter in various towns along the St. Laurence River.

Though we do not know for certain, It is possible that Demuth was part of the group that wintered in St. Pierre. If true, this would have put Ludwig in the birthplace of his future wife perhaps giving them the opportunity to meet.

The facts that are known: A ship of the Royal Navy arrived in Quebec on April 28, 1783 with the news that the war was over. The Regiment left winter quarters learning that all German troops in Canada were ordered to return to Europe. Boarding began on August 2, 1783 at Point Levy. On August 6th, the ships set sail. Ludwig Louis Demuth was not among the 303 passengers on board. He had deserted.

Ludwig married Marie Blanchet on June 2, 1794 at Saint-Trinity Anglican Church in Quebec. With Marie he fathered four children. Louis Demuth was born on May 31, 1796. Marie Louise Demuth, was born on June 14, 1797 followed by Julie Demuth on August 31, 1799 and Marguerite Demuth about 1800.

In 1800 the name Lewis Demuth appears with 316 others in a land grant petition to His Excellency Robert S. Milnes, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Lower Canada. This document requests parcels of land for Subalterns- Noncommissioned Officers and Privates who served in different German Auxiliary Troops during the late American War. Ludwig Demuth became a farmer.

Following the death of Marie on October 18, 1807, Ludwig married Pelagie Dauphin on November 25, 1815 at St-Andrew's Presbyterian, Quebec, Québec, Canada. One child was born of this union, Luce Demuth about 1816.

Ludwig Louis Demuth died on February 21, 1820 in Quebec, Canada.

Sources

http://www.nosorigines.qc.ca/GenealogieQuebec.aspx?genealogie=Ludwig-Louis_Demuth&pid=749294&lng=fr&partID=749295

http://jsha.org/jshacomb.htm Hesse-Cassel; Rinteln; Private; von Lossberg Reg., Co. 3; HETRINA Vol. II; Deserted in 1783 in Canada; Married 2 June 1794 in Quebec.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_battle_of_the_Battle_of_Trenton

http://freepages.military.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~amrevhessians/gatnc.htm

Johannes Helmut Merz. "The Hessians of Quebec: German Auxiliary Troops in Canada 1776-1783".

Demuth, Ludwig (* ca. 1756)“, in: Hessische Truppen in Amerika <http://www.lagis-hessen.de/en/subjects/idrec/sn/hetrina/id/11567> (Stand: 20.1.2015)