Peter (Himmelreich) Himmelreight (1756 - 1828)

Born 22 Feb 1756 in Bründersen, Hessen-Kassel, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Descendants

Died 2 Nov 1828 at age 72 in Union, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Peter (Himmelreich) Himmelreight has German Roots.

Peter was born on 22 Feb 1756 in Bruendersen, Hesse, Germany to Peter Hymmelreich (Himmelreich) and Anna Maria Jacobi^[1]. He served in the Hessian Troops^[2] during the American Revolutionary War. He was taken as a Prisoner of War, probably at the Battle of Trenton ^[3]

In 1783, when the rest of his unit prepared to leave for Europe from New York, it appears he remained.^[4] 1) Peter Himmelreich was listed on the German records as having died a natural death in January 1777. 2) Subsequently, he was listed as having returned to his unit in Oct 1777. 3) He was included among the first list of German POWS (prepared by the Americans) which were sent from Lancaster to Philadelphia on 17 June 1778 in the general exchange. 4) In Oct 1783, when the final Hessian muster was prepared prior to departure from New York City for Germany, he was still listed as being held by the Americans.

Family records have him married to Mary Withington by 1783, so it is understandable that he stayed behind. While a prisoner of war, he was under the supervision of Captain Peter Withington, a tavern-keeper in Reading, PA, his future father-in-law. Peter soon became a productive citizen, as by 1794 he was purchasing land ^[5]. These references provided in an email correspondence shared with Amy Golder-Cooper by John Helmut Merz between himself and Elinor Perlich where she shared her research on Peter Himmelreich's arrival and life in the US. "Subject: Re: Peter Himmelreich, Regt.Rall. Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 11:45:08 -0800."

Peter and his family relocated to what is now Union County, PA, shortly after 1800 after a brief stay in Dauphin County. They lived near his mother-in-law and brothers-in-law who continued as innkeepers in Mifflinburg and Sunbury. Peter died in 1828 and is either buried on the family farm or in an unmarked grave at Dreisbach Church, west of Lewisburg, where his wife is buried.

Children

1. Fanny (Francis?) Himmelreich (1783 - 1788)
2. Sarah Himmelreich Inman (b. 9 Oct 1783 - 1866), wife of Israel Inman
3. Anna Himmelreight Billmeyer (1788 - 1870)* wife of George Palmer Billmeyer
4. Margaret Himmelreight Billmeyer (1790 - 1870)* wife of Martin Billmeyer (brother of George)
5. William Himmelreich (1793 - 1830) died in Ohio
6. Peter Himmelreich (1794 - 1866)* married Elizabeth Charles
7. George W. Himmelreich (about 1800 - 1861) died in railroad accident
8. Francis Ann Himmelreich (1804 - 1884)
9. David Himmelreich (1806 - 1873) married Margaret Wix
10. Elizabeth Himmelreich Blue (1808 - 1863)* married Frederick Blue
11. Mary Polly Himmelreich (1809 - ?)
12. Martin Himmelreich (b. after 1812) possibly died in Illinois
13. Daniel Himmelreich (b. after 1813 - 1830) died in NY

Burial

Dreisbach United Church of Christ Cemetery Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, USA (no grave stone)^[6] NOTE: This needs to be verified in the church records if possible.

Sources

1. ↑ Archion > Kurhessen-Waldeck: Landeskirchliches Archiv Kassel > Wolfhagen > Bründersen > Kirchenbuch 1708-1811> picture 364
2. ↑ Hessian Troops in the American War for Independence: An Index According to Surname. Date and place of entry in unit books. Year of birth, place of origin, rank, unit, category of presentation, and archive code of the source are also provided. HESSISCHE TRUPPEN IM AMERIKANISCHEN UNABHAENGIGKEITSKRIEG (HETRINA): Index nach Familiennamen. (Marburg: Archivschule) (Veroeffentlichungen der Archivschule Marburg, Institut fuer Archivwissenschaft, Nr. 10). Band I. Marburg, 1976; Auflage, 1984. Page: 74
3. ↑ Smith, Clifford Neal. German American Research Monograph 3, part 3, p.151; HIMMELREICH, Pierre (3) Soldier (3)= Prisoner 26 Dec 1776, Trenton, N.J.
4. ↑ Letter 8 Sep 1997 from M. A. Schwalm
5. ↑ Pennsylvania Archives Third Series 24: p.587. Warrantees of Land County of Dauphin 1785-1895, Acres Date of Survey > Himmelreich, Peter 50 April 29, 1794 > Himmelreich, Peter 50 May 9, 1794 > Himmelreich, Peter 100 May 9, 1794
6. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 17 February 2020), memorial page for Peter Himmelreich (Jul 1756–2 Nov 1828), Find A Grave: Memorial #131634537, citing Dreisbach United Church of Christ Cemetery, Lewisburg, Union County, Pennsylvania, USA ; Maintained by Amy Golder-Cooper (contributor 47188281).

• Linn, James Blair. Annals of Buffalo Valley, 1755-1855. Harrisburg, PA: L. S. Hart, 1877.
• Records of Dreisbach Church, West Buffalo Twp., Union Co., PA
• 1790 US Census, Heidelberg Twp., Berks Co., PA
• 1793 PA Census, Heidelberg Twp., Berks Co., PA
• 1800 US Census, Penn Twp., Northumberland Co. (now Union), PA
• Records of Oley Reformed Church, Oley Twp., Berks Co., PA