What can Wigand Dirlam tell us about John O Dirlam?

Wigand Dirlam and his brother Konrad, from Otrau (south of Kassel) served in Knyphausen's Hessen-Kassel Regiment during the War for Independence. Their service is documented in HETRINA. Konrad died in New York, injured within a few weeks of his arrival there in 1776. But Wigand survived the war and returned home.

HETRINA doesn't reveal their relationship, but Ancestry does -- as sons of Johannes Dirlam and Martha Elisabeth Krey. And another brother's son, Jacob Dirlam, settled in Wayne County, Pennsylvania in the 1850s. These Dirlams used the name Johannes every generation, going back into the 17th century. The use of a Saint's name, here it's John the Baptist, was common, and often became a family tradition. That was often combined with another name like Johann Peter, Johann Jost or Johann Heinrich, and at home the child was called Peter, Jost or Heinrich. But all the sons could have the same Saint's name. And their cousins could too! Which one is our John O. Dirlam?!!??!!

Wigand's military service is also documented in two volumes of the Journal of The Johannes Schwalm Historical Assocation, Inc. According to volume 3, number 1, he was taken prisoner at Trenton, New Jersey 26 December 1776 and appears on a list made by the Germans on 27 February 1777. Nearly nine hundred Hessians were captured, and Dirlam was part of a group marched 100 miles west to Lancaster. Most of these prisoners were exchanged between June and August 1778, when Dirlam returned to his regiment, then occupying Philadelphia.

After the British surrendered an army at Saratoga, their overall strategy changed. 18 June 1778 they abandoned Philadelphia, and the Knyphausen Regiment returned to New York. After France entered the war, the British, never really trusting the loyalty of Quebeckers, sent Knyphausen's Regiment to prevent rebellion among the French-speaking inhabitants. Anyway, 8 September 1779 the regiment sailed north aboard 3 ships, part of a much larger fleet. Two ships, Molly and Triton, were damaged by a storm and captured by privateers. Wigand Dirlam was part of this group, sent to Philadelphia's New Gaol. These prisoners were exchanged and allowed to travel to their post in Quebec.

The regiment was later transferred to New York, arriving 28 Oct 1781, just three days before Cornwallis' surrender. They remained in New York for the duration of the treaty negotiations, finally returning to their garrison at Ziegenhain 16 Oct 1783.

According to JJSHA, volume 2, number 1, Wigand Dirlam's captivity (from his capture 26 Sep 1779 to his release 13 Oct 1779) at The New Gaol is recorded in the Bradford papers, summarized as:

• an undated list of 91 POWs signed by Capt. Wiederhold. 
• a list of 92 POWs signed by Feldwebel (1st Sgt.) Johannes Meinguth, dated 10 Oct 1779, including notations about Wigand's 2 week hospitalization 
•  a list made by the Americans of POWs held during 1781 and 1782, Wigand appears in section F 
• a list of POWs who worked for Jacob Faesch, Iron Master in 1782 
• a list of 122 German POWs made 5 Feb 1782 

It's a wild story. Wigand was

• captured at Trenton, PA 26 December 1776
• marched to 65 miles to Lancaster, PA 2 January 1777
• released March 1777
• part of occupation of Philadelphia 26 Sep 1777?
• left Philadelphia 18 Jun 1778
• wintered in New York
• set sail for Quebec 8 September 1779
• captured at sea 26 September 1779
• held briefly in Philadelphia Gaol 10 October 1779
• released 13 Oct 1779
• surrendered at Yorktown 19 October 1781
• marched to Rockaway, NJ to work 

More research is required to confirm what's actually on these lists. Schwalm lists file no. 59 of the Bradford Papers (held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania) as belonging to Wigand Dirlam, Regt. Knyphausen, Company 3.

For those of us interested in his presumed-cousin, John O Dirlam, the most tantalizing item here is one about POWs working to make iron in an American foundry. An article by Lion G. Miles follows the list, and it says:

Sometimes this use of captured enemy soldiers was done on a quasi-legal basis, depending on government policy at the time, but always it was done in an attempt to alleviate the acute labor shortage that prevailed in colonial America. Hessians and other Germans were used in the various Pennsylvania ironworks of York, Lancaster, Berks, and Bucks Counties. Others worked on the construction of government buildings, some were used as shoemakers, and many more employed as farm hands.

I added the emphasis on shoemakers, because John O Dirlam was a shoemaker. The significance is nicely summarized by George Washington, writing 21 April 1778 at Valley Forge:

To see the men without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie upon, without shoes...without a house or hut to cover them until those could be built, and submitting without a murmur, is a proof of patience and obedience which, in my opinion, can scarcely be paralleled.

 An article in this same volume 3 of JJSHA by Kenneth S. Jones describes orders to transfer POWs from the overcrowded Worcester jail to Newbury Port 2 June 1777. And to move POWs  from Boston's Workinghouse to Worcester jail or into work arrangements with Worcester families 31 July 1777. These records are in the Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 167 -1-2a. Volume 167 are Revolution Council Papers from 1777, when the Council acted as sole executive. The volume primarily relates to requests to leave the state, prisoners of war, and commissions for the commanders of privateers. The papers are viewable at The Massachusetts Archives Reading Room, 220 Morrissey Blvd., Boston MA 02125.