Hessian Camp
Posted by: 
Gosffo
N 40° 19.901 W 075° 54.098
18T E 423410 N 4464961
POW camp
Waymark Code: WM8RN
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 03/11/2006
Views: 31
Marker Text:
After Burgoyne's surrender, 1777, German mercenaries, mostly Hessian, were held prisoners at various places until end of war. Those brought to Reading, 1781, were encamped until 1783 in huts on the hillside a quarter-mile to the north.
After Burgoyne surrendered the Hessians (German mercenaries) where traveled around finally showing up in Reading 4 years later. The lived in straw huts. There were suppose to build barracks, but refused. When treated severly they finally started to build the barracks. Good thing, the huts burned down in Oct. of 1781. After finishing their barracks they were allowed freedom to leave camp to work and get supplies. These men and their families (some families followed their soldiers around from battle to battle, or in this case prison camp to prison camp) did not have everything given to them, they had to pay for their own food and clothing. They even received money (sometimes) from their own army for their up keep.
July, 1782 Congress issued orders, anyone wanting to be free should pay 80 siver talers (1 British pound equals 5 5/6 talers) as ranson and if he didn't have the money a citizen could give the money and he would have to work 3 years to pay him back his debt. Or, they could join the American Army and get 8 talers and after the war they would get 100 acres of land.
After a few men deserted the 356 men where taken to the Reading jail. (most men had to sleep in the court yard, the jail was not big enough to hold them all, they had to buy their own wood and water) 200 where later moved to Lancaster.
Feb. 13 they hear the war was over. On April 21, 13 cannons were shot off to honor the freeing of the 13 colonies! The prisoners where marched to New York and freedom. Ships where waiting to take them home.
Marker Name: Hessian Camp
County: Berks
Date Dedicated: 10/01/1949
Marker Type: Roadside
Location: Mineral Spring Rd. (Business U.S. 422 westbound) at 18th St., Reading
Category: Ethnic & Immigration
Website: Not listed
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