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Leonhard Kratz
From our mail list archives for your enjoyment:
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 1998 23:47:18 -0700
From: John Helmut Merz <
[email protected]>
To:
[email protected]
Subject: Johann Leonhard Kratz/Scratch, Hessian soldier.
Johann Leonhard Kratz, later known as Leonard Scratch, was one of
the first settlers in the Hesse-District of Upper Canada, in the
First New Settlement on Lake Erie, now Kingsville, Ontario.
He was a soldier of the Hessen-Hanau Regiment Erbprinz, hired by King George III
of England to fight in the American Revolution. He was captured by the American
forces under General Gates as part of the General Burgoyne army at Saratoga,
N.Y. in Oct.1777, and as a prisoner went to Boston, Mass. and later to
Charlottesville, Virg. were he escaped and made his way to the Shenandoah
Valley, where he joined a group of farmers (Munger and Tofflemyer) who attempted
to
relocate from the Valley to Kentucky. Leonhard met Munger's daughter Mary, and
they married. British troops under Captain Bird and several hundred Indians
surprised the new settlements on the Licking River, and took them prisoner to
Detroit. (There is a story written "When Detroit attacked Kentucky")
While in Detroit they were freed and were offered land in the new settlement
across the River in Canada.
Here are the dates of Johann Leonhard Kratz, each one documented with the help
of German, Ameican, and Canadian archives, and from personal papers provided by
some of his descendants.
TIME TABLE of the Life of LEONHARD KRATZ / SCRATCH.
1756 Johann Leonhard Kratz born 8. March at Dudenhofen/Hanau.
1759 Father Peter Kratz died 2.May 1759.
1770 Leonhard starts a six-year apprenticeship with Master weaver.
1776 Conscripted to Hanau Regt.Erbprinz, 3rd.Comp., Regiment
left garrison city of Hanau 15.March, arrived Quebec 1.June.
1777 Taken prisoner with General Burgoyne in Saratoga in Oct., and marched to
prison camp Winter Hill, Boston.
1778 At Winter Hill until November, and from there marched to Charlottesville,
Virginia.
1779 Arriving in camp on 14.Jan.1779, escaped 31.May from camp and found shelter
by German settler Munger, farming in the Shenandoah Valley. Went with Munger's
waggon train to Kentucky, on the way there married Munger's daughter Mary.
1780 Captured by Captain Bird's British and Indian troops at Ruddell's Fort in
Kentucky, and taken as prisoners to Detroit. Released in August and settled with
wife Mary as farmer for
landowner Macomb on Hog Island in the Detroit River.
1782 Son Peter born on Hog Island (died 1783). In Fall of 1782 secured his farm
crop, and left his family on Hog Island. Got as far as Niagara to join Butler's
Rangers as a Casual
from the 6.Oct. 1782
1783 to the 8.May when he left and reported back on 29.May to his old Hanau
Regt. Erbprinz, stationed at St.Antoine, Quebec. He left with Regt. in August
for Germany and arrived in Nov.
at garrison city of Hanau.
1784 On duty at barracks in Hanau. While on furlough together with comrade
Nikolaus Hamann of Dudenhofen, they had a drink, did some damage, was jailed by
local police, and probably with
help of his officer, escaped from jail with his comrade. Both are listed in
Regiments Muster Roll as having deserted, and somehow both made their way back
to Canada. Hamann remained
in Quebec, while Leonhard returned to Hog Island during the summer, where he
learned that his son Peter had died.
1785 Returning to farming. Daughter Susannah born 23.July at Hog Isl.
1786 Son Peter born 29.Nov. at Trenton, near Detroit, after leaving Hog Island
on account of Indian trouble.
1787 Started farming on Grosse Isle for the Macombs, also received land ticket
for lot 12 in New Settlement on Lake Erie.
1788 Daughter Isabella born on Grosse Isle.
1789 Daughter Catharina born on Grosse Isle, the fourth living child.
1790 Petitions for lot 31 of John Wirt, and petition for lot 12 in name of his
son Peter.
1791 Daughter Mary born on Grosse Isle.
1792 Landboard approves transfer of lot 12 for lot 2 and Kratz family moves to
Gosfield Ts.
1793 Daughter Elizabeth born in Gosfield Ts.
1795 Son Leonard born in Gosfield Ts.
1797 Son Henry born in Gosfield Ts.
1801 Son John born in Gosfield Ts.
1829 Leonhard Kratz aka. Leonard Scratch passed away on 12.August, and was
buried at the shores of Lake Erie, on his lot no.2, where he had built his
house.
Leonhard Kratz passed away on the 12th of August 1829. He wished to be buried at
his favourite place on the lake, and his family complied with his wish. A few
years later, one of those famous Lake Erie storms swept over the shores and
washed his grave out into the deep waters of the lake. A fitting end to the
remains of a man who crossed the ocean in search of love, freedom, and
happiness, but could find no rest. Leonhard Kratz, the "Hessian", was
a true Canadian pioneer.
(The foregoing from my book "The Hessians of Upper Canada")
It was my pleasure to bring you this story whose name is on several street signs
in the Kingsville and Exeter area.
John Helmut Merz.
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