The first members of the Knatz family who came to the United States came as Hessian soldiers. Hessian soldiers were 18th century soldiers who were hired by Great Britian from their rulers in Germany. During the U.S. Revolutionary War, the Landgrave Frederick II of Hesse-Kassel and other German leaders hired out thousands of conscripted soldiers. These soldiers were not mercenaries as we commonly use that term to characterize military professionals who sell their services for money. Rather the Hessian soldiers were conscripted into military service. They are commonly called Hessian soldiers because 12,992 or the 30,067 came from Hesse-Kassel. The town of Niedenstein is in the area known as Hesse-Cassel or Hesse-Kassel.
Marburg Archives in Germany has lists of soldiers who fought in the American Revolution and this is the source of the information given below:
VOLUME 3 Marburg Hessian Soldiers- Index to Family Names
———————————————–Birth Year—— Location ——– Rank
2739 Knatz, Gerhard ——— 1758/59——–Ziegenhain——Cannonier (Artilleryman)
2740 Knatz (no first name)—–(none)———-Hebel————–Private
Records indicate both these Knatz died by accident of disease or other non-battle causes.
VOLUME 4 Marburg Hessian Soldiers- Index to Family Names
———————————— Birth Year Location Rank
1160 Knatz Gerhard 1749/50 Ziegenhain Cannonier (Artilleryman)
1161 Knatz Heinrich 1759/60 Niedenstein Private
1162 Knatz Heinrich 1760/61 Niedenstein Private
1163 Knatz Heinrich 1760/61 Niedenstein Private
