Pensacola to Savannah

From Pensacola to Savannah

In the search for the origins of my ancestor, Philip Long, I have formulated an hypothesis: he could be a Hessian soldier from Germany, a mercenary hired by England to fight a Rebellion in the USA in 1775. In 2015, the documentation that I had on hand led me to pursue this hypothesis. With time and more search, this hypothesis could find itself in my rear-view mirror. 

Many indicators led me to believe that my ancestor who registered in the King's American Regiment (KAR) in the autumn of 1781 in Savannah Georgia could be the same soldier who deserted from the West Florida Royal Foresters (WFRF) in May of the same year in Pensacola.

Wilbur H. Siebert published a book in 1902 about this desertion in May 1781 and the events that followed. It seems that my assumption is realistic. It doesn't mean that Philip Long was of German ancestry, but it means that Philip Long from Pensacola Florida is probably the same as Philip Long in Savannah Georgia, the later one being my ancestor. 

In the autumn of 1778, soldiers and civilians were sent from New York to various Southern areas, an event known as The Big Runaway. Todd Braisted wrote that 10 000 individuals were part of this Runaway. From this number, around 1 200 were sent to Pensacola FL: figures vary from 1 200 to 3 500. Since the North had already been lost to the Patriots, Britain wanted to save and reinforce the South. It turned out that they rather had to save the ones sent in 1781....

It seems unrealistic to think that Philip Long of the WFRF was living in Pensacola before 1778. According to General Campbell, in charge of the regiments arriving from New York, it was « the worst place in the world ». It sure was isolated and inhospitable. 

The WFRF was raised in Florida in 1779 with a handful of members of the Loyal Refugees. Almost two years after (April 1st, 1781), that number had increased to only 43. Half of them deserted on May 9th, 1781, including Philip Long. 

Why do I think that Philip Long from the WFRF could be Philipp Lange who deserted in August of 1778 from his Waldeck regiment? First, Don Hagist have demonstrated that hundreds of Hessians were part of the regular British regiments. Second, if Hessian deserters were not allowed to come back to their original regiment, they conceivably could register in a Loyalist militia. Third, the Waldeck regiment was sent to Florida in 1778. Philipp Lange had also a brother (Henrich) who was part of this Hessian regiment.

Siebert explained that many were captured while hiding in the swamps, but many managed to escape. Those who were successful at escaping the Spanish army took two different routes, but they all arrived months later in Savannah Georgia. 

My ancestor Philip Long was in Savannah Georgia in the autumn of 1781 and had registered in a new cavalry regiment called the KAR. The WFRF was also known as a regiment of cavalry. 

Another excerpt taken from Wilbur Siebert's book... 

John Long (1815)

(Version française à la fin du document)
John Long (1815), the ancestor of Darl Long 

in our haplogroup i-M223 

NOTE. The following document is an attempt to locate John Long.

Darl Long’s ancestor can be traced back to Gaines NY. He was born c1815 and always maintained that he was born in PA, so was his father. Nevertheless, we have never been able to track this family in PA. Finding the father of a John Long in PA is next to impossible. So it seemed 15 years ago. But, at that time I had saved many files from Erie, PA. I had a second look at these files today.

Moreover, we know that Sybilla Long was the daughter of Sarah Piper & John Long born in 1850 in Erie PA. Her brothers were George Jackson (1843) & William (1845). The note left by Sybilla is quite revealing.

Sybilla Long-Hugues

I was born Feb 15, 1850 in Erie Co. Pennsylvania.

My father’s name was John R. Long born in Germany.

My mother’s name was Sarah Piper born in England

The family was in Gaines Orleans NY in the 1850 Census. Sarah had taken charge of one sister and two brothers. The three children were born in Pennsylvania. Sybilla is not one year-old yet.

 

Let’s assume that John was in Erie in 1840 at the age of 25.

1840 Census in Erie PA 

(1) 1840 Census in North East Erie PA
This census shows a head of family (Samuel) at the age of appr. 75. He has a son of appr. 25. In different documents, the date of birth of John (husband of Sarah Piper & Nancy Parker) varies between 1814 and 1817. So, this document could be the family of John (1815). But, it is not the only family from Erie PA that could be John Long’s family (1815).

 

(2) 1840 Census in Mill Creek Erie PA 

There is also the family of Jacob Long with a son of appr. 25 years-old. 

(3) 1840 Census in Erie Erie PA
There is a third family (William) showing a man of appr. 25 years-old. This family might not include a man born in 1815 by the name of John. 

In 1850, the family of John (1815) and Sarah Piper had moved from Erie PA to Gaines Orleans NY.

John Long (1815), l'ancêtre de Darl Long 

dans notre haplogroupe i-M223

NOTE. Le document qui suit est une tentative pour localiser John Long.

L'ancêtre de Darl Long (John Long) remonte à Gaines NY. Il est né vers 1815 et a toujours soutenu qu'il était né en Pennsylvanie, tout comme son père. Néanmoins, nous n'avons jamais été en mesure de suivre cette famille en Pennsylvanie. Trouver le père d'un John Long en PA est presque impossible. C'est ce qu'il me semblait il y a 15 ans. Mais, à ce moment-là, j'avais sauvé plusieurs fichiers d'Erie, PA. J’ai fait un nouvel examen de ces documents.

De plus, nous savons que Sybilla Long était la fille de Sarah Piper & John Long née en 1850 à Erie PA. Ses frères étaient George Jackson (1843) et William (1845). La note laissée par Sybilla est assez révélatrice.

(Traduction)

Sybilla Long-Hugues

Je suis né le 15 février 1850 à Erie Co. Pennsylvanie.

Mon père s'appelait John R. Long, né en Allemagne.

Ma mère s'appelait Sarah Piper. Elle est née en Angleterre.

La famille était à Gaines Orleans, NY, lors du recensement de 1850. Sarah avait pris en charge une sœur et deux frères. Les trois enfants sont nés en Pennsylvanie. Sybilla n'a pas encore un an. 

Supposons que John était à Erie PA en 1840 à l'âge de 25 ans.

Recensement de 1840 dans le comté d’Erie, Pennsylvanie 

(1) Recensement de 1840 dans le nord-est de l'Erie PA
Ce recensement montre un chef de famille (Samuel) à l'âge d'environ 75 ans. Il a un fils d'environ 25 ans. Dans différents documents, la date de naissance de John (époux de Sarah Piper et Nancy Parker) varie entre 1814 et 1817. Ainsi, ce document pourrait être la famille de John (1815). Mais ce n'est pas la seule famille d'Erie PA qui pourrait être celle de John Long (1815).

(2) Recensement de 1840 à Mill Creek Erie PA
Il y a aussi la famille de Jacob Long avec un fils d'environ 25 ans.

(3) Recensement de 1840 dans la région de Erie Erie Pennsylvanie
Il y a une troisième famille (William) représentant un homme d'environ 25 ans. Cette famille pourrait ne pas comprendre un individu né en 1815 du nom de John Long.

En 1850, la famille de John (1815) et Sarah Piper avait déménagé de Erie PA à Gaines Orleans NY.