Josh,

All of this is a VERY long story. I will keep it short on this board and contact you via the member contact after this post.

Heinrich Kiefer (Giebert) was always a side note in my research for his brother (my ancestor) Christian. I was working with a researcher in Germany that specializes in Hessian military and specifically North Hessen research. The original documents that he supplied gave me detailed information unavailable on the online database for Hessian Troops in North America (HETRINA). specifically who deserted when and with whom etc. So I just decided to start looking for Christian's brother Heinrich one day and started looking for him in census records in various states. A complete shotgun approach. And then wow. There were all of these Keevers in North Carolina claiming that their ancestor was a Hessian. The big issue though was now one had proof. Just family rumor. When I contacted several of the Keevers, every date, every description, and information they had about his oath of allegiance / desertion all perfectly matched my research on Heinrich Kiefer. Heinrich Kiefer was their Henry Keever.

What makes this all potentially applicable to you is that the originals I have clearly indicate that 3 soldiers Heinrich Giebert, Johann Feusel and Jacob Schultz from the von Ditfurth deserted together. Technically, they were first reported as missing and then later records change the missing to deserted. Deserted June 31 1781 to be exact on a march from Ninety Six, SC to Orangeborough (Orangeburg), SC. That area is just south of Columbia, SC which is directly south of Charlotte, NC (Mecklenberg and Lincoln counties).

What supports all of this is that Henry"Kiever" took his oath of allegiance along with a John "Fryzel" in April of 1782 where declared that they were Hessian deserters that deserted 9 months prior. That dating supports the Hessian military records of a June desertion. For me and the Keevers, the Hessian John Fryzel in the NC court transcription is Johann Feusel of the Hessian records.

So we don't have in that oath of allegience is a Jacob Schultz. And I always come back to him on occasion and that is how I found your inquiries.

What makes your postings unique is that you have several key indicators that you have a Hessian in you ancestry. One... the family rumor / story... who makes that stuff up?... most people don't even know what Hessian were... Two... you have a first generation off the Hessian born within a typical window of time... 1800... most Hessian first generation offspring were born between 1785 and 1805.... plus or minus a couple years... its true in my family and many others including the Keevers of NC...

So this is good enough for the message board in case other people are looking into Jacob Schultz... I will now contact you directly...

Brian