Peter Wyant

From A family’s historical memory… of a Hessian ancestor, Posted on August 31, 2008 by Robert Moore (Blog entry, no citations)

https://cenantua.wordpress.com/2008/08/31/a-familys-historical-memory-of-a-hessian-ancestor/

Incidentally, the other Hessian ancestor (at least it seems quite possible at this point) was Peter Weiggert/Weygand (later changed to “Wyant”). Like Strohl, Weiggert belonged to the Hesse-Hanau Regiment and was among those surrendered shortly after the battle of Saratoga. However, unlike Strohl, Peter “Wyant” “deserted” (I know, it’s confusing to explain, but… yes, he deserted… while a prisoner of war. See Wikipedia’s definition of the Convention Army for a better understanding) from the Hessian Barracks (aka Albemarle Barracks) at Charlottesville on February 23, 1781, and apparently assimilated well into the population in the area.

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From comments:

Guylaine, February 7, 2011

Do you have more information about Peter Wyant? I am trying to figure out who the parents of James Weiant (whose children became Wyant) are. He was born circa 1780 (died 1838 in Etobicoke, Upper Canada) James Weiant married Rachel Delong in Pittstown, NY sometimes 1796. He moved to Upper Canada in 1801. There is a family story that the ancestor Peter Wyant fought with Burgoyne’s army and that is why James eldest son was named Burgoyne. Any idea if this is true?

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Robert Moore, February 7, 2011

Interesting… I didn’t know he had a son named Burgoyne. That helps to put some of the pieces together, and may be attributed to his capture while serving under Burgoyne at Saratoga. I am descended from Peter’s daughter, Millie, who married Edmund Shifflett. Here’s something that I have…

“Rockingham County marriage records, as cited by Strickler, show that a Peter Wyant was the father of Catherine, Elizabeth, Susan, and Mary. The maiden name of these, his daughters, was consistently spelled Wyant. When Peter signed for surety, he signed in German, and his name was transcribed as Weyhant, Weygant and Weiggart.

Peter Wyant (bc. 1758), a Hessian soldier from Markobel, escaped from his American guards on 23 February 1781 while being marched from the prison barracks near Charlottesville VA to the Shenandoah Valley (per German records, cited by C. N. Smith in “Muster rolls and prisoner-of-war lists in American archival collections pertaining to the German mercenary troops who served with the British forces during the American Revolution.” The date of his escape fits well with the approximate dates for the births of the four daughters listed above. He is believed to have been related to Johannes Weigand of Kempfenbrunn (qv).”

However…

“Peter Weigand is listed in HETRINA VI as being from Markoebel Germany, as a musketeer and gemeiner (private) in Co. 3 of the Hesse-Hanau Erbprinz regiment, age 19 in 1776 when inducted, deserted February 1781. Smith adds that he was in Captain Lenz’s company and deserted from the Albemarle barracks (Charlottesville) at the age of 23. The previous researcher provided information on a Peter Weigand/Wyant who came to the US in 1754 wife a wife named Milly Martin and died in 1838 who lived in Rockingham County Virginia. None of his daughters married a Edmund Shifflett but daughter Susan did marry a Thomas Shiflet- Feb 10, 1807 according to Rockingham and Albemarle County VA records. This seems to correspond somewhat with you information but is troubling since it claims that Weigand/Wyant came over before the Revolution and could not be the Hesse-Hanau soldier who deserted in 1781.”

It’s a mystery I’ve been hoping to solve.

GEDCOM Note

Peter was allegedly a Hessian Soldier hired by King George, III to put down the revolution. He arrived in America in 1775