American Revolution
1781 Eulogy Written for an American Revolutionary War Hessian Mercenary Deserter from Burgoyne’s British Army
c. 1781, Handwritten Manuscript Eulogy, Written for an American Revolutionary War Hessian Mercenary Deserter from “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne’s Bristish Army after Saratoga, Very Fine.
1781-Dated Handwritten Eulogy for a Hessian Mercenary who was also a Deserter from General John Burgoyne’s British Army, measures 8” x 12.5” with 2 pages, complete upon a fine quality wove period paper. Minor paper loss at lower corner tips far away from any text, folds and faint foxing. Apparently written and read to his local upstate New York Church members, as after his Deserting the Army at Albany, New York, Borch remained living in that area of America. It reads, in part:

“Reverend Christian Borch was born at Berlin, Prussia. He came over to America with the Hessian troops in the revolutionary war. He was in the army under the command of Genl Burgoyne, who invaded the State of New York in 1777, with the British and German troops from Canada, by the way of Lake Chaplain, and was with the whole army conquered and made prisoners at Saratoga. By the capitulation it was granted to Genl Burgoyne, that He and his army should march as prisoners of war from Albany to Boston, and from thence be conveyed to Great Britain. On the march from Albany to Boston many of Burgoyne’s soldiers deserted and refused to proceed on the march of the Hessian and German troops... among those who refused to follow Burgoyne to Boston was Mr. Borch. He left the British Army at their departure from Albany and stayed in that vicinity...”. This Eulogy continues on to state that Borch had became a schoolmaster and a devoted Christian, married, etc. It concludes with a statement by the reader that there will be a sermon preached in a place called Magers Blachten in the center of Livingston in 1781.

Overall, a well written, readable and clean document. Historic in its presented content as it clearly displays how, in certain circumstances, British Soldiers and their Hessian Mercenaries, would remain and settle new roots in America during the American Revolutionary War Era.