Loyalists to the Crown

I think immigration records are fascinating.  I love to discover how and when our ancestors arrived here.  My ancestor, Johann Adam Hedrick’s father, Peter, had immigrated from Germany in 1738.  Adam and his wife, Maria Barbara Hege (Hagi, Hagey) had been born in Lancaster Co., PA, but migrated with their parents to Rowan Co. (now Davidson Co.), NC.

Maria’s parents were Hans George Hege, Jr., of Switzerland and his wife Anna Eva Frey of France.  Anna was born in 1718 in Wingen, Bas-Rhin, France, to Hans Peter and Anna Barbara Schmidt Frey, and immigrated with them on the “Samuel,” from Rotterdam to Philadelphia (arriving August 17, 1733).  The Schmidt line has been traced back in Wingen and Mattstall, France, into the early 1500’s.    Hans Peter Frey was born in 1689 in Wingen, Alsace, France and can be traced several generations back near Zurich, Switzerland.  His family settled in the East Cocalico Township of Lancaster Co., PA, until some of his children began migrating to North Carolina in the mid 1700’s.  Sadly, after joining them there in 1765, he died just a year later and became the first person interred in the new graveyard at Friedberg Moravian Church in Davidson Co., NC.

I found it interesting to read that three of Peter and Anna’s sons — Peter Jr.,  Christian, and George — sided with the British crown and were Tory/Loyalists in North Carolina (only 1 in 5 were Tories in this area).  The Rowan County Court minutes listed them among 577 persons who refused to take the Oath of Allegiance to the State.

Hans George Hege, Jr., was born in Switzerland and came to America with his father and brother on the ship “Dragon,” on September 30, 1732.  Their father was ill on the journey to America.  They were listed by the name of “Hayea.”  In the Oath of Allegiance Hans George’s name appears as Hans Jergi Hegi.  In other places his name is spelled “Hagea.”  I assume the ailing father did not live long in America, because no further records seem to be found for him.  The brother, Jacob Hagey, remained in Pennsylvania and operated a forge which produced great amounts of iron used in the manufacture of arms during the Revolution.  Hans George Hege, Jr., moved to NC with his family in 1760 and died there in 1781.