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The document records a payment involving Adam Gollmer in the amount of 18 Gulden and 9 Kreuzer, with reference to Ernsthausen, a place-name associated with several villages in Hesse. It concludes with additional contemporary names/signatures, including a surname that appears to read Büchner, possibly Philipp Büchner.
What makes this small receipt especially interesting is its Hessian setting and Revolutionary War date.
In 1778, thousands of German troops from Hesse and neighboring states were serving in North America under British command during the American Revolution. Men from villages named Ernsthausen are documented in Hessian military records as having served in America, including soldiers who later became prisoners or deserters.
There is currently no proven evidence that Adam Gollmer or the Büchner signer on this receipt personally served in America, so this is not being sold as a Hessian military document. However, it comes from the same geographic and social world from which Britain’s German auxiliary troops were recruited, and the date places it directly within the period of Hessian service in the American Revolution.
Historical Context
By 1778, German auxiliary forces had already been fighting in America for nearly two years. Hessian troops took part in major campaigns in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere, including Trenton, Brandywine, and Germantown.
A significant number of German soldiers ultimately remained in America after the war, especially in German-speaking communities in Pennsylvania and surrounding regions.
This document therefore offers an intriguing research opportunity: further genealogical work may determine whether Adam Gollmer, the Büchner signer, or their immediate families had military or migration connections to America.
Adam Gollmer
The principal name appears to be Adam Gollmer, with possible spelling variants including:
Göllmer / Goellmer / Kollmer / Gollmer
He appears to have been involved in an ordinary rural financial transaction, possibly connected with agricultural labor, contracted work, or the settlement of an account.
No firm biographical identification has yet been established, which is typical for ordinary 18th-century villagers. Parish registers, tax records, military rolls, and local court records may eventually provide more information.
Büchner Signature
One of the lower names appears to read Büchner, possibly Philipp Büchner.
The Büchner surname was well established in Hesse during the 18th century. While there is no documented connection at present between this signer and a specific military unit or later prominent Büchner family, the surname and location make additional research worthwhile.
Collecting Interest
A compelling original piece for collectors of:
- Hessian history
- American Revolutionary War-era material
- 18th-century German manuscripts
- German genealogy
- Kurrent handwriting
- Gulden and Kreuzer currency
- Early legal and financial documents
- German-American immigration history
The document shows expected age-related toning, folds, staining, ink variation, edge wear, and handling consistent with an original manuscript approaching 250 years old. Please review all photographs carefully for condition.
Important: This is an authentic 1778 German receipt from the Hessian cultural region. Its connection to Hessian troops in America is historical context and a potential research avenue only; no signer has yet been conclusively identified as a soldier who served in the American Revolution.
