Johann Heinrich Koch later John Henry Cook, was a German-American, mercenary and farmer, who served as a Hessian auxiliary during the American Revolutionary War. DAR records, SC, Johann Koch He deserted in 1783 and joined the South Carolina Militia. Hessian Soldier record, Johann Koch, https://www.lagis-hessen.de/en/subjects/gsrec/current/5/sn/hetrina?q=Johann+kochHessian record 2, https://www.lagis-hessen.de/en/subjects/gsrec/current/4/sn/hetrina?q=Johann+koch His desertion was common for many soldiers who decided to stay in the new country, rather than make the voyage back to Europe.Hessian record 3, https://www.lagis-hessen.de/en/subjects/gsrec/current/3/sn/hetrina?q=Johann+kochU.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820, John Cook, 1780, South Carolina.
Early life Johann Heinrich Koch, was born in 1762, to Johann Koch (1704-1767) and Anna Homburg (1704-1768). He was impressed into military service and sent to fight the American Revolutionary War as a mercenary. Hessian record 4, https://www.lagis-hessen.de/en/subjects/gsrec/current/12/sn/hetrina?q=Johann+koch
Military Service Was present for major notable battles of the American Revolutionary War such as the Battle of Brandywine, the Battle of Camden, and the Battle of Guildford Court House.Hessian record 5, https://www.lagis-hessen.de/en/subjects/gsrec/current/12/sn/hetrina?q=Johann+koch He was with General Cornwallis at Wilmington, North Carolina, and eventually deserted while stationed in South Carolina in 1783.Hessian record 6, https://www.lagis-hessen.de/en/subjects/gsrec/current/13/sn/hetrina?q=Johann+koch After desertion, he joined the local South Carolina Militia for the remainder of the war. After the war he moved into the interior of the state.
Later life He anglicized his named to John Henry Cook and married Margaret Lightfoot. He moved to Abbeville County, South Carolina and became a farmer, planting Cherry trees on his property that are still some of the last evidence of him on his property today. He died around 1801, the rest of his family, except his eldest child Philip, moved further west into states like Alabama and Mississippi, looking for better soil for farming.History of the Francis Irvin Cook Family, Part I, by Carrie Cook Scanlan
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