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84-467: Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange (PURE) is an American property insurance company established in 2006. PURE caters to high-net-worth customers. It offers insurance for homes with a rebuild value of more than one million dollars, automobiles, watercraft, jewelry, art and other collections, personal excess liability (umbrella), and flood. The company is based in White Plains, New York . PURE

168-416: A 2006 enrollment of more than 6,000 students, maintains five elementary schools (grades K–5), two middle schools (Eastview for grade 6, Highlands for grades 7–8) and one high school (9–12), as well as auxiliary facilities, including a pre-kindergarten program, a community school (grades 7–12), adult and continuing education, and a program for school-age patients at New York-Presbyterian Hospital , whose campus

252-411: A 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $ 47,742 versus $ 36,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 33,825. About 9.2% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over. The 10605 zip code, spanning the southern portion of the city, encompasses much of White Plains' residential neighborhoods and

336-537: A basketball game against the White Plains Tigers. White Plains was also selected as the original filming destination for Larry Charles ' Borat , but Sacha Baron Cohen insisted the film be shot in New York City. The White Plains Performing Arts Center, which can seat up to 410 people, serves as a venue for a variety of events, such as Broadway theatre and concerts. White Plains is home to

420-908: A corps in Eugene of Savoy's army in Italy before moving to the Spanish Netherlands in 1708. In 1714, 6,000 Hessians were rented to Sweden for its war with Russia whilst 12,000 Hessians were hired by George I of Great Britain in 1715 to combat the Jacobite Rebellion . ... In the midst of the War of the Austrian Succession in 1744, 6,000 Hessians were fighting with the British army in Flanders, whilst another 6,000 were in

504-717: A deputy chief. The WPFD also operates a frontline fire apparatus fleet of five engines, three ladders, one rescue, and numerous other special, support, and reserve units. The Journal News , the major daily newspaper for the Lower Hudson Valley region, is based in White Plains. The current paper, owned by the Gannett Company , was formed in 1998 by the merger of eleven local papers in Westchester and Rockland counties. (b) denotes that

588-522: A few of the Hessian soldiers who deserted the British forces after being returned in exchange for American prisoners of war. These men were both hunted by the British for being deserters and by many of the colonists as a foreign enemy. Throughout the Revolutionary War, Americans tried to entice Hessians to desert the British, emphasizing the large and prosperous German-American community in

672-499: A little English." Apparently, this was a prerequisite for the English to show them any affection. Numerous other incidents strained the relationship between the British and Hessians. In August 1779, Saxon nobleman Johann Philip von Krafft wrote that a group of "English soldiers" attacked and robbed a Hessian grenadier, fatally wounding him in the process; historian Steven Schwamenfeld noted that these soldiers were most likely members of

756-473: A population density of 5,820.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,247.2/km ). White Plains has a humid continental climate , with four distinct seasons. Winter is cold and wet, with occasional snow and an average January temperature of 29.8 °F (−1.2 °C), and summer is hot and humid, with a mean July temperature of 74.0 °F (23.3 °C). In spring and fall, temperatures can fluctuate from cool to hot, but are usually mild and comfortable. Precipitation

840-499: A public welfare system, and encouraged education. American historian Edward Jackson Lowell lauded Friedrich II for spending British money wisely, describing him as "one of the least disreputable of the princes who sent mercenaries to America". Prior to the American Revolutionary War, Hessian soldiers were familiar in battlefields across 18th century Europe. Between 1706 and 1707, 10,000 Hessians served as

924-687: A raw, untrained militia force from Vermont , New Hampshire , and Massachusetts . General John Burgoyne lost 1,000 of his 8,000 soldiers at Bennington, and the loss of so many Hessians doomed his army later. An assortment of Hessians fought in the battles and campaigns in the southern states during 1778–1780, including at the Guilford Court House , and two regiments fought at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. Hessians also served in Nova Scotia for five years (1778–1783), where they protected

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1008-684: A standing army was costly. When military conflict broke out, German states provided a ready supply of trained troops prepared to enter military action immediately. The Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel soon emerged as the most prominent source of German soldiers to foreign armies. To field a large professional army with a relatively small population, Hesse-Kassel became the most militarized state in Europe: All Hessian males registered for military service at age seven, and from age 16 until 30 were required to present themselves annually to an official for possible recruitment. Only those whose occupation

1092-493: A year after hostilities broke out, condemned King George III for "transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to [complete] the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation." Throughout the war, reports of plundering by Hessians were said to have galvanized neutral colonists to join

1176-505: Is 31 minutes by express train from Midtown Manhattan , and this has attracted new residents who commute to New York City for work. In early 2003, the Saks Fifth Avenue location was closed and demolished; it was replaced in 2004 with the large retail complex called The Source at White Plains . In 2007, construction was completed on Renaissance Square, a downtown parcel that includes the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel. White Plains

1260-429: Is a city in and the county seat of Westchester County, New York , United States. It is an inner suburb of New York City , and a commercial hub of Westchester County, a densely populated suburban county that is home to about one million people. White Plains is located in south-central Westchester County. Its downtown (Mamaroneck Avenue) is 25 miles (40 km) north of Midtown Manhattan . The city's total population

1344-524: Is a member of the PURE Group of Insurance Companies (the PURE Group). Between 2018 and 2020 PURE Insurance assisted Viktor Vekselberg , a Russian oligarch, with $ 315,891 of transactions in breach of sanctions and was accordingly fined $ 466,200 by OFAC in 2023. This insurance -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . White Plains, New York White Plains

1428-572: Is bordered to the north by the town of North Castle , to the north and east by the town/village of Harrison , to the south by the town/village of Scarsdale , and to the west by the town of Greenburgh . The city is about 7 miles (11 km) east of the Hudson River and 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the Long Island Sound . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , White Plains has a land area of 9.77 square miles (25.3 km ), and

1512-454: Is located in the city. Since 1988 the district has operated under a Controlled Parents' Choice Program, whereby the parents of elementary school children can select the school which their child attends based on factors other than proximity to the school. The five elementary schools, in addition to teaching core competencies, have different educational focuses including science and technology, communication arts and global understanding. Two of

1596-810: Is often also live music at the Market. White Plains is home to the United States Tennis Association USTA B team. Westchester County Center is home to the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League , which began play in the 2014–2015 season. It was also the primary home of the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association from 2018 to 2020. The city is also home to USA Rugby League franchise

1680-422: Is plentiful in all months of the year. The city receives about 229 clear or partly cloudy days per annum, with July typically being the sunniest month, averaging more than 70 percent of possible sunshine. The lowest temperature ever recorded in White Plains since record-keeping began in 1948 was −10 °F (−23 °C) on January 19, 1977, and the highest ever was 102 °F (39 °C) on July 6, 2010. Over

1764-523: Is primarily composed of single-family housing. As of the 2020 United States Census , there were 19,438 people residing in 10605. The median income for a household in the zip code was $ 140,262. As of 2024, the average home value in 10605 was $ 914,020. Several popular films and TV series have been filmed in White Plains, including The Departed , Across The Universe , Eighth Grade , Alex Strangelove , The Beaver , The Americans , and Sisters . The animated television series Big Mouth also plays

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1848-512: Is protected by professional firefighters of the City of White Plains Fire Bureau, part of the Department of Public Safety, but commonly referred to as the "fire department" (WPFD). The White Plains Fire Department is currently the seventh-largest fire department in the state of New York. The WPFD currently operates out of five fire stations located throughout the city, with each shift commanded by

1932-407: The 2020 United States census , there were 59,559 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 46.4% white, 11.9% Black, .1% Native American, 8% Asian, <.1% Pacific Islander, .3% from some other race, and 2.7% from two or more races. 32.4% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 56,853 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of

2016-748: The Bronx and connect with the New York City subway. The main Bee Line hub in White Plains is the Trans-Center, adjacent to the Metro-North station. Other regional bus services that serve White Plains include the Hudson Link to Rockland County ; Leprechaun Lines to Poughkeepsie ; CT Transit's I-Bus to Stamford, Connecticut ; as well as Greyhound , Trailways and Coach USA service to upstate New York and Long Island. The city of White Plains

2100-616: The Büchse , a short, large-caliber rifle well-suited to woodland combat. Initially, the typical regiment was made up of 500 to 600 men. Later in the war, due to death in battle, death by disease, and general desertion to settle in the Colonies, the regiments may have been reduced to only around 300 to 400 men. The first Hessian troops to arrive in British America landed at Staten Island on August 15, 1776, and their first engagement

2184-577: The Continental Army . After the Revolutionary War, many Hessian prisoners of war never returned to Germany and instead chose to accept American offers of religious freedom and free land, becoming permanent settlers. By contrast, British prisoners were also held in Lancaster, but these men did not respond favorably to good treatment and often tried to escape. After the war ended in 1783, some 17,313 German soldiers returned to their homelands. Of

2268-630: The Geneva Convention defines a mercenary as "any person who ... has not been sent by a State which is not a Party to the conflict on official duty as a member of its armed forces." Hessian troops served in America on official duty from the armed forces of Hesse-Cassel and Hesse-Hanau. Protocol I also requires a mercenary to be "promised, by or on behalf of a Party to the conflict, material compensation substantially in excess of that promised or paid to combatants of similar ranks and functions in

2352-853: The New York Power Authority , New York-Presbyterian Hospital , Krasdale Foods (which supplies products for the C-Town supermarket chain), Nine West , and AboveNet , as well as the U.S. headquarters of Heineken International . At the turn of the second millennium, there was a boom in commercial businesses and residential living. In 2000, Prodigy moved its headquarters from White Plains Plaza in White Plains to Austin, Texas . White Plains continues to attract regional and national business as well as international headquarters such as Nine West Group, Allegiance Financial, ITT Corporation, Nokia, Heineken USA, Alliance Bernstein, AT&T and Verizon. The White Plains Public School System , with

2436-560: The New York State Thruway on its approach to the Tappan Zee Bridge , which crosses the Hudson River into Rockland County . The bridge allows connections to Rockland, points upstate , and parts of northern New Jersey . Current highway works include pedestrian walkways over the highway, an extra lane on either side, and on/off ramps to help motor traffic and pedestrians. Vegetation removals have upset some in

2520-668: The Volunteers of Ireland , a Loyalist military unit mostly consisting of deserters from the Continental Army. Another incident occurred on August 20, 1780, between British soldiers from the 54th Regiment of Foot and Hessian troops from the Anhalt-Zerbst Regiment. The 54th Regiment of Foot, which had cultivated several vegetable gardens, were relieved by the Hessians, who refused British demands to pay for

2604-690: The Westchester Philharmonic , the sole professional symphony orchestra in Westchester County. The Philharmonic performs at SUNY Purchase's Performing Arts Center. The White Plains Farmers' Market operates year-round in the city, setting up Downtown at 255 Main Street from May to November, and in the Westchester County Center the rest of the year. In addition to the various food products sold, there

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2688-563: The White Plains Wombats . and North American Rugby League franchise New York Freedom . White Plains has a vibrant nightlife, centered around Mamaroneck Avenue and surrounding areas. The Cross-Westchester Expressway , or I-287 , runs through White Plains, connecting Tarrytown to Rye . On its eastern end, I-287 meets I-95 , the major commercial route along the East Coast . At its western end, I-287 meets I-87 and

2772-669: The White Plains station , located downtown at Main Street and the Bronx River, and the North White Plains station , provide daily train service to Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan . Both stations are on the Harlem Line . Bee Line is Westchester County's public bus system and several routes pass through White Plains offering local service to many surrounding communities. A few routes serve

2856-722: The white balsam ( Gnaphalium polycephalum ) which was said to have covered it, or from the heavy mist that local tradition suggests hovered over the swamplands near the Bronx River . The first non-native settlement came in November 1683, when a party of Connecticut Puritans moved westward from an earlier settlement in Rye and bought about 4,400 acres (18 km ), presumably from the Weckquaeskeck. However, John Richbell of Mamaroneck claimed to have earlier title to much of

2940-480: The 1940s through the 1970s brought shoppers from elsewhere. During the late 1960s, the city of White Plains developed an extensive urban renewal plan for residential, commercial and mixed-use redevelopment that called for the demolition of its entire central business district from the Bronx River Parkway east to Mamaroneck Avenue. By 1978, the urban renewal program centered around the construction of

3024-461: The 1940s), serves public school students in grades 9–12. The school has a swimming pool that overlooks a small valley that holds the track and football field. The White Plains Recreation Department works with the schools to offer programs. The district is governed by a seven-member Board of Education, elected at-large for staggered three-year terms. A school superintendent reports to the Board. As of

3108-705: The 1980s, at least 50 Fortune 500 corporations had their headquarters in Westchester County and nearby Fairfield County, Connecticut , but with the corporate mergers and downsizing of the 1990s, many of these companies reduced their operations in White Plains or left the area completely. White Plains is home to the Arts Exchange Building, which serves as the headquarters of the Westchester Arts Council. Since March 1999, visual and performing artists, emerging cultural organizations and new creative businesses have had studios and offices in

3192-544: The Bavarian army. By 1762, 24,000 Hessians were serving with Ferdinand of Brunswick 's army in Germany. In most of these wars, Hesse-Hanau was never formally a belligerent. While its troops remained members of the Hessian military, and even fought in their national uniform, they were hired out for service in other armies, without their government having any stake in the conflict. Thus, Hessians could serve on opposing sides of

3276-562: The British House of Hanover and were comfortable placing their troops under British command. A total of 29,875 German troops fought alongside British troops in the Revolutionary War, of which 16,992 came from Hesse-Kassel and 2,422 from Hesse-Hanau. Other contingents came from Brunswick (4,300), Ansbach-Bayreuth (2,353), Anhalt-Zerbst (1,119), and Waldeck (1,225). As the majority of the German troops came from Hesse, Americans use

3360-465: The British service not as individuals, but in entire units, with their usual uniforms, flags, equipment, and officers. Methods of recruitment varied according to the state of origin. The contingent from Waldeck was drawn from an army based on universal conscription, from which only students were exempt. Other German princes relied on long-service voluntary enlistment supplemented by conscription when numbers fell short. Many princes were closely related to

3444-584: The Colonies. The Continental Congress authorized the offer of land of up to 50 acres (roughly 20 hectares) to individual Hessian soldiers who switched sides. British soldiers were offered 50 to 800 acres, depending on rank. Many Hessian prisoners were held in camps at the interior city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania , home to a large German community known as the Pennsylvania Dutch . German prisoners were treated well, with some volunteering for extra work assignments, helping to replace local men serving in

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3528-487: The Continentals, whose casualties were about 125 dead and wounded. Three days after the battle, Washington withdrew north of the village, which was then occupied by Howe's forces. But after several inconclusive skirmishes over the next week, Howe withdrew on November 5, leaving White Plains to the Continentals. Ironically, one of Washington's subordinates, Major John Austin, who was probably drunk after having celebrated

3612-510: The Revolutionary War, particularly in the northern theater . They served with distinction in many battles, most notably at White Plains and Fort Washington . The added manpower and skill of German troops greatly sustained the British war effort—at some points accounting for up to one-third of British strength—but also outraged colonists and increased support for the Revolutionary cause. The use of "large armies of foreign mercenaries"

3696-534: The Revolutionary side. General Washington 's Continental Army had crossed the Delaware River to make a surprise attack on the Hessians in the early morning of December 26, 1776. In the Battle of Trenton , the Hessian force of 1,400 was quickly overwhelmed by the Continentals, with only about 20 killed and 100 wounded, but 1,000 captured. Hessians captured in the Battle of Trenton were paraded through

3780-820: The Westchester County Courthouse (1974), the Westchester One office building (1975), the Galleria at White Plains mall (1978), and a number of other office towers, retail centers and smaller commercial buildings. At the time of its construction, the Westchester One building was the largest office building between New York City and Albany , and east to Hartford . Beginning in the 1950s, many major corporations based in New York City moved operations to White Plains and other suburban locations. These included General Foods , PepsiCo , Hitachi USA, IBM , Nestlé , Snapple , and Heineken USA . In

3864-419: The age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.14. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.2% under

3948-433: The age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 58,545, and the median income for a family was $ 71,891 (these figures had risen to $ 73,744 and $ 92,215 respectively as of

4032-487: The airlines and traveling public refer to Westchester County Airport as "White Plains." It serves as a minor hub for JetBlue Airways , which offer regularly scheduled flights to several destinations in Florida. In addition, JetBlue began service from Westchester to Nassau, Bahamas in November 2011. White Plains is also located within an hour's drive of two major New York City airports. Two Metro-North Railroad stations –

4116-456: The armed forces of that Party." While not formally incorporated into the British military, Hessian troops were paid the same wages as British soldiers. Great Britain maintained a relatively small standing army , so it found itself in great need of troops at the outset of the American Revolutionary War. Several German princes saw an opportunity to earn extra income by hiring out their regular army units for service in America. Their troops entered

4200-532: The arrival of the New York Central Railroad , it had swollen to 2,630 and by 1890 to 4,508. In the decades that followed the count grew to 7,899 (1900) and 26,425 (1910). White Plains was incorporated as a village in 1866 and as a city in 1916. After World War II , White Plains' downtown area developed into a shopping district featuring branches of many famous New York-based department and specialty stores. Some of these retail locations were

4284-550: The building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The construction of the Galleria at White Plains mall in the 1970s ushered in a new era of downtown retail and office development, but by the early 1990s, economic development had stagnated, hampered by a deep recession and the overbuilding of the commercial real estate markets. For a time, White Plains had one of the highest office vacancy rates in

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4368-507: The city was 48.9% white, 13.2% Black , .1% Native American, 6.3% Asian, <.1% Pacific Islander, .3% from some other race and 1.5% from two or more races. 29.6% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. As of the census of 2000, there were 53,077 people, 20,921 households, and 12,704 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,415.5 inhabitants per square mile (2,090.9/km ). There were 21,576 housing units at an average density of 2,201.4 per square mile (850.0/km ). The racial makeup of

4452-485: The city was 64.93% white , 15.91% African American , 4.5% Asian , .34% Native American , .07% Pacific Islander , 10.37% from other races , and 3.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.51% of the population. In 2010, Businessweek Magazine named White Plains one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. There were 20,921 households, out of which 26.9% had children under

4536-467: The colony from American privateers, such as during the 1782 Raid on Lunenburg . Notwithstanding their reputation as skilled and disciplined fighters, many British soldiers shared the American distrust of Hessians, who often spoke little or no English and were perceived as crude and barbaric. The chaplain then recounts the case of a Jaeger subaltern who was assailed "by an Englishman in his cups" with

4620-556: The colony's independence and the formation of the State of New York . The Declaration itself was first publicly read from the steps of the courthouse on July 11. During September and October 1776, troops led by George Washington took up positions in the hills of the village, hotly pursued by the British under General Sir William Howe , who attacked on October 28. The Battle of White Plains took place primarily on Chatterton Hill, (later known as "Battle Hill," and located just west of what

4704-599: The community but it is reported that the area will be fixed and trees will be replanted when work on the highway comes to an end. The Bronx River Parkway , which runs north–south through White Plains, provides access south to New York City or north to the Kensico Circle in North Castle . Westchester County Airport is located in Harrison , about 7 miles (11 km) northeast of downtown White Plains. Often

4788-538: The course of a typical year, there are 18 days of at least 90 °F (32 °C) temperatures, and seven days when temperatures do not rise above the freezing point. The City of White Plains includes various neighborhoods of differing characters and sizes, some of which contain multiple subsections: The economy of White Plains revolves around large companies that have moved to the city such as ITT , Xylem , Bunge , and Combe . Other companies based in White Plains include Alliance Bernstein , PURE Insurance , Dannon ,

4872-643: The declaration: "God damn you, Frenchy, you take our pay!" The outraged Hessian replied: "I am a German and you are a shit." This was followed by an impromptu duel with hangers, in which the Englishman received a fatal wound. The chaplain records that General Howe pardoned the Jaeger officer and issued an order that "the English should treat the Germans as brothers." This order began to have influence only when "our Germans, teachable as they are" had learned to "stammer

4956-465: The elementary schools offer bilingual education where children are taught in both English and Spanish. Both English speaking and Spanish speaking families can choose to be entered into a lottery for a place in the bilingual classes. White Plains High School , built in the late 1950s (when it moved from The Highlands School) on a 72-acre (29 ha) campus (formerly James Cash Penney 's 72-acre Westchester Estate, until he moved to Westport, Connecticut in

5040-446: The enemy's withdrawal, reentered the village with his detachment and proceeded to burn it down. Although he was court-martialed and convicted for this action, he escaped punishment. The first United States Census , conducted in 1790, listed the White Plains population at 505, of whom 46 were slaves. (New York City's population at that time was about 33,000.) By 1800, the population stood at 575 and in 1830, 830. By 1870, 26 years after

5124-466: The first large-scale suburban stores built in the United States. In 1949, Macy's launched a grand White Plains store on Main Street across from City Hall. Other prestigious stores followed, such as B. Altman and Co. , Rogers Peet , Saks Fifth Avenue , Lord & Taylor , Alexander's , Wallachs , and a short-lived branch of Bergdorf Goodman , which was converted to sister chain Neiman Marcus in 1981. Construction of nearby parkways and expressways in

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5208-495: The intention of forcing Hessian troops to withdraw from the war. Hessian and allied forces attempted to liberate their homeland but were repulsed at the Battle of Sandershausen on 23 July. Following two sieges in 1761 and 1762 , Cassel was retaken, which constituted the last military action of the war. The characterization of Hessian troops as "mercenaries" remains controversial. American history textbooks refer to them as "mercenaries", and they are still widely perceived as such in

5292-512: The land", or native men. Hessian military service was notably strict and demanding, emphasizing iron discipline through draconian punishment. Deserters were summarily executed or beaten by an entire company. Morale was generally high, and soldiers were said to take pride in their service. Officers were usually well-educated, and unlike most European armies, promoted on the basis of merit. Soldiers were paid relatively high wages, and their families were exempt from certain taxes. Although plunder

5376-419: The northeastern United States. Consolidation within the retail industry led to the closing of many of downtown's department and specialty stores. After its bankruptcy, the B. Altman store closed in 1989 and was demolished to make way for The Westchester , an upscale mall that opened in 1995 with anchors Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. A freestanding branch of Macy's, one of downtown's original retail anchor stores ,

5460-431: The northern part of the borough of the Bronx , in New York City. The unincorporated village remained part of the Town of Rye until 1788 when the town of White Plains was created. On July 9, 1776, a copy of the Declaration of Independence was delivered to the New York Provincial Congress, which was meeting in the county courthouse. The delegates quickly adopted a resolution approving the Declaration, thus declaring both

5544-776: The person was born there. Hessian (soldiers) While regarded both contemporaneously and historiographically as mercenaries , Hessians were legally distinguished as auxiliaries : whereas mercenaries served a foreign government on their own accord, auxiliaries were soldiers hired out to a foreign party by their own government, to which they remained in service. Auxiliaries were a major source of income for many small and relatively poor German states, typically serving in wars in which their governments were neutral. Like most auxiliaries of this period, Hessians were attached to foreign armies as entire units, fighting under their own flags, commanded by their usual officers, and wearing their existing uniforms. Hessians played an essential role in

5628-415: The popular imagination of the United States. American historian Charles Ingrao describes Hesse as a "mercenary state" whose prince rented out his regiments to fund his governmental expenditures. By contrast, British historian Stephen Conway referred to them as " auxiliaries ". Military historians Dennis Showalter and Rodney Atwood note that Hessians would not have been legally considered mercenaries at

5712-466: The practice of lending out auxiliaries did sometimes draw Hesse-Kassel into war. In July 1758, during the course of the Seven Years' War, most of the country, including its capital of Cassel, was occupied by a French army under Charles de Rohan, Prince of Soubise , which easily overcame the home defence force of 6,000 Hessian militiamen . Soubise ordered his troops to live off the land, take high-ranking hostages, and extort payments of cash and produce, with

5796-421: The privilege of harvesting crops they had sown. In response, a number of British soldiers began pulling up the vegetables and carrying them off, which led to a skirmish breaking out before British and Hessian officers broke it up. Americans, both Revolutionaries and Loyalists, often feared the Hessians, believing them to be rapacious and brutal mercenaries. The American Declaration of Independence, written roughly

5880-456: The same conflict. In the War of the Austrian Succession , both Britain and Bavaria employed Hessian soldiers against one another. In the Seven Years' War , the forces of Hesse-Kassel served with both the Anglo-Hanoverian and the Prussian armies against the French; although Hesse-Kassel was technically allied to Britain and Prussia, her troops were actually leased by the British. Notwithstanding its formal neutrality in many of these conflicts,

5964-412: The streets of Philadelphia to raise American morale; anger at their presence helped the Continental Army recruit new soldiers. Most of the prisoners were sent to work as farmhands. By early 1778, negotiations for the exchange of prisoners between Washington and the British had begun in earnest. These included Nicholas Bahner(t), Jacob Trobe, George Geisler, and Conrad Grein (Konrad Krain), who were

6048-417: The term "Hessians" to refer to all German troops fighting on the British side . Hessian troops included Jägers , hussars , three artillery companies, and four battalions of grenadiers . Most infantrymen were chasseurs , including sharpshooters , musketeers , and fusiliers . Line infantry was armed with muskets, while the Hessian artillery used the three-pound cannon. The elite Jäger battalions used

6132-400: The territory through his purchase of a far larger plot extending 20 miles (32 km) inland, perhaps from a different tribe. The matter was not settled until 1721, when a Royal Patent for White Plains was granted by King George II . In 1758, White Plains became the seat of Westchester County when the colonial government for the county left West Chester, which was located in what is now

6216-588: The time, but rather auxiliaries. Whereas mercenaries served a foreign ruler in an individual capacity, auxiliaries forces were controlled by a state, and their foreign service was in direct competition to professional mercenaries. Similarly, in the twentieth century, the Moroccan Goumiers were attached as auxiliaries to the French Army of Africa . Hessians would not be categorized as mercenaries under modern international law. Protocol I (1977) to

6300-537: Was 59,599 in the 2020 census , up from 53,077 at the 2010 census. According to the city government, the daytime weekday population is estimated at 250,000. At the time of the Dutch settlement of Manhattan in the early 17th century, the region had been used as farmland by the Weckquaeskeck tribe, a Wappinger people, and was called "Quarropas". To early traders it was known as "the White Plains", either from

6384-436: Was also later demolished to make way for the massive City Center at White Plains complex. This large mixed-use development features two 35-story apartment and condominium towers , 600,000-square-foot (60,000 m ) of retail, restaurant and entertainment space and new parking facilities. Beginning in 2000, the city's permanent population experienced a growth spurt as additional apartment buildings were constructed. The city

6468-529: Was considered vital to the country were exempted; those deemed expendable, such as vagrants and the unemployed, could be conscripted at any time. During the 18th century, approximately 5.2% to 14.2% of Hesse-Kassel's population were under arms in the 18th century, with one in four households having someone serving in the army—a larger proportion than even heavily militarized Prussia . Whereas Prussia relied partly on mercenaries from other German states, Hesse-Kassel employed only Landeskinder —literally "children of

6552-643: Was in high demand. Germany was not yet a unified nation, but a collection of several hundred states loosely organized under the Holy Roman Empire . Conflict between and among these states led to the creation of professional armies, which were consequently experienced and well trained. Many German societies became militarized, with most men undergoing annual training from adolescence well into adulthood, often serving for life or until they were too old. Several poorer German states came to rely on their troops as an economic resource, especially since sustaining

6636-479: Was less than two weeks later in the Battle of Long Island . Hessians proved decisive to the British victory, and they subsequently fought in almost every battle that year. By 1777, the British used them mainly as garrison and patrol troops. Hessians fought at the Battle of Bennington , the turning point of the Saratoga campaign . At Saratoga, approximately 1,000 Hessians were defeated; being killed or captured by

6720-606: Was moved two blocks away to The Galleria mall by its parent company, Federated Department Stores , replacing sister retailer Abraham & Straus when these two store divisions were merged in 1995 A new courthouse for the Southern District of New York was opened in 1998 and several large-scale office properties in and near downtown, including the former General Foods headquarters building, were retrofitted and leased to accommodate smaller businesses. The Macy's store on Main Street remained vacant for several years until it

6804-403: Was officially forbidden, it remained common practice—as in most military forces at the time—offering another incentive for service. Overall, Hessian troops were considered superb fighters, even by their opponents. The Hessian military became a major source of economic strength and was the dominant force in society. Hesse-Kassel manufactured its own weapons and uniforms, and its textile industry

6888-627: Was one of the 27 colonial grievances against King George III in the Declaration of Independence , and the Patriots cited the deployment of Hessians as proof of British violations of the colonists' rights. The use of foreign soldiers was common in 18th-century Europe. In the two centuries leading up to the American Revolutionary War , the continent saw frequent, though often small-scale, warfare, and military manpower

6972-456: Was so prosperous from supplying the military that workers could afford to buy meat and wine every day. The revenue from renting the army to the British equaled roughly 13 years' worth of taxes, allowing the Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, Friedrich II , to reduce taxes by one-third between the 1760s and 1784. A self-styled enlightened despot , he also oversaw public-works projects, administered

7056-439: Was then a swamp but is now the downtown area) and the Bronx River. Howe's force of 4,000–6,000 British and Hessian soldiers required three attacks before the Continentals, numbering about 1,600 under the command of Generals Alexander McDougall and Israel Putnam, retreated, joining Washington's main force, which did not take part in the battle. Howe's forces had suffered 250 casualties, a severe loss, and he made no attempt to pursue

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