Because of the massive work and research done by our beloved cousin Roland Inkel, it is now possible for all Inkel families to find its roots and go back in the 1700th in Germany, in a small village boarding the Eder river, named BERGHOFEN. It is located near the city of Battengerg.

Jacob Henckel, born in Germany, a carreer soldier and a defensor of Canada during the american invasion war around 1777-1780, is at the origin of all our INKEL families in Québec, and some in USA.

HENCKEL was a name of a township in a country named "Silesie", part of Hungarian. Henckel family, owner of large land and estate, was in many occasions victim of regional wars. We can find trace of a few branches of the family for a period of approximately 20 generations, and particularly the family of hungarian aristocrat of Donnersmarck, Petrus Henckel, mentionned in some old documents of year 1378.

Jacob Henckel, son of Johann-Henrich Henckel and Sybilla Noll, was born on august 24 1744 in Berghofen. His father was from Rennerchaussen, born on February 8th, 1719 and his mother was born on january 4th, 1719 in Berghofen. She had Swiss roots. Jacob was brought up in the lutheran religion, founded by the reformist Martin Luther in 1517.

At 32 years of age, Jacob was serving under the flag of his german country. He was a marksman in the light infantry, more precisely in the Hesse-Hanau regiment.

Prussian king, Frédéric II (1760-1785) was then merchandising and selling group of soldiers of mercenaries to the England during the American independance war.

At that time, England was leading on all America. Acadian country and New Foundland was given back to England by France with the Utrecht Treaty in 1713. Louisbourg and Cape-Breton felt down in 1745. La Nouvelle-France also collapsed in front of Wolfe's army in front of Québec city in september 1759.

Ironically, England's difficulties came from its american colonies, who wanted their independance. King Georges III was totally against such and went in war with its american colony. This is known as the Idependance American War. In order to make war to these colonies, England needed soldiers badly. So, there was heavy recruitment in the small allied German States.

So, England has obtained nearly 20,000 german soldiers; on January 9 1776, Duke Auguste of Brunswick signed a Treaty by which he was giving a guaranty to England to provide them with soldiers they needed badly, mainly to bring a defense to its Canadian colony.

Jacob Henckel was then assign to the Brunswick army, with general Von Redeisel at command, and was part of the Hesse-Hanau regiment, a division of this army. Based on researchs made by Stéphen Gaal of Chicago (his grand-ma was born Inkel), Jacob Henckel arrived in Canada ( port of Quebec) at spring 1777.

He was then redirected via Lake Champlain to the Fort Stanwix in the state of New-York. From august 2nd to 23rd 1777, under the direction of colonel St-Leger, british troops with german soldiers with our ancestor Jacob Henckel, and a few indians, layed siege to the fort and its 750 defensors. American general Benedict Arnold came from Boston to help (with success) its beseiged brothers. Royal troops had to retreated in direction of Saratoga, N.Y., and later in October, they had to take the north direction, and came back in Canada. It was usual practice to then stop all fighting for the winter's periods. The foreign soldiers were then lodged in the french canadian families for the winter period.

After a few years of battles, England army and its german soldiers was not able to stop the american revolution. They have then decided to withdraw in Canada who remains loyal to the Crown.

After the war, some germain soldiers have returned in their home country, but many had already enjoyed the canadian way of life, and have decided to establish in Canada.

Thus, our ancestor Jacob Henckel was free from the army in 1783, and stayed in Québec.

Not long after, he was getting married with marie-Anne Roman on august 14th, 1783 in St-Philippe de Laprairie. Marie-Anne was the daughter of François Roman and Marie-Anne Paquet.

Jacob and Marie-Anne have obtained a land in between St-Philippe de Laprairie and St-Jacques le Mineur, where Jacob started as farmer. Beside that work and activity, he was quite active in the public life of Laprairie, and has became Baillif in that city.

They have raised a family of 6 child: Louis, Jacques, Jean-Baptiste, JEAN-ABRAHAM, Isaac, Elizabeth.

Only Jean-Abraham, born on january 1st, 1790, has assured the continuance of the Inkel name.

HERE IS MY DIRECT ISSUE: Jacob Henckel (1744-1832) - Jean-Abraham Henkel (1790-1844)

Philippe-Abraham Inkel (1818 - 1899) - Narcisse (1851 -1935) - Alfred (1876 - 1944)

Florent (1910 - 1997) - Robert (1942) (My child: Anne-Marie, Stéphane, Patrick)

Text from: La petite histoire des familles Inkel, by Roland Inkel

Painting reproductions: Marie-Candide Inkel, from New-York.