Christopher Almas was Melville J. Blain's great, great, great grandfather 

Background Information on the Almas Family

Christopher Almas, also known as Christian, was born in 1749 in Brunschwieg, Germany. Family history recounts that on an evening in January, 1776, at age 27, while Christian was in his barn with a sick cow, soldiers came and took him as well as anything else they wanted.

On February 22, 1776, he was put aboard a ship to America to fight on the British side in the American Revolution. He was, after-all, a Loyalist, but not of British descent. Each soldier was made to carry a kit, which consisted of a knapsack, a blanket, a haversack, a canteen for water, and a hatchet. The kit, his musket, and 60 rounds of ammunition weighed about 60 pounds.

Christian served with the British German troops until he was captured at the Battle of Saratoga in New York, 1777. He was held prisoner at Cambridge, Massachusetts from November 7, 1777 until November 9, 1778; a period of one year. He was then sent out, under guard, to Charlottesville, Virginia. It was a march of 678 miles through Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The prisoners marched on December 4, 1778 to Sussex, New Jersey, and from there to Fussell near Newton by December 5. The 6th and 7th were days of rest. On the 8th day of December they marched to Hackettstown and on the 9th to Neulong. On December 10th, Christian Almas escaped from the marching prisoner's column, and made his way to New Jersey. This is where he hid in a barn owned by Henry Bacher. Christian later arrived at Fort Niagara in 1787 with his wife, Magdalena Bacher, whom he married in 1779 in New Jersey. They came to Canada from Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania with four children: Anna, Henry, David and Adam.

In 1789, they squatted on lot 19/8 in Barton Township. On March 14, 1798 Christopher Almas registered for this land in concession 8. He also obtained lots 55/3 and 56/3 in Ancaster Township, where he lived the rest of his life. Christopher was also given some family land, lot 20/8 in Barton Township, and 42 and 43/5 in Ancaster Township.

Christopher worked with surveying parties from 1787 to 1791, and then farmed until his passing in 1843. They had five more children. He is buried with his wife in the Baron Union Cemetery.