I come from a long line of Hessians on my fathers side, they were a German mercenary unit commanded by Germans (which is a reason the family is spread all over the globe). I don't think your family history is complete. The Hessians were hired by the British in the revolutionary war, when the limeys lost many recognized a good thing and stayed. They were mercenarys not slaves though. Armed slaves generally don't work well (their are exceptions in history).
I beg to differ with your statement that "slaves don't work well". It appears that Muslim law sure knows how to make good troops out of Christians!
This might be something Americans might pause and cogitate on at this juncture.
======================
THE CORPS OF THE JANIZARIES By Arthur Leon Horniker
...The recruiting (devsirme), as was pointed out, evolved from the impressing of adult Christian war prisoners to a levy on children of the subject Christian peoples within the Ottoman Empire. These children became the slaves of the Sultan. Now, while Muslim law permitted the conscription of prisoners of war and their enslavement, the impressing of Christian children to recruit the corps of the Janizaries was contrary to the common law which forbade a sovereign to force the dimmi to give their children into slavery. The disregard of the common law was justified, however, by appealing to a remark of the Prophet that every human being carries from his birth a desire to embrace Islam...
Military annals reveal few organizations whose history is more extraordinary than that of the corps of the Janizaries, which for nearly five hundred years constituted the backbone of the armed forces of the Ottoman Empire. LINK: THE ORIGIN OF THE CORPS OF THE JANIZARIES
======================
Looks like there were lots of whites who were taken and held as slaves! It also appears that "Fighting Whities" know how to win given a 500 year win streak -- which bodes well in these times!
I know the history and reputation of the Hessians. Or, I thought I did, until I started researching my family history. Following is an excerpt from the history of the Lackawanna Valley in PA. BTW, your part about armed slaves not working well is true in my case:
FROM "HISTORY OF THE LACKAWANNA VALLEY"
"Daniel Waderman, of Hamburg, Germany, was the second settler . While visiting London in 1775, he was seized by a British press-gang, and forced into unwilling service. He was present at the battle of Bunker Hill, followed the fortunes of the British until 1779, when he was taken prisoner on the Mohawk. Taking the oath of allegiance, he enlisted in the American service, and, by his faithful deportment as a soldier during the remainder of the war, proved himself an unquestioned patriot."
It has been an interesting trip down the roots of my family. The History of the Lackawanna Valley was a blast to read.
I also found that another branch of my tree originates from Wales. Possibly extending back as far as the last Welshman to hold the title of "Prince of Wales" before that birthright was stolen by the current "royal family." OK. Did I say that part right? They got their butts beat in combat so I have a right to make the victors into the villians and claim my birthright to the throne of England was stolen. I think that is how this game works, isn't it?
For the most part, the Hessian soldiers were German farm boys drafted by the prince and thus served (there were about 30,000 Germans who fought for the Brits during the RevWar; 22k Hessians and about 8k Bruswickers; about 10k stayed in this country after thr RevWar).
Often the German "princes" made their subjects serve in the army. The princes got payment for their "human property" and the young men got shipped to the new owner's battlefront.
Involuntary servitude is pretty much the same thing as slavery. Some people might consider the serious danger to the young soldiers worse than slavery.