At its August reunion, the Pidcock Family Association elected a new president, adopted bylaws and heard a re-enactor talk about why Hessian soldiers came to North America in 1776 to help King George III suppress the American Revolution.
Organized in 1913, the association held its reunion at the General John Sullivan Pavilion in Washington Crossing Historic Park. About 37 people attended.
Many Pidcock descendants live in the Lambertville-New Hope area.
The newly ratified bylaws call for the family association to hold an annual reunion, preferably near or along Pidcock Creek in Solebury Township, during the month of August. The creek is named for John Pidcock, an ancestor who settled along its bank in either the late 1670s or early 1680s.
The bylaws also require association officers to be elected annually at the reunion.
Newly elected are John L. Moore, president; Lawrence Smith, vice president; Becky Grawe, secretary; Jane E. Moore, treasurer; , Karen P. Price, genealogist; John L. Moore, historian, and representative-at-large Brad Livezey.
The oldest attendee was Jane Belli; the youngest was Christopher Smith. Living the closest was Becky Grawe, and the farthest were Karen and Greg Price. Ralph Pidcock has attended the most reunions.
Association members Patrick and Meg Updike of Telford are Revolutionary War re-enactors who portray Hessians.
Patrick explained that not only was George III the king of England, but he was also the head of Hanover, a principality in Germany. When England needed troops to help in suppressing the rebellion under way in the North American colonies, George III turned to other Germans to supply them. Many from Hesse-Cassel arrived in New York in 1776, and the Americans referred to them as Hessians.
The 2015 reunion is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15.

