Hans Henrich (Henry) Hofmann
1712 – 1783 71 yrs.
The Immigrant Ship “Hope” (Galley)
Timeline
1712 22 September, born in Germany
His family was from the village of Bockseifen in the Parish of Freudenberg.
1734 04 June, married to Margarethe Anna Huettenhen
1734 Arrival in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 23 Sep 1734
Traveled from Rotterdam by way of Cowes
Captain Daniel Reed or Reid of the Immigrant ship Hope (Galley)
Forty-nine Palatines with their families, total 127 immigrants.
1734 Move to Little Fork, Virginia
1735 Approx. birth of first son Tillman
1747 24 March, Culpeper County, VA
327 Acres from William Deathridge sold to Henry Huffman near Little Fork in Orange County. This land became part of Culpeper County when it was created in 1749. It is just east of Highway 229, and south of Colvin Rd, about 4 miles north of Rixeyville, VA.
1748 25 August, 225 Acres purchased from Jacob Holtsclaw, Little Fork, VA.
This land is located about a mile southeast of Jeffersonton, VA.
1754 French and Indian War 1754–1763
1755 18 September, 250 Acres purchased from James and Elizabeth Pendleton
Culpeper, Virginia
In his will, Henry leaves to his son Tilman half of the land he bought from Maj. James Pendleton, and the other half to son John. In the deed for this land it says "James and Elizabeth Pendleton of Culpeper County to Henry Huffman, weaver, for L70 current money, 250 acres in the north Rappahannock River…" This indicates that at least at this time he was a weaver. The inventory of his estate contains several items typical of the weaver trade. (In the deeds of the early to mid 1700’s, the occupation of the participants was often mentioned)
1764 Residence in Culpeper County, VA
Henry Huffman was on the tax rolls with 950 acres of land. He was a lieutenant in the militia.
1766 10 September, Culpeper Co., VA.
Henry Huffman/Hoffman, 10 Oct 1766; 369 a. to include his patent [from the crown] with this entry in one deed; resurveyed a parcel of land for Huffman being part of a greater tract granted to William Deatherage 10 Jan 1735 & a part sold to Huffman 24 Mar 1747 (recorded in Culpeper Court), plus 41 a. waste & ungranted land; adj. William Tapp, Williss br., Deatherage (now Huffman’s), Frederick Fishback, Fitzhugh’s old field, & a poison field. CC – Herman and Joseph Huffman, Pilot – Frederick Fishback. Surv. Richard Young.”
1767 5 April, Culpeper Co., VA. Henry Huffman’s will is written
He describes himself as "being of perfect mind and memory, tho weak of body", but went on to live 16 more years.
1770 Boston Massacre 05 Mar 1770
Boston, Middlesex, Massachusetts
1773 Boston Tea Party 16 Dec 1773
Boston, Middlesex, Massachusetts
1775 American Revolutionary War 1775–1783
1776 United States Declaration of Independence 04 Jul 1776
1783 Deathof Henry Huffman
St Marks Parish, Culpepper, Virginia
1783 06 September, will of Henry Huffman recorded in which Margaret, his
wife, and the children Tillman, John, Henry, Harman, Elizabeth
(married to John Young), Catherine, James, Mary, Elsbeth
(distinct from Elizabeth), Alice, Susanna, and Eva are named.
Voyage to America – background
Henry was 22 and Margaret was 20 when they arrived in America. The ship was a Galley called the "Hope", about 15 feet wide and about 100 feet long. 127 people were delivered safe to Philadelphia on this trip. The ship Captain was Daniel Reed, who in 1733 (one year before) had delivered 228 people on the same ship. The trip started in Rotterdam. They left in June, with a stop in Cowes England. They probably left Cowes about July 10th, as it was about 10 weeks on the water from England to Philadelphia.
Immigrants from Germany normally had a passport from the town mayor certifying their good character, and a letter of recommendation from their church pastor.
First, immigrants would travel down the Rhine to Rotterdam, which was slow and time consuming. Then to an English port, usually Cowes on the Isle of Wright, where ships were provisioned and clearance papers were obtained. Finally, was the Atlantic crossing.
When the ship reached Philadelphia, a medical officer boarded and examined all passengers. If anyone had a contagious disease, the ship stood a mile offshore until cleared. Then all male passengers above the age of 16 were marched to the Philadelphia courthouse and signed the oath of allegiance to the British crown and an oath of abjuration and fidelity to the proprietor and the laws of the province. Then they returned to the ship. Announcements were printed in papers stating how many of the new arrivals were to be sold and how much they owed. Those who had money or could borrow enough were released and the others were sold into servitude.
Passage cost from $27 to $90 per person. Supplies were often consumed before the journey was half over. These were supplemented from the ships stores which had to be paid for before the passenger was released. Supplies and baggage were sometimes lost or stolen and as a result many became indebted who originally had enough to pay their passage. Seven years of service per passenger was required during the early period of immigration. Sometimes two brothers served three and one half years each for the one who could not pay.
This ship “Hope” was chartered from London, England and was mastered by Captain Daniel Reid. To get a sense of the hardships endured by those early immigrants in crossing the Atlantic, here are selected sections of a lengthy narrative compiled by a passenger on the ship "Mary" that arrived in Philadelphia on 9/29/1733, one year prior to Heinrich’s journey. Conditions and circumstances between these two crossings may have been the similar since they occurred one year apart.
passage diary
"Heartily beloved son,
The 24th of June we went from Rotterdam to within half an hours distance from Dort, where we lay still, the wind being contrary.
On July 3, we started and the ship was drawn by men several times on the river Maas, as far as the neighborhood of Helvoetsluys. Then the seasickness began along the people, that is, dizziness and vomiting. The greatest number, after having vomited, could begin to eat again.
On the 13th of July, early in the morning, we arrived in port of Plymouth, which lies in midst of rocks. We had to lie in middle of the harbor until the ship was released by the customs officers and provisioned.
On July 21 we sailed into the big ocean and on our left we lost the land, France and Spain.
The 24th we also lost it on our right, namely England.
The 25th a little child died. It came upon the ship very sick; the next day about 8:oo it was buried in the sea. When the body fell from the plank into the water, i saw with great astonishment that a large number of fish appeared and darted quickly away in front of the ship, as if they wished to flee from the corps. For ten days we had steadily a good breeze, so that we sailed a long way on the big ocean.
The 28th of July, before daylight, a French Man-of-War by the name of Elizabeth came near us. This captain examined our captain in French. After having made themselves known to each other, they wished one another a happy trip and each went on his course. After this day we had very changeable weather so that in three weeks we made only sixty hours (about 180 miles), which in a very good wind we could have done in one day.
On august 4th, the crew early in the morning spiked a big fish with a harpoon. It was a long fish as long as an ordinary man and shaped in its head like a pig, also in body and insides like a pig.
The 7th of august during the night again a little child died and in the same hour a little boy was born and dead child buried at sea on the 8th.
The 11th and 12th we had a storm, which was not very strong, however it lasted 48 hours, so that all the sails had to be reefed. The rudder fastened, and the portholes boarded up, so that we were sitting in darkness, while the force of the waves truck through the porthole glass into the beds. Some people always have to vomit during every storm and strong, stiff winds.
On the 13th again a little boy was born.
The 17th we had another storm which was much stronger than the first for six or eight hours and blew the sea very high up. It lasted for one and one half days and one half nights, but towards the end was not so strong. Sails, rudder, holes, everything was hurriedly fastened up and left to the wind and sea. After that it grew so calm that we did not get much of the feel of being on the ship. The people who were ill, got well again from dizziness and vomiting. Then we got again strong wind from the side by which we made good headway.
On the 23rd of August again a child was buried at sea that evening.
The 26th about 5:00 p.m. we passed by a mast standing fast, the point of which showed a half yard above the water, quite immovable and with ends of rope still on it. By good fortune, our ship passed it at about a rod’s distance. The captain had just been drinking tea. Many people were very much frightened by this sight, because it was impossible for this mast to be standing on the bottom and yet it was immovable.
The 30th the last mentioned man again lost a child and it was buried at sea that night. Then we saw the first little fish with wings flying over the sea for two hours.
On September 6th and in the morning the first mate spiked a dolphin, which are quite different from what they are pictured in Germany. This day we had much heat and little breeze.
The 7th, another big fish was caught by the crew, which was very large and strong and of about a fingers’ thickness, to this they fastened one and one-half pounds of bacon. When they saw the fish near the ships side they threw the hook with bacon to him, which he swallowed at once and his tail, as well as in as out of the water they drew him into the ship with a hard pull, and drove back all the poor people, so that it should not hurt anybody, as he struck the deck so powerfully with his tail that if he struck anyone he would break into two. But after the ships carpenter had cut off his tail with his ax after ten strokes, his strength was all gone, and his mouth was so big that he might have swallowed a child of two years. The flesh the captain ordered to be distributed to the delighted people.
On the 11th again a little child died, without anybody having noticed it until it was nearly stiff, and the 12th it was buried at sea.
The 13th a young woman who had always been in poor health died in childbirth and was buried at sea on the 14th with 3 children, two of them before and now the third one just born, so that the husband has no one left now.
On the 16th in the morning about 4:00 a woman 50 years of age died; she had not been well during the entire trip and always repented having left her native place. She was buried at sea the same time.
On the 7th a small land bird, which they call the little yellow wagtail in Germany, perched down several times on our ship, and the people had a good look at him. This caused great rejoicing along them, that they clapped their hands with joy.
On the 19th, a strange looking fish came upon the ship. It was shaped like a large round table and had a mouth like two little shallow baskets. The same evening a large number of fish came from the north towards our ship and when they had reached the ship, they shot down into the deep, in front, behind and under the ship so that one could not see one anymore on the other side of the ship.
On the 20th again a young woman died and was buried at sea on the same night, and on this evening again came a large number of countless big fish from the north, which one could see from high above the water and which did just like the former, that one could not see one on the other side of the ship. Thereupon we had a very heavy fall of rain that some people caught half kegs of water, only from the sail and from the captains’ ship. This was followed by a powerful windstorm from the northwest. The sea rose up so high, that when one looked at it, it was just as if one were sailing among high mountains all covered with snow; and one mountain wave rose over the other and over the ship so that the captain and first mate and the cook were struck by a wave that they kept not a dry thread on them; and so much water poured into the ship that many peoples’ beds which were near to the holes were quite filled with water. The holes were hastily boarded up, the rudder bound fast, and the ship was with a very lowly reefed sail, set sideways to the wind, so that it should not roll so hard on both sides. The storm lasted the entire night with great violence, so that without any fear one could well see that it was not alone the seaworthiness of the ship, that it could weather such powerful blows, but that it was preserved in the almighty hand of the lord, in order to make known to man his might. To him be above all and for all the glory, amen.
The ships’ carpenter the next morning made new window boards. The storm also abated a little and thus the anxiety of the people grew a little less and towards 2:00 in the afternoon it cleared, the wind ceased, and the portholes in the ship were opened and it was beautifully calm weather. Then the captain quickly ordered a kettle of rice to be boiled, in order that the people might get something warm to eat that day and night for their supper.
On the 22nd at noon the ship lay as still as a house, then the people dried their clothes again. A good breeze sprang up at dinner time and blew all night, so stiff and so steadily that one did not know in the ship that it was moving and yet made two miles and a half in one hour. At midnight the first sounding were made, 150 rods deep and no bottom found.
The 23rd at 9:00 another sounding was made and at 55 rods ground was struck, at 11:00 at 35 rods; shortly after, 20 rods; and yet we did not see any land, but were nearing the river (Delaware). Then the people became very joyful and on account of the good breeze and the ground being found. But the captain did not trust himself to reach the river by daylight; since one could not see land even, and at four o’clock in the good wind he reefed the sails, and had the rudder tied fast, because there are many sandbanks in front and inside the river. Early in the morning all sails were set again and we headed for the river although the breeze was not favorable and there was a heavy fog. Then again they made soundings and found 15 rods, and an our later 7 rods. At 12:00 we saw the land with great rejoicing. Towards half past four we neared the river, for one is till six hours away from it when one gets in sight of it. I and the captain caught sight of three boats sailing towards us. These are the pilots or steersmen.
On the 25th, the before mentioned last born baby died and was buried in the river. That same day during the night we sailed into the narrows of the river, which in indeed very delighted to see, as wide as the Rhine where it is the widest, and on both banks are the most beautiful woods and groves and here and there houses stand on the banks which have fish nets hanging to dry in front of them.
The following day, the 27th, we passed new castle with little breeze and in a very dense fog. This town lies forty miles distant from Philadelphia, and we sailed during 28th and on the afternoon of the 29th we arrived safely in Philadelphia. We were met by brethren and sisters in small boats who brought us fine bread, apples, peaches, and other refreshments of the body, for which we gave thanks to the highest publicly on the ship near the city, with singing and ringing shouts of delight. See dear children, brethren and friends, this is in short the description of our journey across the very big sea.
The hardships of this journey consist of many kinds and things and although there were a good number of educated people among us, yet it was with them too, on account of the sad decline in their business affairs by the hard oppression of the government, that caused them to leave or become poor, and as poor people they could no longer help themselves from getting into debt and becoming beggars. One can never do what one wants on a ship. There are some who will consume all the food they have taken with them while the ships’ fare is still good; this they will become sick with and throw into the water. But later on when the ships fare has long been lying in salt, the water grows foul smelling, so that rice, barley, peas, and such can no longer be boiled soft in it, then the people have devoured and drunk everything they had and then necessity compels them to begin with the poorer stuff and they will find that very hard; and because the people live so closely together some will then begin to steal whatever they can get. Then there are such quantities of lice on the people that many persons are compelled to louse for a whole day at a time, and if one does not do this very frequently, they might devour one.
I will make an end of this and wish patience to whomsoever reads this.
God be with you all,
Amen”
Documented Facts
Arrival:
1734 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s, Source Publication Code: 926. 44
Primary Immigrant: Huffman, Henry Annotation: Date and port of arrival.
Source Bibliography: BREITBARD, GAIL. Some Early Virginia Immigrants. In The Lost Palatine, no. 5 (1982), pp. 4-5. Page: 4
Original data: Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research,
2010.
Death:
1783 in St Marks Parish, Culpepper, Virginia, USA
U.S. Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, Source Citation: Volume 280. SAR Membership Number 55947. . Name: Henry Hoffman
SAR Membership: 55947 Death Date: 1783 Children: Tilman Huffman
Tilman Death Date: 1827.
Marriage:
04 Jun 1734 in Freudenberg, Amberg-Sulzbach, Bayern, Germany
U. S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900, Source number: 23913. 003. Source type: Pedigree chart. Number of Pages: 3. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry. com Operations Inc, 2004.
Probate:
06 Sep 1783
Dr. Philip Slaughter, Genealogical and Historical Notes on Culpeper County, Virginia (Exponent Printing Office, Culpeper, Virginia, Raleigh Travers Green, 1900), Notes of Genealogists – Chapter 5. Henry Huffman, Apr. 5, 1767. Margaret. children: Tilman, Jno. , Henry, Jos. , Hermon, Elizabeth, m. Jno. Young, Catherine, Mary, Alice, Susannah and Eve. Sept. 6, 1783.
Residence:
1764 in Culpeper County, VA
Virginia Census, 1607-1890, Name: Henry Hoffman State: VA
County: Culpeper County Township: Rent Rolls Year: 1764
Record Type: Rent Role Database: VA Early Census Index.
Family:
Genealogical and Historical Notes On Culpeper County, Virginia
Embracing a Revised and Enlarged Edition of DR. Philip Slaughter’s
History of St. Mark’s Parish
Copyright, 1900. By Raleigh Travers Green.
Exponent Printing Office, Culpeper, Virginia
Sources:
1. Abbrev: Nassau-Siegen Immigrants/Holtzclaw-1964
Title: Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia 1714-1750
Author: B. C. Holtzclaw
Publication: Harrisonburg, Virginia: The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, 1964.
Page: 365.
Quality: 2
Date: 4 Apr 2009
2. Abbrev: Family Search Pilot Record Search Site
Title: database, \i http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html\i0
Author: Family Search
Page: accessed 10 mr 2009), German Baptisms – Hanss Henrich Hoffman.
Quality: 2
Date: 25 Jul 2009
3. Abbrev: Nassau-Siegen Immigrants/Holtzclaw-1964
Title: Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia 1714-1750
Author: B. C. Holtzclaw
Publication: Harrisonburg, Virginia: The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, 1964.
Page: 367.
Quality: 2
Date: 4 Jun 2009
Text: Henry Huffmans will…..probated Sept 15, 1783 (W.B "C", p.30)
4. Abbrev: Nassau-Siegen Immigrants/Holtzclaw-1964
Title: Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia 1714-1750
Author: B. C. Holtzclaw
Publication: Harrisonburg, Virginia: The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, 1964.
Page: 10.
Quality: 2
Date: 28 Mar 2009
Text: Passengers on the ship "Hope" 1734, Philadelphia, included Hans Hendrick Hofman aged 22, and Anna Margaret Hofman aged 20.
5. Abbrev: Pennsylvania German Pioneers
Title: Pennsylvania German Pioneers, II
Author: Ralph Beaver Strassburger LL.D.
Publication: Camden, Maine: Piction Press, 1992.
Page: II: 132,134.
Quality: 3
Date: 25 Jul 2009
6. Abbrev: Orange County Deed Book 11
Title: Library of Virginia, Richmond
Author: Virginia. Orange.
Page: Deed Book 11: 48-49, Deathridge to Huffman, 24 Mar 1747; Microfilm for 1747
Quality: 3
Date: 25 Jul 2009
7. Abbrev: Orange County Deed Book 11
Title: Library of Virginia, Richmond
Author: Virginia. Orange.
Page: Deed Book 11: 83-84, Holtsclaw to Huffman, 25 Aug 1748; Microfilm for 1748
Quality: 3
Date: 25 Jul 2009
8. Abbrev: Cukpeper County Deed Book 1750s
Title: Culpeper County Deed Book . Library of Virginia, Richmond
Author: Culpeper. Virginia.
Page: 1755 Book: 317-319, Pendleton to Huffman, 18 Sep 1755;
Quality: 3
Date: 25 Jul 2009
9. Abbrev: Culpeper Will Book C
Title: Will Book C.
Author: Virginia. Culpeper County.
Page: p. 30-33, Will of Henry Huffman, 15 Sep 1783; Microfilm for Culpeper Conty Wills
Quality: 3
Date: 25 Jul 2009
10. Abbrev: Family Search Pilot Record Search Site
Title: database, \i http://pilot.familysearch.org/recordsearch/start.html\i0
Author: Family Search
Page: accessed Mar 2009), Marriage of Hans Henrich Hoffman and Anna Margretha Huetenhen 1734.
Date: 28 Mar 2009
11. Abbrev: Nassau-Siegen Immigrants/Holtzclaw-1964
Title: Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia 1714-1750
Author: B. C. Holtzclaw
Publication: Harrisonburg, Virginia: The Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, 1964.
Page: 370-375.
Date: 28 Mar 2009
Text: These pages list the children of this marriage.
