Edmund Huff (abt. 1747 - abt. 1819)

Born about 1747 in Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy (Jones) Huff — married about 1775 in Cumberland,Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 1819 at about age 72 in Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Billy Huff [send private message], Michael Huff [send private message], and Bryan Hough [send private message]

Biography

Private Edmund Huff served with Northumberland County Militia, Pennsylvania Militia during the American Revolution.

Edmund Huff - Adventurer, Pioneer Settler on West Branch of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, Frontier Ranger, Fair Play Settler.

He fought in the American Revolution as a Frontier Ranger. Not in well-known battles fought along the eastern seaboard, but in skirmishes with Indians whom the British had induced to attack settlers on the frontier in western Pennsylvania.

Edmund HUFF was born c 1747^[1] in either New Jersey or Pennsyvania. He was a pioneer in Northumberland and Lycoming counties in Pennsylvania. Edmund is identified by land records as the son Zepheniah Hough. Zepheniah was a widower from Connecticut when he married Betje WELCH in Morris Co, New jersey in 1744^[2]. Edmund HUFF has one record with Czephaniah HOFF (Zepheniah Hough/Huff) in such a way he was indicated to be an heir, a probable son. Y-DNA and Big-Y analysis also confirms that Edmund was a descendant of William Hough of England and Connecticut.

Edmund HUFF seems to have lived in the same general frontier areas of Pennsylvania as his cousin Gershom HUFF/HOUGH and his sons Benjamin Hough/Huff and John Huff. Gershom HUFF was born in New Milford, Connecticut in 1725, the son of Edmund's uncle John Hough and Sarah WARNER. Thus, Edmund HUFF was associated with family members who moved from Connecticut to New Jersey then settled in Pennsylvania.

Early Life

Edmund Huff first appears on record in Oct 1766, when he applied for 200 acres of land in Lancaster Co, PA.; described as "across the Blue Mountains, on the north side of Armstrong's Creek, including improvements by Czephaniah Hoff"^[3]. It was signed EDMON HOFF. The natural assumption is that Edmon was the son of Czephaniah (Zephaniah) and he was applying for legal title to land which his father had settled and improved. No record of any Cephaniah or Zephaniah Huff (or Hoff) has been found in PA records. It is likely that he had settled on vacant land in an area and a time where no title was necessary, if one made certain "improvements" and his neighbors were agreeable. There seems to be no record that Edmund received this land. He was only 19 years old at the time, and he was probably trying to get legal title to land his father (or a close relative) had homesteaded.

Family

About 1770 Edmund married Nancy Jones (1748/49 prob. Cumberland, Pennsylvania – abt. 1820 Lycoming, Pennsylvania), dau of Pickett Jones and Elizabeth/Mary Jamesof Baltimore and Cumberland Co, Pennsylvania. No marriage record has been recovered but the will of PIckett Jones identifies his daughter Nancy as the wife of Edmond Huff^[4]

• JONES, PICKET, Lack Township, Cumberland, Province of Pennsylvania
• May 2, 1775 18 August 1779.
• Wife Mary.
• Dau. Nancy, wife of Edmond Huff.
• Son William.
• Dau. Elizabeth Jones.
• Three youngest children: Rebecca, Rachel and Isabell Jones, minors.
• Exs: bro. John McKeever and William Arbuckle. (John McKeever/McEver was Pickett's brother-in-law. His second wife Mary, was the sister of John McEver.)
• Wit: John Sheart, John Collins, John Scott. C. 157.

Children Include:

1. Elizabeth b. abt 1770 Northumberland Co, Pennsylvania. Unmarried with Edmund and Nancy in 1800^[5]. She is believed to be the same Elizabeth Huff who married Alexander Hardin DeArmond Sr and moved to Ohio about 1804 where she died on 8 Sep 1854 in Shandon, Butler County, Ohio.
2. Hannah b. about 1772 Northumberland Co, Pennsylvania. Unmarried with Edmund and Nancy in 1800.
3. John ( ) mentioned in a land transfer of 1803 from Edmund to John. This John may be the one in 1820 in Chapman twp of Lycoming Co.
4. William born about 1782 in Bald Eagle, Northumberland, PA, married about 1828 Anna "Anne" Barnes in Clinton County, Pennsylvania. Moved to Illinois where he died in 1886 in Wauponsee, Livingstion, IL. Had nine children.
5. James H. (c 1783/84) Northumberland Co, PA – 30 Sept 1855 Clinton Co, PA) m. Susannah Hepburn? (c 1796 - 20 May 1855). Both buried in Brown Cemetery, Mill Hall, Clinton County, Pennsylvania. James is identified as Edmund’s son and heir in the Grattius vs. Tottenham lawsuit (see reference from 1841 below). 1850 census for Clinton Co, Bald Eagle Twp lists James 66, Susanna 54 plus William 33, James Hepburn 13, Susan Paulina 9.
6. Edmund F. (1793 Northumberland Co, PA - 1870 PA) md Magdalena "Mary"/"Polly" SPANGLER (1802 - 1890) and they had John S.; Nancy Jones; William Jones; Polly (Mary); Edmund T.; Strawbridge E.; and Samuel.

Notes

• On 6 Oct, 1767^[6] EDWARD HUFF, of Lancaster Co. applied for a Warrant for 250 acres located on Delaware Run, on the north side of the Juniata River, in the newly opened territory of Cumberland County which later became Juniata County.

• May 1768: John Lukens surveyed the Warrant for EDWARD HUFF and found it to contain 256 acres. This property is directly across the Susquehanna River from Armstrong's Creek, a distance of about 30 miles. The land along the Juniata River had just been purchased from the Indians in 1766, and opened for settlement. The move from Armstrong's Creek to Delaware Run was just a matter of crossing the Susquehanna and going up the Juniata about 30 miles. Captain James Patterson, who also lived on Armstrong's Creek was one of the organizers of the group of settlers and established a Fort and Trading Post at the junction of Delaware Run and the Juniata. The length of time Edmund occupied the Delaware Run property is not known. He was taxed there in 1768 as EDMOND HUFF for 268 acres known as "Barley Field". The same year, an EDMUND HUFF was reported living on Antes Creek in Nipenose Bottom. This is 45 miles north of Delaware Run, and was still Indian Territory. Later, both Gersham Huff and Benjamin Huff lived in the near vicinity, if not the same property. Joseph Hoff/Huff also held land in the same area.

• 1769: The Delaware Run property was again taxed, but to another person "living on Huff's land". Also in that year, an early government survey party sent to scout the Indian land to the West, discovered EDMUND HUFF building a cabin at the "Eagle's Nest" near present day Milesburg. The survey party was startled, as he was the only non-Indian in the area. They labeled him as "an Early Cumberland Adventurer". The "Eagle's Nest" was an Indian village and had been used for centuries as a temporary camp for hunting parties. How he got away with settling there is not known, but he was later known to be a "Keeper of Stills"; so he may have used that as a bargaining tool. At least the story indicates that he lived for only a short time on Barley Field before moving on to the West, and new land possibilities. He retained ownership as late as 1770, as he is mentioned in a deed description by James Crampton as "adjoining land of EDWARD HUFF and Wm. Patterson".

• 1776-81 Rev. Soldiers of Northumberland Co, listed on Militia and in Capt John Robinson's Rangers: Edmund Huff, Edward Huff (possibly the same person as Edmund), John Huff and Daniel Huff

• 1774: There is a gap from 1769 till 1774, when Edmund is documented as living one mile above the mouth of Lycoming Creek. That was in Northumberland Co. but in an area that would later become Lycoming Co. The area indicated would be either in present day Williamsport or Jaysberg/Newberry, depending on which side of Lycoming Creek. I believe it was on the west side, as Edmund later became a trustee of the Jaysberg Cemetery. If it were on the east side, it would be in a park area today where the Little League World Series is played each year.

• 1775: Indian Land. Edmund Huff had settled on the River near others who were encroaching on the Indian lands. These settlers organized themselves into a "Fair-play" group which regulated the theft and settlement of the Indian lands. Edmund Huff was active in this group. In 1801 and afterwards, there was much litigation over who first settled what Indian lands. The area became part of Lycoming Co. The Indian land was north of Susquehanna River , and the Fair-Play group was between Lycoming Creek and Pine Creek.

• 1775: Edmund had already married Nancy Jones, daughter of Pickett and Anne Jones. Pickett was born 1722 and married 1742, in Baltimore. No records have been found for the period of 1742 till 1774, when he appeared in Lack Township of Cumberland Co. In Picketts Jones' will dated May 1775, he mentioned his daughter Nancy, wife of EDMOND HUFF.

• 1776^[7] Williamsport, Lycoming, Pennsylvania - Trustee of Lycoming congregation (land donated for cemetery)

• 1776: Both EDMUND and EDWARD HUFF are listed as receiving Depreciation pay for service in the Northumberland Co. Militia. They are listed in the same Company, but never in the same list. In one list it is EDMUND and the next time it is EDWARD.

• 1778: An Edmund and an Edward Huff are listed as members of the Northumberland County Continential Line (Militia); but never on the same list. They both received Depreciation Pay in separate entries (Pg 369, 682, PPA, Series 5, Vol 4).

• 1778: 1778 Northumberland Co, PA, Woodward twp. Edmund Huff was living near Linden, a few miles from Williamsport.

• 1778-1780^[8]: EDMUND HUFF was assessed State tax in Turbit Township for a valuation of 135.3.

• 1778: This was the year of "The Great Runaway" when all settlers on the West Branch fled in the face of severe Indian attacks. Most went back to the southeast portion of Northumberland County where they had the protection of several Forts and the County Militia. Since Edmund had been living one mile above Lycoming Creek in 1774 and is documented as living in Linden in early 1778, it is reasonable to assume that he was on the West Branch at this time. This was likely the time he built "Fort Huff", a blockhouse on the property at Lycoming Creek. There is a record in this year (1778) of him living near Linden, a few miles west of Williamsport. This could in fact be the same property on Lycoming Creek, as Linden is just on the west side of the creek. Lycoming Creek is now the west boundary for Williamsport, but may have been some distance west of the boundary in 1778.

• 1778-1780: 1778-1780 Northumberland Co, PA, Turbot twp, Edmund Huff was on the state tax list. Gershom Huff was still in Bald Eagle on 1 May 1778. (PPA Vol ?:422). Gershom HUFF/HOUGH signed a petition on 21 June 1778 regarding the Indian danger. When the Indians attacked in July, the Great Runaway began down the river to safer areas. (p 8, Russell, The Tiadaghton Tale ..., 1975).

• 1779: "EDWARD" HUFF appointed administrator for the estate of Levi Jones in Northumberland Co. At that time, Northumberland Co extended from the present location to the north and west to include the current counties of Montour, Lycoming, Clinton, Centre, and Snyder counties.

Wills: Abstracts 1777-1785: Will Books C - D : Cumberland Co, PA

• 1780: "Edward" Huff was listed on the State Census as living in Turbot Township.

• 8 April 1780. Annals of Buffalo Valley, 1755-1855 includes the story of the Indian attack on 8 April 1780. They scalped David Couples and two of his children and took his wife prisoner. One child, Margaret Couples, hid and survived. Capt John M. Huff of Milton was a grandson.

• 1781: Edmond Huff was a signer of the First Petition to the State Government concerning person's rights to land they had previously settled "beyond the purchase line". This concerns land along the West Branch which had been settled originally by the "Fair Play Settlers" and was considered by the state to be Indian land - and therefore illegal. This was the settlement threatened by the Indians in 1778 and evacuated in "The Great Runaway".

• 1781: The original settlers began to claim prior rights to the land they had settled; although they had not yet returned to the area. The state was negotiating with the Indians to extend the purchase line farther west, thus including the West Branch lands within the Commonwealth.

• 1782: Edmund Huff witnessed the Estate Proceedings of William George, deceased, on 29 May; in Turbot Twp. of Northumberland Co.

• 1782: Northumberland Co, State Supply tax on 150 acres, to Edmund Huff. Pg. 505.

• 1783: Bald Eagle Township, "Edward Huff" appeared on the Federal Supply Tax List. Bald Eagle was escentially all land west of Lycoming Creek, on both sides of the River. This is the first indication that the settlers had returned to their prior claims on the West Branch.

• 1784: Northumberland Co., Edward Huff was on the Federal Supply Tax List for 100 acres.

• 1784: EDWARD Huff signed the "Second Petition" claiming prior rights to lands settled prior to the "Great Runaway". This second petition was three years after the first. Many persons signed both, but Edward Huff signed the second where Edmond Huff signed the first. Even in this instance, the two names never appear on the same list.

• 1785: EDMUND Huff taxed for 100 acres in Bald Eagle Twp., Northumberland Co. In 1783/4, EDWARD Huff had been taxed for 100 acres.

• 1785: EDMUND Huff obtained two Land Warrants of 300 acres each on 25 July, in Northumberland Co. PPA, Series 3, Vol 25, p 70.

• 1785: A printed version of the Bald Eagle Twp, Northumberland Co. Tax List shows EDMUND Huff, whereas the original handwritten document clearly reads EDWARD Huff. In addition, on the original document, a valuation of 100 acres was entered - then crossed out.

• 1785: August Session of the Northumberland Co. Quarter Sessions Court receiver and approved a Petition for the Erection of Townships about Lycoming and the Great Island. Decreed that the first shall be called Lycoming and the second Pine Creek Township. The area from Lycoming Creek shall be Lycoming and from Pine Creek upwards, be called Pine Creek. One of the signers of the Petition was "Emd. Huff".

• 1786: Edmund Huff, Joseph Mahaffey and James Grier were appointed Tax Collectors for Lycoming Township. Edmunds signature is on the final document submitted to the Board of Commissioners.

• 1786: Edmund Huff was taxed for livestock. (PPA p. 710).

• 1787 Edmund Huff was taxed for 187 acres.

• 1787: In the February session of the Northumberland Quarter Sessions Court, a petition was presented requesting a Court District for the Lycoming area to include the area between Loyalsock Creek and extending westward on both sides of the river to Quinashohorty Creek. The first signer (of 26) was "Edmond Hoff".

• 1788: Lycoming Township, Northunberland, Pennsylvania. Edmund Huff was taxed for 170 acres and livestock. Cousin John Huff also appeared and was taxed on 60 acres.

• 1788: At the May session of the Quarter Sessions Court of Northumberland County, a Petition was offered and granted to create a Court district and elect a Justice of the Peace for the area between Loyalsock Creek and Quanashoky Creek Edmond Hoff was one of eleven signers of the petition.

• 1789: Edmund Huff was taxed on 400 acres and John Huff was taxed on 300 acres. Both were in Lycoming Township.

• 1789: William Hepburn bought a track of land belonging to Edmund Huff at a Sheriff's sale to satisfy a debt. This track was on the west side of Lycoming Creek and adjoined lands of "John Sutton and Mary Kempleton".

• 1790^[9]: Northumberland County. Edmund Huffe 5M under 16, 1M over 16, 6F; John Huffe 2-0-3, Benjamin Huffe 1-2-3, and William Huffe 2-0-1.

• 1790: Edmund Huff signed a petition to the Governor asking for speedy justice for the killers of two Indians, or else the settlement at and near Pine Creek would have to be abandoned. It is unclear if he was actually living in Pine Creek at the time. Tax records indicate he was still in Lycoming Township.

• 1791: Edmund Huff and John Huff were taxed for land and livestock.

• 1793: Edmund Huff held a land Warrant for 400 acres, on 15 March. (PPA Series 3, Vol 25, p 178).

• 1795: Lycoming County was formed on April 13th. It initially had townships of Muncy, Bald Eagle, Washington, Loyalsock, Lycoming, Nippenose, and Pine Creek.

• 1795: The first case before the Court in the newly formed County of Lycoming was a dispute between Edmund Huff and Jacob Latcha concerning land rights established before the "Great Runaway". This case went on for some time and became a Landmark for other cases concerning "prior rights". (pp 422-424 Indian Land and its Fair Play Settlers. - Linn)

• 1799: Edmund Huff was appointed administrator for the will of Levi Jones, who had died in Northumberland County.

• 1800^[10]: Loyalsock, Lycoming, Pennsylvania. Edmond "Stoffa" ( transcription error) - 2M<10, 2M10-16, 2M16-25, 1M>45, 3F16-25, 1F>45 It seems likely that this large family contained two families or grandchildren.

• 1800^[11]: Tax List. Edmund Huff, 53, farmer; his wife Nancy huff, 51, Elizabeth Huff, 30 and Hannah Huff, 28. (Hist. of Lycoming Co., p 245.)

• 1800 - "Ned" Huff's Bottom and Run mentioned in Philip Tome's book^[12] His father Jacob Tome (spelled Tomb) was listed as a resident in Mifflin, Lycoming in the 1800 PA Septennial Census

• 1801: Edmund Huff was a customer, with a credit account, in John Sloan's store in Loyalsock Township. He paid his account with Rum.

• 1803: Edmund Huff gave a certain tract of land with all "appurtances" to his son, John Huff. It was known by the name of Longscot on T....... Creek on the West Branch of the Susquehannah River, in Lycoming County. It was given in exchange for the "love, good will and affection of my son John." The document was witnessed by Elizabeth Huff and Hannah Huff. It was labeled as a Bill of Sale of Gift. It was written and witnessed on 22 May 1799 and recorded 8 June 1803 (or 1805). At the time of Recording, both Hannah and Elizabeth swore that they witnessed the signing by Edmund. It could give the impression that Edmund had recently died and they had presented this document to be recorded.

• 1810: Federal Census for Lycoming Co. lists two Edmund Hoff persons: (1) Edmunde Hoff 00301-00201, in Old Lycoming Township^[13]; and (2) Edmund Hoff 10301-20010 in Dunstable Township^[14]. It has not been established which of these is the older Edmund, although logic would indicate he is the one in Old Lycoming Township, as he lived in that general area in 1800. Old Edmund had a son or grandson named Edmund, who was born in 1797 and he later became a pioneer settler of Potter and Cameron Counties. His age does not fit either of the 1810 census persons. It is possible that there was another generation between the "old" Edmund and the one born in 1797. That generation may be the son John, to whom old Edmund gave Longscot in 1799. Indeed, there was a John Huff in 1820 in the area that would later become Cameron County. The Edmund born in 1797 named two of his children "William Jones" Huff and "Nancy Jones" Huff, in honor of his mother (or grandmother) Nancy (Jones) Huff.

• 1820^[15]: Widow Huff, Northumberland (F 26-45) listed in the 1820 census. This is too young to be Edmund’s wife, Nancy but it could be a second wife if Nancy died earlier. Edmund is not shown in this census and is assumed to have died earlier (see Grattius vs. Tottenham below).

• 14 Nov 1818 Deed to James Huff from Edmund Huff

• 1841^[16]: Grattius vs. Tottenham Court case reviewed by PA Supreme Court. Mentions Edmund’s death to be in 1819 and his widow (assumed to be Nancy unless she died earlier and he remarried) to be 1820. It is further stated that Edmund died interstate (no will). His son and heir James then sold the property. The lawsuit challenges the ownership of the land in question. No mention of any other family names in the court arguments.

Sources

1. ↑ Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863
2. ↑ U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989
3. ↑ East Side Warrant #1918 for 200 acres of land N of Armstrong's Creek (originally Reed Twp, Lancaster County)
4. ↑ : Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993 for Picket Jones, Cumberland, Wills, Vol A-C
5. ↑ Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863
6. ↑ Warrant #1423 (West Side) for 256 acres on Delaware Run north side of Juniata River - was Cumberland Co at the time
7. ↑ Gazette Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
8. ↑ Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKR-VTJ : accessed 25 July 2018), Edmond Huffe, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 72, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 9; FHL microfilm 568,149.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR6-XL8 : accessed 8 September 2018), Edmond Stoffa, Loyalsock, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 538, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 41; FHL microfilm 363,344.
11. ↑ Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863
12. ↑ Philip Tome, "Pioneer Life, or. Thirty Years a Hunter", 1854, Originally published Harrisburg, PA, Aurand Press 1928, Republished by Stackpole Books
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH28-KWT : accessed 25 July 2018), Edmund Hoff, Lycoming, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 817, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 52; FHL microfilm 193,678.
14. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH28-KN1 : accessed 25 July 2018), Edmund Hoff, Dunstable, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 838, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 52; FHL microfilm 193,678.
15. ↑ 1820 U S Census; Census Place: Northumberland in Point, Northumberland, Pennsylvania; Page: 43; NARA Roll: M33_107; Image: 148
16. ↑ Grattius vs. Tottenham Court case reviewed by PA Supreme Court

See Also:

• History of Lycoming County Pennsylvania, edited by John F. Meginness; Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk & Co. ISBN 0-7884-0428-8. [1]

• Max Huff, "EDMUND AND NANCY HUFF OF PA", unpublished report 3/4/1995

• Elida C. Hough, "William Hough of Connecticut", unpublished manuscript. (The descendants of Jonathan Hough were shown as disconnected, that is, Elida C. could not trace them generation by generation. This was partly because they had been recorded as Hoofe, which had then been indexed as Hoose.)

• Gazette Bulletin (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)

• Genealogy and history of the Hepburn family of the Susquehanna Valley

• History of the counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron and Potter, Pennsylvania : with biographical selections, including their early

• Pennsylvania, Land Warrants and Applications, 1733-1952,

• Pennsylvania, Land Warrants, 1733-1987

• Pennsylvania, Septennial Census, 1779-1863,

• Pennsylvania, Tax and Exoneration, 1768-1801,

• Pennsylvania, U.S. Direct Tax Lists, 1798,

• Hough, William W., "The Descendants of Jonathan Hough of Connecticut, Youngest Son of William and Sarah (Calkins) Hought", Connecticut Nutmegger (Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Glastonbury, Conn., 2012) Vol. 45, Page 202