Unknown Huff (abt. 1720)

Born about 1720 in Old Hunterdon, New Jersey [uncertain]

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Barbara Bartlett Huff [send private message]

Biography

In process

There is no known year or place of birth or death for Unknown Hoff (or Huff). He was likely born some time prior to 1730, say between 1690 - 1730. New Jersey is a suspected place of birth. Maybe Old Hunterdon County, New Jersey, but since his identity is unknown, he could have been born and lived anywhere.

The results of a Y-DNA test done by a descendant of Unknown showed him to have the haplogroup Q-M242. Thus, he would have been among those descended from or related to Paulus Dirksen (c 1620 - before 1692), who came from the Netherlands or Holland to New Netherland in 1650. Paulus' son was Dirk Pauluszen. Both of their surnames--Dirksen and Pauluszen--were patronymic names based on the given name of the father. It was Dirk who assumed the fixed surname Hoff around 1700, in compliance with English requirements and as they located from the New York area to New Jersey.

Quite a few descendants of the descendant Hoff or Huff families subsequently located to Virginia. Historian and researcher, Granville Hough wrote: "New Jersey Huff families resided for some time in Loudoun County. James Huff, Charles Huff or Hoff, Moses Hough or Huff, Theophilus Huff, John Huff, William Hough and Anthony Hough are all likely from NJ."^[1]

Unknown's year of birth could have been any year prior to about 1730. Thus far, Unknown Hoff/Huff's only known relative is a son, Philip Huff (c 1747 unknown - after 25 Jul 1822 will at Montgomery County, Virginia). The estimated year of birth of Philip's father is based solely on the estimated year of birth of Philip.

The most obvious potential "candidates" for having been Unknown Huff (Philip Huff's father), were Leonard Huff https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Huff-285 and (or) Benjamin Huff https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Huff-5001. These two Huffs they were co-located with Philip at the Bent Mountain settlement, Montgomery County (an area that in early settlemtn years was in Botetourt County and later became a part of Floyd County), Virginia. The Bent Mountain community could also appear being called Head of Little River. In more recent times, the vicinity is part of the Copper Hill community and is in Floyd County, since that portion of Montgomery County became a part of newly-formed Floyd County in 1831.

However, neither Leonard nor Benjamin appear to fit as father of Philip. Philip's and Leonard's property lines even touched. They settled there prior to the 1790 transfer of this area from Botetourt County administration to Montgomery County, so some records may be those of Botetourt County. Leonard https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Huff-285 could plausibly have been Philip's father, since Leonard was having children roughly during the time period of Philip's (estimated) birth. However, other aspects don't seem indicative and past researchers who focused on Leonard or Philip have felt them to be related, but not related as father and son. One of Leonard's descendants, George M. Huff, appears to eventually have added Philip to his family tree as a son of Leonard, but that may have been done for want of elsewhere Philip would better have been placed. Various reasons that Leonard and Philip did not seem to have been father and son include that family naming patterns were dissimilar. As one dissimilarity, no Leonards appear among Philip's descendants and the name Philip is not prominent (if at all) among Leonard's descendants. Also, their children did not intermarry with the same families. Additionally, Philip did not migrate to what became Cocke County, Tennessee, like Leonard's family did (although it remains possible--but has not been investigated--that one or more of Philip's children who migrated to Tennessee and Kentucky may have been in the Cocke County vicinity for a time, before continuing on).

Benjamin Huff https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Huff-5001 was also co-located with Leonard and Philip near Bent Mountain, but Philip does not seem to have been his son either. Philip was not identified in the estate court proceedings as having been among the siblings of John after Leonard's son John died. Philip seems plausibly to have been more closely related to Benjamin, though, since they were both in Loudoun County before moving on to southwest Virginia. Also supportive of a close familial relationship, a descendant of Gabriel Huff matches with the two distinctive DNA marker mutations that Philip's tested descendant has. Gabriel was a son of Joseph Huff. Joseph Huff has been alleged to have been a son of Benjamin.

Unknown was not a son of Friedrick (or Frederick) Huff (c 1743 apparently born in Switzerland or Germany - c 1810 possibly in Maryland or vicinity). Frederick's estimated year of birth would indicate him to have been--if any relative at all--a brother. Unfortunately, no male descendant of Frederick appears as yet to have done a Y-DNA test. There does exist online family tree information to the effect that Frederick was Philip's father, but that family tree contains many errors. The information is in two family trees (actually, one tree submitted in duplicate) in FamilySearch and in a search-only family tree in Ancestry. Warning: DO NOT USE family trees (or only use after thorough checking) with names like AAA King Stuart Tree, garyking9, and gskingster, as they appear to be replete with errors. Especially as regards to how individuals were alleged to have been related or in which families they were alleged to have been.

There were numerous other Huffs in the general areas of Loudoun County, Virginia, and southwest Virginia who could (and many have been) considered as to their possible family relationships.

Plausibly Close Relatives?

More research needed to discern there may have been any sibling relationships between the following, or as possible children of Unknown.

• Definitly a son of Unknown: Philip Huff (c 1747 or earlier - after 25 Jul 1822 will, Montgomery, Virginia). Spouse Rachel.

Others to investigate further:

• Rev. Daniel Huff (c 31 Jul 1740 - before 1805). Married Susan Sophia (Moffett) Hoff, on 19 Sep 1769 in New Jersey. This Daniel was described as a son of Dirck (Richard) Hoff (26 Oct 1709 Raritan, Somerset, New Jersey - 22 Oct 1747 New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey. In WikiTree, Moore, Powell and Daniel have been described as sons of Jonathan (Hoff) Hoof (c 1720 Hunterdon, New Jersey and before Apr 1778 before about age 58 in Prince William, Virginia.

• Henry Huff (c 1740 - after 1798 possibly in Spartanburg, South Carolina). By/before c 1798, apparently had land on Prather's Creek of Tygar River on the South side of Tygar River. Earlier, In Bedford County, Virginia, Henry had land on Glady Branch, where George. Cannady and James Hix had also been.

• Joseph Huff (c 1740/50 - 1807 Kanawha County, Virginia (now West Virginia).

• Powell Hoff (c 28 Feb 1747 New Jersey - c 13 Apr 1816 York, South Carolina), married Prudence Sutton on 27 Sep 1764 in Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. There was a Powell HUFF family in Prince William Co, VA, in the 1780 decade. There had been an earlier Paul (English for Powell) HOFF in Prince William Co, VA, in 1773. This Paul HOFF was said to have owed a debt and to have fled to NC.

• Moore Hoof (or Hoff) (c 1760 - after 1825 Prince William, Virginia). He made his will 24 May 1825 in Prince William Co as Moore HOOFF. He named wife Nancy HOFF, dau Permilia HOFF, dau Frances CORNWELL, son Cornelius HOFF, and son Thomas HOFF.

Notes on Various Other Possible Close Relatives

Taking a different approach, that of trying to identify siblings for Philip, may hold some promise. Other than Philip, children listed here are merely possible / conjectural at this point, to be investigated further. The three bolded individuals are the most likely to have been other children of Unknown (according to distinctive Y-DNA markers of the known descendant as compared with other Huffs and Huffs who have been Y-DNA tested). Children of Charles Hoff (1697 – 1764) and Angelica Johnson (1700 – ) have been included below in order to ponder them as the Unknown parents (or grandparents?) of Philip Huff, since descent from them Charles and Angelica seems plausibly more likely than some other possibilities. Perhaps an older son of Charles and Angelica was Unknown Huff? Or possibly someone such as Jonathan Hoff could be an as yet unidentified son of Charles and Angelica? Research note: Still to be reexamined, Y-DNA test results of descendant of Charles, John Scott Hoff Family Tree DNA Y-DNA Test 111 markers, haplogroup Q-M242, FTDNA kit #31434.

• Cornelius Hoff Sr (c 1722 Hopewell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey - bef 22 Feb 1791 Hopewell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey) was identified as a son of Charles Hoff (1697 – 1764) and Angelica Johnson (1700 – ).

• Peter Huff (26 Mar 1732 probably Hunterdon County, New Jersey - before 8 Mar 1802 will proved Wilkes, Georgia. Was identified as a son of Charles Hoff (1697 – 1764) and Angelica Johnson (1700 – ). Believed to be the Peter who appeared in Prince William County, Virginia, by 1782 when he witnessed a deed. He also contributed services to the Revolutionary War from Prince William County, Virginia. If the same Peter, he apparently located to Wilkes County, Georgia, about 1788 and held land on West Clark Creek by 1794, along with Mathias HOFF, John POPE, Willis POPE, and Aaron LAND. His wife Elizabeth and daughters Angel and Hannah were mentioned in his will, but he may also have had a previous family.

• James Hoff aka Huff, Hough (c 1736 Hopewell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey - c 1802 Loudoun County, Virginia). Was identified as a son of Charles Hoff (1697 – 1764) and Angelica Johnson (1700 – ). A spouse was not identified, but he had among others, a son Gabriel Huff (1770 – 1813). He also had a son Benjamin Huff (or Hoff) (27 Dec 1782 – 1868) who married Margaret Paine and moved to Belmont County, Ohio (Payne or Paine appears to be a reoccurring married-in surname or have family ties with Huffs over time, although whether or not the same Payne family has not been adequately investigated).

• Consider Rev. Daniel Huff (c 31 Jul 1740 Prince William County, Virginia [uncertain alleged place of birth, it seems 1740 might have been too early to have been born in Virginia, especially as Daniel was alleged to have married in New Jersey] - before 1805 alleged Lawrence Township, Washington County, Ohio but more probably Virginia, and his widow went to Ohio). Identified as a son of Jonathan Hoff (or Hoof) and mother unknown, but a 1778 will of Johnathan mentioned his wife Mary as executrix. Daniel was said to have had brothers, Powell Hoff and Moore Hoof. These would have referred to Powell Hoff (c 28 Feb 1747 New Jersey - c 13 Apr 1816 York, South Carolina), married Prudence Sutton on 27 Sep 1764 in Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey (Sutton appears to be a reoccurring married-in surname or have family ties over time, although whether or not the same Sutton family has not been adequately investigated); and Moore Hoof (or Hoff) (c 1760 - after 1825 Prince William, Virginia. Seemingly also related to this Daniel, in an analysis by the late John Scott Hoff, dated 18 Feb 2013, he provided the following information (to clarify individuals of the same given names in the same locales, although different time frames, apparent descendants): "..."our" POWELL (born in Fairfax in 1801, in about 1820, when he was about age 20, he left Fairfax, VA, and moved to Washington Co., OH, where he met, courted and married Martha Brewster there in Marietta in 1824, and began their family. In about 1830, his father, AMOS HOFF, sold his possessions in VA and also moved to Ohio to be with (or near) to his son, POWELL (#3). AMOS apparently followed his son, POWELL, to nearby Chesterhill, OH, in late 1830..."^[2] Daniel was the husband of Susan Sophia (Moffett) Hoff, married 19 Sep 1769 in New Jersey and this Daniel described as son of Dirck (Richard) Hoff (26 Oct 1709 Raritan, Somerset, New Jersey - 22 Oct 1747 New Brunswick, Middlesex, New Jersey. Actually, there seems to be conflicting information among Daniels, but am not energetic enough to try to reconcile, Daniel(s) was included to consider because the eldest son of Philip was named Daniel, and often there is familial significance to the choice of names.

• Son of Unknown: Philip Huff (c 1747 or earlier - after 25 Jul 1822 will, Montgomery, Virginia). Spouse Rachel.

• Possible son of Unknown: Joseph Huff (c 1740/50 ?? - 1807 Kanawha County, Virginia (now West Virginia). Seemed from circumstantial evidence to have been a son of Benjamin and Ruth HUFF and was so placed as their (possible) son in WikiTree. Joseph moved with them as an adult or near adult into Loudoun County, Virginia, in about 1762(?). Joseph then later moved, as they and Philip Hoff/Huff also did, to southwest Virginia. Joseph had, among other children, Gabriel Huff (bef 1790 VA - 1829 Washington County, Indiana) was married in 1808 by Rev. Jonathan LEE to Elizabeth "Betsy" HUDDLESTON (1788 Virginia - 9 Oct 1855 Washington County, Indiana). Distinctive Y-DNA test results appear to suggest that Gabriel Huff, apparent son of this Joseph Huff, was closely related to Philip Huff (c 1747 or earlier - after 25 Jul 1822 will, Montgomery, Virginia). Estimated years of birth suggest that the father of Gabriel Huff (bef 1790 VA - 1829 Washington County, Indiana), apparently but perhaps not certainly? son of this Joseph, was likely a brother of Philip. The Philip Huff and Gabriel Huff families also share various geographic and/or intermarriage relationships with Huddleston and Voyles family members.

• Possible grandson or son of Unknown: Stephen Huff (24 Jun 1756 New Jersey - 26 Jan 1842 Anderson County, South Carolina), a Revolutionary War soldier who was living in Bedford County, Virginia, when he was called into service during the Revolutionary War. In the summer of 1780, Stephen initially served with Capt William Lethridge (Leftwich) in Bedford County. This service was spent guarding a lead mine on New River.^[3] Stephen served two additional tours elsewhere and was discharged at Taylor's Ferry on the Roanoke River after reaching that place with provisions. Stephen lived in South Carolina after the war. When he applied for pension at Greenville, South Carolina. On 14 Oct 1833, he lived 4 or 5 miles from Greenville in Anderson County. Anderson County was created in 1826 when the Pendleton District was abolished after being divided into Anderson District and Pickens District (a district was much like a county administrative unit). Distinctive Y-DNA test results appear to suggest that Stephen Huff, son of ??? Huff, was closely related to Philip Huff (c 1747 or earlier - after 25 Jul 1822 will, Montgomery, Virginia). Birth years suggest that Stephen or the the unknown father of Stephen Huff was likely a brother (or Stephen may have been nephew?) of Philip Huff. Stephen apparently had sons including those named William, John, and Henry Joseph Huff. Stephen also apparently had a brother (or other unspecified familial relationship), Peter Huff, who died 1802 in Georgia, according to a memorial plaque placed at the Berea First Baptist Church, Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina. The brother or relative, Peter, would appear to have been Peter Huff (26 Mar 1732 probably Hunterdon County, New Jersey - before 8 Mar 1802 will proved Wilkes, Georgia). Peter was identified as a son of Charles Hoff (1697 – 1764) and Angelica Johnson (1700 – ).'^[4]

• Possible son of Unknown and possible father of the Stephen Huff, outlined above (that is, Stephen Huff (24 Jun 1756 New Jersey - 26 Jan 1842 Anderson County, South Carolina) and possible son of Unknown: Stephen Huff: Henry Huff (c 1740 - after 1798 possibly in Spartanburg, South Carolina). He was granted 350 acres of land on 5 July 1770 on the headwaters of Glady Creek in Bedford Co, VA.^[5] Henry may have been gegraphically associated with G. Cannady and James Hix in the vicinity of Glady Creek, Bedord County, Virginia

• Possible son of Unknown, said to have been a brother of Henry Huff, also of Rev. Daniel Huff (c 31 Jul 1740 - before 1805). : Powell Hoff (c 28 Feb 1747 New Jersey - c 13 Apr 1816 York, South Carolina), married Prudence Sutton on 27 Sep 1764 in Amwell, Hunterdon County, New Jersey (Sutton appears to be a reoccurring married-in surname or have family ties over time, although whether or not the same Sutton family has not been adequately investigated).

Notes & Future Research

Check: History of York County, Pennsylvania, by George Reeser Prowell (1849-1928). Chicago, J. H. Beers, 1907. 2 volumes, Vol. 2, biographical. Various copies available online, e.g. https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/012239137.

Discussion excerpt from: Magdalena Miller, Probably Not Rochette (c1730-1800/1808), Grandmother to 97, 52 Ancestors #120. https://dna-explained.com/2016/04/17/magdalena-miller-probably-not-rochette-c1730-18001808-grandmother-to-97-52-ancestors-120/ . Various possibly associated surnames.

York County, Pennsylvania

The History of York Co, PA, written in 1907 tells us that the first Brethren congregation in York (now Adams) County was the Conewago Church which was established in 1738, “20 miles west from the town of York, on the Little Conewago,” which was in the vicinity of Hanover.

Surnames of the families who were among the early church members were Eldrick, Dierdorff, Bigler, Gripe (Cripe), Studsman (Stutzman) and others. Prominent members include Jacob Moyer James Henrick, preachers; Hans Adam Snyder, George Wine, Daniel Woods, Henry Geing, Joseph Moyer, Nicholas Hostetter, Christian Hostetter, Rudy Brown, Dobis Brother, Jacob Miller, Michael Koutz, Stephen Peter, Henry Tanner, Michael Tanner, John Moyer, Jacob Souder, Henry Hoff, John Swartz. The wives of these persons named were also members of the church. Unmarried members were Barbara Snyder John Geing, Maud Bowser, George Peter, Hester Wise, Christian Etter, John Peter Weaver, Barbara Bear, Elizabeth Boering, Grace Hymen. Their first preacher was Daniel Leatherman, Sr, followed by Nicholas Martin, Jacob Moyer (Meyers), James Hendrich (Henry.)

In 1741, a new church was founded “on the Great Conewago, about 14 miles west from the new town of York.” Founding members there include John Neagley, Adam Sower, Jacob Sweigard, Peter Neiper and Joseph Latshaw. The first elder was George Adam Martin followed by Daniel Leatherman Jr. and Nicholas Martin. In 1770 members included George Brown, John Heiner, Peter Fox, Anthony Dierdorff, Nicholas Moyer, Manasseh Brough, Michael Bosserman, David Ehrhard, Daniel Baker, Abraham Stauffer, Henry Dierdorff, John Burkholder, Andrew Trimmer, Eastace Rensel, Peter Dierdorff, Barnett Augenbaugh, John Neagley, Michael Brissel, Welty Brissel, Matthias Bouser, Laurence Baker, Philip Snell, Nicholas Baker Jr., Adam Sower, Adam Dick, Henry Brissel, David Brissel, Henry Radibush, George Wagner and George Reeson. Unmarried members were Peter Wertz, Ann Mummert, Christian Fray, Samuel Arnold, Mary Latshaw, Catharine Studabaker, Nicholas Baker, Marillas Baker, Sarah Brissel, Jacob Miller, Rudolph Brown.

As you can see, these were not small churches and the population of Brethren in this region was fairly extensive. Of course, the 1770 membership list would have swollen since some families moved south to Frederick County, Maryland in 1751. Nicholas Martin who was involved in the establishment of both York County frontier Brethren churches was the first preacher in Frederick County, MD on that new frontier as well, and it’s through his letter that we learn of the death of Michael Miller in 1771, Magdalena’s father-in-law.

Sources

1. ↑ Granville W. Hough. "Hough and Huff Families of the United States, 1620-1820: The Southeast", Heritage Books, 1978
2. ↑ Genealogy.com Home > Forum > Surnames > Hoff. Re: Daniel Hoff 1816, By JOHN HOFF, February 18, 2013; In reply to: Daniel Hoff 1816, 6/17/98. https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/hoff/876/
3. ↑ Lead and Gunpowder in the Wilderness – Virginia Lead Mines Part 2, by John Bryan. 25 Oct 2020. https://scavengeology.com/lead-and-gunpowder-in-the-wilderness-virginia-lead-mines-part-2/
4. ↑ To consider, etc. Parks / Rogers Family Tree info on Ancestry records as follows. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/86242308/person/262048256529/facts Spouse Elizabeth Trask; Father Peter Huff; Mother Susanna Beatty; Children Elizabeth Ann; Birth 24 Jun 1756 Monmouth, New Jersey; Death 25 Jan 1842 Anderson, South Carolina.
5. ↑ Note: George. Cannady, Kentucky adj G Cannady and James Hix had land on Glady Branch, as referenced in A List of Insolvent Lands Returned by T Rucker Ds for JL SBC in the year 1817. Virginia Appalachian Notes , May 1989. http://www.virginiaroom.org/digital/files/original/50/4933/VANv13n2.pdf. The area of this grant has not as yet been located, but it could have been in present day Bedford County or in present day Franklin County, Virginia.

• Memorial to several Huff men, as shared by Patricia Shockley on 22 Feb 2018. Placed at the Berea First Baptist Church, Greenville, Greenville County, South Carolina. May no longer be viewable on Ancestry. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/88213195/person/79001706829/media/bfba9f96-836c-44bd-a2b1-26a890a3ed76?_phsrc=lhK790&. Who placed the memorial, when it was placed, and what the relationships may have been, was not specified. The plaque reads:

WILLIAM HENRY HUFF [ ? ]

HENRY JOSEPH HUFF [Henry Huff (c 1740 Virginia? New Jersey?- aft. 1798 Spartanburg, South Carolina?). https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Huff-7093]

PHILIP HUFF [Phillip Joseph Huff (c 1804 Anderson, Pendleton, South Carolina? - aft. 1881 South Carolina?) https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Huff-3585]

JOSUA HUFF [Joshua ? The only Joshua in 1820 was in Pendleton District, South Carolina, showing 400010-00010.]

STEPHEN HUFF [Stephen Huff (1756 New Jersey- 1842 Anderson, South Carolina), son of Henry Joseph Huff. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Huff-5033]

REV. WAR PENSION

NO. S. 10845

BORN IN NEW JERSEY

PETER HUFF [Peter Hoff (1732 Hunterdon, New Jersey - bef. Mar 1802 Wilkes, Georgia) https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Hoff-1596

DIED 1802

IN GA.

See also:

• FamilyTree DNA, Hough Project. https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/hough/activity-feed

Descendant test: James (Jimmy) Huff. Oldest ancestor identified (for Hough Project purposes): Philip Huff, c1785 VA (Bent Mt)-1826 Monroe, IN. Kit No. 870588

Future Research sites / pointers:

• Genealogy of early settlers in Trenton and Ewing, "old Hunterdon County", New Jersey. Cooley, Hannah Louisa, ed., Cooley, William Scudder -1882, joint author. Trenton, N.J., The W.S. Sharp printing co., 1883. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044024268328&view=1up&seq=7
• NJGenWeb. http://www.usgenwebsites.org/NJGenWeb/
• Hunterdon County NJGenWeb. http://www.usgenwebsites.org/NJHunterdon/
• Mercer County NJ Histories and Genealogies. https://ldsgenealogy.com
• New Jersey Histories and Genealogies. https://ldsgenealogy.com/NJ/Histories-and-Genealogies.htm
• The Genealogy of Hunterdon County Governmental Units. http://www.usgenwebsites.org/NJHunterdon/Histories/Admgen.htm