Hans Bernhardt Wolff (bef. 1674 - 1748)

Born before 2 Mar 1674 in Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Kurfürstentum Pfalz, Heiliges Römisches Reich

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1748 after age 73 in Pennsylvania

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Biography

Hans Bernhardt Wolff was baptized on 2 March 1674 in Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Kurfürstentum Pfalz, Heiliges Römisches Reich. He was the son of Isaac Wolff (1650-1727) and Elisabetha (Ludwig) Wolff (1653-1730). Here is a scan of his baptism record.

Baptism Record

He was not the first in his family born in the vicinity of Steinsfurt. His mother, Elisabetha, had been baptized there on July 3, 1653.^[4]

Annett Kunselman Burgert describes the village of Steinsfurt dating back to at least 1100.

Steinsfurt-named for a Roman ford in at the Elsenz- is first mentioned in a document dated 1100. A town belonging to the Electoral Palatine, it had a Reformed Church. On the Hof of the Lerch family in Steinsfurt-hence the name Lerchennest (lark nest)-Frederick the Great stayed overnight on August 4/5, 1730, as he fled enemies. Of the many families which emigrated to Pennsylvania, there are still branches of Warfel, Wust, Wolff, Bender, Leibe, Laber, Schorck and Wanner in Steinsfurt today.^[3]

Wife and Children

Bernhardt Wolff and his wife Susanna had children while living in Steinsfurt, Baden.

• Hans Georg Wolff born to Hans Bernhardt Wolff and his wife, Susanna and baptized 28 Dec 1695 in Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Baden, Deutschland.^[3][6]
• Georg Michael who was born in 1699, died in 1702 and was buried 30 Mar 1702 at Steinsfurt.^[3][7]
• Johannes Bernard Wolff was baptized 11 Oct 1701 at Steinsfurt.^[3][8]
• Another Georg Michael who was probably named for his brother who died in 1702 was baptized 29 Dec 1703 at Steinsfurt.^[3][9]
• Anna Maria Wolff was baptized May 1706 at Steinsfurt.^[3][10]
• Jeremias Wolff was baptized 29 Apr 1708.^[3][11]
• Hans Jacob was baptized 4 Apr 1711 and died 31 Jan 1721.^[3][12]
• Susanna Wolff was born 6 Mar 1714 and baptized 9 Mar 1924 at Steinsfurt.^[3][13]
• Anna Elisabetha baptized in 1716 at Steinsfurt.^[3][14]

Immigration

Bernhardt and wife and children arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, British Colony aboard the ship ,William and Sarah, in September of 1727. They sailed from Rotterdam with Captain William Hill as the master. Bernhardt and his son, Hans Jerg (George) both signed a oath of allegiance to King George II and the British Empire on September 21, 1727. Bernhart signed Hanß Bernhardt Wolff using the two ff on the end of his last name.^{[15][16][17][18]}

His Church Affiliation

Hans Bernhardt Wolf was baptized for a second time by Elder Michael Frantz of the German Baptist Brethren, Conestoga Congregation in 1739. In this record of his baptism his name is spelled Bernhart Wolf. German script is used especially for the capital B. Here is a copy of the record.

Baptism Record of 1739

^[19][20]

Death

Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania by J. H. Beers & Co. has Bernhardt death around 1748. This source also says his wife and son, Hans George Wolff were to be executors of his will.^[21]

Another source, a reprint of a short history of the Wolfe family, focusing on George Wendell Wolfe, from the Mifflinburg Telegraph, also said he died in 1748 in Pennsylvania.^[22]

Will of Bernhard Wolfe's son- Johannes Bernard Wolff

This seems to be the will of Bernhardt's 3rd son, Johannes Bernard Wolff who died in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on 2 Nov 1756 and had his will probated on 6 Nov 1756.. He names three brothers, John George, Jeremias and John Michael and does not call them sons as would be customary if he were their father. He names Lorrantz Rooff as a brother-in-law. Jacob Shirske and George Kinder are possible brother-in-laws too.^[23]

(Transcribed 3/6/00 AAF)

"In the name of God Amen. I, Bernhard Wolfe of the Borough of Lancaster in the County of Lancaster, _(Weaver]_{Waiver}_ Being at present very sick and weak of body but of sound mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, and as _(thoughing)_{With Thought}_ and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament. Imprimis, it is my will that all my just debts and funeral charges shall be paid and satisfied, Item, I give to Jeremias Wolfe and John George Wolfe, to each of them the sum of one shilling sterling, to be them or their full share of my estate, I give and bequeath unto my beloved friend, Friedrick _[Field]_berger, one pare of blue leder pridges (Britches), a blue coat, and inter jacket red lidge coller without sleaves, one hatt, one pare shoes, my best being for _[jointing]_{joining}_ me in my sickness to my end, Item, I will and give and bequeath unto my beloved brother-in-law, Lorrantz Rooff, and George Michael Wolfe, his children and George Kinder, Deceased, his three daughters, the remaining of my estate, to be divided among the said parties in share and share alike, and also the children of _(XHansXGeorgeX)_Jacob Shirske, deceased, his children to be in equal share with the above mentioned in part with the _[named]_, their _[?] _ ends of them or their heirs and assigns forever, and it is my will further that I give power and authority to my hereafter named executors to sell and dispose of my house and lot for the best price he can get and divide my estate as above mentioned, to each parties his share, Item, I nominate make and appoint my beloved friend, George Michael Swob to be my executor to this my last will and testament and do hereby utterly desallow evoke and desanull all and every other wills, legacies and executors by me at any time before this time named willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no others to be my last will and testament. In Witness where of I have here unto set my hand and seal to the Second day of November, in the year of our lord, one thousand seven hundred and fifty six, 1756.

Memorandum, that the 24th line the word, Jacob was interlined before sealing and signing.

Signed sealed published pronounced his

and declared by the said Bernhard Barnhard (his mark) Wolfe

Wolfe as his last will and testament

in the presence of us.

Abra: Myer----- Martin (his mark) Shretter

Lancaster County 6th Nov 1756

Before me the subscriber came Abraham Myer and Martin Shretter, the witnesses to the foregoing will and the said Abraham Myer on his solemn affirmation and the said Martin Shretter on his corporal oath did declare and say they were present and saw and heard Bernard Wolf the aboved named sign seal publish and _ _ ( pronounce and declare as his last will and testament ) (the subscriber).

^[24]

Research Notes

It has been suggested that this man may never have emigrated from Germany and that the Hans Bernhardt who arrived in 1727 was in fact his son, Johannes Bernard Wolfe (1701-1756).
However, Burgert assets that it was this man, Bernhardt Sr. who was the primary immigrant.^[25] It does seem unlikely that the younger man would arrive with a large family at this early date.

Pages1-110 of Pennsylvania German Pioneers published by the Pennsylvania-German Society were surveyed to get these names. Notice another Hans Bernhart Wolff arrived in Pennsylvania on the Samuel in 1733. This Bernhart was about 29 years.

Sources

1. ↑ "Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP6D-GFX4 : 13 March 2023), Hans Bernhardt Wolff, 2 Mar 1674; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Baptism, Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Baden, Deutschland, , German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
2. ↑ Baden and Hesse Germany, Lutheran Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1502-1985 (in German),detail for Hans Bernhardt Wolff, (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/3027176:61060?ssrc=pt&tid=3530646&pid=282214010472)
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10} Burgert, Annette Kanselman, 18th Century Emigrants from German Speaking Lands to North America Volume 1; the Northern Kraichgan, The Pennsylvania German Society, Breinigsville, Pennsylvania(1983),p. 401, 404 book in possession of Jill Foster
4. ↑ "Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP6D-CJ2G : 13 March 2023), Elßbetha Ludwig, 3 Jul 1653; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Baptism, Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Baden, Deutschland, , German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
5. ↑ Wolff Name Meaning, (https://www.houseofnames.com/wolff-family-crest#:~:text=The%20Wolff%20surname%20is%20derived,ganc%22%20meaning%20%22battle.%22)
6. ↑ "Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP6D-VDGX : 3 June 2023), Hanß Bernhardt in entry for Hanß Geörg Bernhardt, 28 Dec 1695; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Baptism, Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Baden, Deutschland, , German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
7. ↑ "Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP6D-YX18 : 13 March 2023), Hanß Bernhard Wolf in entry for Georg Michael Wolf, 30 Mar 1702; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Burial, Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Baden, Deutschland, , German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
8. ↑ "Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP6D-JLY6 : 13 March 2023), Hannß Bernhard Wolff in entry for John, 11 Oct 1701; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Baptism, Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Baden, Deutschland, , German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
9. ↑ "Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP6D-54PW : 13 March 2023), Bernhard Wolff in entry for Georg Michael Wolff, 29 Dec 1703; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Baptism, Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Baden, Deutschland, , German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
10. ↑ Kirchenbuch, p. 47, Image 1023, right side, ^ down, detail for Anna maria Wolff, child of Hans Bernhardt and Susanna Wolff (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSWX-YGL)
11. ↑ "Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPDG-HLCS : 17 March 2023), Hanß Bernhard Wolf in entry for Jeremias Wolf, 29 Apr 1708; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Baptism, Baden, Achim, Provinz Hannover, Preußen, Deutsches Reich, , German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
12. ↑ "Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP6D-GY1R : 3 June 2023), Hans Bernhardt Wehd in entry for Hans Jacob Wehd, 4 Apr 1711; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Baptism, Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Baden, Deutschland, , German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
13. ↑ "Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP6D-GF27 : 26 May 2023), Hanß Bernhardt in entry for Susanna Bernhardt, 9 Mar 1714; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Baptism, Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Baden, Deutschland, , German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
14. ↑ "Deutschland, ausgewählte evangelische Kirchenbücher 1500-1971," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSWX-YQY), Hanß Bernhardt in entry for Anna Elisabetha Wolff, 1716; images digitized and records extracted by Ancestry; citing Baptism, Steinsfurt, Sinsheim, Sinsheim, Baden, Deutschland, , German Lutheran Collection, various parishes, Germany.
15. ↑ Hinke, William John, A History of the Goshenhoppen Reformed Church, New Era Printing Co., (Lancaster, PA, 1930,26,(https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/ThgVAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Hans%20Bernhart%20Wolff)
16. ↑ Pennsylvania-German Society, Pennsylvania German Pioneers, (https://archive.org/details/pennsylvaniagerm03penn_2/page/8/mode/2up)
17. ↑ Colonial Records of Pennsylvania Vol. III, Minutes of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania, pp 283-284 ,image 1537- 1538, Philadelphia, 21 Sep 1727,(https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/10632/images/dvm_PrimSrc000262-00771-1?ssrc=&backlabel=Return&pId=1534&rcstate=dvm_PrimSrc000262-05578-0%3A656%2C1134%2C744%2C1160)
18. ↑ Strassburger, Ralph Beaver, Pennsylvania German pioneers; a publication of the original lists of arrivals in the port of Philadelphia from 1727 to 1808, Pennsylvania German Society, Norristown, Penn.1934,Vol. 2, p 1, right col, 3 down (https://archive.org/details/pennsylvaniagerm43stra/page/n29/mode/2up)
19. ↑ Conestoga Church of the Brethren, Baptism Records of Michael Frantz,1734-1849,LancasterHistory.org(Lancaster , PA), Achieves South, Side 13, detail for Bernhart Wolf, p 5, note his name was spelled Bernhart and partly written in old German script
20. ↑ Brumbaugh, Martin Grove, A History of The German Baptist Brethren, 1899, AMS Press (New York,(https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/284250/?offset=0#page=330&viewer=picture&o=search&n=0&q=) p 307, List of individuals baptized by Elder Michael Frantz of to Conestoga Congregation of Lancaster County, PA. between 1739 and 1747
21. ↑ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, J H Beers & Co,. 1898 (Chicago). p. 1185, (https://archive.org/details/commemorativebio04jhbe/page/1184/mode/2up?q=Palatinate)
22. ↑ Lontz, Mary B. "The Trail of History-The Wolfe Family", Mifflinburg Telegraph (Pennsylvania) 2 Dec 2010, p. 8, (article originally published 27 June 1935), (https://mif.stparchive.com/Archive/MIF/MIF12022010p008.php?tags=john|bernard|wolfe)
23. ↑ Pennsylvania, U.S. Wills and Probate Records, 1683- 1993, Lancaster, Will Abstracts, 1721- 1820, p1065, Bernhard died 2 Nov 1756, (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8802/images/007726688_00567?pId=3257331)
24. ↑ "Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L99B-VZ6S?cc=1999196&wc=9PM8-4WY%3A268493801%2C268514701 : 3 July 2014), Lancaster > Wills 1730-1773 vol A-B > image 211 of 514; county courthouses, Pennsylvania. Will of Bernhard Wolfe, Deceased, dated 2 Nov 1756, (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L99B-VZ6S)
25. ↑ Eighteenth Century Emigrants from German-speaking Lands to North America, Vol. 1, Northern Kreichow; Burgert, Annette K., Published in 1983. page 401.

Acknowledgments

• Thank you to Cheryl Eby for starting this profile Oct 3, 2012, firsthand knowledge.

• Thank you to Julie Partridge for creating WikiTree profile Wolfe-1145 through the import of PARTRIDGE-663-0c2069.ged on Feb 1, 2013.