John George Hoff (1733 - 1816)

Born 22 Oct 1733 in Kassel, Kassel, Hessen, Germany

Descendants

Died 18 Aug 1816 at age 82 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States

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

Biography

John George (who went by George) HOFF (1733 Westbury, Hesse Cassel, Germany - ? 1816 Lancaster Co, PA) arrived in Philadelphia from Rotterdam on 24 Aug 1765 and settled in Lancaster Co, PA. He was quite successful, becoming Chief Burgess of Lancaster County in 1778-1779 and 1783-1785. He may have served also as a soldier. There was a George HOFF in Col Mathias SLOUGH's Bn from Lancaster Co. Certainly, two George HOFF individuals took the Oath of Allegiance in July 1777. (Book L377 T1, and L401 B). Because of his material successes and his contributions during the Rev. War, many people have claimed him as an ancestor. There are probably records for him in several patriotic societies, as well as in genealogical compilations. However, there were several HOFF families in Lancaster County and in PA; and all seem to give their children the same traditional German names. Among the confusing issues is a statement that a son Valentine was executor to his father's will; but Valentine died in 1812 and his father in 1816, if the death years are not confused with other persons with the same names. Another confusing issue is that there was a son named John and another named John George, not unusual for a German family but certainly something needing careful verification.

John is said to have md in Germany in Mar 1761 Justina Margareta SCHMERTZEL ( - after 1788 Lancaster Co, PA), dau of George SCHMERTZEL of Grunstadt, Palatinate. Their ch are said to include:

1. George Michael (bap 12 Aug 1766 Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, PA - ). Sponsors for George's baptism were Michael and Elisabet FOLZ. George M. md Elnora LUDWIG but had no ch. This may be the George HOFF in Lancaster Co in 1820.
2. John (1776 PA - 1818 Lancaster Co, PA) will of 26 Jul 1815 probated 12 Nov 1818) (Will Book M Vol 1:179, 1818) md Ann Mary BOYER and ch incl Elizabeth; Anna Catherina; Anna Maria; Margaret; Anna Eliza; Justina Rebecca; Henry; Anna Louisa; Susan Ann; John George; and George Frederick.
3. Catherine Justina ( ) c 1800 in Lancaster Co, PA, md Frederick HEISSLEY.
4. Magdalen ( ) md John REITER.
5. Elizabeth ( ) md John HIPPY.
6. Valentine (1779 Lancaster Co, PA - 1812 Lancaster Co, PA) in April 1803 md Anna Maria JESENAN and lived in Lancaster. Their ch were: (Valentine is said to have been executor of his father's will, but this would not have been possible with the proposed death years.)
7. John George (1782 - died young).
8. Susanna ( ) md Frederick WEINLAND ( - prob. d. 1807).
9. Jacob (4 Feb 1784 Lancaster Co, PA - )
10. John George (June 1788 Lancaster Co, PA - 1822) will of 9 Oct 1819, proved 19 Feb 1822) (Will Book N, Vol 1:126, George HOFF, 1822). He md Margaret HAGER (1789 - 1847 Lancaster Co, PA), dau of Christopher HAGER. Their ch incl Rev. John Francis HOFF (1814-1881) who became a Doctor of Divinity in Baltimore, MD, and later settled in Clarke Co, VA. Both John George and his son John Francis were watchmakers. Widow Margaret HOFF was in Lancaster Co, PA, in 1830, and died intestate there, with proceedings in 1848. (Book N 1:99). (Son John Francis HOFF in 1829 md Juliana Johnson ROSS (1816-1884), dau of William and Catherine (JOHNSON) ROSS. William ROSS in turn was son of William ROSS (1729 - 1797), who was a Major in the American Rev, and Mary Hannah ??? (1727 - 1823).)
11. Justina Margaret (1781 - d as infant).
12. Susana Margaret (Jan 1771 - Apr 1771, ae 4 mos).

BURIAL^[1]: Trinity Lutheran Churchyard, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. MEMORIAL ID 75867980 Note: there is no gravestone.

Hoff lineage is John George and Justina Margerita (Schmertzel) of Germany and PA; John Sebastian and ??? of Westbury, Hesse Cassel, Germany;

Notes:

• 1776 - 1785 Records of Lancaster Co, PA, before and during the Revolutionary War.

• 1790^[2]: Lancaster Borough, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States, Pg 5. George Hoff

• 1800

• 1810 Lancaster Co, PA, Lancaster borough, poss. John Hoff, Esq 10011-40110 OR

• 1810 Lancaster Co, PA, Lancaster borough, Mrs. Hoff 10101-10110 (probably a younger widow).

• 1810^[3]: Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States, Page: 587. Son Valentine Hoff

• 1816 Lancaster Co, PA, George Hoff will

• 1820^[4]: Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States, p 91, Mrs. Hoff 300000-22210.

• 1820^[5]: Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States. Geo Hoff. This may be his son.

• 1830^[6] Lancaster Co, PA, Lancaster, p 42, Margaret Hoff 01-0110110001 (this may be widow of John George, Jr.)

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75867980/john-george-hoff
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKV-98T : accessed 6 September 2019), George Hoff, Lancaster Borough, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 5, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 8; FHL microfilm 568,148.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2F-2CQ : accessed 6 September 2019), Valentine Hoff, Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 587, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 50; FHL microfilm 193,676.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGX-6QW : accessed 6 September 2019), Mrs Hoff, Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. 91, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 106; FHL microfilm 181,411.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1820," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGX-DDY : accessed 6 September 2019), Geo Hoff, Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States; citing p. , NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 106; FHL microfilm 181,411.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1830," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHGT-CZX : 22 August 2017), Margaret Hoff, Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States; citing 42, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 153; FHL microfilm 20,627.

• Granville Hough and Max Huff, JOHN GEORGE AND JUSTINA MARGARETA HOFF OF GERMANY AND PA, 14 Mar 1995
• "Hoff & Heisely: Mathematical Instrument & Clockmakers," by Ronald B. Blauch. Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, Inc., vol. 72, no. 3, Sep 2019. Excerpt available at https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1P4-2312740480/hoff-heisely-mathematical-instrument-clockmakers

The article specifies that John George Hoff, who went by George, and his wife had ten children, five of whom survived childhood. George was a clockmaker and three of his sons, Michael, John, and George Jr.) apprenticed with their father, becoming clockmakers as well.

• History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania: With Biographical..., by Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans. vol. 1, p. 529. May also be viewed online at https://books.google.com/books?id=yX7Ih0EQUaQC&pg=PA529&lpg=PA529&dq=%22John+George+Hoff%22+clockmaker+Justina&source=bl&ots=P5ASZDx3oO&sig=ACfU3U1ZLXU4O77QtOjSH7Y8LTrUnJuM4w&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiB5eOe_frnAhUyFzQIHe3BDgkQ6AEwDXoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22John%20George%20Hoff%22%20clockmaker%20Justina&f=false This history indicated that George and Justina came to America with 3 children, and that they reared a family of 14 children.