Gabriel Hoff (abt. 1754 - abt. 1830)

Born about 1754 in New Jersey [uncertain]

Died about 31 Jan 1830 at about age 76 in Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States

Biography

Gabriel was born about 1754, based on the gravestone inscription. He was buried at the Flemington Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Flemington, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The gravestone inscription (quite faint and unablemake out) is alleged to have been:

In memory of Gabriel Hoff, who died January 29, 1830, in the 76th year of his age. Farewell my Friends & Children dear I am not dead but sleeping here.^[1]

The spouse of this Gabriel Hoff was Ann (Chamberlin?) Hoff, who was also buried at the Flemington Presbyterian Church Cemetery. It seems likely that her maiden name was likely Chamberlin, but documentation has not yet been located as to Ann's maiden surname. Her parents may have been John Chamberlin (Chamberlain-2042) (c 1751 Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey - 15 Sep 1830 Alexandria or Kingwood, Hunterdon County, New Jersey)^[2] and Eleanor (Gray) Chamberlin (c 1752 Hunterdon County, New Jersey - 30 May 1846 Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey).^[3] Interestingly, John was a son of Richard Chamberlain and Mary (Stout) Chamberlain, there having been a number of Hoff/Huff - Stout intermarriages through the years.

This Gabriel apparently was a son of Gabriel Hoff and Mary Waterhouse (or it is possible that there was a spouse previous to Mary Waterhouse). At this point, it is not certain (documentation not yet located) and additional information or investigation is warranted.

Gabriel or his relatives may have been among the early settlers of Flemington. The History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey (1881) indicates that by 1808, Flemington was but a small village with sixteen houses, of which three were occupied as taverns; Among early settlers at Flemington were the Capner, Bonnell, Rea, Callis, Atkinson, Maxwell, Hoff, Chamberlin, and Smith families. This Gabriel, or a younger Gabriel, served as Sherrif of Hunterdon County, 1825-1827.^[4][5] One Gabriel Hoff served as a Member of the (State) Assembly for Huntington County in 1829.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #114691118
2. ↑ Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30503391/john-chamberlin, served in the Revolutionary War
3. ↑ From a family tree https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/landscape/L63L-GBK, investigation and verification with source(s) still needed.)
4. ↑ Acts of the Legislature of the state of New Jersey. Acts, Fifty-Sixth General Assembly. 1832. page 89. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nyp.33433009060728&view=1up&seq=7&skin=2021&q1=Hoff
5. ↑ List of Sheriffs, With their years and location of service, Hunterdon Co, NJ, https://www.ourfamtree.org/records/sheriffs.php?state=NJ&county=Hunterdon-Co&place=
6. ↑ Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey. v.1.. page 211. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uiug.30112109887064&view=1up&seq=217&skin=2021&q1=Hoff

• New Jersey, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/104860453:2540?tid=&pid=&queryId=18981d46771814550a82db7af20f0ce0&_phsrc=SjG3&_phstart=successSource Name: Gabriel Hoff, Death Date: 31 Jan 1830. Grave inscription apparently has 29 Jan as DOD, but cannot be seen in the photo.
• New Jersey, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1739-1991. Gabriel Hoff died intestate. Probate Date and Place: 13 Feb 1830, Hunterdon, New Jersey. Executors: John Rockafellar and Joseph C. Hoff. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/85644:8796
• History of Hunterdon and Somerset counties, New Jersey, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent pioneers. By James P Snell. Philadelphia : Everts & Peck, 1881. Also available online in full-text at one or more e-book sources including https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89082603374&view=1up&seq=7&skin=2021
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114691118/gabriel-hoff : accessed 27 November 2021), memorial page for Gabriel Hoff (unknown–2 Jan 1830 [sic?]), Find a Grave Memorial ID 114691118, citing Flemington Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Flemington, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, USA ; Maintained by Leslie (contributor 47827421) .
• Spouse's Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 12 October 2019), memorial page for Ann Hoff (unknown–Apr 1857), Find A Grave Memorial no. 114690958, citing Flemington Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Flemington, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, USA ; Maintained by Leslie (contributor 47827421) .