Untangling the 15 Henry Hoffs

2001] Untangling the 15 Henry Hoffs of York County 129 Tax lists show there were two separate men named Henry Hoff resid¬ ing in Heidelberg (immediately north of Manheim). 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 Henry Hoff Henry Hoff Henry Hoff Henry Hof Henry Hof Henry Hof Henry Hof Henry Hof Henry doctor doctor doctor 120 acres 2 horses 100 2 1 120 2 3 2 3 100 140 2 5 0 1 50 2 4 140 1 1 50 140 3 cattle taxes no taxes refused 9 inhabitants65 Thus, it is clear that it was the man known as Doctor who wrote his will 8 August 1783 and died the next day, although Henry Hohf of Manheim was identified as farmer in his will, which was probated 20 September 1785. In his will Doctor Henry named his wife Mary and four children. To his oldest daughter Anna, he gave an extra £5 "for that she stud [stood] by me over her each [age].” Anna and the younger Barbara received house¬ hold items. The oldest son Michael was instructed to “stay by his Mother till he Come on the each of Ninteen Years then he shall have Liberty to learn a trade.” Mary was to have the use of the plantation until his youngest son David “is on the each of fourteen years but all that time she shall keep the place in good repare.” Mary was instructed not to clear more than fourteen acres of land and if she needed more rails, she was to get them from the land Henry owned in the Barrens. The wording of the will and probate make clear that Henry, his executors, and the witnesses were Mennonite.64 Henry apparently was the first husband of MARY (DANNER) HOHF UTZ. Her tombstone in the Danner plot in Bair’s Cemetery says “Maria Utz, been a Hohf, born a Danner, 24 December 1744, died 18 February 1816, 71 years 1 month 3 weeks.”65 She was likely the Mary who married between 1784 and 1805 Daniel Utz, a widower and executor of Doctor Henry’s will.66 On the 1810 census, the Utz and Hoff families occur in proximity in Manheim.67 63 William Henry Egle, editor, Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd series, 30 vols. (Harrisburg: State of Pennsylvania, 1894-99) 21:23ff. 64 York County Wills F:157. FHL #22,132. The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania publication incorrectly abstracts the will, giving only a single son, Nicholas. Once in the body of the recorded copy is mention of a son Henry, but this is clearly an error. 65 York County Historical Society, Cemetery Abstracts in card file. 66 The other contemporary Hoffs/Hohfs to whom she might have been married were Daniel (1742-1812) who had a wife Maty, but he was still alive in 1805; Henry (1740/45after 1819) also was living in 1805; and Michael (died 1777) about whom nothing is known. 67 1810 US census, Manheim Township, York County, pages 138-40; NARA M2 5 2, roll 57. 130 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine 1810 Manheim Township Samuel Hoff 41010 [Vol. 42 02010 gaP Daniel Utz junr Jacob Bollinger Andrew Utz Daniel Utz senr Michael Hoff David Hoff 1 name Henry Hoff 22010 20110 20110 00010 20110 00001 10010 00100 [son of #9] [son of #9] 10010 20200 [#111 gap Jacob Hoff 10010 10010 7 names Daniel Hoff senr Daniel Hoff junr 00001 00010 01001 00100 00001 21010 Information connecting this Henry to his descendants comes from a deed many years later, 25 September 1835. Henry B. Hoff (#12) and Michael B. Hoff, executors of the will of Michael Hoff of Heidelberg sold to George and Elizabeth Gitt of Hanover [then in Heidelberg Township] land that Henry Hoff father of Michael deceased had by his will of 8 August 1783 given to his said son. The deed states that the heirs of Henry Hoff deceased granted their shares to Michael Hoff on 24 June 1814 and 8 November 1815 and mentions an apparently unrecorded quit claim from Samuel Hoff dated 20 August 1796, perhaps Samuel Hoff, shoe¬ maker of Manheim. Then Gitt sold the land back to Michael B. Perhaps the estate was not very financially sound, because four years later, 10 July 1839, Michael B. Hoff of Heidelberg sold all his real estate in trust to William D. Gobrecht and George Gitt for benefit of the creditors.68 #10. HENRY HOFF of Manheim, brother of Daniel, was born by say 1754. He is listed on the 1779-83 tax rolls of Manheim with 120 or 140 acres of land; no records concerning this land have been found. Daniel Hoff mortgaged property in Manheim 5 April 1804 to Henry Hoff; the mort¬ gage was satisfied 2 April 1814.69 Daniel Hoff, senr., of Manheim “(now called the older) being old and sick,” wrote his will 1 March 1813 naming wife Anna Mary, four children, and his brother Henry Hoff, who was to serve as executor with his son-in-law Daniel Lachman.70 #11. HENRY HOFF, weaver of Manheim and Heidelberg, was born 7 June 1777 [calc.]. He died near Hanover, then Heidelberg Township, 11 July 1820, aged 43 years 1 month 4 days.71 68 York County Deeds 30:120, 121; 3Q:4. None of the quit claims were recorded. 69 Mortgages, Hoff Report, 237. 70 York County Wills 0:150. 71 Hanover Guardian, 19 July 1820, Hoff Report, 222. 2001] Untangling the 15 Henry Hoffs of York County 131 In 1809 Henry had patented the 88 acres mentioned in his will, which was surveyed for John Epple and called Many . The same day he patented a smaller piece, 5 acres.72 In December he patented 100 acres surveyed for Nicholas Michael and called Crumbaugh or Crooked Run.73 The Many Comers property suggests a solution to the problem of Mary Utz wife of Henry Hoff. Daniel Utz and Henry Hoff both owned abutting portions of this tract. Daniel Utz’s 1805 will mentions “Mary now the wife of Henry Hoff,” but Henry's 1820 will names wife Catherine. It seems reasonable that Mary died and Henry remarried between 1814 (when the codicil to Daniel’s will implies that all of his children are still living) and 1820. Thus, Henry Hoff married first MARY UTZ, daughter of Daniel Utz, and married second CATHERINE ?—. In 1810, Henry was living four households away from his father-in-law Daniel Utz.74 Henry Hoff of Manheim, yeoman, bought on 31 March 1814 12 acres on the great road leading toward Frederick’s Tavern.75 Henry Hoff of Heidelberg made his will 24 April 1820; it was probated 7 August. He named wife Catherine, and mentioned land adjoining Daniel Utz. His son Jacob got his weaver’s loom, with a substantial number of gears. He named children Eve, Jacob, Catharine, Henry, Lydia, and mentions Catherine raising them, implying they were still young 76On 27 December 1824, his executors Catherine Hoff and Andrew Utz sold 3 acres of the 88 acres Many Comers at public sale to meet expenses.77 — #12. HENRY B. HOFF (Michael, Henry) of Manheim, York County, and Conewago and Union, Adams County, was born 8 October 1797, the son of Michael and Elizabeth (—?—)78 Hoff 79 and the grandson of Henry #9He died 22 April 1855 and is buried in Hostetter’s Meeting House , who Cemetery, Union Township, Adams County. He married MARY was born 4 February 1805, died 1 April 1879 and is buried in Christ Reformed Cemetery, Union Township, Adams County,80 On 25 Septem¬ ber 1835 Henry B. and his brother Michael B. sold their father’s land per — 72 Hivcly, Manheim and , 55, 63, states the patent is 7 August. Heidelberg 73 Hively, Manheim and Heidelberg, 11. 74 Henry Hoff household, 1810 US census, Manheim Township, York County, page 138; NARA M252, roll 57. The extra adult female hasn’t been identified. 7ÿ York County Deeds 2Z;3 11. 76 York County Wills 0:242-245. 77 York County Deeds 3F37. 78 It is likely her surname began with a B. Although no evidence points to the surname, the Bollinger family into which her son married is a reasonable place to look. 19 York County Wills Q:494. 80 Cemetery Inscriptions, Hoff Report, 210. 132 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine [Vol. 42 the instructions in his will.81 He was in Conewago (Adams County) in 1840 and Manheim in 1850 82 #13. HENRY HOFF {Henry) of Heidelberg was born about 1808 (1850 census), the son of Henry Hoff (#12). He married say 1835 SARAH BAER, daughter of Michael and probably Catherine (—?—) Baer. Deeds in 1852 arising from Michael Baer’s 1846 will said Henry and Sarah were then residing in Frederick, Maryland,83 where they were found in 1840 and 1850.84 #14. HENRY HOHF of Heidelberg and Manheim was born about 1813 — (1850 census). He married say 1842 ELIZABETH ?—, who was born about 1818. He was in Heidelberg in 1840, in Manheim in 1850, and still there in 1880 85 In 1846, he had purchased 127 acres with stone house, bank barn, and blacksmith "shope.»86 #15. HENRY HOFF of Union Township, Adams County, was born 20 October 1832 [calc.] and died 25 September 1899, aged 66 years 11 months 5 days. He married say 1851 REBECCA ?—, who was born 20 October 1827 and died 9 April 1905. He served in Co. E 165 Pennsylvania Infantry. They are buried in Christ Reformed Cemetery, Union Town¬ ship.87 Given his place of burial, he is likely connected with Henry B. Hoff — (#12), whose wife Mary is buried there. He is likely the 18-year-old in the household of Charles Barnitz of Berwick Township, Adams County, in 1850; he and Rebecca appear in the I860, 1870, and 1880 censuses in Union Township.88 81 York County Deeds 30:121, 82 Henry Hoff household, 1840 US census, Conewago Township, Adams County, page 110; NARA M704, roll 435. Henry Hoff household, 1850 US census, Manheim Township, York County, page 317, #92/92; NARA M432, roll 83983 York County Deeds 3W:681; 3Y:27-28. 84 Henry Hoff household, 1840 US census, 11th Election District, Frederick County, Maryland, page 306; NARA M704, roll 166. Henry Hoff household, 1850 US census, 8th Election District, Frederick County, Maryland, page 414; NARA M704, roll 293. 85 Henry Hoff household, 1840 US census, Heidelberg Township, York County, page 23, NARA M704, roll 501. Henry Hoff household, 1850 US census, Manheim Township, York County, page 324, #187/187; NARA M432, roll 839- Henry Hohf household, 1880 US census, Manheim Township, York County, page 72B; NARA T9, roll 1206. 86 York County Deeds 3W:523. 87 Cemetery Inscriptions, Hoff Report, 210. 88 Charles Barnitz household, 1850 US census, Berwick Township, Adams County, page 201, #111/115; NARA M432, roll 743- Henry Hoff household, 1870 US census, Union Township, Adams County, page 392; NARA M593, roll 1289. Henry Hoff household, 1880 US census, Union Township, Adams County, page 276D; NARA T9, roll 1085.