John H. Hoffman, Sr.

Biography

John H. Hoffman, I was born on August 18, 1760 in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. His parents were Hans Jacob Hoffman, I and Catherine Margaretha Hoffman (Best).

John married Margaret A Hoffman (Hovis) in 1790 in Allegheny, Maryland, United States. Together they had the following children:

1. John H. Hoffman, Jr.;
2. Jonas Hoyle Hoffman, Sr;
3. Catherine Katie Hoff (Hoffman);
4. Daniel Hoffman;
5. Jacob Hoffman;
6. Elizabeth Hovis Rhyne (Hoffman);
7. Joseph Hoffman;
8. Susanna Weathers (Hoffman);
9. Peter Hoffman.

He died on September 24, 1832 in Dallas, Lincoln County, North Carolina, United States and was buried after September 24, 1832 in John Hoffman Cemetery, Gaston County, North Carolina, United States.

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JOHN HOFFMAN, son of 1 JACOB HOFFMAN, was born in the Palatinate of Germany in 1760 and came to America with his parents in 1768 aboard the Pennsylvania Packet.
After spending a short while with l CASPER HOFFMAN'S family in Berks County, Pennsylvania, they moved to Shenandoah County, Virginia, where they stayed until 1776.
As a mere boy of sixteen, 2 JOHN took part in several Revolutionary skirmishes.
In 1776 the family moved from Virginia to the South Fork River valley of North Carolina, where they settled on Big Long Creek in Tryon County, later Lincoln and still later Gaston.
He and his older brother, 2 JACOB, were in the thick of the fight at the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1781, under the leadership of Col. Frederick Hambright.
There 2 JOHN was wounded.
Many of his friends and descendants delighted in telling of the scar caused by a British bullet plowing a furrow across his breast.
He lived to a ripe old age, but carried the scar until his death, which occurred in 1832.
In 1785 he married Margaret Hovis, and they moved near his older brother, 2 JACOB.
There they reared a large and influential family.
This 2 JOHN HOFFMAN was a well-to-do man in that community.
He was a "big" farmer and a good mechanic, constructing all of his farming equipment himself.
When he saw the need of some article for himself or for a neighbor, he forthwith proceeded to construct that article.
On one occasion, needing a compass with which to survey, or "lay off" land, he made one and used it for the remainder of his life.
That compass, though crude, is still serviceable and is now in the possession of one of his descendants near Dallas, North Carolina.
He was a manufacturer with much native ability.
He built a saw-mill to saw lumber for his and his neighbors' use; he built a grist-mill to grind grain for himself and his neighbors.
When cotton became a staple farm product of his community,
he realized the enormous amount of time consumed in separating the lint from the seeds, he proceeded to build a machine for that purpose.
This was one of the first cotton gins ever built, and was in active service long before the famous Eli Whitney built and patented his cotton gin.
He was nicknamed "Rich John" Hoffman to distinguish him from other John Hoffmans in the community.
His will, which is now on record at Lincolnton, testifies to the fact that he was the wealthiest man in that section.
His direct descendants have become so numerous that they now comprise a large percentage of the population of Lincoln and Gaston Counties.
Most of them are of the wealthier class, and are very prominent in governmental, civic, financial, and industrial affairs of that section.
The children of 2 JOHN HOFFMAN and his wife, Margaret Hovis were;

1. 3 John Hoffman, Jr. John H. Hoffman, Jr. He married Polly Lineberger.
2. 3 Jonas Hoffman Jonas Hoyle Hoffman, Sr m. Ann Maria Costner, in 1788.
3. 3 Catherine (Katy) Hoffman Catherine Katie Rhyne married Daniel Rhyne, who was the son of Peter Rhyne.
4. 3 Jacob Hoffman Jacob Hoffman
5. 3 Elizabeth Hoffman Elizabeth Hovis Rhyne m. Solomon Rhyne.
6. 3 Daniel Hoffman Daniel Hoffman m. Susan Lineberger.
7. 3 Joseph Hoffman Joseph Hoffman m. Sallie Withers.
8. 3 Susan Hoffman Susanna Weathers m. Jones Costner. Later m. Elisha Withers.
9. 3 Peter Hoffman Peter Hoffman m. Anna Berry.

https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G003479.pdf page 128

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Burial record:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/21495467/john-hoffman
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John Hoffman b. 1760 in Germany d. 1832. Buried at John Hoffman Cemetery in Gaston, NC. Husband of Margaret Hovis Hoffman

John Hoffman gravestone1 - In memory of John Hoffman; died Sept 24th 1832; age 72 years

John Hoffman gravestone2 - John Hoffman; Pvt; Revolutionary Line; 1760; 1832

John Hoffman gravestone3 - J H

Gravestone of Jonas Hoffman, Sr reads that he was the son of John Hoffman, Sr and Margaret Hovis and the grandson of Hans Jacob Hoffman, Sr. and Catherine Best.

Husband of Margaret Hovis Hoffman.

Children of John Hoffman and Margaret Hovis Hoffman:

• Jonas Hoyle Hoffman (1788 - 1829)
• Jacob Hoffman
• Adam Hoffman

Thank you Billy Jasper for the following information:

Page 61 of Our Kin by Laban Miles Hoffman states: "John Hoffman "was an American soldier under Col. Hambright at the battle of Kings Mountain and performed other services in occasional expeditions in that war...the evidence is clear and convincing that he fought bravely under Col. Hambright up the northern steep of Kings Mountain and was wounded there"

"John Hoffman died Sept. 24th, 1832 aged 72 years."

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Aug 24 2016, 14:35:47 UTC
• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 10 2020, 15:54:19 UTC

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