Let's take a break from the Kraichgau and go up north around Siegen and look at some of the conditions there. The story to be given here is based on the " Diary and Account Book of Johannes Wilhelm Hoffman ", for which a microfilm exists in the Library of Congress. A translated copy (by Charles T. Zahn) is on Family History Library film 193014. The existence of the document, and a copy of the material, were brought to my attention by Ted Walker.
Johannes Wilhelm Hoffman was a brother of the 1714 John Hoffman, and of the later (1743) John Henry Hoffman. ( Note from Web Page Manager and Editor: As was usual in this time period, sons were usually given the "first name" of their father, with a different "middle name", which was the name they were actually known by. In this case, these brothers all had the "first name " of "Johannes" [John]. For some reason, Wilhelm and Heinrich ended up with the traditional "middle" names of William and Henry, while the 1714 "John" ended up with his patronymic name Wonder what his "middle name" was? ). Both William and Henry lived in Virginia, and were 19 and 16 years younger than John Hoffman, respectively. William kept a book, not a true diary, but an account of labor and service he performed for others, plus the taxes and fines he paid. The book begins with a prayer, when he was 21 years old in 1733. His words make it clear that he was a dedicated member of the German Reformed Church, and that he regarded the Catholics very unfavorably, even worse than the Turks. This was unfortunate, as he lived in an area of Germany where the Catholic rulers apparently used their power against the Reformed people.
William had a low opinion of the "overlords" who levied fines and required that services be performed. For example, the Reformed members were required to pay a fine because they had been spinning on Catholic feast days. The Catholic hierarchy was also against the Reformed members holding school on feast days.
These oppressive measures fell heavily on William, and he needed a rationalization to justify his beliefs. He wrote that God had ordained overlords to rule over the peasants and to require services from them at the overlord's command. He continued that whereas it has pleased God to make him a peasant in his fatherland, which has Catholic rulers, may he live in peace with good health and fortune. "Therefore, I, Johannes Wilhelm Hoffman, from Eysern, intend to record the services I give to the overlords." He then listed many of the services that he had performed, or expected to perform, such as mowing, making hay, hauling wood from the forest, hunting, and military service. Since he did own a horse, many of the services involved the horse.
Two services had a very adverse effect on William. He had to perform military service, and he had to quarter soldiers in his house. Quartering of soldiers was a burden that fell almost exclusively upon the Reformed Church members. Sometimes the soldiers demanded that William use his horse to convey them to other places. William did not enumerate the wars in any detail, but it was clear that troops and citizens from other regions were involved.
Fines were levied for many different causes, and Wilhelm and his fellow church members seem to have spent a lot of time in appealing these fines.
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