Johannes Hofmann was a member of the 1714 Germanna Colony. Later his younger brother, Johannes Heinrich Hofmann, came to Virginia. There was also another brother, Johann Wilhelm Hofmann, who came to America, not to Virginia, but to Pennsylvania. Henry and William were much younger than John, 16 and 19 years respectively. More is to be found on the family in Germanna Record Five , though Prof. Holtzclaw did not know that William had left Germany.
While still a very young man, Johannes Wilhelm started a Diary and Account Book into which he made entries over many years. But it was not a true diary; his choice of entries strikes one as odd. It is better described as an account book of labor, service, and fines, which he had to perform or pay. His words make it clear that he was dedicated member of the German Reformed Church. He had a low opinion of the Catholics who controlled the area where he lived in Eisern.
His philosophy of life was summed up in his conviction that God had ordained overlords to rule over the peasants. Since God had made him a peasant, Wilhelm hoped that he might live in peace with good health and fortune.
"Therefore, I, Johannes Wilhelm Hoffman, from Eysern, intend to record the services I must perform such as mowing, making hay, hauling wood from the forest, hunting, and military service."
Because he did own a horse, many of the services utilized the horse.
Though Wilhelm makes it clear that he believed an extra burden fell upon him because he was a member of the Reformed Church, he never wavered in his faith in the church.
Among the names that he mentions is Pastor Heitsklaw from Wilmetogff (this in 1739 and 1740). In 1738 he speaks of his brother-in-law, Heide of Siegen.
In 1741, he, his wife, and two sons left Eisern and went to Pennsylvania. He moved to York County across the "Sequahanna" to a place beyond Yorktown. At one point, he mentions the hope of being able to live without the burden of war as one of his motivations for emigrating.
In America he recorded some of the types of observations that he had recorded in Germany, namely taxes, road building, road maintenance, and war. The French and Indian War was hard on him and he gave his belief that God was punishing America by using war as the means.
Ted Walker of Mesa, Arizona, brought the book to my attention. A translation was made by Charles T. Zahn. The original diary is in the Library of Congress Manuscript Division. The story here, in a slightly expanded form, appeared in Beyond Germanna on page 507.
(07 Apr 04)
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.