John W. Wayland published an English translation of John Hoffman’s Bible records as " John Hoffman of Germanna and Some of His Descendants " in the Virginia Magazine of History and Biography , vol. 63, no. 4, pp. 454-460. The original Bible record would have been written in German. It is not clear to me who did the translation and to what extent names were anglicized. It would appear that given names were freely translated. The exception is such names as Baltz, for which the translator was puzzled. I believe that Wayland claimed to have a handwritten copy of the original Bible record but his article should be consulted.
John Hoffman: Records from his Bible, 1663-1813 :
In the year 1663, July 27th, my father John Hoffman was born at Eisern. In the year 1690 my father entered into matrimony with my mother Gertrude, the daughter of John Reichman and his wife Elizabeth, living in Siegen.
In the year 1728, September 25th, my mother fell asleep blessed in the Lord. In the year 1731, March 16th, my father fell asleep blessed in the Lord.
This Bible is a part of my paternal inheritance sent to me from Eysern in Nassau-Siegenschon.
In the year 1692, March 1st, O.S., I John Hoffman was born in Siegen; March 8th I was baptized in the Nichlaus Church.
In the year 1721, November 7th, I John Hoffman was married to Anna Catharine nee Haeger.
In the year 1722, November 25th, my daughter Agnes was born; was baptized December 2d, witness, Agnes, the sister of my wife, nee Haeger.
In the year 1724, January 18th, my son John Henry was born; baptized January 24th; his witness was my father-in-law, Henry Haeger. He died January 27th.
In the year 1725, June 7th my daughter Anna Catharine was born; baptized June 13th; her witness was the mother of my wife.
In the year 1727, May 6th, my son John was born, baptized May 14th, witness John Fischbach.
In the year 1729, February 9th, in the morning about 9 o'clock my wife gave birth to a young son stillborn; in the evening of the same day about ten o'clock my wife fell asleep blessed in the Lord.
[to be continued]
(13 Dec 05)
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.