John Blankenbaker's Germanna History Notes

Note 2361

There were at least two Henry Huffmans in the Germanna area.  I have been writing about the Henry who was a brother of the 1714 John.  Before this Henry came in 1743, Han Henrich Hofmann immigrated to Virginia in 1734 as one of a group of people from the Nassau-Siegen area.  He settled in the Little Fork.  After Culpeper County was formed in 1748, the Robinson River Valley Henry and the Little Fork Henry both lived in Culpeper County.  Until 1792, the RRV people and the Little Fork people would have the Culpeper County Court House.  The appearance of records from the two localities in one place should not be taken as evidence that the two Henrys, for example, were close neighbors.

In the Culpeper Classes of 1781 there were Henry Hufman; Henry Hufman, Jr.; and Henry Hufman, Jr.; with no distinction drawn between the latter two names.  The personal property tax list of 1787 shows four Henry Huffmans.

A comment on the list here seemed to imply that Henry of the RRV was a cooper, since John Jacob Nay was apprenticed to Henry Huffman to learn the cooper’s trade.  Since the Nays lived in the Little Fork where the 1734 Henry Huffman also lived, I would think that two Henrys have been confused.  There is no evidence, I think, that the RRV Henry was a cooper.

Another comment of the list here implies that Henry of the Little Fork was the administrator of the (1714) John Huffman estate.  I would think that John Huffman has perhaps been mis-identified.  Additionally, the Little Fork Henry was said to be a cousin of John Huffman.  I would like to see an expansion of this comment showing the connections.  Again, the John Huffmans may be mistakenly identified.

The 1787 Personal Property Tax List shows three John Huffmans.  It is true that the will of 1714 John was probated in 1772 but still there were perhaps more than one John Huffman.
(29 Aug 06)