Tag: Hoover Surname Study

The Hoover family has become a favorite research subject of mine, especially the Huber/Hoober/Hoovers of early Lancaster County. These pages include links to all the posts I’ve written as part of my personal Hoover surname study, including articles and transcriptions of deeds, wills, etc. I hope you find information on your Hoover, but if you don’t drop me a line. Maybe I can feature them in an upcoming post.

Christian Hoover of Hempfield Township

Researching an individual is particularly difficult when they have a common name. It is even more difficult if there is more than one person of the same name in the same general location at apparently the same time. Such is the case with Christian Hoover of Hempfield Township, Lancaster County.

Christian Hoover land warrant

#6 Christian Hoover tract

Land documents show three warrants for tracts in Hempfield Township granted to “Christian Hoober,” all dated in 1743 or 1744.1 Two of the warrants were patented to Christian Hoober and the third was patented to Martin Hoover. An additional, adjacent tract in Warwick Township, warranted to “Christian Hooper,” was patented to Christian Hoober on 12 Dec 1747.2,3

Tract #1

The first tract was in the north eastern corner of present day East Hempfield (see #6 on map at right). It was warranted to Christian Hoober on 10 Jan 1744/5 and patented to him on 12 Dec 1747 (Patent Book A-13:328). The adjacent tract was the Warwick Township tract patented to Christian Hoober on 12 Dec 1747.4 These tracts belonged to the same man.

On 16 May 1767 Christian Hoover and wife Margareth sold 2 tracts of land to Jacob Oberholtzer—one of 57.5 acres and the other of 121 acres. Tract 6 on the warrantee township map was 57 acres.5 So, he sold this parcel and part of the tract in Warwick Township that he patented in 1747 that was warranted “Christian Hooper.”

Christian Hoover tract #2

Christian Hoover tract

Tract #2

The second tract was located to the south and west and apparently sat in both the present East and West Hempfield townships (see map left). This tract was warranted to Christian Hoober on 8 Jun 1743 and patented to him on 16 Jun 1743 (Patent Book A-11:145). It was surveyed on 12 Mar 1735/6.6 This tract later belonged to Christian’s son John Huber Esq.

On 14 Dec 1758, the heirs of Christian Hoover, late of Hempfield Township—namely Martin Hoover and Catharine his wife, Jacob Hoover and Ann his wife, Henry Funk and Elizabeth (Hoover) his wife—sold to John Hoover, another son of Christian Hoover, 224 acres in Hempfield Township (see map #2).7 On 1 Sep 1764, Christian Hoffman and Barbara (Hoover) his wife sold their share of Christian Hoover’s property to Barbara’s brother John.8 And finally on 10 Jun 1769, John Bausler and Anna (Hoover) his wife sold their interest in the property to John Hoover.9 Two additional sons of Christian Hoover were mentioned in the deeds—Michael and Christian Jr. They apparently “died in their Minority unmarried without issue.” 10

Christian Hoober tract #3

#41 Christian Hoober tract

Tract #3

The third tract is located in the present day West Hempfield Township. It was warranted to Christian Hoober on 15 Aug 1744 and patented to Martin Hoover on 12 Apr 1750 (Patent Book A-15:337). It was surveyed 12 Apr 1737.11 Martin Hoover was Christian’s eldest son.

The West Hempfield tract that was patented to Martin Hoover was given to his sons Joseph and Isaac Hoover in his 1788 last will & testament.12

Conclusions

Based on the land warrant, patent and deed records, it is apparent that there were two different men named Christian Hoover in Hempfield Township. The first died sometime prior to 27 Nov 1757.13 The second Christian Hoover was alive at least as late as 1771 when he sold land he purchased in Lancaster Borough to Rupertus Hartaffel.14

Christian Hoover (died bef. 1757) had a son named Christian, but since he died prior to 1758, the second Christian Hoover can not be the son of the first. The first Christian was located in Hempfield Township prior to 1735/6 when tract #2 was surveyed. The second Christian was in Hempfield Township before 21 Feb 1746/7 when the first tract was surveyed.15

Hoovers in Martic Twp Tax Lists, 1751-1772

An examination of Martic Township, Lancaster County tax lists available for the years 1751 through 1772 shows the following Hoovers in the township.1

1751

  • Jacob Hover
  • Henry Houer
  • John Hover

1754

  • Jacob Hover
  • Henry Hover
  • John Hover
  • Jacob Huver (weaver?)

1756 (Tax list)

  • Jacob Hover (40 acres)

1756 (Assessment)

  • Jacob Hover
  • Jacob Hover
  • Wm Hover
  • John Hover
  • Henry Hover

1757

  • Jacob Huber
  • Jacob Hover
  • Henry Hover
  • Willm Hover
  • Henry Hover (weaver)
  • Freemen: Jacob Huber

1757

  • Jacob Hover (Jr.?)
  • Jacob Hoover “sener”
  • Henry Hover

1758

  • Jacob Hover (weaver)
  • Jacob Hover
  • Jacob Hover the bigg
  • Henry Hover
  • John Hover

15 Nov 1758

  • Jacob Hover (weaver)
  • Jacob Hover
  • Jacob Hover (ye bigg)
  • Henry Hover
  • John Hover

1759

  • John Hover
  • Jacob Hover (weaver)
  • Jacob Hover
  • Henry Hover
  • Ulrick Hover
  • Widow Hover

7 Dec 1769

  • John Hover (weaver)
  • John Hover
  • Woolery Hover
  • Jacob Hover (Henry’s son)
  • Freeman: Chr Huber

1770 (Assessment)

  • John Hover (weaver)
  • John Hover
  • Wolery Hover
  • Jacob Hover
  • Jacob Hover

1770 (Tax list)

  • Jacob Hover (Henry son, 80 acres)
  • John Hover (weaver, 100 acres)
  • Jacob Hover Jr. (100 acres)
  • Willery Hover (50 acres home place, 200 acres)

1771

  • Jacob Hover Sr. (100 acres)
  • John Hover (100 acres)
  • John Hover (on Beaver Creek, 80 acres)
  • Jacob Hover Jr. (100 acres)
  • Woolery Hover (weaver?, 80 acres)
  • Wilory Hover (200 acres)

1772

  • Jacob Hover Sr.
  • John Hover
  • John Hover (Beaver Creek)
  • Jacob Hover Jr.
  • Wilrick Hover (weaver)
  • Wilrick Hover
  • Mathias Hover

These Hoover families (4~5 families) have been referred to as the Byerland Hoovers because of their proximity to the Byerland Meeting house in Martic Township. They lived in southeastern Conestoga Township (now Pequea Township) and northwestern Martic Township (now Providence Township). The original settlers included Ulrich Huber (ca 1703—1757), Jacob Huber (ca 1698—bef 23 Nov 1739), Henry Huber (bef 1712—1758), Henry Huber (bef 1719—1767/69), and Jacob Huber (ca 1698—1759), son of Hans Huber of Earl Township.

Martic Township Hoover properties

Martic Township Hoover properties

Ulrich Huber’s Conestoga Township property was just to the north of and adjacent to Jacob Huber’s and Hans Boyer’s properties (see top left of the image).

Will: Jacob Huber (1810)

Jacob Huber of Martic Township, Lancaster County wrote his will on 6 Nov 1808; it was proven 30 Nov 1810. In it he names his son Martin Hoober and his son-in-law Abraham Hoober, husband of his daughter Anna, as his executors. He also names his son Martin Hoober of Martic Township, his daughter Barbara Hoober, wife of Henry Hoober, of Rockingham County, Virginia, his daughter Anna, wife of Abraham Hoober, his daughter Susanna, wife of Abraham Gochenhower, his grandson Christian Huber, a son of daughter Barbara, and his grandson Jacob and granddaughter Barbara, children of his deceased son Jacob.1

Will of Jacob Huber Deceased

In the name of God amen! I Ja
cob Huber of Martick Township in the County
of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania———
Farmer, being Weak in Body and for Advanced Age
but of sound and disposing Mind Memory & Understanding,
and Calling to mind the Uncertainty of human Life, and that it is ordered
for all men once to die, I therefore make my Last Will and Testament in
the following manner (to wit) First I order and it is my Will that all my
Just Debts and Funeral Expences be paid and discharged by my Executors
out of my Estate as Soon as Conveniently may be after my Decease
Item it is my Will and I do order that my Executors shall as Soon as can
be after my decease put and keep the Sum of One Thousand pounds good
current Money out of my Estate at Interest on good Security and with
the yearly Interest arising from said sum they shall provide a good and
Comfortable Living and Support for my beloved Wife Barbara during her
Life she being at present in a distressed Situation and entirely unable to
manage her own Affairs, I therefore charge my Executors to take Special
care of her and if the Interest of said Sum Should not be Sufficient for
her Support and Maintenance, then I impower my Executors to take
as much from the principal at Sum Yearly as may be Sufficient with the
Interest to provide a comfortable Living for her, and in case my said
Wife Barbara Should at any time after my Deceased recover her Senses
so as to be able to manage her own affairs then and in that Case I give
and bequeath the said sum of One Thousand pounds or so much thereof
as may remain unto my said Wife Barbara and to her heirs and Assigns
forever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my Son Martin Hoober all that
certain piece or parcel of Land whereon he now Lives Situate in said
Martick Township containing One Hundred and Thirty acres (more of less)
According to the metes and bounds as they are Specified in a Certain Draft
thereof made. To hold the same with the Houses buildings and Appurtenan
ces thereto belonging unto my said Son Martin Hoober his heirs and
Assigns forever. And I do hereby declare that the said bequest is and
shall be the full and whole Share of my son Martin out of all my
Estate real and personal, Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter
Barbara (the wife of Henry Hoober) my Tract of Land Situate in
Rockingham County in the State of Virginia containing one Hundred
and Forty acres (more of less) being the same whereon they now live
To hold the said Land withthe Appurtenances unto my said Daughter Barbara
her heirs and Assigns forever. And I value and Appraise the said Land
to her or them at and for the sum of Three hundred and Ten pounds Current
Money of Pennsylvania and to be Charged against her as part of her share
out of my Estate. Item I give unto my grand Children Jacob Hoober and
Barbara Hoober (being the children of my deceased son Jacob Hoober)
the Sum of One Dollar as and for their ful lshare out of all my Estate real
and personal I having formerly by Deed granted and Conveyed unto their
Said Father One Hundred and Fourteen acres of Land with a Mill there
on erected which was to be in full for his share out of all my Estate, and
my said grand Children are now the only heirs to the same. Item I give
and bequeath unto my grand son Christian Hoober (being the son of my
said Daughter Barbara who is intermarried with the aforesaid Henry
Hoober) the Sum of Fifty pounds good & Lawful Money of the State of
Pennsylvania aforesaid which said sum is to be deducted out of the amount
of my said Daughter Barbara’s share of my Estate and by my Executors
put out to Interest on good Security during the Minority of my said grand
Son Christian Hoober, and as soon as he may arive at the Age of
Twenty One years, I do order that the same shall be paid to and for
the use of the said Christian or his legal Representatives. Item the
rest residue and remainder of my Estate real and personal including there
in the said valuation sum of Three Hundred and Ten pounds of my
Daughter Barbara’s Land, likewise the sum of Fifty  pounds Lawfull
Money bequeathed to my Grandson Christian Hoober, and also including
all such Sums of Money and Effects which I have heretofore and may
hereafter Advance to my three Daughters (to wit) Ann the wife of
Abraham Hoober, Barbara the wife of Henry Hoober aforesd, and Su
sanna the wife of Abraham Gochnower and by me entered in a
Book against them, I order to be divided into three equal parts
And one equal third part thereof I give and bequeath unto my
Said Daughter Ann the wife of Abraham Hoober and to her heirs
and Assigns forever. And one other equal third part thereof
I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Barbara the wife of Henry
Hoober and to her heirs and Assigns forever. And one other equal third part
thereof I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Susanna the wife of
Abraham Gochenhower and to her heirs and Assigns forever. And after
the Death of my Said Wife (in case remains insane) I give and bequeath
the sum herein given for the support of my Wife or so much as may then
remain thereof unto my said three Daughters to be divided among them or
their Legal Representatives share and share alike. And Lastly I do
hereby Nominate and Appoint my said son Martin Hoober and my said
son in law Abraham Hoober Executors of this my Last Will and Testa
ment making hereby null and Void all former and other Wills and
Testaments by me made declaring this and no other to be my Last Will
and Testament. Witness my had and seal the Sixth day of November
in the year of our Lord one Thousand and eight Hundred & Eight
Jacob Huber (seal)

Signed, Sealed, Published Pronounced and Declared by the
Testator as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us Witness
es thereto called John Hoober Sr., John Hoober, Benj Hart

Lancaster County [Ssr?] On the 30th day of November Anno Domini 1810
Before me the subscriber personally appeared John Hoober Senr John
Hoober and Benjamin Hart who being duly affirmed according to Law
do declare and say that they were present and saw and heard Jacob
Huber the Testator, sign seal publish pronounce and declare the with
in writing as and for his last will and Testament and that at the doing
thereof he was of sound and well disposing mind, memory, and under
standing to the best of their knowledge, observation and belief.
William Bausman, Regr

Be it remembered that on the 30th day of November Anno Domini
1810 The last Will and Testament of Jacob Huber late of Martick
Township in the County of Lancaster deceased was proved in due
form of the law and Letters Testamentary thereon were granted
Martin Hoober and Abraham Hoober the executors therein named…

Will: Henry Huber (1757)

Henry Huber of Martic Township wrote his will on 7 Aug 1757; it was proven on 17 Jan 1758. In it he names his son John and daughter Elizabeth, wife of John Bayer (Boyers). His executors were his friends Martin Bear and Henry Huber. Below is a transcription of this will. 1

In the name of God Amen I Henry Huber of Martick [sic]
Township in Lancaster County & Province of Pennsylvania Yeoman
being in Health of Body & of sound & disposing mind & memory
& considering of many Accidents & Casualties of attend & will at last
end this Mortal Live Do make & declare this my last Will & Testament
First & Principally Recommending my Imortal [sic] Spirit into ye Hands
of my great Creator Trusting in ye Merits of my Blessed Saviour Jesus
Christ for Pardon & Remission of all my Sins & happy admission
into ye Regions of Immortal Bliss Item I order & direct [?] all
my just Debts & Funeral Charges & Expenses be paid & discharged
as soon as it can be Conveniently done after my decease by my my [sic]
Executors herein mentioned ——— Item I Give & Bequeath
unto my beloved son John Huber the Half of my Real & Personal
Estate of Lands Money & Goods to him for ever & ye other half unto
my Daughter Elizabeth Bayers she to have ye same [?] [?]
the aforesaid John Huber her brother & ye said Elizabeth Bayers
Equally & Impartially the Plantation & Improvement excepted
wch [sic] is valued at £450 Currency Conditionally that is to say that
ye said John Huber shall pay unto ye said Elizabeth his sister
ye half of ye value of said Plantation wch is my desire that my faithful
Executor will see ye same done & performed according to my desire share &
share alike ——— And I do nominate and appoint my Loving
Friends Martin Bear & Henry Huber executors of this my last Will &
Testament disallowing & making Null & Void all former & other Wills &
Testaments by me at any time heretofore made of Executed declaring
this & no other to be & Contain my last will & Testament ——— N’B ye
value of ye above plantation is valued at £450 Currency wch is interlined above
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand N Seal this twenty
seventh Day of August ye Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred
& fifty seven ———— Henry Huber (seal)

Signed Sealed & Delivered pronounced & declared by me the Testator to be
my last Will & Testment in the presence of us

James Hamilton Jacob Bölm Jacob Beÿer

Lancaster County [?] December 29th 1757 Before me the
Subscriber came Jacob Behm & Jacob Beyer two of the Witnesses to the
above & within written Will & on their solemn affirmation did declare
and say that they were present and saw & heard Henry Huber the
Testator above name Sign Seal Publish Pronounce and declare the above
& written writing as and for his last will & Testament & that at the
doing thereof he was of sound & dispersing Mind Memory & Understanding
to the best of their knowledge Observation & Belief

Edw’d Shippen

Be It Remembered that on the 29th day of December 1757 The Last
Will and Testament of Henry Huber deceased was proved in due form of
Law and Probate and Letters Testamentary were granted unto Martin
Bear and Henry Huber the Executor in the said Testament named
they being first duly Qualified well and truly to Administer the said
Decedents Estate To being and Inventory thereof into the Registers Office
at Lancaster on or before the 29th Day of January next And to render
a true and just Account of their [?] Administration when hereto
lawfully required

Given under the Seal of the said Office
& me Edw’d Shippin

Will: Abraham Huber (1827)

Abraham Huber of Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania signed his last will and testament 23 Jul 1817; it was proven 9 Jun 1827. He named as his executors, sons John Huber and Abraham Huber. Abraham also named five daughters: Barbara (eldest), Mary, Christina, Ann and Elizabeth. This is a transcript of his will.1

Abraham Huber
Deceased

In the name of God, amen! I Abraham Hoover of
Canastogoe [sic] township in the County of Lancaster, and State of Pennsylvania,
farmer, being old and weak of body but of sound and disposing mind the
memory and understanding, and calling to and the uncertainty of
human life, and that is ordered for all men once to die, I therefore make my
last will and testament in manner following, to wit
First, I order and it is my will that all my just debts and funeral
expenses be paid and discharged out of my estate by my executors
Item, I give first and foremist [sic] to my oldest daughter Barbara, one hun
dred and twenty five pounds
Item, It is my will that my son John shall have the plantation
where I now live on, a part in Canastogoe [sic[ and part in Martick [sic]
township, and the said John shall pay in manner following, in one
year after my deseise [sic], he shall pay two hundred pounds and the other
years two hundred and fifty pounds till he pays eighteen hundred pounds
Item, And it is my will that my son Abraham shall have the plantation
that I bought of Christian Hoover and where my said son Abraham
now lives on, at the sum of eight hundred pounds, and the payments to
be maid [sic] in manner following, too [sic] hundred pounds in one year after my
deseise [sic] , and two hundred every year til the sum of eight hundred pounds
are paid, and this shall be both John and Abraham’s legacy in the said two
plantations, after them paying as aforesaid
Item I give and bequeath unto my five daughters Barbara, Mary, Christina, Ann
and Elizabeth all the money left of the personal estate after the said Barbara
having received the hundred and twenty five pounds, as aforesaid, and the
twenty six hundred pounds ordered to pay by my said two sons shall be equil [sic]
dividet [sic] amongst my said five daughters, share and share alike; And I do
order and it is my will that my executors shall pay to Barbara, Christina, and
Elizabeth as the aforesaid payments comes due till the[y] have received as much
as Mary and Ann, which are charged in a book kept by me, till the[y] be equil [sic]
and then share and share alike till all is paid
And lastly I do hereby nominate, make and appoint my two sons
John and Abraham Hoover, executors of this my last will and testament
Making hereby null and void all former wills by me maid [sic], declaring
this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness
whereof I have hereunto set me Hand and Seal this twenty third day
of July A. Domoni [sic] one thousand eight hundred and seventeen
Abraham Huber (seal)
Signed, sealed, delivered, pronounced and
declared by the testetor [sic] as his last will and
testament in the presents [sic] of us
Johannes Brenneman, Christian Lein

Lancaster County [??] On the 9th day of June anno domini 1827. Before me
the subscriber personally appeared John Breneman and Christian Lein
the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will and on their solemn affirmations
according to law, did severally declare and say that they were present and
saw and heard Abraham Huber, the testator therein, sign, seal, publish
pronounce and declare the same, as and for his last will and testament,
and that at the time of the doing thereof he was of sound and well
disposing mind, memory and understanding, according to the best of
their knowledge, observation and belief. F.A. Muhlenberg Regtr
Be it remembered, that on the 9th day of June anno domini 1827. The last
will and testament of Abraham Huber, deceased, was proved in due form
of law and letters testamentary to John Huber and Abraham Huber, the
executors therein named, they having been first duly affirmed, according
to law, well and truly to administer the estate of the said deceased, and
especially to exhibit a true and perfect inventory thereof, into the Register’s Office
at Lancaster within one month, and to render a just and true account of
their executorship on said estate in one year or when thereto lawfully required;
and be that they will diligently and faithfully regard and will and
truly comply with the provisions of the act of Assembly relating to collat.
eral inheritances. Given under the Seal of the said office
F.A. Muhlenberg Regtr

Will: Jacob Hoober (1788)

Jacob Hoober (aka Huber) wrote is will on 13 Mar 1788; it was proven on 9 Jun 1788. His executors were his brother John Huber and his brother-in-law Jacob Hoober. He names his wife Barbara and six children: eldest son Henry, daughter Barbara, sons Jacob, Christian and John, and youngest son Martin.1

“In the Name of God Amen
I Jacob Hoober Senior of Martick township Lancaster County
and State of Pennsylvania Being Weak in Body but of
Sound and Perfect mind & memory Blessed by God this
Day Do make & publish this my last will & testament in manner
following That is to say I wil that all my just Debts and funeral
Charges be paid & Satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my
Decease or Death Item it is my will that my beloved wife Barbara
shall & may Enjoy the Benefit of my Plantation until my young-
est son Martin is sixteen years old and likewise it is my will that
my said wife is to have three horses or mares and five head of horned
cattle her choice in my stock and sheep, hoggs Plough & Horse
wagon gears for horses & other farming utensils & household fur-
niture and my wearing apparel what my said wife & my hereafter
nominated Executors shall think necessary which said goods &
chattles my said wife is to enjoy until my youngest son Martin
is sixteen years old as aforesaid and the Remainder of my personal
estate is to be sold by my Hereafter nominated Exrs by way of
publick sale after my death as soon as conveniently and out of the
Money arising thereby & out of my outstanding money it is my will
that my said wife shall have the sum of Thirty seven pounds
ten shillings in Gold or Silver as soon as the Money may be collected
out of which said Money my said wife is to give unto my daughter
Barbara One Good Bed & Bed sted, Spinning wheel & kitchen
furniture as she my said wife shall see cause and I will that
my Eldest son Henry shall have the sum of fifty pounds
in lawful Money in Gold or Silver to be paid unto him by my
Exrs in nine months after my death and in one year after the
payment of Henrys Money my son Jacob is to have the sum of
twenty-five pounds of like lawfull Money as aforesaid to be paid
unto him by my hereafter nominated Exrs And it is my will
that my Daughter Barbara shall have one new Chest & one
Milch cow out of the above mentioned cattle which I allow
to be kept on my Plantation untill my youngest son is six-
teen years old and it is further my will that my two sons
Christian & John shall be firmly bound unto my said wife
to obey her in all lawfull commands if she remains my Widow
until the [sic] are Eighteen years ould [sic] & it is further my Will that
as soon as my youngest Son Martin is Sixteen years ould [sic] the
all my Estate both Real & Personal Shall be sold by my here-
after nominted Exrs by publick sale unto the highest bidder
except what I shall hereafter mention to be given unto my
said wife viz one bed & furniture one Milck cow one horse
or Mare her choice out of the three which is left on the Plan-
tation her sadle [sic] & bridle and Household & Kitchen [?]
furniture what my said wife & my said Exrs shall thinck [sic]
necessary for her station and likewise the sim of seventy
five pounds of lawfull Money in Gold or Silver to be [?]
by my hereafter nominated Exrs as soon as the money can be raise
out of the last sale of my Estate and the before and above mentioned
personal Esate in full and in lease she y said wife should not
remain my Widow then in such a case I order and will that
[she] shall pay the sum of Fifty Pounds of like lawfull Money as above
said into my Exrs or children again out of the Seventy five pounds
Bequeathed heretofore unto her my said wife and it further is
my will that my said wife shall have the Intrest [sic] of the one third
part of the Money which will be raised out of my Real Estate while
she remains my Widow & no longer and She my said Wife is to have a
piece of land lying between my Meadow and Samuel Winters
land containing about twenty acres by the same more of less
on which land my Exrs is to build a house for her Before my son
Martin is sixteen years old which said House & the benefit of
twenty acres of Land she my said wife is to have During her
Natural life & after to fall to my six children or their Heirs, and
it is my will further that the Money arising out of the Estate
Both Real & Personal Including the Money which shall be
paid unto my Eldest Children, Shall and is to be Divided
among and between my six children Equaly [sic] share and
share alike only that Excepted which I have above and before
Bequeathed unto my wife Barbara condition as aboe and
before mentioned it is further my will that my Real Estate
shall be sold in Different Payments and out of the Money of
the first payments my eldest Children is to have their part
and portion first and so on as the [sic] came to be twenty-one
years ould, and I Do hereby Appoint & Nominate my trusty
& Beloved Brother John Hoober & my Brother in law Jacob
Hoober to be the Executors of this my Last Will & Testament
Impowering [sic] them or their Survivors to Grant & Execute Good
Deeds or Titles unto the purchaser or purchasers of my Real Estate
and hereby revoking all former Wills Bequeaths and Executors by
me made or apointed [sic] Ratifying & Conforming this and no other
to be my las Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & Seal this Thirteenth Day of March
in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
Eighty eight

Jacob Huber (in german script)

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the Testator as
his last Will and Testament in the presence of us.
John Huber, Christian [Echtenach?], John Hart

Lancaster County[?] On the ninth Day of June Anno Domini 1788 Before
me the subscribers personally appears John Huber, Christian [Echte
nach] and John Hart the three Subscribing witnesses to the above
foregoing instrument of writing and on the Solemn Affirmation
Respectively did declare and Say that they were present and saw
and heared [sic] Jacob Hoober the Testator therein named, Sign, Seal
publish pronounce and declare the said writing as and for [his]
last will and testament and that at the doing thereof he was [of]
sound and well disposing mind memory and understanding
to the best of their Knowledge, Observation and Belief. James Jacks Esq.

Be it Remembered that on the ninth day of June Anno Domini
1788 the last will and testament of Jacob Hoober late of Martick town
ship deceased, was proved in due form of law and letters Testamen
tary thereon were granted to John Hoober and Jacob Hoober
the Executors therein named they having first been duly
Qualified well and truly to Administer the Estate of the said de-
ceased and Especially to Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory
thereof into the Register’s Office at Lancaster within one Month
from this date and to Record a just and true Account
of their Administration on said Estate or where therewith
lawfully required Given under the Seal of said Office

Recorded & Examined by James Jacks Regstr”

Will: Christian Hoover (1771)

Christian Hoover of Heidelberg Township, York County wrote his last will & testament on 15 Feb 1771; it was proven on 21 Mar 1771. His wife Mary was his executor.1

The following is a transcription of his will.

In the Name of God Amen I Christian Hoover of
Heidlebergh [sic] Township in the County of York and Province of Pennsylvania being
Weak of Body but of Sound and Perfect Mind and Memory Blessed be God
and calling to mind the Mortality of the Human Body and that is is Appointed
for all Men once to die Do make and Publish this my last Will and Testament in
Manner and form following (that is to say) Principally and first of all I recommend
my Soul to God who gave it and as for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be
Buried in a Christian like and decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executrix
nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by
the mighty power of God and as touching what Worldly Estate it hath pleased God to
bless me with in this life I give and devise and Bequeath in the following manner and
form I give and Devised unto my beloved Wife Mary all that my Plantation whereon
I now Dwell Situate in York County aforesaid as well as the Lands that I hold in right
of a certain John Digges as the that Granted me by the Honble [sic] the Proprietaries of Pennsylvania
with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging to Hold to her and to
her Heirs and assigns forever subject nevertheless at her decease to the Payment of
three Hundred Pounds Lawful Money of Pennsylvania to be paid by her Heirs or
assigns in three equl [sic] Anual [sic] payments of one Hundred pounds each payment, the first
of which payment to be made in one Year after her decease into the Hands of Johannes Hoover
and Johannes Line in trust for the use of the Surviving Children of my tree Brothers namely
Jacob Hoover Ulrich Hoover and Henry Hoover so that they may have each share and share
alike Also I give unto my beloved wife aforesaid all my Goods and Chattles and Personal Estate
whatsoever that I may die Possess of and do allow her thereout to pay all my Just Debts, and
also the Sum of One hundred Pounds in two Years after my Decease into the Hands above named
Johannes Hoover and Johannes Line in trust for the use of the surviving Children of my
three brothers aforenamed to be divided equally between them share and share alike, and whereas
Johannes Keny son of my Sister Ann is Justly indebted to me in the Sum of Nine Pounds
Ten shillings it is my Will that he pay unto my Executrix the Sum of six Pounds part there
of and unto his Brother Henry Keny the sum of one pound fifteen shillings also part thereof
and the remaining Sum of one pound fifteen shillings I do bestow unto himself.

And I make and Appoint my said wife Mary Whole and Sole Executrix of this my
Last Will and Testament in hopes that she will see the same performed according to my
true Intent and meaning——And lastly I do hereby revoke all former and other Will or
Wills by me at any time heretofore made and Declare this only to be my last Will and
Testament. In Witness whereof I the said Christian Hoover have hereunto set me Hand
and seal this fifteenth Day of February in the Year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred
and seventy one.
Christian [his X mark] Hoover

Signed Sealed Published and Declare
by the said Christian Hoover the Testator
as and for his last Will and Testament
in the Presence of Us who have subscribed
our names as witness thereto in the Presence
and at the request of the said Testator

James Calhoun
Christian Milheim
Casper Krapf

York County SSr. Before me Samuel Johnston Esqr Deputy Register for the Probate of Wills
and Granting Letters of Administration in and for the County of York in the Province of Pennsylvania
Personally appeared James Calhoun and Christian Milheim two of the subscribing witnesses
to the foregoing Instrument of Writing and on their Solemn Oaths respectively Taken according
to law Do respectively say that they were Personally present and saw and Heard the above named
Christian Hoover Sign Seal Publish and Declare the foregoing Instrument of Writing as and
for his last Will and Testament and that at the Time of the Doing thereof the said Christian
Hoover was of sound and Disposing mind and Memory to the Best of these Deponants [sic] knowledge
and Belief and that they subscribed their names as witnesses to the same in the presence of the
said Testator and at his request and that they also saw Casper Krapf sign the same as a
Witness in the Presence of the said Testator and at his request.
Jas. Calhoun
Christian Milheim

Sworn and Subscribed before me
at York the sd Day of May 1771
Saml Johnston Dep Regr

A true copy compared with the Original at York the 23d
Day of March 1771
Saml Johnston Dep Regr

How Many Henry Hoobers in Martic Township?

So, just how many Henry Hoobers were there in the Conestoga (now Pequea)/Martic (now Providence)/Lampter/Strasburg township area of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania? If you’d asked me that question yesterday, I’d have said one. Now today, I’m not so sure…

Hoover land patents in Conestoga/Martic Township area

Diagram I: Hoover land patents in Conestoga/Martic Township area

According to the township warrantee maps, there were 5 tracts either warranted to or patented to Henry Hoober in the area where Martic (now Providence), Lampeter and Leacock (now Strasburg) townships meet. [see B1-5 on diagram] They were:

  • B1: 86 1/2 acres warranted to Henry Hoover 24 Jan 1733, patented to Joseph Bosler 28 Mar 1810, Patent Book H2:272
  • B2: 144 acres warranted to Michael Shank, 27 Sep 1717, surveyed 4 Jun 1718, and patented to Henry Hoober 15 Apr 1740, Patent Book A9:180 (Copied Survey Book D82:15)
  • B3: 106 acres warranted to Michael Shank, 27 Sep 1717, surveyed 4 Jun 1718, and patented to Henry Hoober 15 Apr 1740, Patent Book A10:97 (Copied Survey Book D82:48)
  • B4: 68 acres warranted to Henry Hoober 14 Apr 1740, surveyed 10 Nov 1731, patented 15 Apr 1740, Patent Book A9:178 (Copied Survey Book C76:15)
  • B5: 171 acres warranted to Henry Hoover 13 Nov 1744, surveyed 20 10ber (Dec?) 1744, Patent Book AA1:227 (Copied Survey Book A46:77)

In 1733, Michael Shank sold his rights to 250 acres at the junction of Pequea Creek and Big Beaver Creek to Henry Hoober and Jacob Good [tracts B2 & B3 in the diagram]. Henry Hoober took the northern portion and Jacob Good took the southern portion. Jacob Good’s last will & testament, dated 12 Sep 1739, named Henry Hoover as his son-in-law; his daughter was not named.1 There is also a last will & testament for Henry Huber of Martic Township, dated 7 Aug 1757.2 Jacob Huber, son of Hans Huber and owner of tracts A1-A3, named his “loving friend Henry Hoover” as one of the executors of his estate in his last will & testament, dated 9 Jul 1759.3

In 1758, John and Elizabeth (Hoover) Boyers sold their share of the property they had inherited via Henry Hoober’s last will & testament to John Hoover, the other heir to the property. This tract of land was patented in Patent Book A9:180—tract B2 in the diagrams.4

Martic Township Hoover property

Diagram II: Martic Township Hoover property

In 1767, Henry and Catharine Hoober sold to their son John Hoober two tracts of land in Martic Township.5 The first tract was 88 acres from the tract patented in A10:97 or B3 in the diagram. [see left] The second tract was 171 acres from the tract patented in AA1:227 or B5 in the diagram.

Also in 1767, Henry and Catharine Hoober sold to Jacob Hoober 3 tracts of land in Martic Township totaling 137 acres.6 Mapping it out, Jacob Huber’s property matches the residue of tract B3, B4 and part of B5 from Diagram I or B4 on Diagram II. These deeds, to the best of my knowledge, were not recorded until his executors—possibly his sons—sold the land in 1790.

Based on this information, it becomes apparent that there were two men named Henry Hoober—quite likely father and son—living in the Martic Township area circa 1740 at the time the tracts were patented. The elder Henry (?—1757) had children John, Elizabeth, and quite likely Henry Jr. He may have had more. Henry Jr. [the younger], who married a daughter of Jacob Good—quite possibly Catherine as seen in the deeds, had a son John and and possibly another named Jacob to whom he deeded land in 1767.

Henry Jr. may have also had a son-in-law named George Feite. His name appears in the metes and bounds for one of the tracts sold to John Hoober on the boundary for tract B5 (B8 on the diagram). Additionally, the name Ulrich Hoober appears as a neighbor (to the south) in the metes and bounds for tracts B4 and B5 sold to Jacob and John Hoober, respectively. He may have been another relative of Henry Jr.

Tract B6 and B7 also belonged to Hoovers. Tract B6 was warranted to Martin Huber 6 Apr 1803 and patented to him on 13 Nov 1811. Tract B7 was warranted to Jacob Huber 14 Mar 1796 and patented to him on 12 Apr 1803. These two men could have been grandsons of Henry Hoober Jr. or Jacob Huber. If at least part of B7 belonged to Ulrich Hoober at one point, he must not have patented it.

As always if you have additional information or questions on any of the people in this post, please contact me or leave a comment.

From Deed to Land Warrant and Back Again

For some reason I got stuck on John Hoover today when I was deciding where to start on my Huber/Hoover work. Which John Hoover, you ask? I was hoping to find information on John Hoover (Huber), son of Hans Ulrich (Woolerick) Huber of Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

I don’t have much information on him. I believe he may have been born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania circa 1726. He purchased land from his father’s estate from his siblings—Jacob Hover and Barbara his wife, Henry Shank and Anna his wife, Jacob Boyer and Maria his wife, Elizabeth Hover, Ulrick Hover and Henry Hover all of Pennsylvania—in 1759.1 I had seen the possibility that this John Hoover was also the John Hoover of Necessity, Maryland alluded to on a message board and wanted to see if I could find evidence in the data I’ve acquired.2

So, I was looking at deeds and land patents for John Hoover for leads. John Hoover of Necessity was in Maryland by 1769 when he received a deed for “Harry’s Grove” from the David Watson estate at the request of Michael Miller, to whom it had been sold but who had not received a deed. 3 If John Hoover of Necessity was the son of Ulrich Hoover of Conestoga Township, then he would have had to have sold his Lancaster property at or before 1769.

John Hoover 1744 Martic Township land patent

John Hoover 1744 Martic Twp land patent

I did not find any deeds for John Hoover selling land in Conestoga (now Pequea) Township. I found a deed for John Hoover purchasing land in Conestoga Township. On 28 May 1754, John Hoover purchased 110 acres on Pequea Creek from Jacob Eshleman and Pebela his wife.4 There were several land patents for John Hoover in the same general area—one for 105 acres adjoining Ulrich Hoover’s tract in Martic (now Providence) and Conestoga Townships and another for 25 acres in Conestoga Township.

Figuring the land adjoining Ulrich’s was the best bet, I followed up on that first. This tract—although patented to John Hoober—had first been the land of Jacob and Barbara (___) Hoober from Martin Kendig. 5,6 It was sold by John’s heirs—Jacob Hoover and Margaret his wife, John Hoover, Henry Hoover and Mary his wife, Christian Hoover, Peter Hoover, Anna Brenneman, Frena Hoover, and Barbara Hoover all of Lancaster County—to their brother Abraham Hoover in 1785.7 So, this may not be the John Hoover I’m looking for.

John Hoover 1752 Conestoga Township land patent

John Hoover 1752 Conestoga twp land patent

Next I looked at the land patent for the 25 acres in Conestoga Township patented to John Hoover in 1752.8 Looking at the survey, I was confused. I saw no reference to it being for John Hoover. This tract was apparently patented to Michael Hess in 1744. Had I made a mistake? I double checked the index and looked the survey up again on the internet. No, that was the correct file.

I spent some time pouring over the Township Warrantee maps, but couldn’t find matching land for John Hoover, Jacob Good or Jacob Rubely. I found Michael Hess, but it wasn’t matching up.

So, I looked up the survey for the adjoining land of Jacob Good. 9 It made no reference to Jacob Good, but instead showed the land as patented to Thomas Lindley. Now I was still confused, however the name Lindley rang a bell.

Jacob Eshleman Conestoga Township tract

Jacob Eshleman Conestoga Twp tract

The land John Hoover purchased from Jacob Eshleman bordered on land of Thomas Lindley. Figuring that John Hoover’s property bordered on this land, I compared the description of the tract borders from the deed to the survey to see where they met. To my surprise, they matched! And moreover, not only was this Lindley tract the same property patented Jacob Eshlemen in 1744 and sold to John Hoover in 1754, but it also abutted the property allegedly patented to John Hoover in 1752.

Now I knew that I had the correct pieces of property. So, I printed off the surveys for both tracts. Each survey comes with two pages, the survey drawing and information and the reverse page that usually gives the date, location and patentee name. Looking at the reverse pages of these two surveys, I saw that they clearly stated that the patent surveys were for “John Hoover in Right of Michael Hess” and “for the use of Jacob Ashleman.” The moral here: examine the whole document before freaking out!

So, I still don’t know if Ulrich’s son John Hoover is the John Hoover of Necessity—that will take much more work. I don’t even know if these documents belong to John2 Hoover (Ulrich1). However, I have, I believe, tied these three documents—the two patents and the deed—together. It is highly likely that John Hoover of Conestoga Township, having patented 25 acres in the township in 1752, purchased the adjoining land from Jacob Eshleman in 1754.

Now I need to find out what happened to this property. Did he sell it or was it passed down to one of his children?

If you have any information on these families, please I’d love to see it!

Huber/Hoover Map of Lancaster County, PA

I’m in the middle project on the Huber/Hoover family, specifically looking at Lancaster County and Fayette County, Pennsylvania and Washington County, Maryland—with the likelihood of branching out to additional areas like Somerset County, Bedford County, Franklin County, Dauphin County… A big undertaking!

I’ve started by looking at deeds and land warrants for Lancaster County. Being a visual person, I wanted some way of seeing spatial relationship between the locations from these records. I tried combining data from the warrantee township maps, but decided to try a simpler approach.

I put together a map of the original townships of Lancaster County that were within its current boundaries. Lancaster originally included much more land, including parts of Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks, Cumberland, York, Adams and Franklin counties. For my purposes I wanted to focus on a smaller area. On this map I plotted the approximate locations of Huber/Hoover tracts from the land warrants prior to 1800.

Lancaster County Huber/Hoover land warrant tracts

I can’t guarantee that I’ve got everyone correct. John Jacob and Jacob Huber in Conestoga (now Pequea) could have been the same man. The two tracts adjoin. Since the patents were for John Jacob Huber (from Martin Kendig, 1736) and Jacob Huber (from John Smith, 1759), I indicated them separately.

Also, I haven’t determined if all the tracts in Warwick and Manheim Townships were to the same Jacob Huber. Jacob Huber (ca 1708-1767), the founder and ironmaster of Elizabeth Furnace, did own substantial amounts of property. So, it is likely the same man.

I must caution that proximity does NOT necessarily always indicate a relationship. According to Harry Hoover’s book on the descendants of Hans Hoober of Earl Township, Hans’ son Jacob owned property in Martic Township—he was likely the John Jacob Huber—quite a ways away from his father’s land. Hans and Martin of Earl Township are, however, grandfather and grandson.