DO SOME RESEARCH
The following are tasks that your webmaster has on his list. Can you help?
The biggest mystery in the Hoots family genealogy is the identity of Jacob Hoots' wife, Margaret. We know her first name because it is mentioned in Jacob's will. Margaret was about 53 years of age when Jacob died, and lived in Surry (now Yadkin) County, North Carolina. Per the book "Descendants of Jacob Hoots," their son Anthony "...was close to his father and mother and built a house near them so that he could help them in their declining years." Anthony and his family moved to St. Clair County, Illinois, about 1825 and it is probable that they moved after Margaret died. When she died, her 100 acres of land went to her son Daniel. If we can find the paper work on the land transfer to Daniel, we may gain some knowledge of Margaret.
During my research, I have come across reference to the "Claude Hoots family Bible," that may contain key information about Jacob Hoots. I think the reference refers to Claude Charles Hoots, born 20 May 1887 in Clinton, Henry County, Missouri, died 11 April 1963. He married Bertha Wiser (1891-1915). I'm sure that someone has the Bible but have been unable to track it down.
On page 23, Volume II, New World Immigrants, by Michael Tepper, it is noted that on 12 and 30 May, and 9 June, 1778, the following advertisement for missing heirs was published in the German newspaper, Oberpostants Zeitung (OPZ): "Jacob and Elisabeth Huth, of Engelstadt, District of Bingen, left there about 30 years ago and, according to common report, went to Pennsylvania. Advertisement of government 13 March 1778." The writer thinks the advertisement concerned settlement of a family estate and that the person who composed the piece was not aware that Johann Jacob's daughter Elisabeth had died. In Tepper's book, following the text of the advertisement is an entry "JACOB HUTH, aged 29, Loyal Judith 2 Aug 1743." The writer believes that this may be a handwritten entry that was made by a newspaper worker who was later informed of Johan Jacob's emigration. I have been unable to find out where the Oberpostants Zeitung (OPZ) paper was published although it may have been in Mainz, the nearest big city to Engelstadt. If the newspaper files can be located, I would like to get a copy of the entry and the handwritten (?) addition.
In 1975, Mr. Adrian Elarth Allen of Jerome, Idaho, submitted to the Church of the Latter Day Saints "Family sheet information on the Jacob Hoots family, obtained from Surry Co, NC and other records: Jacob Hoots, b. about 1745....wife, Mrs. Margaret Hoots, b. about 1748." Your Webmaster obtained copies of Mr. Allen's "Family Record" submissions to the Church but they did not contain documented proof of the birth years shown for Jacob and Margaret. As far as I know, the Surry County records do not have documentation of those birth years. Does anyone have any information on Mr. Allen (now deceased) and where he may have obtained the information?
Your Webmaster
Rodney Nelson Hoots, Webmaster
The Standard Family History || An Alternate Family History,
Standard Family Tree || Alternate Family Tree || Rootsweb Family Tree (under construction)