VALENTINE HUFF of Maryland, North Carolina and Georgia

Valentine Huff was born ca 1724, possibly in Pennsylvania. He appears to have migrated from Rotterdam to Philadelphia in 1744. Berks County was taken from Philadelphia County in 1752.

It appears that Valentine Huff married Mary Kerst, a daughter of John Kerst, alias John Kerson, of Berks County, Pennsylvania, as evidenced by the following deed:

THIS INDENTURE made the 24th day of April, 1767 between Henry KERST of the township of Oley in the county of Berks in the province of Pennsylvania, yeoman, and Appolonia, his wife, George KERST of Union in the said county, yeoman, and Elizabeth his wife, and Valentine HUFF, late of the township of MaidenCreek in the said county, wheelwright, and Mary his wife on the one part and Christian MERCKEL of the town of Reading in the county aforesaid, blacksmith, of the other part; WHEREAS, by a proprietary warrant under the seal of the said province bearing date the 15th day of March 1736, there was surveyed unto John KERST (alias John KERSON) [the father of the said Henry, George and Mary] a certain tract of land situate (formerly in Oley in the county of Philadelphia, but now] partly in the township of Exeter and partly in the Township of Alsace in the county of Berks aforesaid Beginning at a marked black oak sapling and from thence extending by adjacent land southeast one hundred and sixty perches to a stone thence by vacant land southwest one hundred and sixty perches to a part thence by Caspar Fulweiler's land and vacant land respectively northwest one hundred and sixty perches to a stone thence by vacant land northeast one hundred and six perches to the place of beginning containing of one hundred acres and an allowance of six acres for road and highway, and whereas the said John KERST dying seized of a real and some personal estate and after having in and by his last will and testament given and devised unto his sons Henry and Gaorge KERSON a certain other part of his said real estate on their coming of age, he the said testator did give and devise unto his son Francis KERSTON, his heirs and assigns, the said hereinbefore described tract of land by the description and in the words following (viz.) "All my land lying on the Great Creek containing one hundred and forty acres with the appurtenances thereunto belonging (the said remainng forty acres being part of another tract which the said testator purchased from Isaac LEVAN) BUT with and subject to the Proviso that if one or more of his said children should dye before they arrive in their several ages as foresaid then such their shares or portions therein alotted them should be equally divided amongst the surviving children and thereby giveth Rosina, his wife, one third part of all his estate as by the Laws of England for her Dowry and also the share of his good chattels lands until such time as his children should arrive to their several ages as aforesaid in order to enable her to bring up and educate them_ And of his said will nominates and appoints the said Rosina sole executorm as in and by the said will duly proved and remaining in the Register General's Office for the said province, relation being herewith stated and more fully and doth at large appear. AND WHEREAS the proprietory of the said province by their patent bearing date of the 20th day of November 1743 entered in the Office for recording of Deeds for the City and County of Philadelphia in patent Book A vol 12, page 325 granted the said one hundred acre tract above described unto the said Rosina KERSEN her heirs and assigns IN TRUST nevertheless to and for the several uses interests and purposes to whom the same is given devised and limited in and by the said in part recited Will and to and for no other use intent or purpose whatsoever subject to the yearly quitrent of one-half penny sterling per acre forever. AND WHEREAS the said Rosina KERST alias KERSON by deed note under her hand and seal, bearing the date the tenth of May 1762, recorded in the Office for recording of Deeds at Reading in and for the county of Berks in Book A, Vol 3, page 1,2,and 3, did for the consideration therein mentioned, remain release and forever quit claim unto the said Frances KERST (alias KERSON) and to his heirs assigns, all and all manner of Dower and right and Title of Dower whatsoever which she then had might or of right might to have of in and to the said one hundred acres of land above described and the said forty acres part of another tract which the said testator John KERST purchased of Isaac LEVAN or of in or to any part or parcel of the said premises AND WHEREAS the said Francis KERST being so seized of the said one hundred acre tract and allowance as in his said estate aforesaid made his last will and testament in writing under his hand and seal bearing the date the tewnty-third day of January 1765, wherein and whereby he did give and devise the same to his said brothers Henry and George and unto his two sisters, the said Mary wife of Valentine HUFF above named and Juliana, the wife of the said Christian MERKFEL, as tenants in common at in and by the said testament and last will duly proved and remaining in the Register of Wills in Reading in and for the county of Berks aforesaid relation being known and at large appears. AND SHORTLY after the publication of the said laest recited testament and last will, the said Francis KESWT dyed as seized of the premises as in his estate aforesaidOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that the said Henry KERS and APpolonia his wife, George KERST and ELizabeth his wife and Valentine HUFF and MAry his wife for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania to them in hand paid by the said Christian MERCKEL at and before the ensealing and delivery thereof, the recipt whereof they do hereby acknowledge and thereof do acquit and forever discharge the said Christian MERCKEL, his executors, administrators and asigns by these present HERE and each of them HATH granted bargained sold aslened released quit-claimed and confirme unto the said Christian MERCKEL and to his heirs and assigns all and every the shares, purports, dividends of the said Henry KERST and Appolonia his wife, George KERST and Elizabeth his wife, Valentine HUFF and Mary his wife of and in the said one hundred acres of land and allowance described as the same as or ought to be bounded and limited (the whole into four equal parts and shares to be divided) and of and in all and singular the houses, outhouses, buildings, barns, stables, gardens, orchards, meadows, pastures, fields, fences, woods, ways, waterways, rights liberties privileges hereditaments and appurtenances which forever thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining. And the reversions and remainders, rents, income and profits thereof AND also all the estate right title interest property claim and demand whatsoever of them the said HEnry KET and Appolonia his wife, George KERST and Elizabeth his wife, Valentine HUFF and Mary his wife of in and out of the same and every part TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said shares purpartsw and dividends of the said grantors of and in the said one hundred ares of land above described and allowance aforesaid as the same is or might to be bounded and limited with all and singular the hereditaments and premises hereby granted and released or mentioned or intended to be with the appurtenances unto the said Christian MERCKEL his heirs and assigns to the only proper use and behoof of the said Christian MERCKEL his heirs and assigns forever SUBJECT always nevertheless to the yearly quit-rent and now due and hereafter to become due and oayable for the same to the Chief Lord or Lords of the fee thereof AND the said Henry Kerst and George KERST for them and their heirs executors and administrators do covenant promise and grant to and unto the said Christian MERCKEL his heirs executors administrators and assigns by their presents that they the said Henry KERST and George KERST or their heirs respectively shall and will at any time or times hereafter make do and execute such further and other deed or deed devices or conveyances whatsoever in the law for the better assurance and confirmation of their respective shares and purparts hereby granted and released to the said Christian MERCKEL his heirs and assigns forever as by him or them or his or their consel learned in the law shall be reasonably advised devised and requested. AND the said Valentine HUFF doth covenant for himself, his heirs executors and administrators and for the said Mary, his wife, to and with the said Christian MERCKEL his heirs executors administrators and assigns by these presen that he or they shall and will at any time or times hereafter make and execute any deeds ot writing for hte further assurance and conveyance of his, her and their estate in the lands and premises avobe granted unto the said Christian MERCKEL, his heirs and assigns forever, as by him or them or by his or their counsel learned in the law shall be resonably advised devised and required IN WITNESS, whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto interchangeably set their hand and seals dated the day and year first written above:

Henry KERST (seal)
Abolonia KERST (seal)
George KERST (seal)
Elisabeth (X - her mark) KERST (seal)
Valentine HUFF (seal)
Maria HUFF (seal)

Sealed and delivered the words 'hundred acres tract and allowance' between the 24th and 25 lines from the top being first interlined and the latter half of the 35th line and the first quarter part of the 111 line from the top being first erased] in the presence of us by Henry Kerst and Appolonia his wife and George KERST and Elisabeth his wife parties to the above written indenture. Jam Diemer, J Price...sealed and delivered by the said Valentine Huff and Mary his wife in the presence of us Christ. Witman and William Reeser. Received the day of the date of the above written indenture of the above named Christian MERCKEL, the sum of three hundred pounds lawful money of Pennsylvania, it being the consideration money above mentioned, in full. We say received: Henry KERST, George KERST and Valentine HUFF; WITNESSITH present at the signing of VAlentine HUFF -> Christ Witman and William Reeser, Berks Co.

Be it remembered that onthe twenty third day of JAnuary in the year of our Lord 1768, before me James Diemer, Esq., one of the majesty Justices of the Peace of the County of Berks came the above Henry Kerst and Appolonia, hs wife and Gaorge Kerst and Elisabeth, his wife, and acfknowledged the above written indenture to be their act and deed and desired the same might be recorded as such according to law. They the said Appolonia and Elisabeth, being full age, severally and apart from their said husbandsm by me examinedm the contents thereof being rfirst made known unto them, voluntarily consenting.

WITNESS my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid -> Ja. Diemer, esq Berks Co

BE IT REMEMBERED that on the fourth day of June, 1770, before me, James Diemer, Esq, one of His Majesty's Justices of Peace of the County of Berks came the within named Valentine HUFF and Mary his wife and acknowledged the within written indenture to be their act and deed and desired the same might be recorded as such according to law. She the said Mary, being of full age secretly and apart examined, and the contents thereof first made known unto her, voluntarily consenting. WITNESS my hand and seal the day and year abovesaid. Ja. Diemer, esq. Accorded and this recorded and the original satisfactorily compared and found to agree this day June 22, 1771. Ja. Diemer (seal)

In the name of God amen, I, John Kerson of Oley in the County of Philadelphia in Province of Pennsylvania, miller, being sick and weak of body, but of sound mind and memory, thanks be given unto God for same and calling to mind to uncertainty of this life. Do make this my will and testament in manner and form following: hereby annulling and making void all other and former wills by me made either in work or writing and this and no other, is and shall be taken for my last will and testament. Inprimis, my will and desire is that all my debts be honestly paid by my executor, herein named.

Item: I give unto my son Henry Kerson my mill, lands and plantation on which one which has millhouse to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever imposing these conditions following: viz: That when he shall at arrive at the age of twenty one years, if he so then living, that he and his brother George Kerson make choice of two men each, to value the said mill and land, and lastly the said Henry pay unto George one half, part of said value with this further proviso: that when the said mill and land adjacent shall be divided as aforesaid that then the said Henry and George pay unto their sisters Margaret* the sum of fifty pounds cash money of Pennsylvania and other fifty pounds at age 18 to my other dau Juliana at age of eighteen years.

Item: I give unto my son Francis Kerson, his heirs and assigns all my land lying on Great Creek containing 140 acres with appurtenances thereunto belonging. But with this proviso, that if any one or more of my said children should die before thay arrive to their several ages as aforesaid, then such their shares or portions here alotted them shall be equally divided amongst the surviving children.

Item: I give unto my beloved wife Rosina the one third part of all my estate as is by the Laws of England allowed a woman for her dowry. And also a wife of my goods and chattels, lands, etc until such time as my children shall arrive to their ages as aforesaid in order to enable her to raise them up and educate them. But if after my wife hath taken her 1/3 and my debts are paid, if any remains of my moveables, goods and chattels not before disposed of, then such money shall be put at interest and be equally divided among my children at their ages as before mentioned and so hereby nominate and appoint my wife Rosina, my whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament and request my friends and neighbors Peter Ballio and Abraham Levan[t] to be my trustees to see my will duely performed.

Signed, sealed, published and pronounced and declared by John Kerson to be his last will and testanent in presence of George Boone, George Deter Holt and the mark of (X his mark) Diterd Lansiscus, Jun 18, 1739. Oct 18 1739 then personally appeared Diter Lansiscus, one of the witnesses to the foregoing will and upon his oath did declare he saw and heard John Kerson the testator therein named, sign seal publish and declare the same will to be his last will and testament and that at the doing, he was of sound mind memory and understanding to the best of his knowledge and that he saw the other witnesses George Boone and George Deter Halt subscribe their names and witnesses to the same will in the presence of the testator. Will was filed 6/20/1739.

Widow Eva Rosina KERST died shortly before 1/24/1783, as papers filed in Berks Co Wills Office, show that Henry GERST/Kerst of Oley, eldest son of Eva Rosina GERST, widow, was granted Letters of Adminstration on 1/24/1783 for his mother's estate. Inventory and appraisal of her personal effects was made by Daniel Guldin and George Focht on 2/4/1783. Accounting was made to the Berks Co. Orphan's Court on 3/30/1784 by son Henry.

In 10/1784, Juliana MERCKEL, daughter of Eva Rosina, protested the accounting by Henry and requested an audit. Auditors found a 50 pound error and on 1/31/1785, after ordered to redistribute balance to heirs, share and share alike, the file was closed.

* It is noted that daughter Margaret was probably Mary Margaret who married Valentine Huff. Prothonotary files indicate Mary, and husband Valentine Huff, Christian MERCKEL and wife Juliana KERST, George, Henry and Francis Kerst were summoned to appear in a land dispute with Anthony Jaeger(Hunter) in 1765. Franz KERST had requested a trial by jury in his will over some inheritance and land

Valentine Huff was later found in 1771, Prince George County, Maryland.

Prince George County, Maryland, Deeds, Book AA#2, p. 357

28 October 1771, Jacob Funk to Valentine Hoff, two lots of land in Hamburgh.

He appears to have lived in Frederick County, Maryland where he was a cartwright until about 1776 when he removed to Rowan County, North Carolina. I have found that typically, Germans migrated from Pennsylvania, thence crossing over the Shenandoah, into Frederick County, Maryland, some going to Rowan County, North Carolina. Apparently, they found German settlements in these areas, where the language was spoken.

Rowan County, North Carolina, Deed Book 19, p. 898-900

320 acres of land purchased by Valentine Huff. Transactions in the Records Office, Salisbury, Morth Carolina, name his sons and the names of his daughter's husbands. A power of attorney was given by Henry Huff to his brothers-in-law in Rowan County, North Carolina, to sell his father's (Valentine Huff) land (Deed Book 18, pp. 675, Rowan Co.)

Issue:

I. Henry Huff, born ca 1765, removed to Georgia. Although he was not listed on the 1820 Georgia Census, he was first found on the 1794 and 1796 Hancock County Tax Digest. Henry is listed on the 1830 Georgia Census as a resident of Clarke County. He apparently first moved to Clarke County in 1797, because because he purchased 113 acres in Jackson County on Rose Creek (now Clarke County) on 6 August 1797. This tract of land must be that which now includes the Huff cemetery, which is located 4 miles south of Watkinsville. A marker is erected, as follows:

"In Memory of Henry Huff ca 1765-ca 1842. He settled on Rose Creek in 1797 and lived there the rest of his life. He is the ancestor of most of the Huffs and many others buried in this cemetery."

The LWT of Henry Huff is dated 17 March 1841, Clarke County, probated November Term of 1843. He named his children, viz: John, Littleberry, Valentine, Wiley, Leroy, Green, Mary, Elizabeth Leona, Lydia and Sarah.

Issue:

A. John Huff.
B. Littleberry Huff listed on 1830 Clarke Co., and 1850 Gordon County, Ga. Census.
C. Valentine Huff.
D. Wiley Huff.
E. Leroy Huff listed on 1850 Clarke Co., Ga. Census.
F. Green Huff, listed 1820-1830 Hancock Co., Ga. and 1850 Talbot Co., Ga. Census. He married Martha Lockhard on 12 February 1818 in Hancock Co., Ga.
G. Mary Huff.
H. Elizabeth Huff.
I. Leona Huff.
J. Lydia Huff.
K. Sarah Huff.

II. Valentine Huff, Jr. married (1) Jemimah Hughes, and (2) Rebecca Jackson.

III. Frederick Huff.

IV. Esther Huff married Jacob Roland.

V. Elizabeth Huff married John Sain.

VI. Eve Rosannah Huff married Charles Hunter.

VII. Daughter who married George Tanner.