Early Virginia Huffakers
James E. Huffaker
1117 Radcliffe Avenue
Kingsport, Tennessee
37664 2025
Dixie Rosier
2644 Toni Lee Street
West Jordan, Utah
84088 8518
The Huffaker – Halfacre Confusion in Washington County, VA
In 1904 Reverend R. N. Price wrote “Holston Methodism, from its Origins to the Present Time” which is rich in its use of Bishop Asbury’s Journal notes. Bishop Asbury when he rode circuit in the Holston country in late 1700s recorded where he had been, when and whom he had seen in his visits. When in Washington County on more that one occasion he wrote Huffaker and Halfacre. Reverend Price noted this slip on page 113 as a ”not so unusual blunder” in spelling. This “blunder” is one of several that Reverend Price complained about relative to Bishop Asbury’s carelessness with details and he explained that Bishop Asbury wrote from memory sometimes days after the event. We know now that Huffakers and Halfacres were two families living there then and the blunder is Reverend Price’s for being unaware of that fact. Bishop Asbury may have visited either or both and in any case might not have “blundered”, although it would certainly be understandable if he got the two families confused.
Reverend Price’s position that Halfacre was Huffaker by a careless spelling error was accepted by Hugh Dayton Huffaker a family historian who published the “History and Genealogy of Michael Huffaker and his Descendants in America”.
There is no doubt Hugh Dayton Huffaker had access to Reverend Price’s Holston Methodism for he quoted whole paragraphs at length. Hugh Dayton Huffaker does not mention Halfacre in his history, but then the author was narrowly directed by his title and the Halfacres, whoever they were, were not Michael Huffaker’s descendants. It is worth noting, however, that Dr. Robert Olin Huffaker embedded the clue to the Halfacres in the Foreword. R.O. Huffaker was a distant cousin to Hugh Dayton Huffaker. “We know that this Michael (here he is speaking of the immigrant) had three sons, John, Henry and Michael, and the one bearing the family name married Catherine Kitsby, who was born in Germany in 1736”. It is unfortunate that we do not find out “how we know” about Michael’s brothers, nor about Catherine’s family name or birthplace. Of those assertions only Catherine’s family name, birth date and place persist in dozens of family genealogies.
Mrs. Ione Nolan, another family historian, published “THE HUFFAKER FAMILY, a Collection of Genealogical Records on Descendants of Michael and Catherine Huffaker, and allied families”. The organization of her book is like Hugh Dayton Huffaker's book in that after introductory material, the Chapters are details around each of Michael’s offspring in birth order. In the introduction Mrs. Nolan writes regards spelling of the family name “These forms have been observed: (There may be others.)” After which she lists 20 variations of spelling attributable to difficulty of reading and writing proper German names. Halfacre and Huffaker make the list and contribute continuity that those in Washington County were the same family with alternate spelling. In fact Mrs. Nolan cites an example where Michael Huffaker is referred to as Michael Halfacre in the same document. In Mrs. Nolan’s Chapter on Jacob Huffaker (page 252) are paragraphs illustrative of the extent of confusion as she seems determined to explain relationships within the basic premise that Huffaker and Halfacre is the same family. She does note emphatically that “ . . . there were at least two other Jacob Halfacres (Huffakers) and possibly more, in Washington County, Virginia at the same time who were not related to Jacob Huffaker Sr. . . . ” Mrs. Nolan does not let us know how she concludes emphatically these other two Jacobs are unrelated to Jacob Huffaker Sr., especially in light of “allied families” being included in the book’s title.
Gordon Aronhime was a Washington County historian and wrote many interesting articles on the history of the region. He kept data on 4 by 6 cards that have been photomicrographed and cataloged by the Washington County Historical Society. On perhaps a dozen cards, he had notes about the Huffaker – Halfacre families but just notations, no analysis. When he ran into the three Jacobs that coexisted then, he simply noted them Jacob I, Jacob II and Jacob III and substantiated Mrs. Nolan’s count, but he did not sort them into family relationships either.
Finally as background, Ellis DeBusk wrote: “History of Mahanaim United Methodist Church” the publisher is not given nor is the date of publication but in the Foreword Mr. DeBusk states he began the history in 1934 and finished it in 1975. This is the Church that was the beneficiary of Michael and Catherine’s generosity. On his page 1 Mr. DeBusk asserts “Michael Huffaker was the youngest of three sons…” He doesn’t name the brothers but the father is named as the immigrant of 1732.
Robert Olin and Hugh Dayton Huffaker were about a generation older that Mr. DeBusk and they lived quite a distance from Saltville. It just doesn’t seem likely these two Huffaker cousins would have been talking serious history with an adolescent and driving that long distance to do it on poor roads that were the standard then. What seems as likely is that Mr. DeBusk had separate knowledge of Michael’s brothers and was closer to the source, unfortunately he doesn’t let us know the source for his assertion. However, whether DeBusk and the Huffaker cousins were aware of each other does not effect the argument or the outcome.
Toward a Resolution
Perhaps the solution is already apparent, that there was a family of Huffakers and another family of Halfacres. The heads of the families were brothers. This assertion has never before been made and in fact Mrs. Nolan dismissed previous assertions of brothers on lack of “proof” but data will be presented here in evidence.
It will help if we change nomenclature for one Jacob to be the son of Michael. Another Jacob to be Jacob Sr. and his son Jacob Jr. to be the last Jacob. Jacob Sr. was Michael’s brother. This nomenclature is just as artificial as Mrs. Nolan or Gordon Aronhime’s notations because the Courthouse records do not distinguish the Jacobs by any notation. It will become apparent why it is logical to make these family divisions.
Without detailing Michael’s migration to Washington County, VA in 1768 (the history of which is well recorded), he was one of the firsts if not the first permanent settler in the area, according to Aronhime. He brought children with him from Pennsylvania and raised about as many more born in Virginia and he was the only Huffaker or Halfacre in the County until 1782.
In 1782 the first of a Halfacre family member appears in Washington County Surveyors Records 1781 – 1797, when John Murdach(Murdoch) had 300 acres surveyed and recorded. As will be seen later John Murdoch was son-in-law to Jacob Halfacre Sr. When Personal Property Taxes were collected in 1782 John Murdoch is listed along with Michael and George Halfaire (sic). In Jun 3, 1782 Jacob Halfacre Sr. had 35 acres surveyed and recorded. Since migrant families usually traveled together, it is likely Jacob Halfacre Sr. and John Murdoch traveled together and with other family members. Perhaps Jacob Sr. lived temporarily with brother Michael after arrival and that accounts for his missing the Personal Property Tax that year.
The Halfacre children who were not married in Washington County, VA were:
Catherine Halfacre who married Daniel Troxell
Elizabeth Halfacre who married John Murdoch.
The coincidence of time and place and argues for the Murdoch and Troxell marriages to have occurred perhaps in northern Virginia or around Frederick, Maryland and prior to 1782, but no records have been found. The coincidence of the names, Jacob, Catherine and Elizabeth occur in 1770 in Frederick County, MD associated with the surname Hubacher at the baptism of their daughter Cath Elizabeth (b Aug 25, 1770) baptized 1773 in Reformed Church of Hagerstown. Another coincidence is that a Troxell family was also associated with that Church and at that time. It is possible that Jacob Hubacher is the same as Jacob Halfacre (Sr.) and also that this Jacob Hubacher is the immigrant aboard the Ship Sally who arrived on Oct 29, 1770 with wife Elizabeth and son Joh Jacob Hubacher. If this is the same family, then Cath Elizabeth baptized in 1773 was born aboard ship. These coincidences of names, places and dates are tempting (despite some anomalies) but hard data is still being sought for where Jacob Halfacre Sr. lived prior to his appearance in Washington Co., VA in 1782.
Jacob Halfacre Jr. and brothers Frederick and Henry were all married in Washington Co., VA and their marriages are recorded in the Washington County Marriage Register. Jacob Halfacre’s marriage to Elizabeth Riche occurred in very close proximity to Michael’s Greenfield, but probably in a Church that preceded and was replaced by Mahanaim after 1800. Frederick and Eleanor Calliham were married in a Presbyterian Church in what seems today to be in the town of Glade Springs and if so it is now in an abandoned state of disrepair. Henry Halfacre and Mollie were married in where would now be just over the County line into Smyth Co., VA. The exact placement for this Church has not been located, but Bishop Asbury remarked on the progress the area had made as measured by the presence three churches within walking distance.
The Susanna and Elizabeth Halfacre marriages are recorded in Washington Co., VA as well as Rebecca Huffaker’s marriage. Rebecca was Michael Huffaker’s granddaughter and Susanna and Elizabeth were Jacob Halfacre Sr.’s granddaughters. Rebecca’s father was George Huffaker and Susanna and Elizabeth’s father was Jacob Halfacre Jr. These relationships set three generations of Huffakers/Halfacres contemporaneous in Washington County, VA.
The 1810 Census for Washington County, VA is best interpreted in light of above marriage data and with respect to data in Deed Book 10 pages 29 – 30. The Deed (1829) reference 21, divides 162 acres into equal shares as follows: Daniel Troxell, Henry Halfacre and wife Polly (sic), Frederick Halfacre and Nelly (wife), John Murdoch and wife Elizabeth, Sampson Halfacre, and Jacob Halfacre Jr. All the principal beneficiaries are siblings whose father was Jacob Halfacre Sr. except Sampson who was a grandson. Susanna and Elizabeth were already married and might account for the distribution, but the distribution appears to have been a settlement of Jacob Halfacre’s (Sr.) estate.
The 1810 Census found in print is, of course, a transcription and is reproduced in reference 16 with spelling errors intact. Below the record is the author’s transcription, interpretation and distribution. The distribution best satisfies marriage data and the land distribution data.
Henry Halfacre who married Mollie Barrack was also known as John on at least one occasion, see reference 14, Deed Book 4. This leads to the speculation that his full Germanic birth name was Johann(es) Henrich “Halfacre” and he was named for Johann(es) Henrich Hoffecker an Uncle who resided in Pennsylvania and if true the relationship satisfies R. O. Huffaker and Ellis DeBusk claims that Michael had two brothers. There is nothing but circumstantial evidence for support and additional research is indicated.
It needs settling that the Henry Halfacre who married Molly Barrack is Jacob Halfacre Sr.’s son, not Michael Huffaker’s son. Michael’s son Henry never married, he lived with Michael at the 1810 Census. He died at his friend John Logan’s house and left his estate to John Logan and nephew Jacob Smith, amongst others, but no wife or children are mentioned in his Will.
The family’s dispersion from Washington Co., Va started with George Huffaker and brothers Michael and Justus and soon after the Revolutionary War ended and before Tennessee became a state separate from North Carolina. It is likely that George saw choice land along the French Broad River during his service and laid claim to it. North Carolina resurveyed the lands claimed by George and brother Michael, but apparently Justus and Michael went on to Wayne County, KY. It is speculative why George’s daughter Rebecca does not appear to have joined her family in Knox County, but she married Henry Hays in 1805. Also mysterious is why Rebecca appears in her grandfather’s household for the 1810 Census. Perhaps she was taking care of Michael or her Uncle Henry and husband Henry was temporarily elsewhere.
George’s brothers John, Christopher, Isaac, and Jacob migrated to Kentucky around 1797.
Jacob Huffaker appears in the Knox County, Tennessee Marriage Records as follows:
Huffaker, (Halfacre), Jacob to Peggy Bodkin: W: Feb 4, 1797
Obviously Jacob was in Knox County, TN at least briefly. Tennessee became a state separate from North Carolina in 1796.
George’s brother Peter went to Claiborne County, TN and his sisters Mary, Sarah and Ann married in Washington Co., VA but Sarah likely lived in Smyth County after it was formed in 1832. Sarah married George Smith of the Smith/Smyth family and her son Jacob was the beneficiary of his Uncle Henry’s Will and his ancestors and successors were important benefactors to Emory and Henry College. When Henry Huffaker died in 1837 the records with “Huffaker” were concluded with Henry’s Will. Records with “Halfacre” in Washington County ended in 1832 when Smyth County was formed. There may be more Halfacre records to be found in Smyth County. In those early years of 1800 the way to wealth was unchanged. A person sold land he owned at high price, moved on and bought more land in a more remote area and this strategy was repeated until old age required a permanent location. The first stopping points after Washington County, VA were Knox County, TN and Wayne County, KY.
Future research into early Huffaker/Halfacre families will concentrate on identifying the principals prior to 1782, but this Washington County, VA effort is illustrative of the difficulties. When changes in spelling occur for whim or reason, it takes a lot of data to sort relations.
Early Virginia Huffaker/Halfacre Families
Huffaker Birth Location (if known) Wedding
Michael Huffaker m Catherine 1730 - 1735 Unknown ~1756
George Huffaker m Agatha Lee 7-Aug-1757 York Co., PA 18-Jun-1780
John Huffaker 19-Apr-1781 Wash. Co., VA
Rebecca Huffaker m Henry Hays 18-Oct-1782 Wash. Co., VA 5-Nov-1805
Anna Barbara Huffaker 18-Aug- 1759 York Co., PA
Michael Huffaker 19-May-1761 York Co., PA
John Peter Huffaker 22-Mar-1763 York Co., PA
Justus Huffaker 23-Feb-1765 York Co., PA
Henry Huffaker 1767 York Co., PA
Christopher Huffaker m Sarah Smith 11-Dec-1769 Wash. Co., VA 12-Mar-1796
Jacob Huffaker m Peggy Bodkin 5-Nov-1771 Wash. Co., VA 4-Feb-1797
Isaac Halfaker m Elizabeth Hutchison 3-Sep-1776 Wash. Co., VA 27-Jan-1803
Mary Huffaker m Aram Hoonk 1778 Wash. Co., VA 22-Dec-1796
Sarah Halfacre m George Smith 1780 Wash. Co., VA 3-Jan-1796
Ann Huffaker m Walter Hill 1782 Wash. Co., VA 15-Nov-1804
Jacob Halfacre Sr. m Margaret Elizabetha
Jacob Huffacre Jr. m Elizabeth Riche 12-Mar-1795
Susanna m Paskel Miles 23-Mar-1819
Elizabeth m Thomas Palmer 8-Aug-1829
Sampson Halfacre
Frederick Halfaker m Eleanor Calliham 12-Dec-1826
Henry (John) Huffacre m Molly Barrack 3-Jul-1800
Catherine Halfacre m Daniel Troxell
Elizabeth Halfacre m John Murdoch
The full details of Michael’s family during this period are available but do not add to or detract from the argument. It is reasonable to believe all the family members knew the others since their homes were within a few miles and they worshipped at (some of) the same Churches. The names of Daniel Troxell’s and John Murdoch’s wives are interchanged in records on occasion and certainty is not assured, but the men married sisters and as heads of household, the useful records are in the men’s names.
There are no records to indicate birth order for any of the Halfacre family.
In these and all records abstracted the original record’s spelling and notations are left intact even when found in error, with exceptions already mentioned for the notations about the three Jacobs. Annotations are in bold Italics. Records that are transcriptions from original long hand recordings are indicated by “Transcribed”.
1 Price, Reverend R. N. Holston Methodism, from its Origins to the Present Time :1904 Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South, Nashville, Tennessee.
2 Huffaker, Hugh Dayton History and Genealogy of Michael Huffaker and his Descendants in America :1927 Chattanooga, Tennessee
3 Nolan, Ione THE HUFFAKER FAMILY, a Collection of Genealogical Records on Descendants of Michael and Catherine Huffaker, and allied families :1966 Branch-Smith, Inc 120 St. Louis, Fort Worth, Texas.
4 DeBusk, Ellis History of Mahanaim United Methodist Church, :~1975
5 Washington County Surveyors Record 1781 - 1797
Survey For: John Murdack 300 acres on North Fork of Holstein. Treasury Warrant #10598 dated 1/3/1782. {Transcribed: John Murdack became John Murdoch in Washington County and was married to Elizabeth Halfacre, and probably married in northern Virginia or Maryland.}
6 Washington County Personal Property Tax for 1782: Halfaire, Michael; Halfaire, Gorge; Murdoch, John. { Transcribed: These records indicate the Personal Property Tax was collected before Jun 1782 because Jacob Halfacre Sr. is not included. Michael and son George are included to assure that Halfaire is another spelling else the transcriber mistook c for an i. A Jacob Halfacre is listed in the 1782 Montgomery County, Virginia, Personal Tax List and this may be Jacob Halfacre Sr. and his residence prior to Washington County, Virginia. In Maryland Jacob Halfacre might have been known as Jacob Hubacher.}
7 Washington County Surveyors Record 1781 - 1797
Survey For Jacob Halfacre assignee James Thompson 35 acres on Warrant 12173 dated 6/4/1782 { Transcribed: This Jacob was possibly Jacob Hubacher in northern Virginia or MD during the Revolutionary War and is an Hypothesis under test. See also reference 6 }
8 Gordon Aronhime Microfilm 150.2- 700
Halfacre, Jacob Sr. 1790 m Margaret DB4:106, Dau. Catherine m Daniel Troxell :q.v. d Apr 10 1858. {Aronhime numbered the Jacobs I, II, III. His (q.v.) notation was not defined. This marriage is not in the Marriage Register. Aronhime’s note cards require careful scrutiny before acceptance as fact.}
9 Gordon Aronhime Microfilm 150.2- 699
Halfacre, Israel w/o Jacob Halfacre WB2:2 9/18/1792 {No additional information was found on Israel Halfacre, but either the entry is in error or this is Jacob Jr. and Israel and Elizabeth are the same person}
10 Gordon Aronhime Microfilm 150.2- 701
Halfacre, Jacob Jr. m 1795 m Elizabeth Riche {Jacob Jr. is s/o Jacob Sr. and f/o Susanna Halfaker m Paskell Miles}
11 Marriage Register page 192 also D. E. Brown
Jacob Halfacre Jr. m Elizabeth Riche Mar 12 1795 {The Minister was Nicholas Reagan (Methodist) and the location of the Church was near the North Fork of the Holston River and close to Michael's Greenfield. D. E. Brown transcribed the Washington County Marriage Register and added the presiding Minister. }
12 Marriage Register page 193 and D. E. Brown
Jul 3 1800 Henry Huffaker m Molly Barrack {In the handwritten record Henry is entered as Huffacur and Mollie could have been Mallie. The Minister was Charles Hardy (Methodist) and the Church was located close to the Middle Fork of the Holston River. Henry is also named John in some documents see also Reference 14. His Germanic name might have been Johann(es) Henrich Hoffecker and he may have been named after an Uncle of the same name who lived in Pennsylvania. This is another hypothesis under test. }
13 Marriage Register page 194 and D. E. Brown
Nov 5 1805 Henry Hays m Rebecca Huffaker {Rebecca is George Huffaker's daughter and Michael's granddaughter. The Minister was Charles Hardy (Methodist) and the Church was located close to the Middle Fork of the Holston River}
14 Deed Book 4
Aug 31 1808 Jacob Sr. and Margaret Halfaker sold parcel on middle fork to Jacob Jr., Frederick, John, Samson Halfaker, Daniel Troxel, Elizabeth and Susanna Halfaker. Recorded Sep 21 1808 {John is also Henry. His full Germanic birth name might have been Johann(es) Henrich Hoffecker}
15 Gordon Aronhime
Halfacre, Sampson s/o Jacob and Margaret Halfacre DB4:104, DB4:106 {Gordon Aronhime made several errors in this family, this is another. Sampson was s/o Jacob Jr. and Elizabeth}
16 Census 1810 Washington Co., VA {Transcribed: Spelling difficulties during transcription are
obvious in this record.}
Head
<10
[10-16]
[16-26]
[26-45]
>45
Count
Hafa_re, Jacob
1m
2f
1m1f
5
Half_, Fr_ck
2f
1f
1m
4
Halfa_e, Michael
1f
1m
1m1f
4
Halfa_re, Henry
2m2f
1m1f
6
Murdoch, John
2m
4m1f
1f
1m1f
10
Trostell, Daniel
2m3f
1m1f
7
Count
11
3
8
7
7
Annotated Version of 1810 Census
Author's Transcription and Interpretation
Head of House
<10
[10-16]
[16-26]
[26-45]
>45
Count
Halfacre Jr., Jacob
1m
2f
1m1f
5
Sampson
Susanna
Jacob Jr.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Halfacre, Frederick
2f
1f
1m
4
Eleanor
Frederick
Huffaker, Michael
1f
1m
1m1f
4
Rebecca
Henry*
Michael
Catherine
Halfacre, Henry
2m2f
1m1f
6
Henry
Molly
Murdoch, John
2m
4m1f
1f
1m1f
10