Netunice
As of November, 2024
We know a few facts about Julia’s paternal grandparents Joseph and Marie (Matas) Hoffman. They were from Netunice, a village to the southeast of Pilsen and only about 15 miles from Ježovy, the Kleisner ancestral home, as shown on the map below.
The 1844 Marriage of Joseph Hoffman and Marie Matas
The earliest record we have found for the Hoffmans is the 1844 Netunice parish record of Julia’s Hoffman grandparents, as shown on the page below. It was difficult to read, but thanks to some help from Facebook crowdsourcing, we have a transcription which follows. The record also gives the names and home towns of Joseph and Marie’s parents, which will help to continue tracing the ancestry back in time.
Portafontium, Prusiny 10, 1834-1852, image 55 of 213, http://www.portafontium.eu/iipimage/30067576/prusiny-10_0550-n :
downloaded 30 Aug 2017.
Transcription
Groom: Netunice 17, Josef, son of Vavřinec Hofman, cottager from Netunice Nr. 17 and mother Kateřina born Hach from Nezbavětice Nr. 21
Bride: Netunice Nr. 9, Marie, daughter of Jan Matas), cottager from Netunice Nr. 9 and mother Magdalena born Černý from Předenice Nr. 3.
Both free. The fathers of both fiancées are in agreement with marriage."
Translated by Zdeněk Opava, Czech Genealogy group on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/groups/czechgenealogy/, August 2017.
Hoffman Genealogy
The Hoffman Bohemian Ancestry
The following chart shows what we have verified about Laurel and Lowell’s Hoffman ancestors, starting with their paternal grandmother Julia Hoffman and going back three more generations. Of note:
- Julia’s Hoffman and Kolar grandparents were both immigrants from Bohemia
- We have Hoffman parish records from Netunice, but nothing yet for the Kolars other than their (unverified) names.
The 1851 Baptism of Joseph Hoffman
We have also have our great-grandfather Joseph’s baptismal record from Netunice.
Portafontium.eu, Prusiny 10, 1834-1852, image 68 of 213, https://www.portafontium.eu/iipimage/30067576/prusiny-10_0680-n :
downloaded 30 Aug 2017.
Transcription
Born 11 Jul 1851, Baptized 12 Jul 1851, Josef Hofman
Father: Josef Hofman, cottager from Netunice nr. 17, son of Vavřinec Hofman from Netunice Nr. 17 and mother Katařina born Hach? from Nezbavětice Nr. 21
Mother: Marie Mates, daughter of Jan Mates, farmer from Netunice Nr. 9 and mother Magdalena born Černá from Předenice Nr. 3
Translated by Zdeněk Opava, Czech Genealogy group on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/groups/czechgenealogy/, August 2017.
The Journey to America
In November of 1865, Joseph Hoffman, his wife Marie, and their five children (including our great-grandfather Joseph at 14) left Netunice and traversed the Atlantic on the ship Johanne Wilhelmine to to settle in Chicago, Illinois, which had a growing population of Czech immigrants. A scan of the original passenger list is below, followed by the names (Czech name followed by Americanized name) and ages of the Hoffman passengers.
Ancestry.com, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., Passenger Lists, 1820-1964 > M255-Baltimore, Maryland, 1820-1891 > Roll 14: Oct 1, 1863-Jul 31, 1866, image 444 of 774 : downloaded 23 Nov 2024.
Transcription
Ship: Johanne Wilhelmine
Port of Departure: Bremerhaven, Germany
Departure Date: November 1865
Port of Arrival: Baltimore, Maryland
Arrival Date: December 1865
Joseph Hofman, age 39
Marie (Matas), age 41
Matej / Michael, age 20
Katerina / Catherine, age 16
Joseph, age 14 - our great-grandfather
Wenzel / Václav / James, age 8
Johann / Jan, age 6
Hoffman Cousins
Once James and Marie Hoffman settled in Chicago, they had two more children Marie and Albert. The following chart shows that six of the seven children and the parents stayed in Chicago, and only our great-grandfather James and his family went west to Oregon. For more on him and our Oregon Hoffmans, see the Hoffman Cousins page.
