"Among the earliest settlers of the Wiconisco Valley was John Peter Hoffman, a native of Germany, born in 1709. With others of his family and friends he came to America in 1739, in the ship Robert and Alice, Capt. Walter Goodman, arriving at Philadelphia in September of that year. He first located in Berks county, where he worked at his trade, that of a carpenter. During the Indian troubles on the frontiers he served some time as a soldier in the Provincial forces. About the 1750 he came to the end of Short mountain in Lyken's Valley, where he built a small log house, just across the road from the present residence of Daniel Romberger. Sixty years ago this was used as a blacksmith shop. John Peter Hoffman was the contemporary of Andrew and John Lycans or Lykens, Ludwig Shott, John Rewalt, and others, and with them driven off by the Indians in their marauds of 1756. It was subsequent to this period that he brought his family to the valley. Here he followed farming, and died in 1798 at the age of eighty-nine years. His remains with those of his wife who had deceased previously were interred in the field near the present house on the old farm now owned by Mr. Romberger, before named."

(Above historical sketch from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.:J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 116-118. Also located at http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm.)

JOHN PETER HOFFMAN and 26 of his family and friends are buried on this farm at the base of Short Mountain in Lykens, PA.
This Memorial Stone is now in place of the original gravestones, which have long since crumbled to the soil.
The farm is now owned by the Bush family, which works their farm around this area with respect to those interred here.

The Hoffmans are still a strong contemporary family in this vicinity.
They hold an annual reunion at the Hoffman Church, not far along Crossroads Road, near this stone.

The Hoffmans inter-married with the Buffington family, who lived on a farm very nearby.

In fact, Levi Buffington designed and built the Hoffman's Church (now known as St. Peter's Church), as well as the Buffington's Church (now known as St. John's Church), in nearby Berrysburg, PA.

Also buried in this small cemetery, are Benjamin and Mary Buffington.
Benjamin's son, George, married John Peter Hoffman's daughter, Barbara, and they are buried in the cemetery across the road from Hoffman's Church.

Following Information researched by William Orr in July 1988, added by Kathy Hoffman-Bressler in order to assist in any further research or findings done by others. Sometimes small details can make all the difference.:

John Peter Hoffman born in Germany, near the Swiss border. In 1739 he sailed on the ship "Robert and Alice" belonging to Dublin and commanded by Walter Goodman, Master. The ship sailed directly from Rotterdam, Holland to Philadelphia arriving in the Colonies September 3, 1739. Among others qualifying that date were: Peter Hooffman, Daniel Hooffman, Hannis (John) Hooffman, Martin Hooffman. (Spelling due to how the captain heard it.) These four were brothers on Captain Goodman's list presented to the Authorities at Philadephia. Total of 218 Palatines imported that day, 78 men of the age 16 or older, the rest were women and children. Later military records spell names the same due to how it sounded to enlisting officers during Revolution where all three of Peter's sons served. My research indicates John Peter married Maria Sara Seiler on April 9, 1743. Please note this is a possible date as a Peter Hoffman applied to the Colonial Authorities in Pennsylvania to marry April 9, 1743, and his intendeds name wasn't listed. This time frame fits our Peter but as of this research date, we are unable to prove it.