Author: Charles W. Riegle, Sr.
John Nicholas was the second son of John Peter Hoffman, and was born in Tulpehocken Township, Berks County in the year 1749. After growing up in his father’s family farm, he settled on the farm near Short Mountain. He deeded land to the congregation of Hoffman's Reformed Church, for church, school and burial purposes. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and participated in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown. His life was an active, busy, and useful one. He was married, April 22, 1772, by Pastor Kurtz, of the Lutheran Church, to Margaret Harman, also a native of Berks County. "

"Nicholas Hoffman (written as Hoofman in early documents): Private and later named Lieutenant in Colonel Hubley's Company and Lieutenant Samuel Hay's Company, 10th Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Colonel Richard Humpton. He enlisted for the war. He appeared to have been in service as early as June 1776 as an Associator. He served in The Lancaster County Associators, Captain Albright Deibler's Company in March 14th, 1776. He was captured at the Battle of Long Island in August 1777 (aka Battle of Brooklyn) and paroled. During that and the following year, the company was commanded by his brother, Captain Johannes Hoffman, and under him they served on the frontiers, protecting the defenseless inhabitants from the encroachments of the Indians and Tories, who had their headquarters in Southern New York, and against whom General Sullivan's army was successfully sent in 1779. A true report of Capt. Albright Deibler's Company of Associators of the Fourth Battalion, commanded by Col. James Burd, Esq., March 14, 1776. This shows John Hoffman, Second Lieutenant, and John Nicholas Hoffman, as private. Later, John Nicholas served as private 7th class,in Captain Martin Weaver’s Company in the Fourth Battalion of Lancaster County Militia - return taken 1778.
There were 4 prisons in the “Sugar House” system in NY City at the time John Nicholas Hoffman and his company were captured. Van Courtlandt’s Sugar House stood at the northwest corner of Trinity churchyard. Provost Jail (for officers & eminent Whigs), and the Sugar House on Liberty Street. It is believed that John Nicholas Hoffman was incarcerated in “The French Church”, which was located on Pine Street (no longer in existence). “The Rhinelander Sugar Warehouse was 5 stories high, built in 1763 at the corner of Duane and Rose Streets and used by the British as a prison for American Patriots. The Sugar House was demolished in 1892 and replaced by the Rhinelander Building, incorporating a window from the original Sugar House into the facade as a historical artifact. The Rhinelander Building was demolished in 1968 and the site is now occupied by Police Headquarters. The window is set into a memorial behind the Municipal Building located at Centre and Chambers Streets.” (written by John W. Lindsay, then Mayor of NYC). In Trinity churchyard and cemetery on Broadway and Wall Streets is a memorial where American soldiers of the Revolution are remembered. This monument was erected by the Vestry of the Church in 1852 and is located in the northeast corner of the cemetery. It is a sandstone tower designed in the Gothic Revival style. This monument honors the unknown American soldiers and sailors of the Revolutionary War who were imprisoned and died and were buried in unmarked graves during the occupation of New York by the British.

"Johan Nicholaus (Nicholas Hoffman) born in 1749, baptised May 4, 1749 in "Host" Church, Tulpehocken Township, Berks Co.,PA. On April 22, 1772, he married Anna Margaretha Herman by Pastor Kurtz of the Lutheran Church. She a daughter of Johannes and Catharina Harman, born November 7, 1753 in Heidelberg Township, Berks Co., PA. Nicholas died April 28, 1814, and Anna Margaretha died January 9, 1826. She and Nicholas are buried in Hoffman's Churchyard in unmarked graves. Nicholas also served in the Revolution at the Battles of Germantown , Brandywine Creek in 1777 and other engagements. They were survived by 84 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. Their known children were: Catharina, Anna Maria, Susanna Catharina, Johan Peter, Elizabeth, Jacob; Daniel; John Nicholas,Jr.; Sarah; John; Margaret; and John George Hoffman".