On 2-5 November, 2023, the grandchildren of Harry and Helen (Hatheway) Hoffman held a family reunion in Amador County, California. Attendance was excellent, considering that the families had scattered to the four corners of the world. The cousins came from Australia, Mexico, Georgia, Virginia, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Arizona. Hosts Mary and Gary organized a weekend of fun-filled activities that would make any historically-minded person proud. They arranged a guided tour of the Preston School of Industry in Ione, a boys’ reformatory school opened in 1894. We then visited the Kennedy gold mine in Jackson formed in 1869. Food was outstanding with dinners at the historic Di Stasio vineyard in Plymouth with its outstanding variety of wines, followed by the full course feast at Teresa’s Place in Jackson. Both places have been operating for over 100 years.
This reunion may be called the “Hoffman” reunion, but more accurately, it should be called the “Hoffman-Porter-Hatheway-Fitzmaurice-Mazur-Watson-Haley” reunion to acknowledge the contributions of the various ancestors. History gives little credit to those who gave up their identities in the name of “love”. Below is a fan chart that shows the relationship of the known ancestors, starting at Mary Anne through her great great grandparents. Although this chart starts with Mary Anne, you can substitute any of her brothers and get the same result.
In general, you can see the breakdown of ethnic percentages at Mary Anne’s great grandparent level. Mary Anne and her brothers are 50% Jewish, 37.5% Irish and 12.5% English. In terms of worship, the Catholic Irish won out over the Jewish and English Protestant religions. That mix is changing given that the cousins now have an Episcopal minister in their ranks. Lastly, DNA results are available since several of the cousins have tested. So far, the results look clean with no unexpected surprises.
As the self-appointed family historian, it was my role to look back in time to find some explanations for this unruly crowd. Click on a photo below to read more.
Hoffman / Porter Families
The Roffman and the Porter families both immigrated to Boston around 1906. You will see a lot of variations of the last name. They were your stereotypical Jewish immigrants where the men worked in the garment industry. After joining the service, Harry Hoffman was stationed at Mare Island where he married Helen Hatheway in 1924.
Nine Generations of Hatheways
Of fine New England stock, Alden Leonard Hatheway moved to California to seek his fortune. His ancestors can be traced all the way to the founding fathers and mothers of this county. Dick Hoffman was convinced that Alden Hatheway from descended from one of the passengers of the Mayflower. Was he correct?
Fitzmaurice and Watson Families
Here we see the Irish lines of the family. Feltham and Catherine (O’Brien) Watson came over during the gold rush. They tried their luck in the town of Whiskey Diggings, once a vibrant town that exists no more. Garrett Fitzmaurice also came in search of a better life. He was married twice producing a total of 13 children. His second wife Mary Haley remains a mystery. Both families settled in Vallejo.