THE ROOF'S HISTORY HOMEPAGE

        The Roof's Coat of Arms

        Hi! This is ROOF's family early history page on the web. You will be able to follow the Roof family history from here. The names that are capitalized are our family ancestors.

        The following are miscellaneous notes copied from the family tree compiled by Joseph K. Poole who is now deceased. Christopher, alias "Stuefel", is said to have been born on the homestead. His tombstone says he died June 26, 1833 in his 85th year. Sarah A. Roof Smith, his daughter, told Snell (author of the History of Sussex and Warren Counties") that he died in 1844 at the age of 84. His will was probated in 1832. He is said to have been in the Revolutionary War.
        References came from the "History of Sussex and Warren Counties" by Snell. "Early Germans of New Jersey" by Chambers. "Northwestern New Jersey" by PVD Honeyman. A Christopher Roof is listed among those who served in the Minnisink Battles. The bulk of the Roof records should be in the Newton Presbyterian Church, but have yet to be examined.

        The Roof fore bearers have been traced back to at least 1200 AD. It is one of the oldest names of Southern Germany. This area had been the scene of much conflict when the French Armies invaded Alsace-Lorraine, the Rhine Platinate and other areas around Mecklinberg. There are at least three explanations of the early origin of the name. First, it might have been from the Latin "Rufus or Rufo" meaning red or blond. Secondly, family historians say that the old high German word Rouf meaning fame, reputation call, shout, or command. Third, it could have been a shortened form of the name Rudolph, meaning the famous wolf. Or maybe it's like you friend said, "meaning Roofer".

        It is not easy to ascertain who the first white settlements in the region now called Hampton Township, Sussex County, New Jersey were, but, according to the best available authorities, the distinction lay between the Roof and the Hendershots. Whatever the time of his coming, I. MICHAEL ROOF made his settlement in Hampton shortly after emigrating from Germany.

        There were veterans of the Revolution named Roof living around New Brunswick, New Jersey. Perhaps MICHAEL ROOF came up the so called German Road into Sussex County, New Jersey. The Hendershots also came from Raritan Valley, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The Roof's and Hendershots were the first families in Hampton Township, New Jersey.

        Henry Roof was a witness to the will of John Hendershot of Sussex County, New Jersey, January 8, 1793. Sarah Roof and Suffiah Roof are mentioned as daughters in the will of Michael Hendershot of Sussex County, New Jersey, dated June 14, 1786, proved, November 11, 1786.

        I.MICHAEL (RUFF) ROOF (b. 1725) was born in Germany. He came to America from Mecklinberg, Germany with two sons, Michael and Christopher, about 1756. They were naturalized citizens in 1765. Sometime around 1779, a group of Rouff's, MICHAEL, Mathias, and Nicholas moved to Bedford County, Pennsylvania. They were members of the Bedford Rangers in the Revolutionary War during this time. MICHAEL died at an advanced age. He had five children:

        1. Micheal Roof Jr. married Sophia/Seaviah Hendershot (b. 1762), who was born in New Jersey, on February 21, 1793. They had eight children:
        11. John W. Roof married Mary Stoddad.
        12. Anna Roof married George W. Harnes.
        13. Emily A. Roof.
        14. Mary Roof.
        15. Peter Roof (d. 1860) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey.
        16. Catherine Roof was born in Sussex County, New Jersey.
        17. James Roof was born in Sussex County, New Jersey.
        18. Jacob M. Roof (2/11/1790-2/23/1867) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, married Phebe Morris. They had six children:
        181. Jacob Roof was born in Sussex County, New Jersey.
        182. Moses Roof was born in Sussex County, New Jersey. He married Abigail Dale (1826-1890). They had seven children:
        1821. Salda Roof who married Frank Phinney. They had six children:
        18211. Charles Phinney.
        18212. Laverna Huffman Phinney.
        18213. Meva Phinney.
        18214. Cash Phinney.
        18215. Orvil Phinney.
        18216. Pearl Phinney.
        1822. Maurice Roof who married Rebecca Sheets. They had eight children:
        18221. Raymond Roof (1878-1903).
        18222. Eva Roof (b. 1884) married Lewis Henry.
        18223. Anna Mary Roof (1852-1935) married Munson K. Jacobus.
        18224. Phoebe Roof married Jesse Snyder.
        18225. James Roof.
        18226. Emma Roof (1861-1940) married Edward Jacobus.
        18227. Frank Roof (b. 1864) married Bessie Sharpneck (1869-1944).
        18228. Laura Roof married Riley Roush.
        1823. Anna Mary Roof.
        1824. Phoebe Roof.
        1825. James Roof.
        1826. Emma Roof.
        1827. Frank Roof.
        183. Mary Roof was born in Sussex County, New Jersey.
        184. Christopher M. Roof (b. 1/26/1818-3/27/1900) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, marrried Nancy Carter on January 27, 1845.
        185. Robert Roof (b. 1820) was born in
        186. John Roof (b. 1827) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, married Mary M. Huff.
        2. Elizabeth Roof married Jacob Hendershot (5/4/1747-1834) on February 17, 1791 in New Jersey.
        3. Nele Roof married Nathan Simon.
        4. Catrin Roof married Sice Swartswelder.
        5. CHRISTOPHER STUEFEL ROOF, (1748-6/26/1833), married SARAH ANN HENDERSHOT (1760-1/12/1821) on June 22, 1779, in Sussex County, New Jersey. CHRISTOPHER died in Old Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. He was enlisted in the Revolutionary War and he fought gallantly for all seven years. SARAH was the daughter of MICHAEL and ELIZABETH SCHERMERHORN HENDERSHOT,JR. MICHAEL HENDERSHOT, JR. (1712-1786) was the son of JOHANN MICHAEL HINNESCHIED (1674-1748/49) and KATHERINE ANN SCHNEIDER (1680-1757). JOHANN was the son of WILHELM JOHANN HINNESCHIED (1640-1688) and ANNA MARIA BALTER. WILHELM was the son of VON HAYDERSCHATTE (wft est. 1589-1618 & wft est. 1643-1703). ELIZABETH SCHERMERHORN (b. 1712/13) was the daughter of LUCAS SCHERMERHORN and ELIZABETH DAMEN. SARAH is buried in the old cemetery at Newton, near the burial place of their son Michael and his wife, Anne Waldroff. They had four children:
        51. Michael Roof (6/1/1780-6/19/1834) married Anne Waldroff (1790-2/26/1867) on December 9, 1802. Michael was born in Sussex County, New Jersey and died in Old Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. When I have time to read it as it is difficult to make out, I have an abstract of the Last Will and Testament of Michael Roof. I will post it on a separate page as time permits. It states: Roof, Michael of Newton Township, Sussex County, New Jersey, 21385-W, 19 July 1834, Filed 4 September 1834, Wife Anna, Executors Anna and Christopher Roof, Witnesses: James Cassipy, Peter Hendershot, and Jacob Smith. Michael and Anne Roof had eleven children:
        511. John Roof.
        512. Philip Roof.
        513. Sarah Roof married ? Anderson.
        514. Marie Roof married ? Small.
        515. Eliza Ann Roof.
        516. Jacob Roof.
        517. Daniel Roof.
        518. Christopher M. Roof (1810-11/12/1812-7/9/1879) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey. He died in Hampton Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. He married Mary Stuble/Northrup (9/14/1819-1/5/1856) on September 6, 1837 or October 23, 1838, in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. Christopher and Mary are both buried in the Newton Cemetery, Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. They had eight children:
        5181. Sarah Anna Roof (6/24/1839-1915) was born in Hampton Township, Sussex County, New Jersey and died in Sussex County, New Jersey. She married George Washington Harris.
        5182. Emily Halsey Roof (7/24/1840-8/1916) in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. She is buried in the Newton Cemetery in Newton, New Jersey.
        5183. Peter M. Roof (10/18/1841-1927) married Minnie Van Horn or Hannah Olives or both.
        5184. Mary Roof (11/28/1842-8/22/1909) died in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey.
        5185. John Northrup Roof (8/26/1844-8/6/1935) was born in Hampton Township, Sussex County, New Jersey and died in Los Angles, Clarmont County, California. He married Mary Elizabeth Terry Stoddard (12/10/1854-9/14/1935) on March 22, 1822. They were married by the Rev. Eugene Oliney, witnessed by Emma Owens and Vaieria S. Stoddard. Mary was born in Allamuchy, Independence Township, Warren County, New Jersey, and died in Altadena, California. A note in Mary Roof Warner's hand: "When my father bought his Boot & Shoe Store in Newton, New Jersey, the sign painter changed the name from Ruffe to Roof, and it was accepted by the other members of the family. Similar changes were quite common then." They had three children:
        51851. Mabel Terry Roof (4/5/1883-4/12/1914).
        51852. Edna Lee Roof (b. 5/25/1886).
        51853. Mary Stoddard Roof (9/18/1888-9/6/1971) was born in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey, and died in Honolulu, Hawaii. She married Howry Haskell Warner (9/30/1890-12/16/1970) on June 1, 1916, in Claremont, California. Howry Warner was born in Marion, Ohio, and died in Honolulu, Hawaii. He attended grammar and high school in Marion, Ohio. He went to William College from 1908-1909. He then went to Pomona College from 1909-1912 and the University of California from 1912-1913. Mary and Howry had two children:
        518531. Willis Loring Warner II (b. 3/25/1918) was born in New York City, New York. He married Mary Ann Paris on October 18, 1952, in Washington, DC. They had two children:
        5185311. Loring Ann Warner.
        5185312. Mary Alice Warner.
        518532. John Northrup Warner (5/19/1919-12/12/1996) was born in Los Angeles, California, and died in Monterey, California. John's ashes were scattered in and near a small growth of sugar cane at the end of the path at Lyon Arboretum, Honolulu, Hawaii. This was done on June 20, 1997. He married Dorothy Ann Buese. They had three children:
        5185321. Sherman Fargo Warner (b. 10/30/1944) was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
        5185322. John Howry Warner (12/30/1949-2/13/1989) was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
        5185323. Richard Louis Warner (b. 12/7/1953) was born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
        5186. Catherine (Kate) E. Roof (11/19/1846-8/13/1911) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey. She married Raymon Snyder on December 29, 1865.
        5187. Jacob D. Roof (2/18/1849-1859-11/27/1863) was born in Hampton Township, Sussex County, New Jersey and died in Sussex County, New Jersey.
        5188. James Oscar Roof (1851-2/9/1853-7/23/1914) was born in Hampton Township, Sussex County, New Jersey. He married Eliza Griggs on October 20, 1880.
        519. Roof.
        519a. Roof.
        519b. Sarah Ann Roof (5/8/1811-10/10/1899).
        52. John Roof (3/2/1782-2/13/1866) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey and died in Old Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey.
        53. JACOB B. ROOF (1783-2/27/1866) was born and died in Sussex County, New Jersey. He married MARY HANNAH STRUBLE (b. 1790) on November 10, 1806, in New Jersey. They had nine children:
        531. CHARLES ROOF (2/12/1809-1/27/1880) was born in Stillwater Township, Sussex County, New Jersey and died in Standing Stone, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. You may read more about Charles and his family on their own home page. Just follow the link at the bottom of this page.
        532. Sarah-Sally Ann Roof (5/8/1811-10/10/1899) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey. She married Jacob Smith (1810-2/11/1882).
        533. Catherine Roof (4/12/1813-7/26/1897) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, and died in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey.
        534. Clarissa Roof (9/14/1815-7/21/1911) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, and died in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey.
        535. James Roof (11/28/1818-3/15/1909). He was born in Newton, New Jersey, and died in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. You may read more about James and his family on their own home page. Just follow the link at the bottom of this page.
        536. Alfred (Fred) Tud Roof (11/14/1819-3/8/1903) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, and died in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. He married Hannah Predmore. They had ten children:
        5361. Effie Roof.
        5362. Alfred Roof.
        5363. Catherine Roof.
        5364. Clara Roof.
        5365. ? Roof.
        5366. ? Roof.
        5367. ? Roof.
        5368. ? Roof.
        5369. Charles Oscar Roof (1847-1926).
        5369a. Theodore Roof (1849-1936 or 39) married Harriet Current.
        537. Levena Roof (b. 1821) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey. She married ? Anderson.
        538. Stephen (Doc) W. Roof (1823-1879) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey.
        539. Mary M. Roof (b. 1826) was born in Bradford County, Pennyslvania. She married William/Willard Stoll (d. 1876). They had six children:
        5391. Henry R. Stull.
        5392. Stephen A. Stull.
        5393. John C. Stull.
        5394. Clara Stull.
        5395. Jackson Stull.
        5396. Jabob R. Stull (1851-1917) married Effie Swartswelder.
        54. Effie Roof (1/15/1809-6/11/1890) was born in Sussex County, New Jersey. She died in Newton, Sussex County, New Jersey. Effie married Joshua Harden (1801-1866). They had twelve children?
        541. James Harden.
        542. John R. Harden.
        543. Matilda A. Harden.
        544. Susan Harden.
        545. Marcus Harden.
        546. Mary A. Harden.
        547. Thomas Harden.
        548. Philip R. Harden.
        549. S. Elizabeth Harden.
        549a. Rebecca Harden.
        549b. Robert M. Harden.
        549c. Amanda C. Harden.

        © 1997

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        ROOF LINEAGE:
        Charles and Maria Roof James and Emeline Roof