People have been quoting the wrong interpretation of the German word "Fuhrmann." It does NOT mean a dealer in iron or an exporter of iron as B.C. Holtzclaw said it did. All good German dictionaries define it as a "carter," "conveyor," "hauler," or "freighter" without regard to what is being hauled. [The modern analogy would be that one drove a truck.] We know a little bit about the family of John Hoffman, Sr., the father of 1714 John, 1738 Henry, and William (who also came to America but to Pennsylvania). William left a diary in which he recorded many daily experiences. There is nothing in his writings which suggest iron. One might infer that William was a farmer and he does say that he owned a horse (only a few did). -- John.Blankenbaker@comcast.net