Hans Graff

Hans GROFF His date of death is often mistakenly written as 1740 because of the engraving on a plague.

Notes from Janet and Robert Wolfe Genealogy Gateway

   * Father: Marx GRAF

* Mother: Susanna KENDIG
* Birth: 1675, Switzerland
* Death: 7 MAY 1746, Groffdale, Cocalico Twp, Lancaster Co, PA
* Sources: Marriage Hans GROFF and Susanna Orendorff KENDIG
* Partnership with: Susanna Orendorff KENDIG
Marriage: 1700, Germantown, Pennsylvania
o Child: Peter GROFF Birth: 1702, Switzerland
o Child: Hannah GROFF Birth: 1707, Switzerland
o Child: Samuel GROFF Birth: 1708, Switzerland
o Child: Fronica GROFF Birth: 1710, Switzerland
o Child: Marcus GROFF Birth: AUG 1712, Saales, Bas-Rhin, Switzerland
o Child: Daniel GROFF Birth: 1714, Switzerland
o Child: John GROFF Birth: 1715, Switzerland
o Child: David GROFF Birth: 1720, Switzerland
o Child: Mary GROFF Birth: 1722, Switzerland
* Notes for Hans GROFF
Rev. Hans Herr, the Menonite minister and a number of them visited William Penn in London, in 1707, and arranged terms with him to colonize a portion of what is now Lancaster county near what was then the western frontier of Pennsylvania. In 1709, Hans Herr, John R. Bundely, Martin Meylin (Mylin), Martin Kendig, Jacob Miller, Hans Funk, Hans Graff (Groff), Martin Oberholtzer, Wendel Bowman and others bought 10,000 acres (40 km²) of land on the south side of Pequea creek. A warrant was issued for the land October 10, 1710, and it was surveyed October 23, 1710.

Groff, Hans (1661-1746)

Hans Groff (Graf), the pioneer of 1696, settled first at Paradise and later in Groffdale, West Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on 1,500 acres. His first son, Jacob, remained in Strasburg and the rest on the paternal Groffdale acres. The Groffdale church was built on this farm in 1755, the center of a thriving congregation. Hans's sons Peter and David, his son-in-law Henry Landis, together with Hans's brother Martin (d. 1760) as minister, formed the nucleus of this Mennonite community. The first-known bishop of this congregation, Christian Burkholder, married a granddaughter of Hans Groff. Hans and his son David furnished the meeting place for the congregation in the early days in their homes. Many of his descendants with various names have served the church. Abraham Grove of Markham, Ontario (1770-1836), minister here and a molder, was a descendant.

Herald Press Information logo

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 587. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

©1996-2009 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

To cite this page:

MLA style: Landis, Ira D. "Groff, Hans (1661-1746)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 September 2009 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/groff_hans_1661_1746>

APA style: Landis, Ira D. (1956). "Groff, Hans (1661-1746)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 13 September 2009 <http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/groff_hans_1661_1746>

     Ancestors of Hans GROFF

/-Hans Gusel GRAF
/-Jacob Jagli GRAF
| \-Elizabeth PETER
/-Marx GRAF
| | /-Jacob SPORRI
| \-Anna SPORRI
| \-Adelheit WOLFENSBERGER
Hans GROFF
\-Susanna KENDIG
Descendants of Hans GROFF
1 Hans GROFF
=Susanna Orendorff KENDIG Marriage: 1700, Germantown, Pennsylvania
2 Peter GROFF
2 Hannah GROFF
=Peter GOOD Marriage: ABT 1728
3 Susanna GOOD
3 Peter GOOD
=Christina LANDIS
2 Samuel GROFF
=Christiana HUBER
2 Fronica GROFF
=Henry LANDIS
2 Marcus GROFF
=Anna HUBER Marriage: 1733
3 Susanna GROFF
3 Maria GROFF
=Michael WENGER Marriage: ABT 1764, Lancaster Co, PA
=Henry STAUFFER
2 Daniel GROFF
2 John GROFF
2 David GROFF
=Barbara MOYER
2 Mary GROFF
=John KRY
source:

email: bobwolfe@umich.edu;janwolfe@umich.edu

Additional information/alternate source:

Hans immigrated in 1696 and married Susanna Orendorff about 1700. He signed a will on 7 May 1746 in Proved. He resided in Earl Township.

They had these children:

Peter Groff

Hannah Groff (Good)

Samuel Groff

Veronica (Fonica) Groff (Landis)

Marcus Groff

Daniel Grof born c.1714; died March 1772.

John Groff born c.1715.

Mary Groff born c.1717.

David Groff

Source: Tom Kendig.

email: tom_kendig@kendig.net

VARIATION: Hans GRAF; Hans GROFF; Hans Conrad GRAEFF

BIOGRAPHY: "Hans Graf was born in Switzerland in 1661, and during the persecution of the Mennonites in his native country, he with others fled to Alsace, France. In Alsace he bore the title of Baron Von Weldon. He was a brother-in- law of Lieut. Col. , and Duke of Metzer, who was Governor of Breda, and it was from him the Grafs or Groves were entitled to the immense wealth in the father land. At one time none stood nearer in confidence to the throne than Hans Graf, but owing to this very prominence he became the target for false accusations from jealous parties. He was accused of treason against the government and his wealth was confisated. The accusation were proved utterly false and he was publicly exonerated and given invitation to return and his wealth and property would be fully restored to him, but Hans Graf scorned their overtures and declined to return. He came to America and became in the new world a man of wealth and prominence. Hans Graf arrived in Pennsylvania about 1695 and emigrated to Germantown where he remained several years.

BIOGRAPHY: Hans, with other Mennonite families moved west and took up their abode on the northern side of Pequea Creek. It was not until 1717 however that pioneers found their way in to Earl Township, Lancaster County. This honor belongs to Hans Graf, for while in pursuit of his strayed horses, he found his way into what is familiarly known as Groff's Thal, within the limits of west Earl Township. Pleased with the country, he had his wife, children and chattels conveyed thither and located on the stream now called Graf's Run, where he soon took up land. He was the earliest settler in these townships, so also was he the wealthiest citizen at the time of his death in 1746.

BIOGRAPHY: This Hans Graf was a man of more than ordinary force of character; he was the principal person in the new settlement that sprung up around him, even to the time of his death his name frequently occurs in the Colonial Records ; he was one of the persons named to lay out the King's High Road from Lancaster to Philadelphia in 1733. Along with many others he was naturalized on Oct. 14, 1720, in the third year of the reign of George the second. He had already built a mill prior to 1729 and when in that year the township was organized the citizens honored both themselves and him in giving his name 'Graf', in its English equivalent, Earl, to the new district.

BIOGRAPHY: The foundation stones of the cabin he built in 1718 are yet to be seen in the barn yard of his lineal descendant, Levi W. Groff, who owns the residence on the old homestead.

BIOGRAPHY: The survey of his land was made on October 4, 1718 and calls for 1150 acres; on the 28th of February 1724, he bought 250 acres from Martin Kendrick and Hans Herr, who had purchased 5,000 acres from Penn on 22nd of November, 1717. Under these two warrants there were surveyed to him, in a single tract on a branch of the Conestoga, 1419 acres on October 10, 1727, for which a deed was made to him by Thomas Penn on Nov. 18,1737. This deed after citing the circumstances of the survey, goes on and makes transfer "of all mines, minerals, quarries, meadows, marshes, etc. The price paid for this goodly tract of land was L 141,180 and One English shilling quit rent for every one hundred acres, to be paid annually on every first of March in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Ascertaining in some way that his tract did not contain the full number of acres called for by his deed, he asked for a re-survey , which was granted October 16, 1742, when 91 additional acres were given him as shortage.

BIOGRAPHY: West Earl also boasts of having had within her bounds one of the first, perhaps the first, Mill in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This stood on the south side of the Conestoga, right at the point where the Concalico unites with the stream. It was made a corner of Warwick Township when that district was organized in 1729, and only through that fact has its existence been preserved from utter oblivion. How long it was there prior to that date is unknown. An ancient deed covering this spot was also found and mentions it as a mill site and speaks of the mill race, but the mill had even then disappeared. Hans Graf the first settler in these townships was the builder and owner of this early mill.

BIOGRAPHY: Other evidence of Hans Graf: "Hans Graf came to Germantown in 1696. Also Hans Graf was Naturalize on October 14, 1729. His brother Martin Graf, was the first constable."

Excerpt from "Johnson / Ottun / Royer / Emmons" by Garry Johnson. mlh

Born Saales, Bas-Rhin, Switzerland. Immigrated to PA in 1695. West Earl Twp., Lancaster Co., PA. DLW The order of his marriages in in doubt and the mother's of his children are uncertain. Married Ursula Neukomm, 1670~,, * ^ about 1683 Married Anna Bare, 1670 1704,, ^ Married Susanna (Kendig) Orendorf, 1678 1746,, (i) ^ about 1704 A family tree is reprinted in TWB. The original carrier of the gene causing MSUD was one of the four individuals, Hans Groff or his wife Susanna or Abraham Herr, 1660 1725,, (i1717.8.24) or his wife Anna. Perhaps immigrated in 1710. Buried Groffdale Mennonite Brick Church Cem., Lancaster Co., PA

Hans Graf was born in Switzerland in 1661, and during the persecution of the Mennonites in his native country, he with others fled to Alsace. In Alsace he bore the title of Baron Von Weldon. He was a brother - in - law of Lieut. Col., and Duke of Metzer, who was Governor of Breda, and it was from him the Grafs or Groves were entitled to the immense wealth in the fatherland. At one time none stood nearer in confidence to the throne than Hans Graf, but owing to this very prominence he became the target for false accusations from jealous parties. He was accused of treason against the government and his wealth confisated. The accusation were proved utterly false and he was publicly exonerated and given invitation to return and his wealth and property would be fully restored to him, but Hans Graft scorned their overtures and declined to return. He came to America and became in the new world a man of wealth and prominence. Hans Graf arrived in Pennsylvania about 1695 and emigrated to Germantown where he remained several years.

Hans with other Mennonite families moved west and took up their abode on the northern side of Pequea Creek. It was not until 1717 however that pioneers found their way in to Earl Township, Lancaster County. This honor belongs to Hans Graf, for while in pursuit of his strayed horses, he found his way into what is familiarly known as Groff's Thal, within the limits of west Earl Township. Pleased with the country, he had his wife, children and chattels conveyed thither and located on the stream now called Graf's Run, where he soon took up land. He was the earliest settler in these townships, so also was he the wealthiest citizen at the time of his death in 1746.

This Hans Graf was a man of more than ordinary force of character; he was the principal person in the new settlement that sprung up around him, even to the time of his death his name frequently occurs in the Colonial Records; he was one of the persons named to lay out the King's High Road from Lancaster to Philadelphia in 1733. Along with many others he was naturalized on Oct. 14, 1720, in the third year of the reign of George the second. He had already built a mill prior to 1729 and when in that year the township was organized the citizens honored both themselves and him in giving his name 'Graf', in its English equivalent, Earl, to the new district.

The foundation stones of the cabin he built in 1718 are yet to be seen in the barn yard of his lineal descendant, Levi W. Groff, who owns the residence on the old homestead.

The survey of his land was made on October 4, 1718 and calls for 1150 acres; on the 28th of February 1724, he bought 250 acres from Martin Kendrick and Hans Herr, who had purchased 5,000 acres from Penn on 22nd of November, 1717. Under these two warrants there were surveyed to him, in a single tract on a branch of the Conestoga, 1419 acres on October 10, 1727, for which a deed was made to him by Thomas Penn on Nov. 18,1737. This deed after citing the circumstances of the survey, goes on and makes transfer "of all mines, minerals, quarries, meadows, marshes, etc. The price paid for this goodly tract of land was L 141, 180 and One English shilling quit rent for every one hundred acres, to be paid annually on every first of March in the city of Lancaster, Penn. Ascertaining in some way that his tract did not contain the full number of acres called for by his deed he asked for a re-survey, which was granted October 16, 1742, when 91 additional acres were given him as shortage.

West Earl also boasts of having had within her bounds one of the first, perhaps the first Mill in Lancaster County, Penn. This stood on the south side of the Conestoga, right at the point where the Concalico unites with the stream. It was made a corner of Warwick Township when that district was organized in 1729, and only through that fact has its existence been preserved from utter oblivion. How long it was there prior to that date is unknown. An ancient deed covering this spot was also found and mentions it as a mill site and speaks of the mill race, but the mill had even then disappeared. Hans Graf the first settler in these townships was the builder and owner of this early mill.

Other evidence of Hans Graf: Rupp's Collection of Thirty Thousand Immigrants to Pennsylvania page 433 - "Hans Graf came to Germantown in 1696. Also Hans Graf was Naturalized October 14, 1729. His brother Martin Graf, was first constable. http://patriot.net/~crouch/huy/auch.html

Birth: 1661 Zurich, Switzerland Death: May 7, 1746 Groffdale Lancaster County Pennsylvania, USA

~OUR FAMILIES ANCESTRAL ROOTS~

Hans was said to have been married twice, first was to Ursula Neukomm about 1683, and believed to have had one child through the marriage. Then later re-married to Susanna Orndorf about 1700 and had what was believed to have been ten children along with her.

West Earl Township Lancaster, Pennsylvania - He was the first settler in 1717, named in his honor 1729 "Earl being the English of Graf."

A stone was finally placed at his grave site, but his grave was unknown for quite some time. But after much searching it later was discovered in the graveyard of the Groff Meeting House. It was marked with only a simple slab of sandstone with the initials "H G".

Family links:

Spouse:

 Susanna Orndorf Graf (1680 - 1746)*

Children:

 Hans Grof (____ - 1788)*

 Marcus Groff (1712 - 1791)*

*Calculated relationship

Inscription: HANS GRAF, The first Settler, Came from Switzerland A.D. 1696. Settlement was made at the head of Groff's Run. He purchased 1419 Acres of land from John Richard, S Thomas Penn, for 141L. 18 S. [equal to $686.80] along Groff's Run. He Built a log Cabin on the old Groff farm A.D. 1717. His purchase included the land on which the Groffdale Meeting House is built. Died A.D. 1746.

Burial: Groffdale Mennonite Brick Church Cemetery Leola Lancaster County Pennsylvania, USA

Maintained by: Guiding Light Originally Created by: E.Renkin Record added: Jul 02, 2005 Find A Grave Memorial# 11282437

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11282437

Hans was said to have been married twice, first was to Ursula Neukomm about 1683, and believed to have had one child through the marriage. Then later re-married to Susanna Orndorf about 1700 and had what was believed to have been ten children along with her.

West Earl Township Lancaster, Pennsylvania - He was the first settler in 1717, named in his honor 1729 "Earl" being the English of Graf.

A stone was finally placed at his grave site, but his grave was unknown for quite some time. But after much searching it later was discovered in the graveyard of the Groff Meeting House. It was marked with only a simple slab of sandstone with the initials "H G".

Family links:

Spouses:

• Susanna Kendig Groff (1678 - 1746)*
• Susanna Orndorf Graf (1680 - 1746)*

Children:

• Hans Grof (____ - 1788)*
• Samuel Graf (1708 - 1770)*
• Marcus Groff (1712 - 1791)*
• David Groff (1721 - 1784)*
• John Groff (1722 - 1797)*

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Hans Graf Find A Grave

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Oct 8 2018, 2:51:14 UTC

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Baron Hans von Weldon, born in Grafenwald Castle, Switzerland. Came to America in 1696.

His title was Baron Von Weldon