Jacob Naff, I

John W. Boitnott, in his book Neff and Related Families, traces the family line of Jacob (El) and Sebastian (E2). He attempts also to identify these men as immigrants following the story of Isaac N. Neff (E156). Boitnott concludes that they were the sons of Jacob Neff b. 1686. d. 1761 and Anna Elernopage. and Jacob (El) was the 1749 immigrant on the Ship Dragon and Sebastian (E2) was the 1738 immigrant given as Sebastian Neas. age 55 on the Ship Friendship.

However, more recent research reveals the following. Sebastian Neff was the son-in-law of Daniel Sailor who lived in Cocalico Twp., Lancaster County, Pennsylvania until 1771, when he moved with Sebastian to Frederick County, Maryland. Sebastian Neff (E2) was married about 1767 to Mary Sailor who was born Aug. 30. 1748. Judging from the marriage date Sebastian must have been living near Daniel Sailor in 1767. Since Sebastian's name is often written as Bastian. He is with little doubt the Bastian Neff who was confirmed at the Christ Lutheran Church in 1766 age 22 1/2 years. This would give Sebas-tian a birth year of 1745, and therefore he could not have been the 1738 immigrant.

Sebastian Neff (Neave) appears as inmate (renter) in the tax list for 1769 for Strassburg Two., Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In the same tax lists for 1759 years a Jacob Neff "Donker" in Heidelberg Twp., Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Heidelberg Twp. borders Cocalico Twp. on the north. This Jacob Neff was still in Heidelberg Twp. in 1770.

Since the name "Donker" undoubtedly means Dunkard. the nickname for the Brethren Church, this Jacob Neff is with little doubt the brother of Sebastian. He may have moved on to Franklin County, Pennsylvania shortly thereafter. He was in Franklin County, Virginia 1782.

Richard Kesler of Pinehurst, NC gives Jacob's (El) birthDate as March 16, 1734. When contacted, Kesler could not locate the source of his information. If so. being only 15 years old in 1749, Jacob (El) could not have been the Jacob Neff who signed the Sept. 26, 1749 ship list for the ship "Dragon". A signer needed to be 16 years old. Knowing that Jacob (El) and Sebastian (E1) Naff's birth years and that they married and lived in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania until 1770. One might speculate that they ware sons of Jacob and Elizabeth (Haller) Neff who had two daughters both named Anna Barbara baptized in the Christ Lutheran Church in Lancaster, the first on May 12, 1739 and the second on March 29, 1741. The first must have died before 1741.

This Jacob Neff, age 24. and Elizabeth Haller, age 20. were immigrants on the Ship "Mercury" which landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylania on May 29, 1735 (see Neff G). They left Wallissellen, Switzerland on October 5, 1734. The records in Switzerland give Jacob's baptismal date as December 1, 1710 and Elizabeth's as May 24, 1711. So Elizabeth's age on the ship list must not be accurate. Since Jacob and Elizabeth Must have married shortly after the ship landed in Philadelphia. and if they were the parents of Jacob (El) and Sebastian (E2), then Jacob's birth year was probably 1736 instead of 1734 which would make him 20 or 21 years old when he married in 1756 or 1757. Note the adjustment from Boitnott's book for in the birth years for Mary (E11) and Abraham (E12). The Abraham listed by Boitnott as (E12) was the eldest son (E21) of Sebastian (E2) born Feb. 22, 1768.

Since we have no definite documentation to prove that Jacob (El) and Sebastian (E2) were sons of Jacob and Elizabeth (Haller) Neff. we must leave some room for doubt and more research. However, if they were we might list the family as follows:

Jacob (son of Conrad) b. ca1710, md. Oct 1, 1734 to Elizabeth Haller b. 1715

1.? Jacob Neff (El) b. Mar. 16. 1736

2.Anna Barbara Neff b. May 12, 1739, dy

3.Anna Barbara Neff b. Mar. 29, 1741

4.Child b. 1743

5.? Sebastian Naff b. 1745

6.? Martin Neff b. 1747? lived in Cumru Twp., Berks County, Pennsylvania

7.? John Neff of Berks County, Pennsylvania.-may be John Neff

Jacob was a minister in the Brethern Church.

Last name is spelled in several fashions: Naff; Neff; Knave; Knaven; and Naef.

Birth: 1727 in Zweikirchen, Palatinate, Germany

Death: 26 SEP 1806 in Franklin County, Virginia

Probate: 6 OCT 1806 Franklin County, Virginia

Note:

WILL OF JACOB NAVE, Sr

The copy of this will and of the one following was sent by Ruth T Lehman, Columbus, Ohio. This will of Jacob NAVE, Sr, was written in l802 and proved in l806 in Franklin County, Va. She believes that Jacob was her great-great-great-grandfather and the first of the line in New World. The original spelling has been followed as far as possible, except where the use of German script would not be understood. At several points there will be blank spaces where the copy is not clear.

In the name of God Amen I Jacob Nave Sr of the County of Franklin being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and disposing memory (for which I thank God) and calling to mind the uncertainty of Human life and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath the Same in Maner following that is to say

To my two Sons Jacob Nave and David Nave all my land

To Jacob the old improvement and one Hundred acres joining of it Cald Arthurs Land for two Hundred and fifty pounds, To David Nave the a part of the old tract it being the lower end of the Said tract and it being Laid of by a Marked line for one Hundred pounds and both Jacob and David together Shall pay Every year twenty five pound and Equal Shear acording to the price of each ones Land till they pay two Hundred and twenty five pound to Each of one of my Children, and and it is my desire that Jacob and David Shall pay the Ballance to ther father and Mother which is one Hundred and twenty five pound Each one acording to the price of his land and they Shall pay ther father & mother or Either of them in money in grain in meat or any thing that they or Either of them ask and we will have liberty to go in the orchard and take fruit as much as we want as long as we live and the little place that I now live on which is a part of my old tract I will Keep as long as I live and if my wife Should be the longest liver She Shall keep it as long as She lives and after our Deseace it is my desire that my Son Jacob Shall Have it for seventy pounds and Shall pay vearly fourteen pound til the seventy pound is paid it is mv desire that my Daughter Mary Shall have therty pound out of the Seventy and the ballance of the Seventy pound which is fourty pound and the ballance of the Hundred and twenty five pound if there be any unpaid to be Equaly Divided amongst all my Children and there heirs for Ever unto Isaac one Shear into Jacob one Shear unto Joseph one Shear unto Jonathan one Shear unto David one Shear unto Mary one Shear unto Susanna one Shear unto Elizabeth one Shear unto Catharine one Shear, Shear and Shear a like unto all mv Children accept thirty pound to my Daughter Mary which She shall have more then rest one of the Rest - - and if I and my wife Should die Shortly Jacob and David together Shall not pay more then twenty five pound a year til they pay for there Land which is three Hundred and fifty pound - - - -

and Lastly - - I do hereby Constitute and appoint my Frunds Isaac Nave and Joseph Nave excutors of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all other or former wills or Testaments by me heretofore made - -

in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and offered my Seal this 20 Day of March in the year of our Lord Christ 1802

his Jacob X Nave (Seal) mark

Signed Sealed published and declared as and for the last will and Testament of the above named Jacob Nave in presence of us - -

Jacob Flora affd

Johannes (not clear because of German script)

Joseph Flora affd

At court held for __________ (Franklin?) County October 6th 1806

This last will _________ament (and testament?) of Jacob Nafe decd was proved by the Solemn affirmation of Jacob Flora & Joseph Flora two of the Witnesses hereto and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of Isaac Nafe and Joseph Nafe the Executors herein named who took the oath prescribed by Law and gave bond and security Conditioned as the Law directs Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate in due form

Testd

James Callaway CFC

Emigration: 26 SEP 1749 Philadelphia, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Immigration: 26 SEP 1749 Philadelphia, Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Note:

Jacob Naff came to Philadelphia 9-26-1749 on Ship Dragon from Palatine/Zweybrecht (Zweibruchen),Germany moved to Franklin County, Virginia in ca1782, land grant of 314 acres by Govenor Edmund Randolph will probated 10-6-1806; buried on the farm (Naff Cemetery)

His wife also came on this ship but they are believed to have been married after their arival.

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