| Notes |
- {{Palatine Migration}}
== Biography ==
Jacob was born about 1699. His parents are unproven.
[Groff Book 2, page 165.]
Jacob Groff married Barbara Brackbill, daughter of Benedict Brackbill. Proof of this comes from an April 1737 deed in which the three children of Benedict Brackbill—Ulrich, Barbara and Maudlin—sold 530 acres of land that had belonged to their father. The deed referred to Jacob Graff, yeoman, of Lancaster County and "Barbara his wife, one of the Daughters of the said Benedictus Brackbill."[1737 Brackbill deed: [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3P-G9BQ-5?i=185&cat=224489 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book B, page 95.] FHL film #007837371, image 186 of 758.]
Jacob Groff and Barbara Brackbill had six children:
[Groff Book 2, page 165.]
# Ann Groff, b. about 1725, married Jacob Barr.# Benjamin Groff, b. 1727, married (1) Elizabeth Bär, and (2) Catherine Eshleman.
# John Groff, b. 1730, married Elsbeth Kendig.
# Frances/Veronica Groff, b. 1732, married Christian Herr.
# Mary Groff, b. 1735, married John Herr.
# Barbara Groff, b. 1747, married Jacob Eshleman.
=== Land Records ===
On 10 May 1736, Jacob Graff was granted 400 acres "on a Branch of Beaver Creek," in Lancaster County, part of 5,000 acres warranted to Martin Kendig and Hans Herr in 1717. [[https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-V3DD-YZFG?cat=44185 Pennsylvania Patent Book A7, page 543] FHL film #008715258, image 674 of 834.]Today, the property would be near the eastern border of Providence Township.[[http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bah/dam/rg/di/r17-522WarranteeTwpMaps/r017Map2838LancasterProvidenceWeb.pdf Warrant Map] of Providence Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Pennsylvania State Archives, RG-17, Records of the Land Office.]Jacob bequeathed half of this land to his daughter Barbara and her husband Jacob Eshleman, without specifying exactly how it should be divided. In 1770, Barbara Eshleman's siblings deeded the western half of the 400 acres to her and her husband "in order the better to vest the estate."[1770 Deed, Benjamin Graft et al to Jacob Ashelman: [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSF1-SS3W-S?cat=224489 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book S, page 602.] FHL film #008067074, image 316 of 627.]
In July 1738, Jacob Graff purchased 150 acres of land on Beaver Creek. He and his wife, Barbara, sold the land in 1756. (Barbara signed the deed with her mark.)[1756 deed: [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHW-4QMQ-T?cat=224489 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book D, page 386.] FHL film #007907086, image 199 of 711.]
=== Will ===
Jacob Graft, of Martic Township, Lancaster County, signed his will on 15 March 1760. The witnesses were John Herr and Andrew Work. The will was proved on 15 October 1766. The main provisions were:[The will of Jacob Graft. [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899B-VZST?i=468&cc=1999196&cat=227825 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Will Book B, page 509 (image 394 of 514).] FHL film #005534200, image 469 of 589.]
* His wife (unnamed) was to have the "privilege" to stay in the house where she was then living.* His daughter-in-law, Eals Graft, was to be allowed to stay in the house where she was living for twelve years, during which time she was to care for his four grandchildren (Jacob, John, Elizabeth and Abraham Graft) and teach them to read and write "midling well." If she was still a widow at the end of the twelve years, she could remain in the house, otherwise she was to leave "peaceably."* When his grandson Jacob Graft, son of John Graft, deceased, reached the age of 21, "the plantation I Lived upon," containing 300 acres, was to be divided between the two grandsons, Jacob and John Graft.* The other two grandchildren, Elizabeth and Abraham Graft, were to receive money rather than land.* His children (Benjamin; Frances, wife of Christely Hare; Anna Bare, wife of Jacob Bare; Mary Hare; and Barbara) were all to receive land.* He appointed his son Benjamin Graft and his son[-in-law] Christian Hare as executors of his will.
=== Research Notes ===
'''Multiple Jacob Groffs'''
The Groff Book, Vol II, distinguishes between several Jacob Groffs. Note: Relationships among early members of the Groff families are not well established.
: '''1. Jacob Groff (ca. 1699 - 1766)'''
This Jacob may have been the son of Hans Graf (c.1670-c. 1730). Jacob's will was proved October 15, 1766. He married Barbara Brackbill and they had 6 children: Benjamin, John, Frances/Veronica, Mary, Ann and Barbara.
[Groff Book 2, page 53, #B1, and page 165, #N]
: '''2. Jacob Groff (2 April 1699? - ca. 1740)'''
This Jacob may have been the son of Hans Groff (c. 1675-1746) who later married Susanna Kendig. Hans had a son named Jacob whom he carefully and explicitly barred from any inheritance beyond the "Thirty pounds I have already paid unto the said Jacob"[[[Space:Last_Will_and_Testament_of_Hans_Graeff|Last Will and Testament of Hans Graeff]]]. Jacob emigrated to America in 1709, traveling with two German Lutheran ministers from England. He married Elizabeth _______.
[Groff Book 2, pages 76-77; Page 84, #E1.]
: '''3. John Jacob Groff (ca. 1695 - 6 May 1776)'''
This Jacob lived in Ephrata Township. He was the son of Christian Groff of Cocalico Township. He married Margaret Shenk and Maria Kauffman.
[Groff Book 2, page 127, #H1]Note: Margaret Shenk and Maria Kauffman may have married two different Jacob Groffs: apparently one was able to sign his name (Kauffman) while the other signed with his mark (Shenk).
== Sources ==
See also:
* 1770 Deed, Benjamin Graff et al, to Jacob Bare: [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSFB-K33T-Y?i=188&cat=224489 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book X, page 368.] FHL film #008067076, image 189 of 621.
* 1770 Deed, Christian Hare et al, to Benjamin Graff: [https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSFB-YQJH-B?i=265&cat=224489 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book 3T, page 519.] FHL film #008067098, image 266 of 759.
* [https://archive.org/details/cu31924029842204/page/3/mode/1up Genealogical Record of Reverend Hans Herr and His Direct Lineal Descendants, by Theodore W. Herr, 1908, page 3, person #42.]
*Clyde L. Groff, Walter B. Groff, and Jane Evans Best, "The Groff Book, Volume I: A Good Life In A New Land," Groff History Associates
*Jane Evans Best, "The Groff Book, Volume 2: A Continuing Saga", Groff History Associates, 1997, Ronks, Pennsylvania.
*Richard Warren Davis, ''www.mennosearch.com'', 2006
*Dwayne Wrightsman, "Jacob Graff (1699-1776)- MFH," Mennonite Family History
=== Acknowledgments ===*This person was created through the import of Horst Family.ged on 27 October 2010. *This person was created through the import of carl&elaine_(grove)_rhodes-10-2-2010.ged on 09 March 2011.
* WikiTree profile Groff-149 created through the import of john_w_martin-rootsweb.ged on Aug 5, 2011 by [[Coggins-26 | Cody Coggins]].
* WikiTree profile Groff-145 created through the import of The Sammons Family Tree.ged on Jun 9, 2011 by [[Sammons-51 | Steve Sammons]].
* WikiTree profile Groff-177 created through the import of Hans-Groff.ged on Aug 18, 2011 by [[Coggins-26 | Cody Coggins]].
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Abt 1699 - Bef 1766 (< 67 years)
