| Notes |
- == Biography == David Groff was the youngest son of Hans Groff, the Swiss pioneer, and his wife Susanna Kendig, born about 1722. Some sources indicate birthdate as July 1, 1720.
Place of birth has been listed as either Germantown, PA or Earl Twp, Lancaster Co PA. Since Hans Graff had purchased land in Earl Twp in 1717, I have listed the place of birth of David as Earl Twp, Lancaster Co, PA.
David's father Hans Graff was born about 1661 in Switzerland and came to Germantown, PA in 1696. Within the next few years Hans became a man of wealth and prominence. Hans died in 1746, his will was proved May 7, 1746. In his will, Hans left a plantation or equivalent of a plantation to each of his 10 children. [[http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Groff,_Hans_(1661-1746)&oldid=81464 Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online]]
The family were Mennonites. 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.[http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Groff,_Hans_(1661-1746)&oldid=81464][[[#GroffBookII|The Groff Book, Volume 2]], page 83.]
David was listed as a distiller in the 1758 Earl Twp, Lancaster County lists with 275 acres at the time.
Spouse and children: [[[#GroffBookII|The Groff Book, Volume 2]], p. 101-103]
"E9 '''David Groff''' (was E0), b. 1720 or 1721; d. Nov. 17, 1784, bu. Groffdale Cem., Earl Twp.; distiller; 4 ch.
:m. '''Barbara Moyer''' (?MC1373), b. 1722; inv. Jan. 5, 1815.:E91 '''John Groff''' (was E01), b. 1745; d. June 7, 1796, Earl Twp.; on Feb. 27, 1796, gave land in Lampeter Twp. to 2 sons; 6 ch.
:E92 '''Anna Groff''' (was E02), b. ca. 1747; d. by 1783; 2 ch.
:E93 '''Barbara Groff''', b. ca. 1749; d. by 1783; 4 ch.:E94 '''David Groff''' (was E04), b. 1757; d. Feb. 7, 1784, bu. Groffdale Cem.; distiller; 4 ch."
Died 17 Nov 1784, Earl Twp, Lancaster Co, PA
Lancaster Co Orphans Court Record of June 8, 1785 refers to the son of David Groff who died a few months before David Groff senior. The Barbara Graff mentioned as an heir to David Groff in 1785 was the daughter of David Groff Jr and not the Barbara Groff who married Christian Binkley.
Buried in Groffdale Mennonite Brick Church Cemetery, Leola, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA [Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69998449/david-graff: accessed 05 July 2023), memorial page for David Graff (1721–17 Nov 1784), {{FindAGrave|69998449}}, citing Groffdale Mennonite Brick Church Cemetery, Leola, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by roots56 (contributor 47495118).]
=== Will ===
David wrote his will 22 Sep 1783 and it was probated 23 Nov 1784. In his will he lists his heirs including the children of his daughter Barbara Binkley, late the wife of Christian Binkley. The children of Barbara Binkely are listed as David and Barbara Binkley. David’s wife Barbara and friend David Martin were listed as executors.["Pennsylvania Probate Records, 1683-1994," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G99B-VVM3?cc=1999196&wc=9PM8-7MQ%3A268493801%2C268532101 : 3 July 2014), Lancaster > Wills 1784-1796 vol E-F > image 70 of 586; county courthouses, Pennsylvania.]
References wife Barbara. David's children mentioned in Will are John, David, Ann and Barbara. Both Ann (m. Jacob Erb) and Barbara (m. Christian Binckly) were already deceased at the time of writing, so their inheritances were specified as given to their children, David and John Erb, and David and Barbara Binckly. Barbara (David's wife) and David Martin were named executors, and the will was written September 22, 1783. Witnessed by Mark Martin and Mark Grove. Proved November 24, 1784.
===Family Bible===Hans Groff had brought with him from Europe the 1580 Froschauer Bible. Levi W. Groff, the great grandson of David Groff, inserted a five page statement in the bible in 1892. In it he described the family of Hans Groff and of his great grandfather David Groff.[Statement of Levi W. Groff, dated 4 Jul 1876, in Mennonite Research Journal, Jul 1970, p 28]
===Lancaster Deed===As the youngest son, David was granted the homestead plantation of 200 acres by his siblings, July 30, 1746.
Lancaster Co PA Deeds C-322, dated 30 Jul 1746:''This Indenture made the thirtieth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty six, Between Susanna Graffe of the county of Lancaster in the province of Pennsylvania widow, Peter Graffe of the same county yeoman and Barbara his wife, Samuel Graffe of the same county yeoman and Christina his wife, Mark Graffe of the same county and Anna his wife, Daniel Graffe of the same and Mary his wife, Hans Graffe of the same and Elizabeth his wife, Peter Good who marryed Anna one of the daughters of Hans Graffe deceased of the same yeoman, Henry Landus of the same and Fronika one of the daughters of the said Hans Graffe his wife, and Mary Fry widow one of the daughters of the said Hans Graffe deceased of the one part and David Graffe one the same county yeoman of the other part, Whereas the Honourable John Penn Thomas Penn and Richard Penn Esquires true and absolute proprietaries and governors in chief of the said province by their patent under the hand of the said Thomas Penn and the Great Seal of the said province bearing date the eighteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty seven granted to Hans Graffe of the county of Lancaster deceased a certain tract of fourteen hundred and nineteen acres of land and the usual allowance situate in Earl town in the said county to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever as by the said patent recorded in the office for recording of deeds for the city and county of Philadelphia in Book A, Volume 8 page 292 the nineteenth of November following may more at large appear, And Whereas the said Hans Graffe by his last will and testament bearing date the eighth day of November in the year of our Lord 1738 duly proved the 7th May 1746 and remaining in the registers office at Lancaster devised all his messuages lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever unto the said Susanna Graffe then wife of the said Hans Graffe and to Peter Graffe Samuel Graffe Mark Graffe Daniel Graffe David Graffe Ann Graffe Fronika Graffe and Mary Graffe above named children of the said Hans Graffe and whereas the said Hans Graffe in his life time after the making of his said will conveyed to his said sons Peter Samuel Mark and Daniel their respective shares of the said fourteen hundred and nineteen acres of land and also advanced to his daughters Anna wife of Peter Good and Mary then wife of John Kry since deceased their respective shares of his said estate reserving in his own hands the plantation on which he lived with the quantity of five hundred acres of land to be divided amongst his sons Hans Graffe and David Graffe and his daughter Fronika now wife of Henry Landus in manner following viz, the plantation on which he lived with two hundred acres of land to David Graffe, two hundred acres adjoining it to Hans Graffe, and the remaining one hundred acres to Fronika wife of Henry Landus and the said Hans Graffe departing this life without altering the said will abovementioned and trusting to his said widow and children to join in a release and conveyance of the lands above to his said sons Hans and David and his daughter Fronika in manner above by him directed, Now This Indenture Witnesseth that the said Susanna Graffe Peter Graffe Peter Graff and Barbara his wife Samuel Graffe and Christina his wife Mark Graffe Anna his wife Daniel Graffe and Mary his wife Hans Graffe and Elizabeth his wife Peter Good Henry Landus and Fronika his wife and Mary Kry in discharge of the trust reposed in them by the said Hans Graffe deceased and for the making an equal distribution of his lands according to his directions as above set forth as also in consideration of the sum of five shillings to each of the parties hereto respectively paid by the said David Graffe the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have and each and every of them hath granted assigned released and confirmed and by these presents do and each and every of them doth grant assign release and confirm unto the said David Graffe his heirs and assigns all that certain plantation and tract of land situate in Earl town in the county aforesaid beginning at a corner white oak thence north north west one hundred and five perches to a post a corner of David Graffes land thence by the said David Graffs land north seventy two degrees east one hundred and four perches to a post thence by the said north thirty seven degrees west sixty perches to a hickery thence north fifty eight degrees east sixty eight perches to a black oak thence by the same east by south one hundred and seventy eight perches to a Spanish oak thence south by east seventy five perches to a white oak thence north sixty degrees west one hundred and six perches to a post thence south eight degrees west one hundred and fifty five perches to a post thence north sixty degrees west forth three perches to a post then south forty two degrees west one hundred and thirty six perches to a post thence north north west thirty perches to white oak and west north west twenty perches to the place of beginning, Containing two hundred acres and allowance being part of the tract of fourteen hundred and nineteen acres above mentioned, Together with all and singular the improvements rights members and appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in anywise appertaining and the reversions and remainders rents issues and profits thereof and all the estate right title interest property claim and demand of the said Susanna Graffe Peter Graffe and Barbara his wife Samuel Garffe and Christina his wife Mark Graffe and Anna his wife Daniel Graffe and Mary his wife Hans Graffe and Elizabeth his wife Peter Good Henry Landus and Fronika his wife and Mary Kry of in and to the said premises hereby granted and true copies of all deeds evidences and writings concerning the same to be had and made at the proper costs and charges of the said David Graffe his heirs and assigns, To Have and to hold the said plantation and tract of two hundred acres of land hereditaments and premises hereby granted with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said David Graffe and his heirs to the only proper use and behoof of the said David Graffe his heirs and assigns forever under the yearly quit rent due and to become due and payable to the chief Lord or Lords of the fee thereof and the said Susanna Graffe Peter Graffe and Barbara his wife Samuel Graffe and Christina his wife Mark Graffe and Anna his wife Daniel Graffe and Mary his wife Hans Graffe and Elizabeth his wife Peter Good Henry Landus and Fronika his wife and Mary Kry severally and apart and not jointly and for their several heirs executors admors and assigns do severally and apart covenant and grant to and with the said David Graffe his heirs and assigns that he the said David Graffe his heirs and assigns shall and may from henceforth forever hereafter paeaceably and quietly have hold occupy possess and enjoy the said plantation and tract of two hundred acres of land and premises before granted and released unto the said David Graffe free and discharged of and from all other estate rights titles interest charges and incumbrances whatsoever had made or suffered or hereafter to be had made or suffered of or by the said Susanna Graffe Peter Graffe and Barbara his wife Samuel Graffe and Christina his wife Mark Graffe and Anna his wife Daniel Graffe and Mary his wife Hans Graffe and Elizabeth his wife Peter Good Henry Landus and Fronika his wife and Mary Kry or any of them their or any of their heirs or assigns and that without any lett hindrance interruption or denial of them the said Susanna Graffe Peter Graffe and Barbara his wife Samuel Graffe and Christina his wife Mark Graffe and Anna his wife Daniel Graffe and Mary his wife Hans Graffe and Elizabeth his wife Peter Good and Henry Landus and Fronika his wife and Mary Kry or any of them their or any of their heirs or assigns or of any other person or persons lawfully claiming by from or under them or any of them, In Witness whereof the said parties to these presents have set their hands and seals hereunto interchangeably the day and year above written. Hans (X) Graffe, Elisabeth (X) Graff, Henry Landus, Fronika (X) Landes, Mary (X) Kry, Mark (X) Graff, Anna (X) Graff, Daniel Graff, Maria (X) Graff, Peter Good, Susannah (X) Graff, Peter (X) Graff, Barbara (X) Graff, Samuel Graff, Christina (X) Graff.''Sealed and delivered in the presence of us by Hans Graffe Henry Landus and Mary Kry. Tho. Cookson, Isaac Leaman.''Susannah Graff Peter Graff Barbara Graff Samuel Graff Christina Graff Mark Graff Anna Graff Daniel Graff Maria Graff Peter Good Elisabeth Graff Fronica Landes Sealed and delivered in the presence of us, Elias Merger, Christian Moseman, Andrew Moseman.''Personally appeared before me Emanuel Carpenter one of the justices of the peace in and for the county of Lancaster the within named Susannah Graff Peter Graff Barbara Graff Samuel Graff Christina Graff Mark Graff Anna Graff Daniel Graff Maria Graff Peter Good Hans Graff Elizabeth Graff Henry Landis Fronica Landes and Mary Kry, and Acknowledged the within conveyance to be their deed and desired the same to be recorded as such, Witness my hand and seal the eleventh day of August Anno Domini 1746. Emanual Carpenter.
''Recorded the 5th day of April 1752.''I Benjamin Longenecker do certify that the foregoing instrument was duly recorded in Record Book C page 322 during the official term of my predecessor in office which said instrument was left for record April 5th 1752 and having been uncertified is now certified as required by law. Benjamin Longenecker, Recorder.[Lancaster Co PA Deeds C-322, dated 30 Jul 1746]
== Sources ==
See also:* Jane Evans Best, "The Groff Book, Volume 2: A Continuing Saga", Groff History Associates, 1997, Ronks, Pennsylvania.
* {{FamilySearch|LTGZ-6KG}}
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Abt 1722 - 1784 (62 years)
