Johannes Peter "John" Graeff ¹²⁸⁸

   Other names for Johannes were Johan Peter Graeb,¹⁰⁸⁸ Johannes Peter Graff ^{1086,1088,1214,1229,1288,1390,1391} and Johannes Peter Groff ^851,1286.^,1384

  Research Notes:

Johannes Peter GROFF (GROFF, GRAEFF), & family immigrated to America ca 1764. Several of the Grove family are buried in the Dayle Cemetery, Somerset Co., PA.

From "Mother Bedford and the Revolutionary War, by Larry D. Smith, Closson 1999, pages 319 and 320:

JOHN PETER GROFF Born: 1730 Died: 1800 Buried in the Pine Hills Cemetery, Brothers Valley Township. A man by the name of Peter Groff served in Captain Henry Christ, Jr's Company, 2nd Battalion of Colonel Samuel Miles' Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment m 1776. A man by the name of Peter Groff served in Captain John Smuller's Company, 9th Battalion of the Lancaster County Militia in 1778 and 1779. Peter Groff served in Captain Andrew Ream's Company, the 2nd Company, 3rd Battalion (later the 8th Company, 6th Battalion) of the Lancaster County Militia in 1780, 1781 and 1782. Peter Groff served in Captain John Sleter's Company, the 1st Company, 3rd Battalion of the Lancaster County Militia in 1781. A man by the name of Peter Groff served as the Captain of a company of the Northumberland County Militia in 1782. A man by the name of Peter Groff served in Captain Anthony Lechler's Company, 3rd Battalion of the Philadelphia City Militia in 1777.

JOHN PETER GROFF, PIONEER SETTLER, SOMERSET CO., PA By Eber Cockley 1961
"There has been a great deal of research on JOST and GRAF surnames. These names are primarily from Switzerland … the German section of Switzerland." Report of Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah, 23 Jun, 1958.

ZIVILSTANDAMT WYNIGEN, Canton Berne, 16 May, 1961, report states: It is correct that the families of Graf and Jost in Wynigen were early settlers. These two families appeared with the old inhabitants already here in the first church records in the year 1553. We have looked up the record of the church in Wynigen from 1714 to 1799…. We could not locate the marriage of Anna Maria Graf nee Jost and Johann Peter Graeff. It is a pity that the bible record does not give the name and the place of the marriage." ----Der Zivikstandsbeamte: W. Ablinden.

STAATARCHIV DES KANTONS BERN, 21 April 1960, report states: "The Basell and State Archives write us that a Hans Graf was indeed baptized at Maisprach on July 15, 1731, but that a marriage Graf-Jost is not recorded there…"---Der Adjunken des Staatsarchivars: Chr. Lerch German Reformed church, Maisprach Dist., Canton, Baselland, baptism record lists the family of HANS JACOB GRAFF, a linen weaver, born 1704, the son of Isaac; married URSULA VOLMIN; their children HANS JACOB JR bpt 12 June 1729; JOHANNES bpt 15 July 1731; URSULA bpt 30 June 1737; BARBARA bpt 2 Oct 1740. It is not definitely known whether this JOHANNES GRAFF came to Somerset but this is as near as we could get.

Hans Jacob Graff 45, & family immigrated to Carolina to Pa. 1749 1960 P. 140. JOHANN Peter 1768.

Some authorities assign PETER GRAF to the family of HANS GRAFF for whom Earl Township, Lancaster Co., Pa. was named. This family group came to Penna. in 1696. The father HANS was born 1661 in Switzerland and later held the title of Baron von Waldon in Alsace. The old German Bible purchased in 1585 containing records of this family, now in the possession of Levi W. Grodd, Lancaster, Pa.

THE GRAFFIN BIBLE
Morris Brant, Berlin, Pa., has the large German Bible, with straps and buckles to fasten it shut, containing records of our Somerset County Groff family. Graffin denotes feminine gender in German, hence it was Mary Yost Groff's book, published in 1720 at Basil, Switzerland, by Emanuel and John Randolph Thurneyson Brothers. This bible was appraised at three pounds sterling, in estate record of John Peter Graff, in 1800, in comparison with the appraised value of one mare colt six pounds. Translated by Prof. D. H. Bauman and John Zipfel, this record is conclusive:
"This is the most important writing (story) of my life…
"Year 1727, I (Maria) was born February 20th.
"Year 1748 on 22nd August, I was married to John Peter Graff.
"A son was born 1749, 6th June, godfather John Jost, my brother.
"Year 1750, 20 July, a son was born, godfather my brother-in-law John Jacob.
"Year 1752, 21 April, God blessed us with a daughter, godmother Anna Gertraud.
"Year 1753, 25 October, a daughter born, godmother Elizabeth Faust, needlewoman.
"Year 1757, 21 Jan., a daughter born, godmother my sister Elizabeth.
"Year 1759, 8 July, a daughter born, godmother Anna Katherina.
"Year 1760, 29 Nov., a son born, witness George Tilman.
"Year 1767, 11 Nov., a daughter born, in America, godmother Christina wife of my brother George Adam.
"Year 1763, 14 Sep., a son born, godparents Matthew Zorn and wife Christina.
"My brother John Jost was born 1732 Feb 27 in morning at 2 o'clock.
"My sister Anna Catherine was born to the world 1737 Aug 17."

THE WILL OF JOHN PETER GROFF
Will #6 Somerset 1800 quote: In the name of God the Father, the son and Holy Ghost, Amen. whereas, it is uncertain to me John Peter Groff when the Lord may be pleased to call me from this world, am therefore resolved while yet possessed of my understanding to make my last will or testament. And so declare the following my last Will and testament. First, I give and assign after my decease unto my loving wife Anna Maria, all my estate real and personal for her support during her natural life. Second, And after the decease of my loving wife, the residue and remainder of my estate both real and personal to be divided amongst my heirs as follows, to wit; To my eldest daughter Anna Gertrude, now Hay; to my second daughter Elizabeth, late Engle, her issue, as the Lord hath been pleased to call her from this World before me; and to my third daughter Anna Barbara, now Brant, these my heirs aforesaid named shall have, hold and enjoy all the residue and remainder of my estate real and personal, after my wife's decease. And do order and direct that the same, as well real as personal, be sold and divided into three equal shares, to wit: Anna Gertrude Hay, Elizabeth late Engle deceased, her issue and my third daughter Anna Barbara Brant, and the said is my Will and testament and desire the same to be carried into effect.
Dated Brothersvalley Township, Bedford County, Pa., November 14, 1791
(s) John Peter Graef
Witnesses: Jacob Gibler, Dilman Sheets, Abraham Brand, Ludwig Sheets.
Translated from the original German by J. Weigley, April 8, 1800.

VETERAN REGISTRATION
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department Military Affairs, Somerset, PA.

GROFF, PETER; Revolutionary War served 6 Apr 1776 to July 1777, 2d Bn., Rifle Regt., Penna. Rank, Capt. Pa. Archives s v2 p377-382-387. Colonial records identify 2d Bn., Cols. Miles and Brodhead, participated battles Long Island, Trenton, Princeton and Billingsport. Service proven D.A.R. #462418.

LAND RECORD
Peter Groff was issued warrant for 200 acres Brothersvalley Township, patent name "Delectable," 7 Sep 1784; surveyed 5 Apr 1785; on Buffalo Lick Creek between Pine Hill and Mineral Spring. Deed book 5 page 262 Somerset records transfer of this property March 30, 1810, to his son-in-law Frantz Hay, who purchased it "at public venue March 30, 1809, according to the will of John Peter Groff."

CHURCH AND COURT RECORDS
The oldest church record extant in Somerset County is a "Church Book of both the Evangelical Lutheran and Evangelical Reformed Congregations in the Glades, Brothers Valley Township, Bedford County, province of Pennsylvania, written in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1777." Therein it is recorded: "Both Congregations resolved together to build a school house where their children may be instructed in the Word and Grace of God, where also from time to time service may be held, which the school master, or if there should be none, some member of each congregation shall read prayers, as well as a sermon, and where also sermons shall be preached and the Holy Sacrament may be administered by visiting ministers in regular connection with the very Reverend Coetus of the Reformed and the Ministerium of the Lutheran Church." The first resident minister to serve these congregations was secured eleven years later, in 1788. The location is Berlin, Pa.

John Peter Groff and wife Anna Maria (Sometimes entered as Anna Maria Catherine) were active in the Reformed congregation between 27 July 1779 and 7 Feb 1792, as sponsors at infant baptisms on 18 occasions. Minutes for 17 Dec 1879, contain a report of Elders John Peter Groff and Jacob J. Glessner, members of a building committee for the erection of a new Reformed church in Berlin. Minutes in 1792 report a gift of $4.00 from Peter Groff to buy a communion cup.

The 1789 assessment for Brothersvalley Township lists Peter Groff with 80 acres. Federal Supply Tax List in 1783 lists his holdings as 100 acres. In 1784 census of that district, he is enumerated with 5 persons in family group. In 1793 same district, his tax is 8 shillings 6 pence. In 1800 census, his widow, Maria Groff, is the only person with the Groff family name enumerated in Brothersvalley Twp.
John Peter Groff (ca) 1730 in Switzerland; died 1800 Brothersvalley Twp.

Anna Maria born 20 Feb 1727 in Switzerland; died 1809 Brothersvalley Twp. ¹³⁹²

  Life Events:

1. Alt. Birth, 15 Jul 1731, Wynigen, Switzerland. ¹²⁸⁶

2. Immigration, Oct 1768, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹⁰⁸⁸ on the Ship "Minerva"

3. Military: Revolutionary War, Between 6 Apr 1776 and Jul 1777. ¹²⁸⁶ 2d Bn, Rifle Regt., Penna, Rank, Captain

4. Church Affiliation: Evangelical Reformed: Brothersvalley Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹²⁸⁶ Elder

5. Residence: 100 Acres, 1783, Brothersvalley Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹²⁸⁶ Federal Supply Tax List

6. Residence: 80 Acres, 1789, Brothersvalley Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹²⁸⁶ Tax Assessment

7. Residence: 8 Shillings 6 Pence, 1793, Brothersvalley Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹²⁸⁶ Tax Assessment

Johannes married Anna Maria Schneider, daughter of Johann Jacob Schneider and Anna Getrude Schneider, on 22 Aug 1748 in Wynigen, Switzerland ^{1086,1214,1229}.^,1286 (Anna Maria Schneider was born on 20 Feb 1729 in Wynigen, Switzerland,¹²¹⁴ died in 1809 in Brothersvalley Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA ^{1086,1214,1229} and was buried in 1809 in Brothersvalley Township, Somerset, Pennsylvania, USA.)

  Marriage Events:

1. Alt. Marriage, 22 Aug 1749, Wynigen, Switzerland. ⁸⁵¹