Notes:

Information about John and Mary (Brown) Grove taken from "THE GROFF BOOK: Vol. 1 A Good Life in a New Land" by Clyde Groff, Walter Groff, and Jane Evans Best, (Groff Hist. Assoc., Ronks, Pa. 1985). Information about children of John and My G e taken from "HISTORY OF SHEPHERD AND RELATED FAMILIES" by Frank Shepherd (Indiana State
Library, Indianapolis, IN, 1943)
John Grove served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Capt. Peter Helpenstine's Company. This is used as his proof for the DAR/SAR lineage. He is listed in a Payroll of Dunmore's War, recorded in 1775. These are referred to as the Rom, and "to a man", almost every soldier on the payroll list signed up for service in the Revolution. I have been unable to locate any other military records, so he may have served in the militia in Romney, Hampshire County VA, (now present da y W. VA.). His first son Jacob was born in Hampshire County John and Mary (Brown) Grove were living in Fayette County PA before 1786,
as reported in a journey by William Brown and Thomas Shepherd that year. The trip was made from Shepherdstown, W. Va. to Wheeling and back again. It mentions that they went to visit John and Mary Grove. (Details contained in "Duke-Shepherd-Va n Metre Families" by Smyth, book at Ft. Wayne, In) Land deeds call John Grove a tanner. He
owned several town lots, and may have had a tannery business at those locations. Shortly before his death he sold his land to his father, Jacob Grove, in Sharpsburg, MD. John pre-deceased his father, and when his father died a few years later , he left John's share of his estate to John's children.


http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lindas/Groff.html
(source for below info)
Sarah Grove, b. 13 December 1785 m. Lemuel Hall
Jacob Grove, b. 29 August 1787
Elizabeth Grove, b. 24 September 1789, m. John Spark
Catherine Brown Grove, b. 26 January 1791, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, d. 1871, m. 1808, Brownsville, Pennsylvania to James Hugh Auld, b. abt. 1785
Shepard B. Grove, b. 14 March 1793, m. 20 October 1817, Berkley County, West Virginia to Mary "Polly" Bower, b. abt 1792, Virginia
John Grove, b. 1 February 1795, d. 1853, Rushcreek Twp, Fairfield County, Ohio, m. Anna McWilliams, b. 5 March 1801, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, d. 15 August 1878, Rushcreek Twp, Fairfield County, Ohio
Perry/Parry Groves, b. 2 February 1797, Pennsylvania, d. 2 July 1881, Ohio, m. Mary Sprinkle, b. abt 1803
Levi Grove, b. 6 December 1798, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, d. 11 March 1876, Greensburg Twp, Putnam County, Ohio, m. Mary Rohrer, b. abt 1803, Pennsylvania
Hannah Matilda Grove, b. 1 December 1800, Masontown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, d. 28 April 1881, McClellandtown, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, m. Elias Parshall, Jr., b. 1796, d. 4 July 1882
William B. Grove, b. 12 April 1802, m. Mary Allendar

Child from the marriage of Jacob Grove and Anna Maria Cookerly
William Grove, b. 1798, Frederick, Maryland, d. 3 May 1872, Lee County, Illinois, m. (1st) 9 November 1819, Cornelia Clay, b. 1800, d. 1844, Mt. Vernon, Ohio, m. (2nd) in 1850 to Cornelia Williams, no known information

Child from the marriage of Peter Grove and Catherine Aucker

Susan Grove, m. 17 July 1851, Berkley County, West Virginia to Daniel Marker

Children from the marriage of Philip Grove and Catherine Hess

From the book: Pennsylvania Archives Series 5, Vol. II ; ; Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment.; Pay Roll Of Capt'n Peter Grubb's Company In 2d Battalion of the Rifle Regiment; Page 398; Roll Of Captain Peter Grubb, Jr's Company; Grove, John, March 19 , 1776

John married Mary Brown on 6 Feb 1785. Mary (daughter of William Brown and Elizabeth Shepherd) was born on 15 Sep 1768; died on 15 Jan 1842. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Sarah Grove was born on 13 Dec 1785.
2. Jacob Grove was born on 29 Aug 1787.
3. Elizabeth Grove was born on 24 Sep 1789.
4. Catherine Grove was born on 26 Jan 1791.
5. Shepherd B. Grove was born on 14 Mar 1793.
6. John Grove was born on 1 Feb 1795; died in 1853 in Rushcreek Twp., Fairfield County, OH; was buried in Jerusalem Cem., Fairfield County, OH.
7. Perry Grove was born on 2 Feb 1797; died on 2 Jul 1881.
8. Levi Grove was born on 6 Dec 1798 in Fayette County, PA; died on 11 Mar 1876 in Greensburg Twp., Putnam County, OH.
9. Hannah Matilda Grove was born on 1 Dec 1800 in Masontown, Fayette County, PA; died on 28 Apr 1881 in McClellandtown, Fayette County, PA.
10. William B. Grove was born on 12 Apr 1802.
11. Stephen Grove was born on 15 Feb 1804.
12. Harvey Grove was born on 19 Feb 1806.
13. Mary Grove was born on 6 Jan 1808.

Notes:

Tombstone, Old Reformed Graveyard, Sharpsburg, MD "Jacob
Graff--Stop pasenger as you pass by what you are now
so wants was i what i am now soon must be
prepare yourself to follow me"
"DESCENDANTS OF HANS GRAF" by Lindsey M. Brien (handtyped book at
Allen County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, IN, 1966) "Jacob Graf, oldest
son of Hans Jr...was a physician and man of prominence in the locality
in which he lived. He came to Maryland in 1765 and signed the Oath of
Fidelity and Support to the State of Maryland in 1778. He also in
1780 lent the sum of $500 for the use of the State of Maryland (See
Md. Archives, Vol XLIII, p. 520)" (The following is also contained
in the Brien book--a letter from Mary French to Kate W. Grove, Sep.
15, 1881) "Dear Niece, ....You wanted to know something about
the Hans Graff family. I have had several sick spells and I can't
recollect like I use to but I can recollect hearing my father say that
my grandfather (Jacob Graff) was is the Revolutionary War the whole
seven years of my Uncle John and Peter were out the same time. My
father (Henry Grove, son of Jacob Grove/Graf) was learning trade at
Little York, he learned Whites smith trade. He made all kinds of
instruments for the war. I have heard him say that the hardest battle
was on Graff's run and that they could walk across on the dead men.
The battle was 9 miles from my grandfather's mill and grandmother
tended the mill...Hans Graff fled from his home on account of
religion...They were a religious people called the Mennonite, they
were persecuted and came to America where they could worship God in
their way. My grandfather, Jacob Graff, was a Presbyterian and they
all descended from the Mennonites. My grandfather sold his
possessions ans bought in Hagerstown and bought a mill 8 miles from
Hagerstown, there he lived and died, he died at the age of 88 years.
My grandmother died at the age of 88 years, the same as my
grandfather. John Graff was the son of Hans Graff, my grandfather's
father...."
Flags: Millitary=Y, Rev. War=Y

Jacob married Catherine Staley in 1758. Catherine was born in Mar 1742; died on 26 Sep 1833 in Sharpsburg, Washington County, MD; was buried in Reform Church Yd, Sharpsburg, Washington County, MD. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Tombstone--Old Reformed Church Yard, Sharpsburg, MD
"Catherine Grove- age 81 yr., 6 mo., 20 da. D. Sept. 25, 1823.
who departed this life the 25 day of Sept. 1823
Aged 81 y, 6 mo, 20 days
Here I rest in Jesus name
till he bids me rise again
Then O death n here is thy sting
Where is thy victory O grave?"


U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
about Catharine Staley
Name: Catharine Staley
Gender: female
Birth Year: 1742
Spouse Name: Jacob Graf
Spouse
Birth Place: PA
Spouse Birth Year: 1737
Marriage
Year: 1758
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Birth: Mar. 5, 1742
Maryland, USA
Death: Sep. 25, 1823
Sharpsburg
Washington County
Maryland, USA

~OUR FAMILIES ANCESTRAL ROOTS~


Married in 1758 in Washington County, Maryland.

Family links:
Children:
Philip Grove (____ - 1841)*
Jacob Grove (1759 - 1834)*

Spouse:
Jacob Graff (1737 - 1819)*

Inscription:
IN Memory of
CATHERINE GROVE
who departed this life the
25th day of September 1823
Aged 81 years & 6 months
and 20 days.

Here I rest in Jesus name
Till he did smile on my again
Then Oh death where is thy sting
Where is thy victory oh grave.

Burial:
Sharpsburgs German Reformed Church Cemetery
Sharpsburg
Washington County
Maryland, USA

Notes:

"DESCENDANTS OF HANS GRAF" by Lindsey M. Brien (handtyped book at
Allen County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, IN, 1966) "Hans Graf, the
second, otherwise called John Graf, or John Grove, son of Hans Graf
and wife Susanna, is named in the will of his father. His wife was
Elizabeth Carpenter, daughter of Heinrich (Zimmerman) Carpenter. In
1763 Hans sells to his brother David, a tract of 197 acres, being part
of a tract of 1419 acres granted to his father." " Hans Graf, Jr.
went with his sons into Maryland, about 1763, and settled in Frederick
County A note appended to his will states that his heirs write the name
'Grove.' Both Hans and his wife Elizabeth are buried at Keedysville,
Washington County MD. Their graves are simply marked with a slab on
which is cut their initials. These were legible in 1912." "Sharf's
History of Western Maryland mentions a resurvey made of Groff's
Forests, which had been granted to John Groff; also mentions a survey
made of Groff's Content in 1788, to Jacob Groff." "John Grove (Hans
Jr.) and his son Jacob, signed the Oath of Fidelity and Support to the
State of Maryland, at the March Court 1778, Sharpsburg Hundred,
Washington County (Washington from Frederick County in 1776). (See
Revolutionary Records of Maryland, by G. M. Brumbaugh, p. 14)"
"THE GROFF BOOK" by Clyde Groff, Walter Groff, and Jane Evans Best,
(Groff Hist. Associates, 1985) "John Groff (E8) was granted 197
acres from the heirs of Hans Groff (E) on 30 July, 1746....John Grove
of Earl twp. purchased 422 acres of land in Newberry twp., York County on
the Conewago Creek on the west side of the Susquehanna River, on 2 May
1763. In 1769 he was listed as living in Newberry twp. when he
purchase land in York Twp. from Michael Gross...by 1779 John Grove had
sold his land, signing his mark HG."
IN 1783 HANS SELLS TO HIS BROTHER DAVID A TRACT OF 197 ACRES, BEING PART OF THE TRACT OF 1419 ACRES GRANTED TO HIS FATHER. (RECORDED BOOK N PAGE 17 OF LANCASTER CO PENN. DEEDS) INDENTURE, APR 15, 1763 BETWEEN THAT OF HANS GRAF OF EARL TOWNSHIP , YEOMAN, AND ELIZABETH HIS WIFE OF THE ONE PART AND DAVID GRAF OF THE SAME, YEOMAN OF THE OTHER PART; TO DAVID GRAF OF EARL TOWNSHIP 197 ACRES, PART OF A LARGER TRACT GRANTED BY A PROPRIETARY PATENT TO HANS GRAF THE FATHER OF SAID HANS GRAF DAT ED 8 NOVEMBER 1737 AND RECORDED IN PHIADELPHIA PATENT BOOK A, VOL 8 PAGE 292.

HANS GRAF WENT WITH HIS SONS INTO MARYLAND ABOUT 1763, AND SETTLED IN FREDERICK COUNTY. A NOTE APPENDED TO HIS WILL STATE THAT HIS HEIRS WRITE THE NAME "GROVE". BOTH HANS AND HIS WIFE ELIZABETH ARE BURIED AT KEEDYSVILLE, WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYL AND. THEIR GRAVES ARE SIMPLY MARKED WITH A SLAB ON WHICH IS CUT THEIR INITIALS. THOSE WERE LEGIBLE IN 1912.

FHARF'S HISTORY OF WESTERN MARYLAND MENTIONS A RESURVEY MADE OF GROFF'S FOR WHICH HAD BEEN GRANTED TO JOHN GROFF; ALSO MENTIONS A SURVEY MADE OF GROFF'S CONTEN 1788 TO JACOB GROFF.

JOHN GROVE AND HIS SON JACOB SIGN THE OATH OF FIDELITY AND SUPPORT TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND AT THE MARCH COURT 1778, SHARPSBURG HUNDRED, WASHINGTON COUNTY. (WASHINGTON FROM FREDERICK IN 1776) SEE REVOLUTIONARY RECORDS OF MARYLAND (RUMBOUGH) PAG E 14.

Hans married Elizabeth Carpenter. Elizabeth (daughter of Heinrich (Zimmerman) Carpenter) was born about 1716; was buried in Keedysville, Washington County, MD. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"DESCENDANTS OF HANS GRAF" by Lindsey M. Brien (hand-typed book at
Allen County Public Library, Ft. Wayne, IN, 1966) "From notes of Miss
Julia Grove of Shepherdstown, who died Jul 26, 1923, aged 83 years.
'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. His coat of
arms is in possessions of his descendants; he was the brother-in-law
of Lieut. Col. Duke of Metzer, Govenor 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 that
Hans Graf, but owing to this very prominence he became the target for
false accusations and his wealth confiscated. The accusations were
proved utterly false and he was publicly exonerated, given invitation
to return and his wealth and property and position 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 PA about 1695, moved
westward to a stream now known as "Groff's Run" in Lancaster County,
where he established a trading post with the Indians, exchanging
blankets for furs which he hauled to Philadelphia on a stout wagon
drawn by six powerful horses. Subsequently he purchased from the sons
of Wm. Penn a tract of land containing some 1400-1500 acres and laid
our Earl Twp. (so named from his title). Later East Earl and West
Earl Twp. were formed. He was always called "der Graf" (the Earl) and
lived to be a very old man and was buried in the grave yard attached
to Groff's Meeting House. His grave is marked with a rough sand stone
slab on which the letters H.G. are still decipherable.' 'According
to Ellis and Evans History of Lancaster County, the first settler in what
is now Earl Twp. was Hans Graf. He was a refugee from Switzerland,
and about the year 1696 emigrated to Germantown, PA., where he
remained several years, then removed in 1717 to Pequea
Valley...."Upper Leacock Twp.- the whole eastern part of this Twp. was
included in a warrant of land granted to Hans Graf...Hans Graf with
one of his brothers were among the early persecuted Christians who
fled from Switzerland to Alsace, then a province of France. About
1695-6 he came to Germantown and remained a short time, afterward
settling in the Pequea Valley, but not being content there he settled
in Groff's Dale, which was named in honor of him." (Ellis and Evans
"History of Lancaster County", p. 925)' 'Rupp's "Collection of Thirty
Thousand Immigrants to PA" Hans Graf was naturalized Oct. 14, 1729.
His brother Martin was first constable. Hans Graf was one of the men
appointed to lay out the Kings Highway in 1733, from Lancaster to
Philadelphia.'
Mr. Diffenderfer (1876) is quoted as saying:
"...Hans Graf, a Swiss refugee, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1696
and after remaining some years at Germantown, first located in the
Pequea Valley. While in pursuit of his strayed horses, he found his
way into what is familiarly know 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 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 principle person in the new settlement that sprung up
around him, even to the time of his death in 1746; 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 Philedelphia in 1733.
Along with many others he was naturalized on Oct. 14, 1729, 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 GROFF BOOK" by Clyde Groff, Walter Groff, and Jane Evans Best,
(Groff History Associates, 1985) "The transition of Hans Groff from
'husbandman' in 1715 to 'wagoner' in the 1724 tax list is verified by
his great-grandson, John Groff, who said he conducted trading between
Philadelphia and the Indians and dealt in blankets and other articles
of merchandise which he procured in Philadelphia. He took them to a
ferry on the Susquehanna River and exchanged them for skins and furs.
He spoke the Indian language fluently. According to Levi Groff, "Hans
Graf started a Big 6 horse Team." The inventory of his estate dated 5
May 1746, included an 'old waggon', valued at L 5.0.0, a 'little
waggon' valued at L 3.15.0, and a 'big waggon' valued at L 12.0.0. It
also inclued smith tools, ropemaker tools, potter tools, and 'several
sorts of Tools'." "The German word 'graf' translates into 'earl' in
English. West Earl was separated from it (Earl twp.) in 1833, and
East Earl was established in 1851." "The inventory of 'Hance Graff of
Erltown' was dated 5 May, 1746 and totaled L648.3.10, including L300
for the plantation and L 123 credits. Bibles and other books included
the 1580 Froschauer Bible he had brought with him from Europe, and
which is still in the family in Lancaster County They were valued at L
8.14.3 and 'Spectaculs' at L 0.8.0. His gold scales, valued at 15
shillings, are on exhibition at the Lancaster Mennonite Historical
Society."

Originating in B?aearetswil, Switzerland, the Groff family became during the early seventeenth century one of the founding families of both the United States and what was later to become Canada. The original German spellings of the family name ar e Graf as well as Graff and the Z?aeurich line, known in the area since the early 1300's, are a branch of the ancient rabbinical Graff family. Forced to convert to Catholicism in the early 1300's they became Anabaptists in 1560 and migrated from S witzerland to the area around Sinsheim, Germany around 1651.

The Groff family has largely remained an East Coast family found both on the United States and Canadian sides of the border. A large number of notable Groffs have migrated back and forth between the two countries during the past two hundred year s. The recognized seat of the U.S. Groff family is the area of southeastern Pennsylvania. In Canada the Groff family is best known in the area around Markham, Ontario. In both countries, the family has often comprised a formidable political an d economic power and was instrumental in the founding of the Mennonite Church Canada.
Contents[hide]

* 1 Family tree
* 2 Ancestors
o 2.1 Hans Groff
* 3 Connections to other prominent families
o 3.1 de Beauvoir / Beaver family connections
o 3.2 Eisenhower family connections

The following is an approximate tree of some of the members of the Groff family:

* Jacob Groff (1751-1824), was a prominent Pennsylvania Revolutionary War soldier of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
o Ulysses Grant Groff (1865-1950), was a noted philanthropist who donated tracts of land to Amherst College and the City of Amherst, Massachusetts
Charles Wister Groff (1898-1987), a renowned real estate developer and philanthropist

Hans Groff (1661? 1746) founder of Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was the uncle of the father of Jacob Groff. He is believed to be the oldest known member of the Groff family in North America and the holder of the title Baron v on Welden of Grafenwald Castle near B?aearetswil, Switzerland.
External links for Hans Groff:
* "A Biographical History of Lancaster County" (1872) by Alex. Harris pg. 237-239
* Hans Graf Family descendants

Tombstone
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. H e 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.

#
Hans Graf founder of Lancaster, PA, Baron von Welden
#
#

Originating in B?aearetswil, Switzerland, the Groff family became during the early seventeenth century one of the founding families of both the United States and what was later to become Canada. The original German spellings of the family name ar e Graf as well as Graff and the Z?aeurich line, known in the area since the early 1300's, are a branch of the ancient rabbinical Graff family. Forced to convert to Catholicism in the early 1300's they became Anabaptists in 1560 and migrated from S witzerland to the area around Sinsheim, Germany around 1651.

The Groff family has largely remained an East Coast family found both on the United States and Canadian sides of the border. A large number of notable Groffs have migrated back and forth between the two countries during the past two hundred year s. The recognized seat of the U.S. Groff family is the area of southeastern Pennsylvania. In Canada the Groff family is best known in the area around Markham, Ontario. In both countries, the family has often comprised a formidable political an d economic power and was instrumental in the founding of the Mennonite Church Canada.
Contents[hide]

* 1 Family tree
* 2 Ancestors
o 2.1 Hans Groff
* 3 Connections to other prominent families
o 3.1 de Beauvoir / Beaver family connections
o 3.2 Eisenhower family connections


[edit] Family tree

The following is an approximate tree of some of the members of the Groff family:

* Jacob Groff (1751-1824), was a prominent Pennsylvania Revolutionary War soldier of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
o Ulysses Grant Groff (1865-1950), was a noted philanthropist who donated tracts of land to Amherst College and the City of Amherst, Massachusetts
+
# Charles Wister Groff (1898-1987), a renowned real estate developer and philanthropist


[edit] Ancestors


[edit] Hans Groff

Hans Groff (1661? 1746) founder of Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania was the uncle of the father of Jacob Groff. He is believed to be the oldest known member of the Groff family in North America and the holder of the title Baron vo n Welden of Grafenwald Castle near B?aearetswil, Switzerland.

External links for Hans Groff:

* "A Biographical History of Lancaster County" (1872) by Alex. Harris pg. 237-239
* Hans Graf Family descendants

Hans married Susanna Kendig in 1704 in Germantown, PA. Susanna was born about 1680; died after 1746 in Lancaster County, PA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]