| 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
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- 1746
