Benjamin Groff (abt. 1727 - bef. 1812)

Born about 18 Jan 1727 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Died before 2 Mar 1812 before about age 85 in Strasburg Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Hans Herr descendant #178. ^[1]

Benjamin Groff was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on 18 January 1727. ^[1]

On 14 December 1748, Benjamin Groff married Elizabeth Barr (1725-1780). ^[1]

On 23 March 1774, Benjamin married the widow Catherine Groff, née Herr (Herr descendant #177). She had previously been married to (1) Jacob Eshleman (1707-1758) and (2) John Groff (1715-1777). Catherine died 9 May 1781. ^[1]

There are several problems with this scenario.

1. In 1774, when Benjamin and Catherine were supposedly married, Benjamin was likely still married to his first wife, Elizabeth, and Catherine was likely still married to her second husband, John Groff.
2. If Catherine died in 1781, then why did Benjamin make a bequest to her in his 1810 will?

Benjamin Graff was named as an executor in the 1772 will of his brother-in-law Christian Hare. Christian was married to Benjamin's sister Frances/Veronica Groff.

Will

Benjamin Graff, of Strasburg Township in Lancaster County, signed his will (as "Bentz Graf") on 29 October 1810. He added an addendum on 10 August 1811. The will was proved on 2 March 1812. He didn't mention any children of his own, so he probably died childless. People named in the will: ^[2]

• His wife, Catharine Graff
• His father, Jacob Graff, deceased.
• His stepson, Abraham Graff "being a son of John Graff, late of Martrick Township in the County of Lancaster, deceased, and a son of my wife Catharine."
• His wife's "six children" (although he didn't name them, one must have been his stepson Abraham Graff).
• He made specific mention of his nephew Jacob Graff, but he also left bequests for his other, unnamed, nieces and nephews:
  • The children of [his sister] Anna Bear, the wife of Jacob Bear, deceased
  • The children of his brother John Graff, deceased.
  • The children of his sister Veronica Herr
  • The children of his sister Mary Herr
  • The children of his sister Barbara Eshleman, wife of Jacob Eshleman, Senior.
• David Graff, son of Abraham Graff, Senior (Abraham was Benjamin's nephew)
• Jacob Eshleman, Senior (Jacob was Benjamin's brother-in-law)
• Jacob Ritz
• John and David Eshleman (Two of Benjamin's nephews who each married one of Benjamin's great-nieces.)
• Among the lands mentioned was a parcel in Baltimore, Maryland, which he bought at a sheriff's sale in partnership with John Breckbill. (John was Benjamin's cousin.)
• Executors: Jacob Neff, Junior, his nephew Jacob Graff, and Jacob Eshleman, Junior, all of Strasburg Township.

Research Notes

Benjamin's date of death is often given as 10 July 1803, but it is not clear where that date came from. Benjamin's will, dated 1810, seems to fit nicely with his known relatives.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Genealogical Record of Reverend Hans Herr and His Direct Lineal Descendants, by Theodore W. Herr, 1908, page 10, person #178.
2. ↑ The will of Benjamin Graff: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Will Book K, page 228. FHL film #005534204, image 560 of 786.

See also:

• Best, Jane Evans. The Groff Book, Volume 2: A Continuing Saga (Groff History Associates, 1997), page 165, person N1.