Anna (Groff) Barr (abt. 1725 - abt. 1777)

Born about 1725 in Camargo, Eden Township, Lancaster, Province of Pennsylvania [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of Jacob Barr — married [date unknown] (to 1777) in Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died about 30 Aug 1777 at about age 52 in Bart Township, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Hans Herr descendant #182

of Camargo, Pennsylvania

married Jacob Barr, son of Rev. John Barr and _______ ^[1]

Anna was born in 1725. She was the daughter of Jacob Groff and Barbara Brackbill. She died on 30 August 1777. ^[1]

A 1787 deed states that Anna was deceased, and identifies her as the wife of Jacob Bare and daughter of Jacob Graff. It also lists her children. ^[2] For some reason, Anna's son Abraham was not included in the deed, although a later deed states that he was. ^[3]

Anna's husband, Jacob Barr, outlived her and later remarried. In his 1803 will, he made bequests to the "children of my first wife viz., Martin Barr, Jacob Barr, Christian Barr, Abraham Barr, Elizabeth the wife of Daniel Keehnports, and Barbara the wife of Christian Forry." ^[4]

Research Notes

1. Theodore W. Herr, in his 1908 genealogy of the Herr family, stated that Ann Groff was born on 20 July 1740, but the birth of one of her children, Elizabeth (who was probably not the first born), took place on 28 February 1751, when Ann would have been just 11 years old. A more realistic estimate for her year of birth is 1725, and that's the date given in some recent genealogies. ^[5]

2. Theodore W. Herr's 1908 genealogy of the Herr family has two different Anna Groffs marrying the same Jacob Barr.

1. Family of Elizabeth Herr and Michael Groff: #93. Anna, Willow Street, Pa., m. Henry Kendig; m. Wid. Jacob Barr, b. Jan. 8, 1723, son Rev. John Barr and _______. ^[6]
2. Family of Barbara Brackbill and Jacob Groff: #182. Ann, Camargo, Pa., b. July 20, 1740; d. Aug. 30, 1777; m. Nov. 18, 1761, Jacob Barr, b. Jan. 8, 1723; son Rev. John Barr and ______. ^[1]

This is likely a mistake, but more information is needed to resolve it. Here are some clues:

• Anna Groff (#2), daughter of Jacob Groff of Martic Township, was married to Jacob Barr when her father signed his will on 15 March 1760.
• Anna Groff (#2) had a brother, Benjamin Groff, who died childless. In his 1810 will, he mentioned his deceased father, Jacob Graff (which makes him a brother to Anna). Benjamin made bequests to "the children of" each of his siblings. One of those siblings was his sister "Anna Bear, the wife of Jacob Bear, deceased." (In fact, both Anna and her husband were deceased by 1810.) Although Benjamin didn't specifically call Anna his sister, the context makes the relationship clear.
• Anna Groff (#2), daughter of Jacob Groff, was dead by 29 December 1787 when a deed referred to her as the "late wife, deceased" of Jacob Bare. The deed also listed the children of Anna and Jacob: Martin, Jacob, Elizabeth (wife of John Snebly), Barbara (wife of Christian Forrer), and Christian. ^[7]
• Anna Groff (#1), daughter of Michael Groff of Martic Township, was married to Henry Kendrick (Kendig) when her father signed his will in 1771. They were still married in 1776 when Michael's estate was distributed to his heirs.
• When Henry Kendig signed his will in April 1787, shortly before his death, his wife's name was Ann.
• When Jacob Barr signed his will in 1803, his wife's name was Anna. His will seems to indicate that he had been married twice before.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Herr, Theodore W. Genealogical Record of Reverend Hans Herr and His Direct Lineal Descendants, (1908) page 11, person #182.
2. ↑ Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book GG, page 416. FHL film #008035101, image 541 of 634.
3. ↑ Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book E3, page 524 (see page 526). FHL film #008067089, image 600 of 681.
4. ↑ The will of Jacob Barr: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Will Book H, page 393 (see page 394). FHL film #005534203, image 540 of 682.
5. ↑ Best, Jane Evans. The Groff Book, Volume 2: A Continuing Saga (Groff History Associates, 1997), page 47, person A14, and page 167, person N5.
6. ↑ Herr, Theodore W. Genealogical Record of Reverend Hans Herr and His Direct Lineal Descendants, (1908) page 6, person #93.
7. ↑ Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Deed Book GG, page 416. FHL film #008035101, image 541 of 634.

See also:

• Marriage: "U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900"
  Source number: 148.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: GWK
  Ancestry Record 7836 #501663 (accessed 30 May 2023)
  Anna Groff marriage to Jacob Barr.