[74-9] ELIZABETH HEEBNER, b Apr. 11, 1753; d Sept. 7, 1829(8); dax Melchior and Anna Maria (Barbara) (Fisher) Heebner [74-2]; m Dec. 5, 1775, JACOB GROFF, b Apr. 20, 1751; d Jan. 15, 1824; s Jacob and Maria Groff. Buried in the Goshenhoppen Cem., Pa.
Children (7):
According to Edward Matthews, Jacob Groff had eight children; name of eighth child could not be ascertained. [ Unable to complete records of this family.]
Jacob Groff, the father of Jacob Groff who married Elizabeth Heebner, was born in Holland in February,1715. The name was originally spelled Graf. The date of his coming to America is uncertain; Rupp’s list of German and foreign emigrants mentions three Jacob Groffs coming to Pennsylvania in 1737, 1744, and 1749. The name of the wife of the emigrant Jacob Groff was Maria, who was born in 1722, and they were married in 1745.
Tradition says all their children were born prior to their migration to America. Tradition also says that Jacob Groff and family first located on a farm near Zieglersville, Pa.; that they first camped under a large oak tree on the banks of the Goshenhoppen Run. In 1769 a patent for land was granted to Jacob Groff [vid. below]. The children of Jacob Groff were Jacob, Joseph, John, Abraham, Henry, David, and Elisabeth. Of these sons the first five named remained near their father’s homestead on the Perkiomen, whilst David removed to Bucks County, purchasing a farm, first in Hilltown, and then another on the Neshaminy. There his name was changed to Grove. All these children of Jacob Groff were born previous to his settlement on the land received by patent in Upper Salford.
Jacob, the son of Jacob Groff, the emigrant, was born April 20, 1751. On December 5, 1775, he married Elisabeth Heebner, who had been born April 11, 1753. In 1785 he bought his father’s homestead of two hundred acres. He was a fuller by trade, and his stone mill still stands a short distance south of the present dwelling of Abraham Pool. Jacob Groff also bought other lands. In 1799 he purchased one hundred and nine acres of Jacob Kolb, lying along the Perkiomen, upon which was a fulling mill, and which may be traced back to 1764, when a patent for same was granted to Henry Bamberger. He only held it six years, conveying it to his son, Joseph, ‘‘blue dyer,” in 1805, for $1050.00.
The death of Jacob Groff occurred January 15, 1824, he then being in his seventy-third year. He was buried at Goshenhoppen. His wife survived him till September 7, 1828, she being then seventyfive years old. Their children were eight in number: Mary, the wife of John Leidy; Joseph, Jacob, Henry, Abraham, Elisabeth, the wife of George Daub; John, and one other child.
Five of the sons of the first Jacob Groff held a large body of land, in as many separate tracts, situated on both sides of the Perkiomen in the townships of Frederick and Upper Salford, between Spring Mount and Salford Stations. Of these, the lands of Jacob and part of those of Henry were on the east side of the creek, whilst the remainder was on the west side. [Hdward Matthews.]
In 1769 Jacob Groff obtained from the Proprietary Government of Pa. a patent to two hundred and one-half acres of land skirting the east bank of the Perkiomen for a mile and one-third, and lying between the present stations of Spring Mount and Salford in Upper Salford Twp. This tract was later divided into two pieces; the upper and larger portion comprising 130 acres, including the homestead, was formerly the property of Abraham Pool, and the lower portion of 70 acres was owned by Henry
Steiner. The stone dwelling on the Pool farm was built by John Groff, a grandson of the pioneer. About twenty yards to the northwest may be seen the depression indicating the site of the original stone house erected by Jacob Groff in 1769 or 1770. Justa little to the eastward is a remnant of the old barn. About 1848 the old house was demolished by John Groff, and the stones were hauled away to build the present house of Henry Steiner, half a mile or more to the eastward. To the south of the dwelling is an ancient-looking structure, the original stone fulling mill of Jacob Groff, which was probably erected at the time of the American Revolution or before. It was propelled by water drawn from the Perkiomen Creek through ‘a short race which is still plainly visible. [Hdward Matthews.]
In 1785 when Jacob Groff had arrived at the age of seventy, he conveyed the whole of this homestead to his son, Jacob, in a deed of May 18th of that year. In this document the younger Jacob Groff is called a ‘‘fuller.”” He was then thirty-four years of age. The price paid was $1800.00, Pennsylvania currency, or about $4900.00; $24.50 per acre. The deed was witnessed by Henry Snyder and Philip Boyer, before Michael Croll, a well known Justice of that time, who lived where is now the hamlet of Salfordville. [Edward Matthews.]
Jacob Groff held one hundred and ninety acres of land in Upper Salford Twp., Pa. He died intestate, leaving his widow Elizabeth, and five surviving children and grandchildren, i.e., children of Mary Groff Leidy, as follows:
On Feb. 2, 1824, Elizabeth, widow of Jacob Groff, renounced her right to administer in favor of her two sons, Joseph Groff and Jacob Groff.
Children’s own families: