Abraham Isacks Op den Graef was born. ca. 1646 in Krefeld, present-day Germany, and died Mar 27, 1731 in Evansburg, Perkiomen Township, Skippackville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania about the age of 85.
He married Catharine (Trijnte) Jansen on Jul 23, 1679 in Gladbach, present-day Germany. She evidently died before Apr 7, 1710, on which date her husband issued a "quit claim" to 116 acres he had sold to William Strepers of the Germantownship. (Philadelphia County Deed Book G-10, p 302)
He was a linen weaver in Krefeld.
Abraham, his two brothers and sister were among the 33 or 34 first settlers of Germantown, Pennsylvania. They left Gravesend, England on Jul 24, 1683 on the boat Concord and arrived in Philadelphia on Oct 6, 1683 after a 75 day voyage. This voyage was recently commemorated on joint postage stamps issued by Germany and the United States.
"These final agreements were made after the Crefelders arrived on the ship, Concord, 6 October 1683. Pastorius documents thirteen heads of families in his Grund-Und Lager-Buch, thirty three people in all: Dirck op den Graeff, Abraham op den Graeff, Herman op den Graeff, Lenart Arets, Thones Kunders, Reinert Tisen, William Strepers, Jan Lensen, Peter Keurlis, Jan Simen, Johannes Bleickers, Abraham Tunis, and Jan Lucken.
"The Concord, with William Jeffries, master, carried a crew of forty, mounted twenty-six guns, was 132 feet long and 32 feet broad. It was said to hold about 500 tons burden and could tra[n]sport 140 passengers in comfort. When it was ready to sail from Gravesend it carried 120 passengers, including the 'Friends from Crefelt' who had arrived late. When they did finally come aboard, they found 'many convenient Cabins made and private rooms for familys and fourteen Excellent Oxen killed and 30 tunn beer and abundance of bread and water already stowed away.' Among the various items transported in the hold were: castor (beaver) and felt hats; English linen; silk; men's hose; gloves; window glass; shoes; horse collars; nails; saddles; pewter; flannel; beer;
wrought iron; tinware; cheese; candles; soap; books; wheat and oat meal." (London Port Book E 190/125/3; PRO found in Sheppard, Walter Lee, Passengers and Ships Prior to 1684, p. 96)
On Oct 12, 1683, William Penn issued to them a warrant for 6000 acres; one half was to go to them, and one-half to be reserved for the Frankfort Company.
On Oct 24, 1683, Penn's surveyor, Thomas Fairman, measured off for them 14 plots of land in Germantown, six miles from Philadelphia. The next day, the 13 pioneer men, together with Francis Daniel Pastorius, the leader of the community, met in a dug-out cabin, the home of Pastorius on the banks of the Delaware in Philadelphia (presently, 502 South Front Street) and drew lots for the sites of their future homes.
By another account, "On June 10/11, 1683, William Penn conveyed 5000 acres to Jacob Telner, who by deed (Book 2-3, pp. 95/96) dated June 10/11, 1683, conveyed 2000 acres thereof to Herman Isaac op den Graeff, Dirck Isaac op den Graeff, and Abraham Isaac op den Graeff (Quit-claim Book 2-3, pp. 124/5). The said Herman, Dirck and Abraham conveyed parts thereof to certain persons, and the said Herman and Dirck died, after which the said Abraham Isaac op den Graeff became lawfully seized of and in 530 acres situated in the County of Philadelphia, part of the 2000 acres, and being so seized the said Abraham died, after whose decease the 530 acres of land descended to his children, the above said Isaac op den Graeff, Jacob op den Graeff, Margaret wife of Thomas How, and Ann wife of Herman In de Haven, who agreed to a division of the land . . . ." (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, pp 23-24)
In 1688, Abraham and his brother Dirck were two of four signers of one of the first protests against slavery in this country. The two other signers were Francis Daniel Pastorius and Garret Hendricks. Meetings to consider the protest ruled the matter too weighty to act on. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 2, No 2, p 50)
On Jan 4, 1689, Abraham op de Graeff deeded part of the 2000 acres belonging to the three brothers, namely, 125 acres consisting of 50 acres in Germantown, 50 acres in Kresheim and 25 acres in Crefelt to Jacob Shoemaker. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23)
Abraham was elected to the provincial assembly in 1689, 1690, and 1692. He served as a burgess in 1692, which is a representative in the legislature. (Ibid)
On Mar 7, 1691, Abraham and his two brothers became naturalized citizens:
"Copia Naturlisationis of Francis Daniel Pastorius and of 61 persons more of German Town from William Penn, Exq.
"William Penn, Proprietary of the Province of Pennsilvania, etc. By the King and Queen's authority, to all to whom these Presents shall come Sends Greetings, etc. Whereas (followed by the list of individuals)
"high and low Germans, Inhabitants and Owners of land in German-Town and in the County of Philadelphia, being foreigners, and so not freemen, according to the acception of the Law of England, Have requested to be made freemen of the said Province, pursuant to the Powers granted by the King's Letters, patent, and Act of Union and Naturalization, etc. made in this Government,
"Now Know ye, that for the further Incouragement of the Industry and Sobriety of the said Inhabitants, And for the better and further Security of their Estates real and personal, to them and their heirs, They the said Inhabitants having Solemnly promised (upon Record in the County Court of Philadelphia aforesaid) faith and lawful Obedience to me, according to the King's letters, patents aforesaid,
"I doe declare and by these Presents Confirm them the said Inhabitants before named to be Freemen of this Government. And that they shall be accordingly held and reputed in as full and ample manner as any person or persons residing therein,
"And that the said Freemen have liberty and freedom hereby to trade and traffick in this Colony or any of the King's Dominions and Plantations, as other good Subjects do without any manner of Lett, Hinderance or Molestation whatsoever.
"Witness Thomas Lloyd, Deputy Governr, of the Province of Pennsilvania, etc. Given at Philadelphia aforesaid, with the assent of the Provincial Council, the seventh day of the third month Anna Domi 1691, and in the third year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary over England, etc.
"Recorded in the Roll's Office at Philadelphia the thirtieth day of the third month 1691, Patent Book A, folio 275."
In 1692, Abraham took the side of George Keith, who called Abraham's brother Dirck an "impudent rascal." Since Dirck was a justice of the peace, the name calling was looked upon as an attack upon the majesty of the law. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 2, No 1, p 5)
In 1698, Abraham op den Graeff named his daughter, Gertien and her husband, Richard Addams, in a deed to them. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23)
On Jul 29, 1701, Abraham came into possession of one-half of the unsold portion of the Germantown portion of the op den Graeff property, 328 acres of the original 2000 acre purchase located along the Perkiomen, when his brother Dirck's will was probated.
On May 16, 1704, Abraham op den Graeff and Trintje, his wife, sold their brick house and parcel of land in Germantown to Herman Dors, as shown by a mortgage acknowledged in Open Court of Record held at Germantown, Oct 3, 1704, and certified by Fr. Daniel Pastorius, and recorded in the "Grun und Lager Buch" page 198. At that time Abraham op den Graeff was described as a "linen-weaver" of Germantown, but thereafter he was described as a "weaver" of Parkahomy, Philadelphia, he having taken up his residence in the Dutch Township along the Perkiomen where 828 acres of the 2000-acre purchase of the three op den Graeff brothers was located.
On Nov 29, 1709, seven men signed a certificate stating:
"We whose names are to these presents subscribed, do hereby certify unto all whom it may concern, that soon after our arrival in this province of Pennsylvania, in October, 1683, to our certain knowledge Herman op den Graff, Dirk op den Graff and Abraham op den Graff, as well as we ourselves, in the cave of Francis Daniel Pastorius, at Philadelphia, did cast lots for the respective lots which they and we then began to settle in Germantown; and the said Graffs (three brothers) have sold their several lots, each by himself, no less than if a Division in writing had been made by them."
Abraham died before Mar 2-, 1731, still in possession of 530 acres of the original purchase as shown by a "Quadriparte Indenture" of that date. His children and their spouses were listed as Jacob op den Graeff, Thomas How and Margaret his wife, Herman in de Hoffen and Ann his wife, and Isaac op den Graeff and his wife Mary. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23 and Deed Book 1-2, pp 88/92) Abraham listed his daughter Gertien in another land sale.
He died in Perkiomy and was buried in the Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery, also known as the Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.
The children of Abraham Isacks Op den Graef were:
i Isaac, b. ca. 1678, m. Mary Bashilar ca. Apr 29, 1712, d. ca. 1748
ii Anneken, b. 1683, m. Herman In De Haven (brother of Anneken) on Feb 16, 1710/11
iii Gertien, b. 1683, m. Richard Addams bef. Aug 10, 1698
iv Jacob, b. 1687, m. 1st, Anneken In Den Hoffen on Apr 29, 1712, 2nd, Susanna --, d. Sep, 1750
v Margrit (Margaretha), b. 1691, m. bef. Aug 27, 1709 to Thomas How, d. aft. Mar 30, 1755
*vi Elizabeth, b. ca. 1680, m. Peter Bon ca. 1708, d. bef. 1711
*Elizabeth is included here, as she is shown in this family on World Family Tree Vol 27, pedigree 1809. However, she is not listed by Abraham in the deed of partition in 1731. She was deceased by 1711, which would account for that omission.
He married Catharine (Trijnte) Jansen on Jul 23, 1679 in Gladbach, present-day Germany. She evidently died before Apr 7, 1710, on which date her husband issued a "quit claim" to 116 acres he had sold to William Strepers of the Germantownship. (Philadelphia County Deed Book G-10, p 302)
He was a linen weaver in Krefeld.
Abraham, his two brothers and sister were among the 33 or 34 first settlers of Germantown, Pennsylvania. They left Gravesend, England on Jul 24, 1683 on the boat Concord and arrived in Philadelphia on Oct 6, 1683 after a 75 day voyage. This voyage was recently commemorated on joint postage stamps issued by Germany and the United States.
"These final agreements were made after the Crefelders arrived on the ship, Concord, 6 October 1683. Pastorius documents thirteen heads of families in his Grund-Und Lager-Buch, thirty three people in all: Dirck op den Graeff, Abraham op den Graeff, Herman op den Graeff, Lenart Arets, Thones Kunders, Reinert Tisen, William Strepers, Jan Lensen, Peter Keurlis, Jan Simen, Johannes Bleickers, Abraham Tunis, and Jan Lucken.
"The Concord, with William Jeffries, master, carried a crew of forty, mounted twenty-six guns, was 132 feet long and 32 feet broad. It was said to hold about 500 tons burden and could tra[n]sport 140 passengers in comfort. When it was ready to sail from Gravesend it carried 120 passengers, including the 'Friends from Crefelt' who had arrived late. When they did finally come aboard, they found 'many convenient Cabins made and private rooms for familys and fourteen Excellent Oxen killed and 30 tunn beer and abundance of bread and water already stowed away.' Among the various items transported in the hold were: castor (beaver) and felt hats; English linen; silk; men's hose; gloves; window glass; shoes; horse collars; nails; saddles; pewter; flannel; beer;
wrought iron; tinware; cheese; candles; soap; books; wheat and oat meal." (London Port Book E 190/125/3; PRO found in Sheppard, Walter Lee, Passengers and Ships Prior to 1684, p. 96)
On Oct 12, 1683, William Penn issued to them a warrant for 6000 acres; one half was to go to them, and one-half to be reserved for the Frankfort Company.
On Oct 24, 1683, Penn's surveyor, Thomas Fairman, measured off for them 14 plots of land in Germantown, six miles from Philadelphia. The next day, the 13 pioneer men, together with Francis Daniel Pastorius, the leader of the community, met in a dug-out cabin, the home of Pastorius on the banks of the Delaware in Philadelphia (presently, 502 South Front Street) and drew lots for the sites of their future homes.
By another account, "On June 10/11, 1683, William Penn conveyed 5000 acres to Jacob Telner, who by deed (Book 2-3, pp. 95/96) dated June 10/11, 1683, conveyed 2000 acres thereof to Herman Isaac op den Graeff, Dirck Isaac op den Graeff, and Abraham Isaac op den Graeff (Quit-claim Book 2-3, pp. 124/5). The said Herman, Dirck and Abraham conveyed parts thereof to certain persons, and the said Herman and Dirck died, after which the said Abraham Isaac op den Graeff became lawfully seized of and in 530 acres situated in the County of Philadelphia, part of the 2000 acres, and being so seized the said Abraham died, after whose decease the 530 acres of land descended to his children, the above said Isaac op den Graeff, Jacob op den Graeff, Margaret wife of Thomas How, and Ann wife of Herman In de Haven, who agreed to a division of the land . . . ." (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, pp 23-24)
In 1688, Abraham and his brother Dirck were two of four signers of one of the first protests against slavery in this country. The two other signers were Francis Daniel Pastorius and Garret Hendricks. Meetings to consider the protest ruled the matter too weighty to act on. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 2, No 2, p 50)
On Jan 4, 1689, Abraham op de Graeff deeded part of the 2000 acres belonging to the three brothers, namely, 125 acres consisting of 50 acres in Germantown, 50 acres in Kresheim and 25 acres in Crefelt to Jacob Shoemaker. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23)
Abraham was elected to the provincial assembly in 1689, 1690, and 1692. He served as a burgess in 1692, which is a representative in the legislature. (Ibid)
On Mar 7, 1691, Abraham and his two brothers became naturalized citizens:
"Copia Naturlisationis of Francis Daniel Pastorius and of 61 persons more of German Town from William Penn, Exq.
"William Penn, Proprietary of the Province of Pennsilvania, etc. By the King and Queen's authority, to all to whom these Presents shall come Sends Greetings, etc. Whereas (followed by the list of individuals)
"high and low Germans, Inhabitants and Owners of land in German-Town and in the County of Philadelphia, being foreigners, and so not freemen, according to the acception of the Law of England, Have requested to be made freemen of the said Province, pursuant to the Powers granted by the King's Letters, patent, and Act of Union and Naturalization, etc. made in this Government,
"Now Know ye, that for the further Incouragement of the Industry and Sobriety of the said Inhabitants, And for the better and further Security of their Estates real and personal, to them and their heirs, They the said Inhabitants having Solemnly promised (upon Record in the County Court of Philadelphia aforesaid) faith and lawful Obedience to me, according to the King's letters, patents aforesaid,
"I doe declare and by these Presents Confirm them the said Inhabitants before named to be Freemen of this Government. And that they shall be accordingly held and reputed in as full and ample manner as any person or persons residing therein,
"And that the said Freemen have liberty and freedom hereby to trade and traffick in this Colony or any of the King's Dominions and Plantations, as other good Subjects do without any manner of Lett, Hinderance or Molestation whatsoever.
"Witness Thomas Lloyd, Deputy Governr, of the Province of Pennsilvania, etc. Given at Philadelphia aforesaid, with the assent of the Provincial Council, the seventh day of the third month Anna Domi 1691, and in the third year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary over England, etc.
"Recorded in the Roll's Office at Philadelphia the thirtieth day of the third month 1691, Patent Book A, folio 275."
In 1692, Abraham took the side of George Keith, who called Abraham's brother Dirck an "impudent rascal." Since Dirck was a justice of the peace, the name calling was looked upon as an attack upon the majesty of the law. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 2, No 1, p 5)
In 1698, Abraham op den Graeff named his daughter, Gertien and her husband, Richard Addams, in a deed to them. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23)
On Jul 29, 1701, Abraham came into possession of one-half of the unsold portion of the Germantown portion of the op den Graeff property, 328 acres of the original 2000 acre purchase located along the Perkiomen, when his brother Dirck's will was probated.
On May 16, 1704, Abraham op den Graeff and Trintje, his wife, sold their brick house and parcel of land in Germantown to Herman Dors, as shown by a mortgage acknowledged in Open Court of Record held at Germantown, Oct 3, 1704, and certified by Fr. Daniel Pastorius, and recorded in the "Grun und Lager Buch" page 198. At that time Abraham op den Graeff was described as a "linen-weaver" of Germantown, but thereafter he was described as a "weaver" of Parkahomy, Philadelphia, he having taken up his residence in the Dutch Township along the Perkiomen where 828 acres of the 2000-acre purchase of the three op den Graeff brothers was located.
On Nov 29, 1709, seven men signed a certificate stating:
"We whose names are to these presents subscribed, do hereby certify unto all whom it may concern, that soon after our arrival in this province of Pennsylvania, in October, 1683, to our certain knowledge Herman op den Graff, Dirk op den Graff and Abraham op den Graff, as well as we ourselves, in the cave of Francis Daniel Pastorius, at Philadelphia, did cast lots for the respective lots which they and we then began to settle in Germantown; and the said Graffs (three brothers) have sold their several lots, each by himself, no less than if a Division in writing had been made by them."
Abraham died before Mar 2-, 1731, still in possession of 530 acres of the original purchase as shown by a "Quadriparte Indenture" of that date. His children and their spouses were listed as Jacob op den Graeff, Thomas How and Margaret his wife, Herman in de Hoffen and Ann his wife, and Isaac op den Graeff and his wife Mary. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23 and Deed Book 1-2, pp 88/92) Abraham listed his daughter Gertien in another land sale.
He died in Perkiomy and was buried in the Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery, also known as the Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.
The children of Abraham Isacks Op den Graef were:
i Isaac, b. ca. 1678, m. Mary Bashilar ca. Apr 29, 1712, d. ca. 1748
ii Anneken, b. 1683, m. Herman In De Haven (brother of Anneken) on Feb 16, 1710/11
iii Gertien, b. 1683, m. Richard Addams bef. Aug 10, 1698
iv Jacob, b. 1687, m. 1st, Anneken In Den Hoffen on Apr 29, 1712, 2nd, Susanna --, d. Sep, 1750
v Margrit (Margaretha), b. 1691, m. bef. Aug 27, 1709 to Thomas How, d. aft. Mar 30, 1755
*vi Elizabeth, b. ca. 1680, m. Peter Bon ca. 1708, d. bef. 1711
*Elizabeth is included here, as she is shown in this family on World Family Tree Vol 27, pedigree 1809. However, she is not listed by Abraham in the deed of partition in 1731. She was deceased by 1711, which would account for that omission.
Abraham Isacks Op den Graef was born. ca. 1646 in Krefeld, present-day Germany, and died Mar 27, 1731 in Evansburg, Perkiomen Township, Skippackville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania about the age of 85.
He married Catharine (Trijnte) Jansen on Jul 23, 1679 in Gladbach, present-day Germany. She evidently died before Apr 7, 1710, on which date her husband issued a "quit claim" to 116 acres he had sold to William Strepers of the Germantownship. (Philadelphia County Deed Book G-10, p 302)
He was a linen weaver in Krefeld.
Abraham, his two brothers and sister were among the 33 or 34 first settlers of Germantown, Pennsylvania. They left Gravesend, England on Jul 24, 1683 on the boat Concord and arrived in Philadelphia on Oct 6, 1683 after a 75 day voyage. This voyage was recently commemorated on joint postage stamps issued by Germany and the United States.
"These final agreements were made after the Crefelders arrived on the ship, Concord, 6 October 1683. Pastorius documents thirteen heads of families in his Grund-Und Lager-Buch, thirty three people in all: Dirck op den Graeff, Abraham op den Graeff, Herman op den Graeff, Lenart Arets, Thones Kunders, Reinert Tisen, William Strepers, Jan Lensen, Peter Keurlis, Jan Simen, Johannes Bleickers, Abraham Tunis, and Jan Lucken.
"The Concord, with William Jeffries, master, carried a crew of forty, mounted twenty-six guns, was 132 feet long and 32 feet broad. It was said to hold about 500 tons burden and could tra[n]sport 140 passengers in comfort. When it was ready to sail from Gravesend it carried 120 passengers, including the 'Friends from Crefelt' who had arrived late. When they did finally come aboard, they found 'many convenient Cabins made and private rooms for familys and fourteen Excellent Oxen killed and 30 tunn beer and abundance of bread and water already stowed away.' Among the various items transported in the hold were: castor (beaver) and felt hats; English linen; silk; men's hose; gloves; window glass; shoes; horse collars; nails; saddles; pewter; flannel; beer;
wrought iron; tinware; cheese; candles; soap; books; wheat and oat meal." (London Port Book E 190/125/3; PRO found in Sheppard, Walter Lee, Passengers and Ships Prior to 1684, p. 96)
On Oct 12, 1683, William Penn issued to them a warrant for 6000 acres; one half was to go to them, and one-half to be reserved for the Frankfort Company.
On Oct 24, 1683, Penn's surveyor, Thomas Fairman, measured off for them 14 plots of land in Germantown, six miles from Philadelphia. The next day, the 13 pioneer men, together with Francis Daniel Pastorius, the leader of the community, met in a dug-out cabin, the home of Pastorius on the banks of the Delaware in Philadelphia (presently, 502 South Front Street) and drew lots for the sites of their future homes.
By another account, "On June 10/11, 1683, William Penn conveyed 5000 acres to Jacob Telner, who by deed (Book 2-3, pp. 95/96) dated June 10/11, 1683, conveyed 2000 acres thereof to Herman Isaac op den Graeff, Dirck Isaac op den Graeff, and Abraham Isaac op den Graeff (Quit-claim Book 2-3, pp. 124/5). The said Herman, Dirck and Abraham conveyed parts thereof to certain persons, and the said Herman and Dirck died, after which the said Abraham Isaac op den Graeff became lawfully seized of and in 530 acres situated in the County of Philadelphia, part of the 2000 acres, and being so seized the said Abraham died, after whose decease the 530 acres of land descended to his children, the above said Isaac op den Graeff, Jacob op den Graeff, Margaret wife of Thomas How, and Ann wife of Herman In de Haven, who agreed to a division of the land . . . ." (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, pp 23-24)
In 1688, Abraham and his brother Dirck were two of four signers of one of the first protests against slavery in this country. The two other signers were Francis Daniel Pastorius and Garret Hendricks. Meetings to consider the protest ruled the matter too weighty to act on. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 2, No 2, p 50)
On Jan 4, 1689, Abraham op de Graeff deeded part of the 2000 acres belonging to the three brothers, namely, 125 acres consisting of 50 acres in Germantown, 50 acres in Kresheim and 25 acres in Crefelt to Jacob Shoemaker. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23)
Abraham was elected to the provincial assembly in 1689, 1690, and 1692. He served as a burgess in 1692, which is a representative in the legislature. (Ibid)
On Mar 7, 1691, Abraham and his two brothers became naturalized citizens:
"Copia Naturlisationis of Francis Daniel Pastorius and of 61 persons more of German Town from William Penn, Exq.
"William Penn, Proprietary of the Province of Pennsilvania, etc. By the King and Queen's authority, to all to whom these Presents shall come Sends Greetings, etc. Whereas (followed by the list of individuals)
"high and low Germans, Inhabitants and Owners of land in German-Town and in the County of Philadelphia, being foreigners, and so not freemen, according to the acception of the Law of England, Have requested to be made freemen of the said Province, pursuant to the Powers granted by the King's Letters, patent, and Act of Union and Naturalization, etc. made in this Government,
"Now Know ye, that for the further Incouragement of the Industry and Sobriety of the said Inhabitants, And for the better and further Security of their Estates real and personal, to them and their heirs, They the said Inhabitants having Solemnly promised (upon Record in the County Court of Philadelphia aforesaid) faith and lawful Obedience to me, according to the King's letters, patents aforesaid,
"I doe declare and by these Presents Confirm them the said Inhabitants before named to be Freemen of this Government. And that they shall be accordingly held and reputed in as full and ample manner as any person or persons residing therein,
"And that the said Freemen have liberty and freedom hereby to trade and traffick in this Colony or any of the King's Dominions and Plantations, as other good Subjects do without any manner of Lett, Hinderance or Molestation whatsoever.
"Witness Thomas Lloyd, Deputy Governr, of the Province of Pennsilvania, etc. Given at Philadelphia aforesaid, with the assent of the Provincial Council, the seventh day of the third month Anna Domi 1691, and in the third year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary over England, etc.
"Recorded in the Roll's Office at Philadelphia the thirtieth day of the third month 1691, Patent Book A, folio 275."
In 1692, Abraham took the side of George Keith, who called Abraham's brother Dirck an "impudent rascal." Since Dirck was a justice of the peace, the name calling was looked upon as an attack upon the majesty of the law. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 2, No 1, p 5)
In 1698, Abraham op den Graeff named his daughter, Gertien and her husband, Richard Addams, in a deed to them. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23)
On Jul 29, 1701, Abraham came into possession of one-half of the unsold portion of the Germantown portion of the op den Graeff property, 328 acres of the original 2000 acre purchase located along the Perkiomen, when his brother Dirck's will was probated.
On May 16, 1704, Abraham op den Graeff and Trintje, his wife, sold their brick house and parcel of land in Germantown to Herman Dors, as shown by a mortgage acknowledged in Open Court of Record held at Germantown, Oct 3, 1704, and certified by Fr. Daniel Pastorius, and recorded in the "Grun und Lager Buch" page 198. At that time Abraham op den Graeff was described as a "linen-weaver" of Germantown, but thereafter he was described as a "weaver" of Parkahomy, Philadelphia, he having taken up his residence in the Dutch Township along the Perkiomen where 828 acres of the 2000-acre purchase of the three op den Graeff brothers was located.
On Nov 29, 1709, seven men signed a certificate stating:
"We whose names are to these presents subscribed, do hereby certify unto all whom it may concern, that soon after our arrival in this province of Pennsylvania, in October, 1683, to our certain knowledge Herman op den Graff, Dirk op den Graff and Abraham op den Graff, as well as we ourselves, in the cave of Francis Daniel Pastorius, at Philadelphia, did cast lots for the respective lots which they and we then began to settle in Germantown; and the said Graffs (three brothers) have sold their several lots, each by himself, no less than if a Division in writing had been made by them."
Abraham died before Mar 2-, 1731, still in possession of 530 acres of the original purchase as shown by a "Quadriparte Indenture" of that date. His children and their spouses were listed as Jacob op den Graeff, Thomas How and Margaret his wife, Herman in de Hoffen and Ann his wife, and Isaac op den Graeff and his wife Mary. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23 and Deed Book 1-2, pp 88/92) Abraham listed his daughter Gertien in another land sale.
He died in Perkiomy and was buried in the Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery, also known as the Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.
The children of Abraham Isacks Op den Graef were:
i Isaac, b. ca. 1678, m. Mary Bashilar ca. Apr 29, 1712, d. ca. 1748
ii Anneken, b. 1683, m. Herman In De Haven (brother of Anneken) on Feb 16, 1710/11
iii Gertien, b. 1683, m. Richard Addams bef. Aug 10, 1698
iv Jacob, b. 1687, m. 1st, Anneken In Den Hoffen on Apr 29, 1712, 2nd, Susanna --, d. Sep, 1750
v Margrit (Margaretha), b. 1691, m. bef. Aug 27, 1709 to Thomas How, d. aft. Mar 30, 1755
*vi Elizabeth, b. ca. 1680, m. Peter Bon ca. 1708, d. bef. 1711
*Elizabeth is included here, as she is shown in this family on World Family Tree Vol 27, pedigree 1809. However, she is not listed by Abraham in the deed of partition in 1731. She was deceased by 1711, which would account for that omission.
He married Catharine (Trijnte) Jansen on Jul 23, 1679 in Gladbach, present-day Germany. She evidently died before Apr 7, 1710, on which date her husband issued a "quit claim" to 116 acres he had sold to William Strepers of the Germantownship. (Philadelphia County Deed Book G-10, p 302)
He was a linen weaver in Krefeld.
Abraham, his two brothers and sister were among the 33 or 34 first settlers of Germantown, Pennsylvania. They left Gravesend, England on Jul 24, 1683 on the boat Concord and arrived in Philadelphia on Oct 6, 1683 after a 75 day voyage. This voyage was recently commemorated on joint postage stamps issued by Germany and the United States.
"These final agreements were made after the Crefelders arrived on the ship, Concord, 6 October 1683. Pastorius documents thirteen heads of families in his Grund-Und Lager-Buch, thirty three people in all: Dirck op den Graeff, Abraham op den Graeff, Herman op den Graeff, Lenart Arets, Thones Kunders, Reinert Tisen, William Strepers, Jan Lensen, Peter Keurlis, Jan Simen, Johannes Bleickers, Abraham Tunis, and Jan Lucken.
"The Concord, with William Jeffries, master, carried a crew of forty, mounted twenty-six guns, was 132 feet long and 32 feet broad. It was said to hold about 500 tons burden and could tra[n]sport 140 passengers in comfort. When it was ready to sail from Gravesend it carried 120 passengers, including the 'Friends from Crefelt' who had arrived late. When they did finally come aboard, they found 'many convenient Cabins made and private rooms for familys and fourteen Excellent Oxen killed and 30 tunn beer and abundance of bread and water already stowed away.' Among the various items transported in the hold were: castor (beaver) and felt hats; English linen; silk; men's hose; gloves; window glass; shoes; horse collars; nails; saddles; pewter; flannel; beer;
wrought iron; tinware; cheese; candles; soap; books; wheat and oat meal." (London Port Book E 190/125/3; PRO found in Sheppard, Walter Lee, Passengers and Ships Prior to 1684, p. 96)
On Oct 12, 1683, William Penn issued to them a warrant for 6000 acres; one half was to go to them, and one-half to be reserved for the Frankfort Company.
On Oct 24, 1683, Penn's surveyor, Thomas Fairman, measured off for them 14 plots of land in Germantown, six miles from Philadelphia. The next day, the 13 pioneer men, together with Francis Daniel Pastorius, the leader of the community, met in a dug-out cabin, the home of Pastorius on the banks of the Delaware in Philadelphia (presently, 502 South Front Street) and drew lots for the sites of their future homes.
By another account, "On June 10/11, 1683, William Penn conveyed 5000 acres to Jacob Telner, who by deed (Book 2-3, pp. 95/96) dated June 10/11, 1683, conveyed 2000 acres thereof to Herman Isaac op den Graeff, Dirck Isaac op den Graeff, and Abraham Isaac op den Graeff (Quit-claim Book 2-3, pp. 124/5). The said Herman, Dirck and Abraham conveyed parts thereof to certain persons, and the said Herman and Dirck died, after which the said Abraham Isaac op den Graeff became lawfully seized of and in 530 acres situated in the County of Philadelphia, part of the 2000 acres, and being so seized the said Abraham died, after whose decease the 530 acres of land descended to his children, the above said Isaac op den Graeff, Jacob op den Graeff, Margaret wife of Thomas How, and Ann wife of Herman In de Haven, who agreed to a division of the land . . . ." (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, pp 23-24)
In 1688, Abraham and his brother Dirck were two of four signers of one of the first protests against slavery in this country. The two other signers were Francis Daniel Pastorius and Garret Hendricks. Meetings to consider the protest ruled the matter too weighty to act on. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 2, No 2, p 50)
On Jan 4, 1689, Abraham op de Graeff deeded part of the 2000 acres belonging to the three brothers, namely, 125 acres consisting of 50 acres in Germantown, 50 acres in Kresheim and 25 acres in Crefelt to Jacob Shoemaker. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23)
Abraham was elected to the provincial assembly in 1689, 1690, and 1692. He served as a burgess in 1692, which is a representative in the legislature. (Ibid)
On Mar 7, 1691, Abraham and his two brothers became naturalized citizens:
"Copia Naturlisationis of Francis Daniel Pastorius and of 61 persons more of German Town from William Penn, Exq.
"William Penn, Proprietary of the Province of Pennsilvania, etc. By the King and Queen's authority, to all to whom these Presents shall come Sends Greetings, etc. Whereas (followed by the list of individuals)
"high and low Germans, Inhabitants and Owners of land in German-Town and in the County of Philadelphia, being foreigners, and so not freemen, according to the acception of the Law of England, Have requested to be made freemen of the said Province, pursuant to the Powers granted by the King's Letters, patent, and Act of Union and Naturalization, etc. made in this Government,
"Now Know ye, that for the further Incouragement of the Industry and Sobriety of the said Inhabitants, And for the better and further Security of their Estates real and personal, to them and their heirs, They the said Inhabitants having Solemnly promised (upon Record in the County Court of Philadelphia aforesaid) faith and lawful Obedience to me, according to the King's letters, patents aforesaid,
"I doe declare and by these Presents Confirm them the said Inhabitants before named to be Freemen of this Government. And that they shall be accordingly held and reputed in as full and ample manner as any person or persons residing therein,
"And that the said Freemen have liberty and freedom hereby to trade and traffick in this Colony or any of the King's Dominions and Plantations, as other good Subjects do without any manner of Lett, Hinderance or Molestation whatsoever.
"Witness Thomas Lloyd, Deputy Governr, of the Province of Pennsilvania, etc. Given at Philadelphia aforesaid, with the assent of the Provincial Council, the seventh day of the third month Anna Domi 1691, and in the third year of the reign of King William and Queen Mary over England, etc.
"Recorded in the Roll's Office at Philadelphia the thirtieth day of the third month 1691, Patent Book A, folio 275."
In 1692, Abraham took the side of George Keith, who called Abraham's brother Dirck an "impudent rascal." Since Dirck was a justice of the peace, the name calling was looked upon as an attack upon the majesty of the law. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 2, No 1, p 5)
In 1698, Abraham op den Graeff named his daughter, Gertien and her husband, Richard Addams, in a deed to them. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23)
On Jul 29, 1701, Abraham came into possession of one-half of the unsold portion of the Germantown portion of the op den Graeff property, 328 acres of the original 2000 acre purchase located along the Perkiomen, when his brother Dirck's will was probated.
On May 16, 1704, Abraham op den Graeff and Trintje, his wife, sold their brick house and parcel of land in Germantown to Herman Dors, as shown by a mortgage acknowledged in Open Court of Record held at Germantown, Oct 3, 1704, and certified by Fr. Daniel Pastorius, and recorded in the "Grun und Lager Buch" page 198. At that time Abraham op den Graeff was described as a "linen-weaver" of Germantown, but thereafter he was described as a "weaver" of Parkahomy, Philadelphia, he having taken up his residence in the Dutch Township along the Perkiomen where 828 acres of the 2000-acre purchase of the three op den Graeff brothers was located.
On Nov 29, 1709, seven men signed a certificate stating:
"We whose names are to these presents subscribed, do hereby certify unto all whom it may concern, that soon after our arrival in this province of Pennsylvania, in October, 1683, to our certain knowledge Herman op den Graff, Dirk op den Graff and Abraham op den Graff, as well as we ourselves, in the cave of Francis Daniel Pastorius, at Philadelphia, did cast lots for the respective lots which they and we then began to settle in Germantown; and the said Graffs (three brothers) have sold their several lots, each by himself, no less than if a Division in writing had been made by them."
Abraham died before Mar 2-, 1731, still in possession of 530 acres of the original purchase as shown by a "Quadriparte Indenture" of that date. His children and their spouses were listed as Jacob op den Graeff, Thomas How and Margaret his wife, Herman in de Hoffen and Ann his wife, and Isaac op den Graeff and his wife Mary. (Krefeld Immigrants, Vol 3, No 1, p 23 and Deed Book 1-2, pp 88/92) Abraham listed his daughter Gertien in another land sale.
He died in Perkiomy and was buried in the Lower Skippack Mennonite Cemetery, also known as the Skippack Mennonite Cemetery.
The children of Abraham Isacks Op den Graef were:
i Isaac, b. ca. 1678, m. Mary Bashilar ca. Apr 29, 1712, d. ca. 1748
ii Anneken, b. 1683, m. Herman In De Haven (brother of Anneken) on Feb 16, 1710/11
iii Gertien, b. 1683, m. Richard Addams bef. Aug 10, 1698
iv Jacob, b. 1687, m. 1st, Anneken In Den Hoffen on Apr 29, 1712, 2nd, Susanna --, d. Sep, 1750
v Margrit (Margaretha), b. 1691, m. bef. Aug 27, 1709 to Thomas How, d. aft. Mar 30, 1755
*vi Elizabeth, b. ca. 1680, m. Peter Bon ca. 1708, d. bef. 1711
*Elizabeth is included here, as she is shown in this family on World Family Tree Vol 27, pedigree 1809. However, she is not listed by Abraham in the deed of partition in 1731. She was deceased by 1711, which would account for that omission.
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