Lancaster County Family Ties

Source: Quakertown Area Comprehensive Plan Update: Bucks County, Penn. - Aug. 2007 Page 158 The Villages of Haycock Township - Applebachsville "Situated at the intersection of Applebachsville Road and Old Bethlehem Pike, Applebachsville is [a] great example of a largely intact, predominately residential crossroads village.  It includes numerous homes, some shops and a firehouse. " "Applebachsville lies within the VC-1 zoning district.  The purpose of the district is to protect village character and allow compatible infill development.  There are various rural residential and vacant uses within the village zoning district that may allow for some infill development."               ************************************************************ Dates unknown of these 2 photos taken in Applebachsville plus a map: White Hall Hotel Map St. Paul's Church.

GROFF/GRAAF IN LOCAL BOOK: History of Lancaster County to Which is Prefixed a Brief Sketch of the Early History of Pennsylvania by I. Daniel Rupp.  Published by Gilbert Hills, Lancaster, PA 1844 (page 129-132) List of how "Conestoga Manor" was sold and/or divided after March 1718.  The tract of land started as 16,000 acres. John Graff is listed as getting 136 acres in 1762. The entire list contains many familiar names: Herr, Hershey, Koenig, Mayer, Kauffmann, Logan, Brenner, etc. (page 133-34) Hans Graaf located at the head of a small stream, known by the name of Grove's Run, in West Earl township. " Hans Graaf fled from Switzerland to Alsace, with one his brothers, about the year 1695 or 96, he came to Germantown, where he remained a short time; afterwards settled on Grove's Run, in Earl township, both of which were named in honor of him." "...In the spring of the year, having secured by a warrant, dated November 22, 1717, a large tra

A distant relative has allowed me to share these articles here: There used to be a newspaper, the Quarryville Sun , that ran a series of articles in the early 1900's on the old families of that area.  Here are some excerpts about our family (parenthesis are my addition):        John (Myers, Jr.) was dead before we knew anything of the affairs in this section, but his sons, Frederick, Benjamin, Isaac and John, and his two daughters, Susan and Fannie, we well remember.  Both of them were married to "State Road" Joseph Groff; Susan first, who was the mother of our friends, John, Joseph and Levy Groff and of Mrs. Henry Phillips, Mrs. Abram Lefevre, Mrs. Amos Groff and Mrs. Cyrus Cremer.  After her death he married aunt Fannie but she never had any children.  ( reminiscences of Mr. L. T. Hensel, November 27, 1902)       One we remember best and have many pleasant recollections of was "State Road" Joseph Groff who has been dead over twenty years

History of Lancaster County To Which is Prefixed a Brief Sketch of the Early History of Pennsylvania - Compiled From Authentic Sources by I. Daniel Rupp.  Published by Gilbert Hills, Lancaster, PA 1844 Pages 122-126 "...divers Protestants, who were subjects to the Emperor of Germany....transported themselves and estates into the province of Pennsylvania, between the years 1700 and 1718..." "....have humbly signified to the Governor and Representatives of the freemen of this province, in General Assembly, that they have purchased and do hold lands of the proprietary, and others, his Majesty's subjects within this province, and have likewise represented their great desire of being made partakers of those privileges which the natural born subjects of Great Britain do enjoy within this province... and who have given such testimony of their affection and obedience to the Crown of Great Britain should as well be secured in the enjoyment of their estates in their la

This is a clipping I found and is from the book: History of Lancaster County, PA with Biographical Sketches by Franklin Ellis and Samuel Evans.  Published 1883. (pg. 925) GROFF FAMILY "The whole eastern part of this township (Upper Leacock Township) was included in a warrant of land granted to Hans Groff, who afterwards disposed of it to different settlers.  Hans Groff, with one of his brothers, were among the persecuted Christians who fled from Switzerland to Alsace, then a province of France, about the year 1695-96.  He came to Germantown, where he remained for a short time only; afterwards he settled in Pequea Valley, but not being content here, he then settled in Groff's Dale (Graaf Thal), which was named in honor of him, and by which the settlement is known to this day." "The following is the circumstance which led Mr. Groff to settle in Groff's Dale: "His horses having strayed Pequea, while in pursuit of them in a northern direction from the