GROFF FAMILY

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 inhabited parts he discovered a fine spring in a heavily timbered spot, the head of Grove's Run...He nevertheless pursued his horses till he found them, and returned to Pequea. A short time afterwards he disposed of his effects, when he returned to the spring, and about half a mile down, on the north side, he erected a cabin under a large white oak tree, in which he, his wife, and an only child remained during that winter.  In the spring of the next year, having secured by a warrant dated Nov. 22, 1717, a large tract of land, he erected a house near the cabin.  The spot where he erected the house is still pointed out by his descendants.  He had six sons - Peter, David, John, Daniel Marcus, and Samuel, and was known as Graaf der Jaeger (the huntsman)."

"Hans Groff, after serving his day and generation, the public on several occasions, and having divided his land among his sons, died, leaving a large family connection. Perhaps there is no family in the county more numerous, especially in Upper Leacock, more "respectable, and more useful citizens than the Groffs. "

The footnote of this article states " this name is variously spelled Groff, Graaf, Groef, and Graffe."