Jacob De Graff, (unknown -1831) Version 2

Jacob De Groff of Florida, Montgomery County, New York

I had initially thought that Jacob was the father of Isaac De Graff Sr.  I have rejected that theory.

I have two working theories on Jacob DeGroff.

(1) I now think that Jacob DeGroff was Isaac DeGroff Sr.'s brother.   That theory is detailed here.

(2)  I now think there is no relationship between this Jacob and my family tree.  Jacob is the son of Jermiah De Graff (1727-1809) and his wife Ann. This theory is detailed below:

The Compendium of Early Mohawk Valley Families has a transcribed summary of Jacob's will (below) and the online version is available from Family Search.org

• note the name is clearly De Groff (not  De Graff)
• Henrick Belden and Shulder Cady are listed as executors, 
• Isaac De Groff Jr.,Hester De Groff, and Shuler Cady were witnesses
• sons living in 1831 are John, Jacob, Isaac. 
• wife Mary, daughter Jane

De Groff or De Graff

I believe  Jacob was a De Graff, son of Jeremiah and was the brother of Isaac Sr of Amsterdam.   The Isaac references as his witness is his brother or it is his son; Hester De Graff his sister in law, and Isaac Jr could be  our Isaac Jr.   in other words the assumption I made that the Isaacs referenced in this will were father in son may be wrong.  

The transcription of this will is incorrect in that it places an O in the last name - examination of the original suggests to me it is an A. 

Reviewing Letters of Guardianship for Montgomery County turned up some interesting details:

Regarding the last will and testament of Jacob De Graff, on July 7, 1832, Isaac  DeGroff Jr. and Hendrick Belden, executors of Jacob's will appeared on behalf of Isaac De Groff, heir of Jacob and a minor (under the age of 14) to appoint a guardian for him.  George Warwick is appointed.

Two months later, on September 7, the executors appear again, regarding the same topic, and James W. Miller is appointed Isaac De Graff's guardian.

This information rules out Jacob as Isaac Sr.'s (b:1795) father. The Isaac listed as Jacob's son in his will is the minor mentioned in these documents and could not be the father of Isaac Jr or grandfather of William Henry.

What became of Isaac De Graff, Jacob's son? 
To my knowledge, there are two Isaac DeGraff's in the Montgomery County area who would have been a minor in 1832.

1. One is Isaac De Graff born 1810 who marries Cornelia Potter or Chamberlain. This Isaac is most likely the son of Isaac De Graff and Sarah Toll, of Schenectady (given other family tree research and documentation).   Isaac Jr. and Cornelia have a son, Isaac Harmon
2. Isaac De Graff  born in 1818 and died 1891, November 14.   His father was Jacob De Graff of Florida.  His uncle was Isaac De Graff of Amsterdam.   Isaac is buried in Chuctanunda Cemetery with his wife Catherine.   Isaac, son of Jacob married Catherine Lingenfelter, daughter of John and Susan Ligenfelter in or around 1845. Their children included:  Emily b: 1846; William M. b: 1847; Sarah b: 1922; Arey b: 1854; Elizabeth b: 1857; Isaac J. Jr. b: 1858.  His daughter Sarah married James S. Hutton.  

Futher questions:

1. With Jacob's wife still living - why was finding a guardian for Isaac necessary?  Was this wife not Isaac's mother? 
2. With Jacob having siblings in the area - and his father still living, why was Isaac not taken in by any of them? 
3. Who were George Warwick  and James W. Miller?

Footnotes of interest regarding Jacob's will: 

What became of Jacob's wife? 

Jacob's wife, Maria, remarried. on November 7, 1833 - at the Reformed Dutch Church of Florida, in Minaville.  Her husband was Henry Kested.  Maria later applied for and was granted a widow's pension in his name for his service (New Jersey) in the American Revolution.

Who was Hendrick Belden? 

Henderick was the son of Bartholomew Belden, of Florida. Bartholomew's will lists Henderick as his son (along with sons Avery and Kellog) and he deeds to him land Belden owned, known as the Mudge Hollow are of Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York.   Given that Isaac Jr. later buys this land with his son Willliam, for one of their saw and grist mills, I think it is a fair deduction that Belden and DeGraff were business associates.   Isaac Sr and Jr are witnesses to Bartholomew's will.

Who was Shuler Cady?

Shuler Cady appears to have been a local resident born in 1786; the son of David Cady of Florida. The 1850 US Census shows him in Florida, New York, with his wife Catherine.  Shuler passed away 1861.  His will was probated in Ballston Springs, Saratoga.  He mentions a son in law James Cook and grandchildren in his will.

Who was Hester De Groff?

Hester Hagaman De Groff was the sister in law of Jacob De Graff of Florida and  Isaac De Graff of Amsterdam.  She married Isaac De Graff's brother, Nicholas J. De Graff (d. 1841).   Hester died in 1848 -- her will also references a grand nephew, last name Hutton.

So Jacob was.... 
Right, not part of the family I am tracking.  Perhaps a friend or associate of some kind and it may be that Isaac and our Isaac had business relations - who knows. But this Jacob appears to have been the son of Jeremiah De Graff, b: 1727-1809 and perhaps his mother was Jeremiah's wife, Ann.