Isaac De Graff Sr. (1767-1851)

Isaac De Groff Sr. (sources) was the father of Isaac De Graff Jr. and grandfather of William Henry De Graff.

Isaac was born about 1767 to **** and ****.  His brother was John De Groff.  In John's pension application (for his service in the American Revolution) Isaac gives testimony about knowing his birth year from a family bible owned by his mother.    I assume that Isaac lived on Long Island and as a boy may have been VERY aware of the Battle of Long Island. 

Prior to 1790, Isaac married  Jannetie Christenden.

In 1790 (August 22) Isaac and Jannetie baptized Johannes (John) at New Utrecht's Reformed Dutch Church.  Three years later, on January 22, 1793, they baptized Janette (Jane Barkhuff).

Isaac's family is found in the 1790 US Census - living in New Ultrecht, Kings County, New York.  The town is small (the Census pages are only 2 pages long!) The household has 2 while males under 16 (perhaps their son John is one) and one white male over 16 (Isaac/Isaak Sr.) and 2 women (Jannetie and a daughter)

At some point, Isaac's family moves to Florida, Montgomery County, New York; the decision to move to Florida may have been based on his brother, John De Groff's move to Florida.

By 1800, the family had moved to Florida, Montgomery County, New York.   I find a listing in the New York State Tax inventory for a piece of land, valued at $740 - held by a Isaac and Jacob DeGraaf; personal property is valued at  $104 and taxes paid $94.   I have hypothesized that these entries are our Isaac Sr. and his brother Jacob.

The 1800 US Census has  a DeGroff family in Florida -   the first name is obscured by the handwriting and smudged with time - it could be Laurie, David, or Isaac -- this household has three people - a teenage boy and an adult male and female - so it does not add up perfectly.

The 1810 Census entry is a bit more consistent - listing five household members

• one male between 10-15 - another son
• one male 16-25 -  son Isaac
• one male 26-44- Isaac Sr
• one female 16-25 - .son John
• one female 26-44 - Jannetie

According to Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs (specifically the Hover family section), Isaac Sr. married Amy Hugaboom.    A marriage to an Amy is supported by wills and other research.  Isaac and Amy had five girls: Eliza, Lavinia, Rebecca, Margaret, and Mary.

The 1830 Census is more solid a find; the family includes 9 people

• two boys 15-29 two sons (not sure who these boys are yet)
• one man 60-69: Isaac Sr.
• one female 5-9:  Mary
• three female 10-14: Lavania, Rebecca, Margaret
• one female 15-19 Eliza
• one female 40-49: Amy 

Isaac DeGraff Sr and his family remained in Florida, Montgomery County, New York for the remainder of his life.  From 1810-1840 I find his farm in Florida with his family detailed.  In 1850, the house contains just him, Amy, and Lavinia - at this point his children have started their own families and are living on farms nearby.

Isaac Sr. died in 1851; he may have lived to see his grandson's (William Henry) wedding to Rachel Ann Staley (January of 1851).  I have seen notations on other family trees that Amy and Isaac are buried on the Ferguson Blair farm.

Isaac De Groff of Kings County and Montgomery County: His Children

• Isaac Sr. 1767-1851 names Isaac as a son in his will, he names as his daughter Jane Barkhoff (1792-1877) found in Chuctanunda Cemetery. 
• Isaac Sr. 1767-1851 also names daughters Lavinia De Graff, Eliza Hover, and Mary Patterson in his will 
• Amy, believed to be wife of Isaac, names as daughter Lavinia DeGraff and her executors are Peter Hover (husband of  Eliza Hover), and Culver Patterson (husband of Mary Patterson).  I think this suggest Isaac was her husband these children were theirs - but Isaac's other two children had a different mother
• Isaac Jr's declaration to the 1860 census taker that he was born in Long Island remains a clue I need to explore.  Perhaps Isaac Sr moved to the Florida area from Long Island 

A summary of the Hover family, in Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs:  supports this theory

Isaac Sr's children with his first wife,  Jannetie Christenden:

• A son (b:17**- dead by 1856) referenced in Lavinia De Groff Stillwell's will as her deceased half brother, with two sons, Isaac DeGroff and Henry DeGroff, both listed as place of residence unknown.
• Johannes (b: 1790 Aug 22) was baptized at Reformed Dutch Church in New Utrecht
• Jane (b: 19 December 1792) was baptized at Reformed Dutch Church in New Utrecht. She married Robert Barkhoff in or about 1834 and had one daughter Sarah (b: 1818-1867) Sarah married Samuel Pulver; and  two sons, James (b: 1833) Robert (b: 1834). Jane died in 1877 and is buried in Chuctanunda Cemetery with Robert who died in 1873.
• Isaac Jr. (b: 30 Jun 1767 - March 1851) married Esther in or about 1819 and had William Henry (b 1820-1910), Ann De Graff Davis (1822-1906), Harriet Halladay (1823-1872), Louisa, Antanetta, Henrietta, John Harland (1835-1895) married Sarah

Isaac Sr's children with Amy: 

• Eliza (1815)married Peter Hover, and had children, Isaac D.  (b: 1837-d before 1850), Maria (b; 1840) and William (b: 1845).  Eliza is buried in Green Hill Cemetery with the name Anna Eliza De Graff Hover. Eliza died on 17 May 1906.
• Lavina (1817-1856) who I find living with her parents in 1850 and then married to Isaac Stillwell of Kings County, New York
• Rebecca (1817) married John Fuller 29 December 1836) and had perhaps eight children: William (***),  Amy Maria (b:1837-1880); James Leslie (1839-1911); Annie H.  (b:1842-1913); George Henry (b:1844-****); Amos D( 1846-1925); Harriet (1850-***) Mary M married to Garrett Staley (1854-1892). Rebecca died in 1890. 
• Margaret (1818-1850) married David Servoss
• Mary (1821) married Culver Patterson. Mary died 3 November 1875.

Decrees and Orders associated with Isaac Sr.'s will reveal three other heirs - about whom I am seeking more details: DeGroff Servoss or Serviss;  Elizabeth Dunn; and Sarah Dunn . All three are described as minors (under 14) and heirs or next of kin of Isaac De Groff.   Chandler Bartlett, of Amsterdam was appointed guardian of these three children at the first reading of Isaac's will.  At the time he took on this role, Bartlett  was a shoemaker in Amsterdam with his wife, Mary Jones, and his five children ranging in age from 15-2.   

May 18, 1851 was the final reading of Isaac's will was attended by his son Isaac, and Isaac's son William Henry, and the husbands of Isaac's daughters - Robert Barkhuff, Peter Hover, and John Fuller.  Also present was his wife, Amy and a George De Groff.   At this meeting, Amy provided proof of her marriage to Isaac.

On December 2, 1853, is estate was settled.  His assets - including a farm - were sold.  Debts of $249.10 were paid. His widow received $1200.  Each child (six were living at the time of his death) received 501.20.  George DeGroff (who attended the first reading) was not listed as receiving any funds.