Jacob DeGroff (unknown-1831) Version 1

I now think that Jacob DeGroff was Isaac DeGroff Sr.'s brother.

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.  What makes this interesting is that these posts are based on the same data -- two conclusions from the same data!


(1) I now think that Jacob DeGroff was Isaac DeGroff Sr.'s brother.

OR 

(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. That theory is detailed here.

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 DeGroff.  His parents are yet to be determined.  The Isaac references as his witness is his brother- Isaac Sr.  or it is his nephew (Isaac Jr.) ; Hester De Graff his niece in law - the wife of Isaac Jr (Jacob's nephew)- occasionally referenced as Hester (in the 1850 US Federal Census) and other times documented as Esther (her tombstone.) 

Jacob and Maria Kirstead originally lived in New Utrecht, Long Island.   Records of the Dutch Reformed Church of New Utrecht show the baptism of their two oldest children (Johannes (John) b: 1795 January 2 and Jane b: 1797 April 23.)   These two children correspond to the oldest two children listed in Jacob's will.  Mary as detailed in the will, could be the Maria mentioned in this church register.

At some point, Jacob and Isaac moved to Minaville - along with their brother John.

My theory is that 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 Jacob and his brother Isaac Sr.

Jacob is listed in the 1810 and 1830 US Federal Census in Minaville.   His burial site is unknown.

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 Minaville.   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, Maria Kirstead? 

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 DeGroff were business associates.   Isaac Sr and Jr (father and son) 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 DeGroff?
With this theory, Hester is Esther Stafford, Isaac DeGroff Jr's wife, referenced else where as Esther. She, along with her husband, witnessed Jacob's will.

So Jacob was.... 

The brother of John DeGroff (Revolutionary War veteran) and the brother of Isaac DeGroff, Sr.  He was an uncle to Isaac DeGroff Jr.