Hester DeGraff Van Wagenen (1710-1796)

Darren's DNA offers some interesting clues in the form of links to possible 8th cousins. Both of these links go back to Jean Le Comte, an early settler of the land we know today as Harlem.    He was a French Hugenot who arrived in then New Amsterdam in 1674.

One cousin is Hester DeGraff Van Wagenen (1710, Nov 12 - 1796, Feb 15)  wife of Nicholas Van Wagenen (1713-1769). 

Hester was the daughter of Jan DeGraff (1687-1735) and his wife Mary Peakok.   Jan was the son of Moses De Graff and his wife Helen Delameter. Moses was the son of Jean LeComte.

As detailed in his will (NY NY-31-12-471), upon his death in 1736, Jan (grandson of Jean LeComte)  left Hester (great grand daughter of Jean LeComte) and her siblings land in Dutchess County, New York.

Jan De Graff's children were:

• Elizabeth (1708-1782) wife of Balturs Van Cleek
• Hester DeGraff Van Wagenen (1710, Nov 12 - 1796, Feb 15)
• Moses (1713-1800)
• Sara (1716-unknown)
• Abraham (1718-unknown)
• John (Johannis) (1720-1789)
• Petrus (deaf and mute)1722- unknown
• Christian: (1725-unknown)
• Janneken (1726-1812)

Hester's brother Johannis's had a daughter, Mary (1738-1784), who is the second DNA link of note - also proposed as 8th cousin to Darren. 

Johannis De Graff's children were:

• Johannes Jan John DeGraf (1735–1789)
• Maria (Mary) DeGraff Auchmoody (1738-1784)
• Hendricus (Henry) DeGraff (1741–1792)
• Catherine DeGraff  (1743– unknown)
• Margariet DeGraff  (1746–1812)
• Annatjen DeGraff (1748–1783)

Mary (1738-1784) was the wife of David Auchmoody. She and David had a large family - 2 girls and 6 boys and she died at 46 (the same year her last son Levi was born).

Mary and David's children were:

• Magdalena
• James
• John 
• Peter
• Mary 
• David 
• Abraham
• Levi

So far, I've not connected either of these women or their children back to Darren; I am continuing to research the males and seek wills and other clues.  I'd like to spend some time with Jan De Graff's sons - I feel like they may point me to some answers -- again the goal is to find Isaac De Groff Sr's father.

I am amused that a key clue in finding Darren's immigrant ancestor is a woman - I suspect one of these ladies was a blond with big eyes.