Jacobus Degraff Family Bible

This bible is discovered in the wall of the St. Mathew's Lutheran Church when the building was being torn down in Wilmington, NC after 1963. The church was dedicated in 1906. The bible is currently in the possession of John Butler of Wilmington.

The leather cover is disconnected and the pages are brittle and becoming disbound.

The bible was published and sold by Daniel D. Smith, New York, and printed by E. White, New York. The printing date is given as 1821.

Provided for posting by John Butler
of the ONHGS

Jacobus & Catharine Burger
Dec 6, 1801
Luther Crofoot & Katherine Degraff
Mar16, 1834
Loyal Craine & Sally Ann Degraff
Oct 22, 1834
Martin Degraff & Phebe Ann Harrison
May 11, 1856

Jacobus Degraff born Aug 10, 1773
Catherine Burger Degraff born Aug 26, 1779
Mary Degraff born Jan 28 1805
Henry Degraff born Aug 26, 1806
Katherine Degraff Sep 26, 1810
Sally Ann Degraff born Oct 3, 1813

Martin Degraff born Apr 1, (missing)
Luther Crofoot born Jun 9, 1810
Loyal Crane* born Apr 14, 1813
James Henry Crofoot born Sep 29, 1835
Edward Joseph Crofoot born Nov 1, 1837
Asa Smith Crofoot born Aug 13, 1839
Sally Mariah Craine* born Jul 4, 1834

Mary Janakin Degraff died Apr 26, 1821
37th year
Polly Williams (Degraff) died Mar 15, 1835
30th year
Urusla Degraff died Jul 9, 1837
49 [89?] year
Robert Vankeuren died Sep 1, 1838
Anna Degraff died Dec 4(?), 1838
Ann Vankeuren died Sep 25, 1841
34th year
John Degraff died 1856
aged 76 years

Information provided by Teresa Culver, August 2, 2006:

Most of the individuals in this Bible are tied to Cayuga County, New York.

Jacobus (James) DeGraff
There is a record of his Baptism, at the Kingston Reformed Dutch Church, Kingston, Ulster Co., New York in September 1773, son of Hendricus de Graaf and Urseltje Eckkart.

Ursula DeGraff
is found in the 1800 US Census, Kingston, Ulster Co., NY (either page 233 or 290, both numbers are on the page), with males correct ages to be Jacobus, John and little brother Josia. In 1810 Census, Kingston, Ulster Co, NY (pg. 740/130) Jacobus and John DeGraff are listed in same household. Ages of women in household are correct to be their wives, mother Ursula, and two young girls of John (Jacobus's first children died before census). Joshua DeGraff lives next door; probably younger brother.

Jacobus and Catherine
can be found in the 1850 US Census in Mentz, Cayuga Co., New York (pg 113, dwelling 1599). Listing says James DeGroff age 77 on 6th of Sept 1850, Farmer born New York; Catherine DeGroff age 70 born New York; Martin DeGroff age 31 born New York. There are also an Eliza and Elizabeth Williams 16 and 15, in the household both born New York, probably daughters of deceased niece, Polly.

James DeGraff and Catherine Burger DeGraff
are buried in the Crofoot plot (w/ daughter, son-in-law, and several grandchildren) in the Throopsville Cemetery, Throop, Cayuga Co., New York. A transcription is available at www.rootsweb.com/~nycayuga/cem/cem237/c.htm has James DeGraff  b. 1778 d. 1854 "J.D.";Catherine Burger DeGraff wife of James b. 1779 d. 1854 "C.B.D." See also http://www.rootsweb.com/~nycayuga/cem/cem237/swift.htm. (Apparently they probably misread the b. 1773 as 1778. for Jacobus (James). Jacobus was commonly transliterated to James.)

Luther Crofoot and Catherine DeGraff
A transcription including a record of their marriage of in Mentz, Cayuga Co., New York can be found at http://www.rootsweb.com/~nycayuga/church/barrell.htm. Loyal Crane, their soon to be brother-in-law, is a witness.

Catherine and Luther Crofoot
live a long life in the Aurelius/Throop/Fleming area of Cayuga County.

Sally Ann and Loyal Crane
By 1843 they are in Michigan. They can be found in Paw Paw, Van Buren Co., Michigan.

Martin DeGraff
By 1860 he has also moved from Mentz, New York to Paw Paw, Michigan.

Robert and Anna Van Keuren
In 1850, younger children of this couple, deceased, are in the household of John and Catherine DeGroff in Mentz, Cayuga Co., New York.

Thank you , Teresa!!!!