Herman op den Graeff

Herman op den Graeff (Aldekerk, 26 November 1585 - Krefeld, 27 December 1642) was a Mennonite community leader from Krefeld.

Herman op den Graeff
leader of the Mennonites
Personal details
Born26 November 1585
Aldekerk, Germany
Died27 December 1642 (1642-12-28) (aged 57)
Krefeld, Germany
NationalityDutch[1]
DenominationChristianity
OccupationLinen weaver
Professionmerchant

Origin
The Op den Graeff stained window of Krefeld, containing a Swan

Herman Op den Graeff was the first historically proven member of the Op den Graeff family. He was born on 26 November 1585 in Aldekerk, Germany. Some believe that Duke John William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg had a morganatic marriage prior to 1585 with Anna op den Graeff (van de Aldekerk), with whom he had a son, Herman op den Graeff.[2][3] No substantial evidence of any relation between the Op den Graeff and John William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg has ever been presented, so most likely that connection is non-existent.

Life
Poem op Herman op den Graeff and his wife Greitgen (Greitje) Pletjes: God is fruitful, devout and good to all sides ...

Herman op den Graeff was a wealthy linen weaver and merchant. In 1605, he removed to Kempen where he met and married Greitgen Pletjes (or Greitje Pletjes) on 6 August 1605.

Krefeld Mennonite Church

In Krefeld, Op den Graeff became a leader of the Mennonite community, and in 1632, was one of two Krefeld Mennonite Church delegates to sign the Dordrecht Confession of Faith.[4] In 1637, he was named as the "der hiesigen Mennoniten Herr Bischof" of Krefeld.[5]

Descendants

Some of Herman op den Graeff's descendants migrated to the United States. They are among the thirteen families often referred to as the Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Founders, who arrived on the ship Concord on 6 October 1683.[6][7][8] Among these families were three op den Graeff brothers, including grandson Abraham op den Graeff, a cousin of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Governor Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker was Herman's sixth-great-grandson.[9]

References
  1. Prof. William I. Hull: William Penn and the Dutch Quaker Migration to Pennsylvania (2018)
  2. Krefeld Immigrants and Their Descendants, Bände 7-12, p 15 ff and 53 ff, Links Genealogy Publications, 1990
  3. Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King's 'Beloved Sister', by Heather R. Darsie . Some claim the records were destroyed in the conflict between Protestants and Catholics at the time but regardless because Anna op den Graeff was of low social rank, Johann Wilhelm's titles and privileges were not passed on to their son and he was considered officially without an heir
  4. "Graeff, op den (Opdegraf, Updegrave, Updegrove) family - GAMEO".
  5. Google books; Taufgesinnte und großes Kapital: die niederrheinisch-bergischen Mennoniten und der Aufstieg des Krefelder Seidengewerbes, Mitte des 17. Jahrhunderts-1815. Peter Kriedte, p. 105 (2007)
  6. "The Friend, Volume 48", The Friend., 1875. Harvard University. p. 67
  7. "Ship Passengers Mentioned in Merion MM Minutes; Chester County, PA." Archived 2012-04-21 at the Wayback Machine, Yvonne Prough. U.S. Genealogical Web Archives. Accessed 29 sept 2011
  8. "1683 Concord" Archived 2013-05-21 at the Wayback Machine, Pro Genealogists. Accessed 29 sept 2011
  9. "Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania", John W. Jordan. Genealogical Publishing Com, 1978. ISBN 0-8063-0811-7, ISBN 978-0-8063-0811-1. p. 486

Further reading
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