Person Page - 365

     Grietgen Peters was born circa 1620 in Krefeld, Duchy of Cleves.¹ She married Isaak Opdengraff, son of Herman Opdengraff and Greitgen Pletjes. Her married name was Opdengraff. She was the mother of immigrant Abraham Isaaks Opdengraff and she immigrated with him on 6 October 1683 to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.² Grietgen Peters died on 11 November 1683 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.³ She was buried in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.³ She was also reported to have died on 19 November 1683 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.¹

     Herman Isaaks Opdengraff was born in 1642 in Krefeld, Duchy of Cleves. He married Lisbeth van Bebber, daughter of Jacob Isaacs van Bebber and Styntje Van Dulcken.^1,2 Herman Isaaks Opdengraff immigrated with his brother Abraham Isaaks Opdengraff and Lisbeth Opdengraff on 6 October 1683 to Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.³ Herman Isaaks Opdengraff married Deborah van Bebber, daughter of Jacob Isaacs van Bebber and Styntje Van Dulcken, on 7 May 1691 in Germantown Township, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.⁴ Herman Isaaks Opdengraff moved on 29 September 1701 to Kent County, Delaware. His estate was probated on 23 November 1708 in Dover, Kent County, Delaware.

     Melchior Schilt was born circa 1640.¹ He married Madlena Stauffer on 3 May 1661 in Eggiwil, Canton Bern, Switzerland.¹ Melchior Schilt married secondly, Anna Stauffer, before 1663.¹ Melchior Schilt lived at am Rain, Eggiwil, Canton Bern, Switzerland.¹ He may originally have been from a nearby town known as Schangnau.¹

     Madlena Stauffer married Melchior Schilt on 3 May 1661 in Eggiwil, Canton Bern, Switzerland.¹ As of 3 May 1661, her married name was Schilt.¹

     Anna Stauffer married Melchior Schilt, before 1663.¹ As of before 1663, her married name was Schilt.¹

     Johann Wilhelm of Jülich-Cleves-Berg was born on 28 May 1562.
     He grew up and was educated in Xanten, in the north Rhine. He was married twice. He was married in 1585 to Jakobea of Baden, daughter of Philbert, margrave of Baden-Baden; that marriage was annulled. She died in 1597. His second wife was Antonia of Lorraine, daughter of Charles III, duke of Lorraine. She survived him and died in 1610. Both marriages were childress.
He became the Lutheran bishop of Munster in 1574 and resigned it in 1584. He inherited the dukedoms of Cleves and of Julich-Berg, along with the titles of Count of Mark and Count of Ravensburg upon his father's death on 5 January 1592. He held these titles until his death.
      He was the possible father of Herman Opdengraff.
     I at first considered this possible relationship wishful thinking on the part of somebody who wanted a royal ancestry. I then made the "mistake" of reading the reasons for this possible connection. I deem the relationship unlikely, but stranger things have happened. It is conceivable.

What I find absolutely unbelievable is the possibility of a morganatic marriage with Herman's mother. If Herman is Johan Wilhelm's son, he was illegitimate

Certain facts of Herman's life tend to support a noble birth. He had a coat of arms on his windows, a coat that has certain herdic implications. It was illegal at that time to display arms when you had no right to them. He was religiously tolerant in an intolerant age. Johan Wilhelm had a family that was split between the old and the new religions, Catholicism and Lutheranism. Herman had an excellent education, was cultured, and was a successful entrepreneur.

He provided a home for his mother-in-law at the end of her life (nothing unusual about that, he was being a good Christian son-in-law) but what was unusual was that his mother-in-law was nursed by three Roman Catholic nuns, whom Herman also willingly housed and provided for. These nuns were of high nobel birth, and left their convent in order to care for this woman. That was extremely unusual, considering that Herman, his wife and her mother were all Protestants, and Herman notable among the Reformers. And especially if they were all commoners. Or were they? (see also for Johann Wilhelm's ancestors.) Johann Wilhelm of Jülich-Cleves-Berg died on 25 March 1609 at age 46 years, 9 months and 25 days.

     From the website (De) Graeff Op the Graeff est. 148 (https://degraeff.jimdo.com/) downloaded Thursday 11 April 2019, at 2 am.

1st generation: Abraham Graeff , also Abraham op den Graeff and Abraham de Graeff (* 1485 in the Netherlands, † 1561 in Dusseldorf) was the assumed master of the klevischen family Op den Graeff. According to an insecure family tradition, Abraham was the son of the Austrian nobleman Wolfgang von Graben and, like his father, originally belonged to Catholicism. This thesis was first taught in 1662 in "The Works of Gabriel Bincelint". However, when he converted to Protestant faith, he fled from Holland to settle with his wife and their firstborn son Herman op den Graeff van de Aldekerk in Zwammerdam at Alphen aan den Rijn in the former Klevischem border area. He was one of the first Protestant reformers and as such active in the area around Zwammerdam. In this capacity Abraham was also known with Martin Luther. After the Spanish troops threatened this area, the family fled to Antwerp, to then live in Dusseldorf. The family split up, only Abraham's eldest son, the above-mentioned Herman, also came to Dusseldorf.
============
Generation IV: Herman op den Graeff (1585-1642) was a leading figure of the Krefeld Mennonites and their "Mennonite Lord Bishop".



Hermann was born in Aldekerk, near the Dutch border. According to that family tradition, he was the son of Anna op den Graeff van de Aldekerk. In the Scheuten manuscripts he is mistakenly given the name "Noble Lord of Graeff". He carried out the profession of a linen weaver and merchant, whereby he came to prosperity. Married was Hermann op den Graeff with Grietjen Pletjes, with whom he had 18 children. In 1609 he and his family moved to Krefeld. There, Herman became a lay preacher and thereafter chairman and "Mennonite Lord Bishop" of the Mennonite religious community. In 1630 Herman had two stained-glass windows with paintings and slogans created for him and his wife as a sign of his piety. Abraham Opdengraff was born in 1562 in Dusseldorf, Germany.¹ Conflicting evidence states that Abraham Opdengraff was born circa 1550 in Holland. He was the probable father of Herman Opdengraff.      He was one of the minor Reformers and is said to have been martyred by being burned at the stake.