Herman op den Graeff, also ''Hermann'' ( Aldekerk, 26 November 1585 -

Krefeld Krefeld ( , ; ), also spelled Crefeld until 1925 (though the spelling was still being used in British papers throughout the Second World War), is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in western Germany. It is located northwest of Düsseldorf, its c ...

, 27 December 1642) was a

Mennonite Mennonites are a group of Anabaptism, Anabaptist Christianity, Christian communities tracing their roots to the epoch of the Radical Reformation. The name ''Mennonites'' is derived from the cleric Menno Simons (1496–1561) of Friesland, part of ...

community leader from

Biography

Origin

Herman op den Graeff was the first historically proven member of the

Op den Graeff Op den Graeff () is a German and American family of Dutch origin. They were one of the first families of the Mennonite faith in Krefeld at the beginning of the 17th century. Various family members belonged to Original 13, the first organized imm ...

family. He was born on 26 November 1585 into a

religious family in Aldekerk (Duchy of Guelders, Holy Roman Empire), near the

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

border. It is said that the Op den Graeff family was of Dutch origin. Some believe that Duke

John William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg Johann Wilhelm of Jülich-Cleves-Berg () (28 May 1562 – 25 March 1609) was the last Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. Biography His parents were William ''the Rich'', Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg (1516–1592) and Maria of Austria (1531–1581 ...

had a

morganatic marriage Morganatic marriage, sometimes called a left-handed marriage, is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which in the context of royalty or other inherited title prevents the principal's position or privileges being passed to the spou ...

prior to 1585 with Anna op den Graeff (van de Aldekerk), with whom he had a son, Herman op den Graeff. No substantial evidence of any relation between the Op den Graeff and the Duke has ever been presented, so most likely that connection is non-existent. According to another family tradition, the Op den Graeff descended from the

Von Graben Herren von Graben, also named ''von (dem) Graben'', ''vom Graben'', ''Grabner'', ''Grabner zu Rosenburg'', ''Graben zu Kornberg'', ''Graben zu Sommeregg'', ''Graben von (zum) Stein'', and ''ab dem Graben'' was the name of an old (Uradel) Austrian ...

through Wolfgang von Graben who were mentioned in Holland between 1476 and 1483. ''Graeff'' was the Dutch spelling of ''Graben'' during the 14th and 15th century. These sources are not documented and cannot be verified. Another source reports that the Op den Graeff family may have come from

Flanders Flanders ( or ; ) is the Dutch language, Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium and one of the communities, regions and language areas of Belgium. However, there are several overlapping definitions, including ones related to culture, la ...

Early years

In 1605, Herman op den Graeff removed to Kempen where he met and married Greitgen Pletjes (or ''Greitje Pletjes'') on 6 August 1605. In 1609 the family moved to

Krefeld Mennonite Church

Op den Graeff windows

Un Krefeld, Op den Graeff became a

lay preacher A lay preacher is a preacher who is not ordained (i.e. a layperson) and who may not hold a formal university degree in theology. Lay preaching varies in importance between religions and their sects. Overview Some denominations specifically disco ...

and leader of the Mennonite community. In 1630, he had two stained glass windows (Op den Graeff windows) with paintings and religious aphorisms created for himself and his wife Greitgen (Greitje) Pletjes as a sign of his piety. The windows originally where located at Op den Graeffs house at Krefeld. During the 19th century the window where located at the Kaiser-Wilhelm Museum at Krefeld and were apparently transferred to the Linn Castle, also at Krefeld. The windows were stolen from the Linn Castle during the chaos of the end of the Second World War and no longer correspond to the description given before the theft. The current window contains a depiction of the

Virgin Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

, which would have been unthinkable for a Mennonite. At this point there was another saying, the text of which has been handed down. Images of the Op den Graeff windows: Op den Graeff Krefeld Stained-Glass Windows II.jpg, The whole window Op den Graeff Krefeld Stained-Glass Windows III.jpg, Upper part Op den Graeff Krefeld Stained-Glass Windows IV.jpg, Lower part Poem of Herman Baron op den Graeff.jpg, detail: Poem Op den Graeff Krefeld Stained-Glass Windows V.jpg, detail: both coat of arms Glass windows of Hermann Baron op den Graeff.jpg, detail: Coat of arms Op den Graeff Krefeld Stained-Glass Windows VI.jpg, detail: Coat of arms Following is the reproduction of both texts, in original German language and Translated english language, according to the line structure of the copy that was received: * ''Gott fruchtigh from und gutt von senden, Luistigh frundtlich und war von reden. Ist christlich und gefalt den Herren. Bringt gunst und setzet menneger zu grosser ehren. Herman op Den Graff und Greitgen sein hosfrow. A 1630'' and the translated English version: * ''God is fruitful, devout and good to all sides, talked cheerfully and Kind. I am christian and appeal to the Lord. I bring affection, and one grants great honor to me. Herman op Den Graff and Greitgen his wife. Anno 1630'' Disappeared text (glass plate replaced by depiction of the Virgin Mary) in original German language: * ''Wer wyl uns scheyden von der liebe gottes, Truebsal oder angst oder verfolgung oder Ferligkeyt oder Schwert? Wie geschrieben steht um Deinen willen werden wir getoedtet den gantzen tag. Wir siendt geachtet fur Schlachtschaaffe. Aber in dem allen ueberwinden wir weit um des willen, der uns geliebet hatt. Roem. 8 c 35 v'' and the translated English version: * ''Who will take from us God's love, sorrow or fear or persecution or execution or sword? As written in your will, we are being destroyed all day long. We are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered. But we overcome all for the one will who has loved us. Romans Chapter 8, Verse 35''

= Coat of arms

= There is a reference about the Op den Graeff glass paintings of

with a description of Hermans possible, but not proven Coat of Arms was found in the estate of W. Niepoth (op den Graeff folder) in the archives of the city of Krefeld, who noted a letter dated November 17, 1935 from Richard Wolfferts to Dr Risler: ''Saw the Coat of Arms glass pane in the old museum: 'Herman op den Graeff und Grietgen syn housfrau' or the like. Coat of Arms - In the sign a silver swan in blue. Helmet decoration (I think): Swan growing''.

Activity as a Mennonite leader

Herman op den Graeff at the 1632 Krefeld Mennonite Church Delegation

In 1632, Herman op den Graeff was one of two Krefeld Mennonite Church delegates to sign the

Dordrecht Confession of Faith The Dordrecht Confession of Faith is a statement of religious beliefs adopted by Dutch Mennonite leaders at a meeting in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, on 21 April 1632. Its 18 articles emphasize belief in salvation through Jesus Christ, baptism, no ...

. In Krefeld he worked as a preacher in the Mennonite community. In 1637, he was named as the "der hiesigen Mennoniten Herrn Bischof" of Krefeld (Mennonite lord bishop of Krefeld). A Reformed member complained bitterly about the activity of Op den Graeff that “some ordinary non-Mennonites were attracted.” In 1637 donations were requested for the suppressed

Reformed Church Reformed Christianity, also called Calvinism, is a major branch of Protestantism that began during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. In the modern day, it is largely represented by the Continental Reformed Christian, Presbyterian, ...

in Sweebrucke, and Op den Graeff donated the sum of 25

Reichsthaler The ''Reichsthaler'' (; modern spelling Reichstaler), or more specifically the ''Reichsthaler specie'', was a standard thaler silver coin introduced by the Holy Roman Empire in 1566 for use in all German states, minted in various versions for the ...

from his own resources on behalf of the small Krefeld community, while the Reformed community in Krefeld only contributed 22.

Descendants

On August 6, 1605 Herman op den Graeff married to Greitgen (Greitje) Pletjes (1588–1643). They had the following children: * ''Trinken (Dinken) op den Graeff'' (1607–~1608) * ''Hester op den Graeff'' (~1609–1657), married around 1627 to Isaac Van Bibber (Van Bebber) (died 1705) * ''Abraham op den Graeff'' (~1610–1656), married to Eva von der Leyen ** ''Herman op den Graeff'' (1647-1695), married to Hester van Bebber and Catherine Laments Vonder Pypen * ''Trinken op den Graeff'' (1612–~1658) * ''Hallerkin (Hillekin?) op den Graeff'' (~1614–~1691), married around 1635 Theissen Matthias Doerrs (Doors) * ''Isaac (Hermans) op den Graeff'' (February 28, 1616 - January 16, 1679), married Margaret Peters Doerrs (Margaretha 'Grietgen' Doors) (1621 –November 11, 1683) ** in 1683 their descendants migrated to Pennsylvania, United States * ''Jacob op den Graeff'' (~1617–~1618) * ''Alletjen op den Graeff'' (1619–1619) * ''child'' (1620–1620) * ''Dirck (Derek) op den Graeff'' (1621–~1655) * ''daughter'' (1622–1622) * ''Alletjen op den Graeff'' * ''Andreas op den Graeff'' (1625–) * ''Fricken (Frinken) op den Graeff'' * ''Susanna op den Graeff'' (~1629–~1714) * ''Andreas op den Graeff'' (1631–) * ''Jacob op den Graeff'' (1634–1634) In 1683, three of Herman op den Graeff's grandchildren (children of Isaac Hermans op den Graeff),

Derick Derick is both a masculine given name and a surname. It is a variant of Derrick. People with the name include: Given name * Derick Adamson (born 1958), Jamaican runner *Derick Amadi (born 1984), Nigerian footballer *Derick Armstrong (born 1979), ...

, Herman and

Abraham op den Graeff Abraham Isaacs op den Graeff, also ''Op den Graff'', ''Opdengraef'' as well as ''Op den Gräff'' (c. 1649 – c. 1731) was one of the so-called Original 13, the first closed group of German emigrants to North America, and an original founder of ...

, who were cousins of

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

founder

William Penn William Penn ( – ) was an English writer, religious thinker, and influential Quakers, Quaker who founded the Province of Pennsylvania during the British colonization of the Americas, British colonial era. An advocate of democracy and religi ...

as well, migrated to Pennsylvania, United States. They are among the thirteen families, Original 13, the first organized immigration of a closed group of Germans to America, who arrived on the ship ''Concord'' on October 6 that year. They often referred to as the

Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Germantown () is an area in Northwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded by Palatine, Quaker, and Mennonite families in 1683 as an independent borough, it was absorbed into Philadelphia in 1854. The area, which is about six miles northwest fr ...

founders."Ship Passengers Mentioned in Merion MM Minutes; Chester County, PA."
, Yvonne Prough. U.S. Genealogical Web Archives. Accessed 29 sept 2011 Later Pennsylvania Governor Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker was Herman's sixth-great-grandson through his grandson Abraham op den Graeff, while US-president

Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919), also known as Teddy or T.R., was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Roosevelt previously was involved in New York (state), New York politics, incl ...

was the sixt great-grandson of Herman op den Graeff through his daughter Hallerkin.The Descendants of James Carrell and Sarah Dungan, His Wife. P 140/142 (1928)
/ref> Herman op den Graeffs three grandchildren who founded Germantown, Pennsylvania in 1683: File:Derick op den Graeff (1646-1697) and Abraham op den Graeff (1649–1731), signers of the first organized religious protest against slavery in 1688.jpg, Derick and Abraham op den Graeff (with the document of the first organized religious protest against slavery in colonial America) File:Herman Isacks op den Graeff (1642-1708), sketch by Matthias Laurenz Gräff.jpg, Herman op den Graeff File:Abraham op den Graeff.jpg, Abraham op den Graeff