Abraham op den Graeff facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Abraham op den Graeff
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| Representative, Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly | |
| In office 1689–1692 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | c 1646 Krefeld, Germany |
| Died | 1731 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Profession | Politician, weaver, merchant |
Abraham Isacks op den Graeff (born around 1646, died around 1731) was an important person in early American history. He was one of the first people to help create Germantown, Pennsylvania. Abraham was also a community leader, a skilled weaver who won awards, and he signed a very important document. This document was the first organized religious protest against slavery in the American colonies. His name, or his brother Derick's, even appears in a poem called "The Pennsylvania Pilgrim" by John Greenleaf Whittier.
Contents
Abraham op den Graeff's Early Life
Abraham op den Graeff was born around 1646 in Krefeld, Germany. His father was Isaac Herman op den Graeff. His family, the Op den Graeffs, were originally Mennonites. They likely moved to Krefeld around 1605 to escape unfair treatment. Krefeld was a safer place for people with different religious beliefs. Many people in Krefeld, including Abraham, worked as weavers or in other cloth-making jobs.
From Mennonite to Quaker
In the 1660s, Quaker missionaries visited the Rhine River valley. Many Mennonites, including Abraham and his family, became Quakers. However, Quakers were not always welcomed in Krefeld. In 1679, five Quakers, including Abraham's brother Herman, were forced to leave Krefeld. They were later allowed to return.
Around this time, William Penn was starting his new colony in America, Pennsylvania. The chance to practice their Quaker faith freely was a big reason why Abraham and his family decided to move. Abraham and his brothers were among the first to leave. They arrived in Philadelphia in October 1683 on a ship called the Concord.
Founding Germantown Settlement
Abraham op den Graeff and his family were part of the first thirteen families who founded Germantown. This settlement is now part of Philadelphia. Abraham helped start the linen industry there. In 1686, he won the first Governor's prize from William Penn for weaving the best piece of linen in the colony.
Fighting Against Slavery
In 1688, Abraham and three other people signed a very important document. This was the 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery. It was the first organized religious protest against slavery in the American colonies. This shows how strongly he felt about human rights.
Serving in Government
In 1689, Abraham was one of the original people given the official right to start the settlement. That same year, he was elected to the Provincial Assembly. This was like the local government for the colony. He represented Germantown in the Assembly until 1692. He also served as a "burgess" for Germantown, which meant he was a town official.
Mentioned in a Poem
Abraham, or possibly his brother Dirck, is mentioned in a famous poem. The poem is called "The Pennsylvania Pilgrim" and was written by John Greenleaf Whittier in 1872. It talks about the fight against slavery.
Notable Descendants
Abraham op den Graeff's family used many different spellings for their last name over time. Some of these include Opdegraf(f), Updegraf(f), Uptegraft, Updegrave, Updegrove, Updegraph, and Upthegrove. A famous descendant was Pennsylvania Governor Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker. He was Abraham's fourth great-grandson.
