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From:
Subject: Re: [PALANCAS] Before Lancaster county
Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2002 19:51:42 EDT


Margaret, it is my understanding that Hans Graff immigrated in 1695 or 1696.
He stayed for a time in Germantown, then had property in the Pequea
Settlement. One day his horses wondered off, and as he followed them, he came
across a wonderful spring. He sold his land to Martin Barr in 1717, and moved
to what would become Groff's Dale, or Graaf's Thal. Earl was named in honor
of Hans Graaf. On June 9th 1729, the magistrates and citizens of Lancaster
County met to settle upon the boundaries and names of the townships of the
country. They named the township in which Graaf lived, Earl, in honor of him.
The word EARL being the English word for Graaf. Yvonne

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