| 4. | Johannes GREEFF was born in 1645 (son of Clemens GREEFF and Catharina); was buried on 22 May 1720. Notes:
I. Johannes Greeff, born 1645, buried on 22 May 1720. Described as "the son of Clemens Greeff in the Huckenbeck", he married Catharina Hilderinghausen in Elberfeld on 10 February 1677. She was baptised on 25 August 1647 and buried on 15 August 1678. She was a daughter of Arndt Hildringhaus on the Fohren in Elberfeld and Anna Otte. On 11 November 1677 she appeared as godmother with her brother-in-law Friedrich Greeff under the description "Catharina von Hilleringhausen" which leads to the conclusion that she came from the farm Hillringhausen to the east of Beyenburg. She died from the effects of her first unfortunate parturition.
Johannes Greeff then took Gertrud (no family name given) as second wife in 1679. Rgarding her death, we find the following entry in the church book of Lüttringhausen:
10 March 1692: The housewife of Johannis in the Huckenbach aged 42 years, leaving 2 children. Reformatae Religionis.
The mention of the religion leads to the conclusion that we are dealing with the wife of Johannes Greeff, although he no longer resided "in the Huckenbeck". We may assume that the second wife came from the parish of Lüttringhausen and accordingly was buried there. This Gertrud is the matriarch of the present family Greeff.
The assumption that Johannes Greeff entered into a third marriage with a Catharina is based on an error. At that time there two more Greeffs in Elberfeld with the same name: Johannes Greeff, son of Wimber Greeff in the Springen, baptised on 30 May 1649, and Johannes Greeff, son of Peter Greeff at Kothen, baptised on 23 October 1650.The wives of these two were named Catharina and Christine. Johannes Greeff and Catharina already had a son Peter by 1680; and on 7 February 1703 their youngest daughter Anna Catharina was baptised. Catharina was buried on 8 April 1721.
Johannes Greeff is described on 24 December 1679 in the baptismal register of Elberfeld as "Johannes Greef on the Fohren". Since his father-in-law Hildringhaus also lived on the Fohren it may be assumed that Johannes had taken over the latter's house and business. With the christening on 8 January 1684 Johannes was described as living in Island. He had purchased the house there "auf der Trappen" of the widow Margarethe Tillmann (born Haussmann). The heirs of the widow confirmed before court on 23 October 1696 that Johann Greeff and his wife had legally bought the house; the purchase must therefore have been concluded before 1692. Unfortunately this entry in the property register also omits the name of his wife.
In the census of 1703 Johannes Greeff is listed as a joiner in Island "auf der Trappen".
At the division of the inheritance in 1690 Johannes received a cash amount instead of part of the property. This was however not the reason for his move to Elberfeld, which took place before 1690. Presumably he was quite content with the cash settlement, which he could use for his business.
Source: Greeff,francois&Greeff,Viljoen the history of the Greeff family of the Huckenbach.
Johannes married Gertrud in 1679. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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1723 - 1796 (73 years)
