NOTE: This is a scanned copy of a book that I originally compiled and printed in anticipation of a Family Reunion held in Columbia County over 4th of July weekend, 1986. It has not been updated nor has it been thoroughly proof read. If you find errors or if you have questions or comments, please email me at jgroat1@midsouth.rr.com.
This book is not meant to constitute a professional genealogical study. It is targeted to the average family member and not the professional genealogist. I determined early in this work to make it as readable as possible, providing some key to allow the family member to follow his ancestry back from one generation to the next. I have not used the traditional genealogical numbering scheme; nor have I used superscript annotation to denote generational relationships. The book is divided into chapters outlining each generation, commencing with the American founding father and his first generation descendants. Subsequent chapters are devoted to individual generations, two through ten.
The American founding father has been assigned the family member number 1 and subsequent descendants are assigned family member numbers as they first appear listed under their parents. As each family member is discussed, his Groat parent and his or her family member number are given for reference purposes. At the end of the book, listings of all family members, arranged alphabetically and by family member number, are provided. Another index provides a complete listing of all persons mentioned in the book.
This edition has been rushed to print as I found myself running out of time. I promised to have it completed before the Groat Family Reunion at Columbia County, July 5, 1986. I had some last minute additions immediately prior to going to print and, rather than attempt to renumber the entire volume, I entered the members in the proper sequence and assigned an alpha suffix to their family member numbers.
I am certain that the reader will find some errors within this volume. I have taken that into consideration when selecting the binding. I plan to solicit corrections and additions to the information and, if the response is sufficient, republish it in a more suitable binding, complete with photographs and other exhibits. I have therefore included a form at the end of the book which may be used for submitting your comments, corrections, additions, etc.
I think it would be unwise to attempt to list all of the family members who have contributed to this book, both from a financial and an informational aspect - someone deserving would certainly be overlooked. I do, however, want to express my sincere appreciation to all of you.
Outside the family, I want to especially thank Avalee (Groat) Smith for sharing a mailing list with me and for allowing me to join her in her questionnaire mailing efforts. Avalee also lent a great deal of moral support in the early stages of this effort. She is descended from another Groat family that settled in Canada, presumably from Scotland. I'd also like to thank Donald Keefer for the great volume of records that he sent me regarding the Groat family in and around Columbia County, New York. Don is from the Dutch Groat line that settled around Albany, NY, early in the seventeenth century. The offices of the Wayne County Historical Society, in Lyons, and the Columbia County Historical Society, in Kinderhook, NY, both provided a wealth of family information. The New York State library at Albany proved another valuable resource. Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Library of the Wisconsin State Historical Society at Madison, Wisconsin. I spent untold hours at that fine resource and found the staff there always ready to offer whatever assistance they could.
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Mail me at: jgroat1@midsouth.rr.com