Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

This collection is made up of 3 documents related to the estate of Frederick Mehl of Germantown, Pennsylvania, who died in early 1787.

This collection is made up of 3 documents related to the estate of Frederick Mehl of Germantown, Pennsylvania, who died in early 1787. The first item is a copy of Frederick Mehl's will, originally composed and signed on January 14, 1787. In anticipation of his imminent death, Mehl established legacy payments for his children and grandchildren, appointed Samuel Mechlin and his son Martin as estate executors, and offered his wife and daughter the use of his home and household goods. On February 19, 1787, two appraisers compiled a list of Mehl's belongings, which included household furniture, books, farm implements, and other items; this copy of the inventory is dated February 20, 1787. The final item is a notice posted by Martin Mehl regarding an upcoming sale of Frederick Mehl's estate. Along with the estate's remaining household items, Martin Mehl planned to sell his father's land, auctioned as five separate lots of three acres each (March 1, 1794).

The Samuel and Joseph Mechlin collection is made up of 10 legal documents, at least 9 of which pertain to the financial affairs of Samuel Mechlin of Germantown, Pennsylvania, and his nephew, Joseph Mechlin of Colebrookdale Township, Pennsylvania. The documents concern property in Germantown, Pennsylvania, and payments to the children and other heirs of Mathias Tuttrow of Colebrookdale, Pennsylvania.

The first 2 items, in German, are dated December 12, 1692, and 1755. The first document pertains to Germantown, Pennsylvania, and the second is signed by Jacob Mechlin. A group of 3 indentures between Samuel Mechlin and Daniel Endt, Catherine Zacharias Endt (daughter of John Zacharias), and Baltas Reser (exector of John Zacharias's estate) pertain to Mechlin's purchase of property in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1764.

A later series of documents releases Jacob Mechlin from financial obligations to Matthias Roth (also referred to as Matthias Roads), guardian of Maria "Esshenboch" [Eschenbach?] (1 item, August 10, 1771), and to the children of the late Mathias Tuttrow (also referred to as Mathias Tudrow) (3 items, January 12, 1778-December 1782). Mechlin held a sum of money in trust for Tuttrow, and distributed money to Tuttrow's children and other named heirs, including Phillip Tuttrow, Andrew Fetzer, and Solomon Tuttrow.

The final item is a mortgage between Samuel Mechlin and George Schneider of Bristol, Pennsylvania, pertaining to property that Mechlin purchased from the heirs and executors of John Zacharias (March 22, 1784). The mortgage specifies the method of payment as "Spanish milled Silver Dollars," therein described.