Mechling Family Folder

Online Material

Published Sources

Dorothy Hallarn Mercy has written three volumes on the descendants of Theobald Mechling who arrived in the United States in 1728. The 4th volume is about Mechlings, that she can't trace back to their origin. For information on her books please contact Dorothy at KayBeeCee@aol.com.

Researchers

People researching this surname include:

Wanda Mechling Gantt

Biography

Theobald Mechling was born about 1695 in Germany. He and his brother, Jacob arrived in Philadelphia on 11 September 1728 on the ship, James Goodwill with David Crocket the ship master. The ship had sailed from Rotterdam, Holland via the Port of Deal, England leaving on 15 June 1728. On board were 90 some immgrants from Palatine, Germany.

Sometime within the next few years Theobald married Anna Elizabeth Lauer, daughter of John Peter and Anna Margaret Lauer. In 1731 their first child, Dewalt was born. On 29 June 1734 Theobald took out a warrant for approximately 125 acres in Bucks County, PA. When the land was surveyed it amounted to 144 acres and 120 perches. This land was a grant from Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn, and proprietors of the province of Pennsylvania.

Theobald built a log cabin and moved his family to this land in Bucks County, an area which later became part of Lehigh County. The log cabin is still standing and occupied today and is incorporated into a larger home.

Theobald and Anna Elizabeth `s Children:

1. John Theobald (Dewalt) Mechling was born 11 Nov 1731 He married Sabilla Kohler.and died 29 Mar 1816 Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, PA.

2. John Peter Mechling was born about 1737. He married Anna Barbara Kurr on 21 October 1760 and died young in 1765.

3. A daughter was born 1740 and was christened 11 May 1740 in St. Paul's

Evangelical Lutheran Church, Red Hill, Northampton Co., PA. No name was given so she probably died young.

4. Anna Elizabeth was born 25 August 1741, married Leonhard Steininger on 8 April 1760 and died 26 November 1784 in Northampton County, PA.

5. Anna Margaret Mechling was born 27 Apr 1744 in PA and was christened 3 Jun 1744 in Evangelical Lutheran Church, Upper Milford Twp., Northampton Co., PA. She died 10 Apr 1748 and was buried in Colebrookdale, Berks Co., PA.

6. John Jacob Mechling was born 27 Feb 1747 and married Catherine and died 8 Nov 1824 Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, PA. .

7. Philip Mechling was born about 1749 married Katherine Wetzel, and died Nov 1817in York County, PA.

8. Thomas Mechling was born 4 Aug 1751, married Katherine Walsh and died 8 June 1786 in Lehigh County, PA.

On 19 September 1763, Theobald wrote his will leaving his beloved wife, Elizabeth Mechling one complete Bed stead with all the furniture, one cow, one side saddle worth three pounds and ten shillings, one chest, one spinning wheel, two iron pots, all the flax which is not spun into yarn at my decease and two butter dishes, three plates, six spoons,one tea pot, two bureaus of which one is pine. He had already given some of the children l00 pounds each and the others were to receive 100 pounds each when they became of age. He left the plantation of 170 acres to the youngest son, Thomas with the agreement that Elizabeth could remain at the home and share in the profit of the plantation as long as she remain a widow. The plantation was valued at 400 pounds. Thomas was to take possession when he became twenty one years of age. He was to pay the other four brothers and one sister twenty five pounds each year until he had paid each one 1/6 of the 400 pounds.

Theobald died in April 1765 and he and his wife are buried at the cemetery at Dillingersville by the Upper Milford Lutheran Church-school that he helped organize.

Dewalt Mechling

On January 4, 1774 Dewalt was granted in Westmoreland County, PA a warrant for 300 acres (surveyed 8 March 1774 as 296 acres and 80 perches.) which he called "Longsides." The same day he was granted an additional warrant for 300 acres (surveyed 7 March 1774 as 328 acres) to be called "Strelitz" and on 20 March 1788 a 3rd. warrant was granted to Dewalt for 343 acres, which was called "Mechlinburg". Also on 25 August 1785, together with Ludwick Otterman, Dewalt purchased 302 and a half acres, located on Pokes Run. This property was called Macklin`s Retreat.

On 9 April 1776, Dewalt enlisted in the Revolution and served as an ensign on the 8th Continental Line of the Pennsylvania Regulars. He was severely wonded at the Battle of Bound Brook in New Jersey. Dewalt was one of 500 men garrisoned in the blockhouse. On the night of 13 April 1777, a British force of 4,000 men under Corwallis surprised the sleeping continentals. Most of them fled, but 100 were killed or captured. Dewalt was severly wounded, resigned three days later and returned home with the other injured soldiers under the command of Col. Daniel Brodhead. He died 29 March 1816 and is buried at Feigntner`s Cemetery in Hempfield Township.

Dewalt and Sabilla `s children

l. Dewalt was born 1757 in Northampton Co., PA, married Anna Maria RUGH & died Dec. 1790 in Westmoreland Co., PA

2. Michael was born 14 Nov. 1759 in Northampton Co., PA, married Anna Maria ALTMAN & died 22 Feb. 1833 in Armstrong Co., PA.

3. Johann Peter baptized 30 March 1760 at Zion`s Lutheran Church in Lower Macungie, Northampton Co., PA. Died young.

4. Sybilla was born 26 Feb. 1762 in Northampton Co., PA. married Jacob RUGH & died 27 Jan. 1844 in Westmoreland Co., PA.

5. Jacob was born 1 Jan 1765 in Northampton Co., PA, married Anna Maria OTTERMAN & died 7 June 1831 in Glenford in Perry Co., Ohio.

6. Anna Elizabeth was born 4 March 1767 in Northampton Co., PA, married Philip TURNEY & died 29 July 1849 Greenburg, Westmoreland Co., PA.

7. Frederick was born in Northampton Co., PA, married 1. Maria MARTHIN and 2. Elizabeth & died 10 June 1834 in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., PA.

8. Barbara was born 12 April 1772 in Northampton Co., PA, married Adam WENTLING & died 6 Feb. 1842 in Westmoreland Co., PA.

9. John was born 22 May 1773 in Northampton Co., PA, married Catherine BERNHART & died 3 March 1850 in Westmoreland Co., PA.

10. Anna Maria was born 8 Feb. 1776 in Westmoreland Co., PA, married Barnhart THOMAS & died 2 Sept 1838 in Westmoreland Co., PA.

11. Catherine was born 17 June 1779 - bap. 26 June 1779 at Old Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hempfield twp., Westmoreland Co., PA. Nothing more known about her.

John Jacob Mechling

Three months after Dewalt acquired his first land on 19 April 1774, his younger brother, John Jacob took out a warrant for 311 acres in Hempfield Township, Westmoreland Co., PA. Jacob paid fifteen pounds eleven shillings to Thomas Penn and John Penn, Esqrs. sons of William Penn, and proprietors of the province of Pennsylvania

The 1783 Tax List shows Jacob with 300 acres, 3 horses, 4 cows and 6 sheep. When the Revolutionary War broke out, Jacob enlisted and was made Captain of the 4th Battalion of the Pennsylvania Militia from Westmoreland County. He died 8 November 1824 and is buried in Feightner Cemetery near Youngwood, Westmoreland County, PA.

John Jacob and Catherine`s children

l. John was born 30 Sept. 1768 in Northampton Co., PA, married Margaretta SAUMES & died 8 Sept. 1827 in Parker twp., Butler Co., PA.

2.Jacob, Jr. was born 8 Dec. 1770 in Northampton Co., PA, married Mary Magdalena DRUM & died 10 Jan 1860 in Washington twp., Butler Co.,PA

3.Mary was born ca. 1772 in Northampton Co., PA, married Enoch VARNUM & died after 1852 in Butler Co., PA.

4.George J. was born 30 May 1773 in Northampton Co., PA, married Mary Magadalen THOMAS & died 8 Feb. 1853 in Mahoning Co., Ohio.

5. John Philip was born 10 Nov. 1779 in Westmoreland Co., PA, married Charlotte SHOEMAKER & died 18 Nov. 1869 in Cass Co., Michigan.

6.Catherine was born 4 Oct 1781 in Greensburg, PA, married Sebastian SWARTZ.

7.William was born 23 Oct. 1784 in Westmoreland Co., PA, married l. Esther MECHLING daughter of Jacob and Anna Maria Mechling. In 1812 William and Esther moved to Fairfield County, Ohio. Esther died 8 Dec. 1815 and William married 2. Mrs. Catherine (SAUMES) RICE and 3. Elizabeth Catherine Lutz. In 1833 &1835 he purchased land in Allen Co.,Ohio where he died18 April 1855. His body was brought back to Perry Co., Ohio for burial.

8.Elizabeth was born ca. 1786 in Westmoreland Co., PA, married George Weyland LOBINGIER & 2. Benjamin GRIFFIN & died 18 April 1834.

9.Susanna was born 31 March 1791 in Westmoreland Co., PA, married 1. Abraham WEAVER 2. Philip VARNUM & died 1870 in Greensburg, PA.

Michael Mechling

Michael, son of Dewalt and Anna Elizabeth (Lauer) Mechling was born 14 Nov. 1759 in Northampton Co., PA. He was approximately 15 years old when he moved with his family across the mountains to Westmoreland County. He was a private in the Revolutionary War. In 1792, he was a lieutenant in 5th Company of Westmoreland County Militia. On 12 Dec. 1795 he was commisioned captain of the 6th Company of Westmoreland County Militia.

In 1782 he married Anna Maria (Mary) ALTMAN born 1766 and died 10 March 1811. They had ten children of which six were sons and four daughters. He is listed in the 1790 Westmoreland County census with his wife and a male under 16 and a daughter (one male over 16, one male under 16 and 2 females).

On 5 July 1810, Michael purchased 125 acres of land in Kittanning township in Armstrong County. After his wife died the following year he married the second time on 20 Feb. 1812 to Mrs. Margaret (MILLER) TURNEY, widow of Daniel Turney. Margaret had 11 children by her first husband, but none by Michael.

References:

1.Andrew S. Berkey, The Schoolhouse Near the Spring, Pennsylvania German Society, l955 page 9,32,43,58,95-97,100-103,118-122.

2.Dorothy Hallarn Mercy, Mechling, Mechlin, Macklin, Volume 1,2,and 3, 3324 Holly Court, Falls Church, VA 22042.

3.Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series, Volume II, page 314.

4.Charles Roberts, History of Lehigh County Pennsylvania, Lehigh Valley Publishing Co., Allentown, PA Volume 3, 1914 page 878-880.

5.Rupp, Thirty Thousand Names of Immigrants, page 58.

6.Strassburger, PA German Pioneers, Volume I page 22.

7.Annual Proceedings of the Lehigh County Historical Society, 1930, page 61-64.

8. Jacob`s will- Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, PA proven 8 Nov 1824.

9. Westmoreland County, PA Tax Lists for 1786,1798,1802,1805,1810.

10. Westmoreland County, PA census 1790,1800,1810,1820.

 

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