From A. Bermbach (unpublished)
Niederselters, 8 Jan. 1782
Highly commendable Magistrate:

With the 18th of June Sophie Mengel née Mitler of this town departed this life, and immediately all existing furnishings and capital was inventoried according to the legal regulations, which came within the custom of the day to 218 louis d’or.

What is to be done with her trifling estate after her passing, the deceased has determined with arrangements for a few pious charitable institutions and for those persons who have aided her in her frequent illnesses. For a medical assistance and the woman attending ehr, and legacies to the little boy and girl of prior marriage, and therefore that which she wanted all her other heirs to have, which comes after deduction of all this only to 141 louis d’or, and will be made available with all certainty, and the protocol of this ordinance will then be available intermino to all heirs to their steps of action to which they will be permitted.

Among the eleven people who are legally qualified to claim a share of the inheritance is also Thedor Mieger, a tailor in Philadelphia, under the jurisdiction of that highly commendable place; and that is why we kindly implore the same, to make known this to the authority, so that he, if he thinks he can have something of advantage for himself, can appear within the time of one year, which is given to him pro omni et peremptorio termino, before this court to legitimate himself for the inheritance. If he is not heard from within the allocated time but at any later time with a claim, he shall have his possible call under threat of punishment [penalty] of eternal silence rejected; to this above end he shall notify us about the aforementioned cum documento executi at his earliest convenience.

We offer ourselves in such cases as intermediary and are of a highly commendable magistrate respectful mayor and assessor of the ducal court,

A. Bermbach

Endorsed: Mr. Franklin desires to know the Purport of these Letters. Commissione
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