[M] #1520 John Theobald "Dewalt" Mechling ( Diebold "Theobald" MechlingDiebold MechlingMartin Mechling )

Dewalt was born 11 Nov 1731. He died 29 Mar 1816. He was buried in Feightner's Cemetery, Youngwood, Pennsylvania.

As was common, John Theobald went by his call name, of which Dewalt was a fairly common variation or nickname.

Dewalt's birthplace is not known, though his father was living in what is now Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania at the time. Around 1734, the family moved to the cabin in Bucks Co., Pennsylvania .

Dewalt's brother, Thomas, was the sole heir to his father's property. Dewalt's inheritance was 260 pounds, 13 shillings and 4 pence, to be paid by Thomas in increments of 25 pounds per year.

On 13 Jan 1770, Dewalt received a patent for 27 acres and 85 perches. On 30 Jan 1770, he received a warrant for 188 acres and 80 perches in Macungie Twp., Northampton Co. This was patented on 18 Aug 1772 and named Mechlinberg.

By 4 Jan 1774, Dewalt had left Northampton Co. and moved west to Westmoreland Co. where he was granted a warrant for 300 acres. It was surveyed on 8 Mar 1774 as 296 acres and 80 perches and he named it Longsides. The same day he was granted an additional warrant for 300 acres (later surveyed as 328 acres) that he named Strelitz. On 20 Mar 1788, he received a third warrant for 343 acres, which he called Mechlinburg. On 25 Aug 1785, he and Ludwick Otterman purchased 301½ acres located on Pokes Run. This property was called Macklin's Retreat.

On 9 Apr 1776, Dewalt enlisted in the Continental Army, serving as an ensign in the 8th Continental Line of the Pennsylvania Regulars. He was severely wounded at the Battle of Bound Brook on 13 Apr 1777 and resigned three days later to return home with other wounded soldiers under the command of Colonel Daniel Brodhead.

On 13 Jul 1782, one of the last conflicts of the American Revolution was the Burning of Hannastown. Though no Mechlings were known to have been injured or captured in this raid, the attackers' path from Hannastown to Miller's Station took them right through the Mechling farm, which became a graveyard for those involved in the killing of Captain Brownlee. There is some evidence in Path of Blood that Dewalt was promoted to first lieutenant.

He appears on the 1790 Federal Census as Devalt Mechling, Sr.

On the 1800 Federal Census he is Devalt Macklin.

It would seem he is listed as John Macklin on the 1810 Federal Census.

Dewalt is believed to be buried in Feightner's Cemetery with his wife. Feightner's Cemetery is now called Central Cemetery. The Mechling Historical Association placed new gravestones and Revolutionary War markers on the graves.

Dewalt married #9966 Sabilla Kohler. She is the daughter of Michael & Sabilla Kohler.

Relationship notes

They married Abt 1756/1757 in Pennsylvania.

 

Sabilla was born 1736 in Northampton Co., Pennsylvania. She was baptised 24 Apr 1736 in Great Swamp Church, Northampton Co., Pennsylvania. She was buried in Feightner's Cemetery, Youngwood, Pennsylvania.

Children of this relationship:

#1527MiDewalt Mechling(1757–Dec 1790)
#1528MiiMichael Mechling(14 Nov 1759–22 Feb 1833)
#1529MiiiJohann Peter Mechling(1760–Child)
#1530FivSybilla Mechling(26 Feb 1762–27 Jan 1844)
#1531MvJacob Mechling(1 Jan 1765–7 Jun 1831)
#1532FviAnna Elizabeth Mechling(4 Mar 1767–29 Jul 1849)
#1533MviiFrederick Mechling(1769–10 Jun 1834)
#1534FviiiBarbara Mechling(12 Apr 1772–6 Feb 1842)
#1874MixJohn Mechling(22 May 1773–3 Mar 1850)
#1536FxAnna Maria Mechling(8 Feb 1776–2 Sep 1838)
#1537FxiCatherine Mechling(17 Jun 1779–)

1790 U.S. Census, Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, Series: M637; Roll: 9; Page: 56; Image: 41; Family History Library Film: 0568149.

1800 U.S. Census, Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1800 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010, Series: M32; Roll: 41; Page: 1006; Image: 210; Family History Library Film: 363344.

1810 U.S. Census, Hempfield Twp., Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania, Ancestry.com. 1810 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010, Roll: 51; Page: 842; Image: 00194; Family History Library Film: 0193677.

Dewalt Mechling, National Society Sons of the American Revolution, Ancestor #P247464.

Dorothy Hallarn Mercy, Mechlin Mechling Macklin - Descendants of Theobald Mechling, 1728-1998, Volume I-Dewalt Mechling, (Butler, PA: Mechling Associates, 1998). Ref. as [Mercy I-98].

Harold Frederic, William C. Frederick III and William J. McMaster Sr., Path of Blood, (Kittanning, Pennsylvania: 1997).

Lineage application of Elmer Thomas Wible, Volume: 359; SAR Membership Number: 71765, Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.


Line Generation: 4

Relationship: Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather