Catherine's Father was murder when she was a child of nine years of age.
She never married. She lived with her mother and sister most of her life.

There was no will. The court order the widow denouced and the estate to sold and split between the children.

It was custom at the time to appoint a guardian for a child under fourteen years of age.

Orphans' Court 6 Apr 1827 per records in Vol. IX, p. 206, note that Elizabeth Merkel,
daughter of the late Abraham Merckel, of Albany township, Berks county, petitioned the court as a minor above 14 years of age, asking that John Shollenberger be appointed her guardian. Henry Ruppert appeared as a friend of Catharine Merkel and Joseph Merkel, minor children of Abraham Merckel, deceased, and William Sweyer was appointed guardian for Catharine, and John Shollenberger for Joseph.

Orphans Court records of Berks County, Will Book vol.9, p. 423, recount s a session 8 Aug 1828 responding to a petition of Abraham Merkel, Jr., eldest son and heir of Abraham Merkel, deceased, late of Albany Twp, who died intestate leaving a widow Susanna and four children, namely Abraham, Jr. and three still in their minority, namely Elizabeth, Catherine and Joseph. The sheriff responded to the court on 7 Nov 1828 with an appraisal of $550 and said the real property could be subdivided without damage.

Links to sources or related info listed on this site

Abraham  Donat Merkel Biography
Merkles - General Biography of Merles in the Area
James K. Merkel Biography 1
James K. Merkel Biography 2

The Mengel Family Tree

My line
My Great Great Great Great Aunt
I am the Great Great Great Great Grandnephew or Grandniece.
Great Great Great Nephew and wife  A. H. Mengel and Margaret R. Connors
Great Great Nephew and wife James S. Mengel and E. Grace Huber
Great Nephew and wife  Samuel Mengel and Clara A. Merkel
Nephew and wife James Kroninger. Merkel and Emma Louis Keim
You are here Catherine Merkel
   Parents of Catherine Merkel are Abraham  Merkel and Susanna  Donat

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