LANCASTER COITNTT. 75 



Martin Oborholtz, Hans Funk, Michael Oborholtz, Wen- 

 del Bowman and others, who came to Conestogo in 

 1709, selected a tract of ten thousand acres of land on 

 the north side of Pequae creek, and shortly afterwards, 

 procured a warrant for the same. It is dated October 

 10, 1710 — the warrant was recorded, and the land sur- 

 veyed, the 23d of the same month- The 27th of April, 

 1711, the Surveyor General, at the request of the first 

 pui'chasers, subdivided the said ten thousand acres, 

 "into so many parts as they had previously agreed 

 upon." 



It appears from tradition and other corroborating testi- 



ship. He was esteemed one of the most skilful workmen, m 

 iron, of his day. He was an active, useful member of the new 

 colony ; and transacted much of their business abroad. 



AVe here present a few copies of many papers in the pos- 

 session of Abraham Meylin, Mill-wright, grandson of Martin 

 Meylin, from which it will sufficiently appear that he transact- 

 ed bnsiness abroad. 



In 1729, an act was passed to naturalize many of the Swiss 

 and German settlers— April 14th, 1730 — Received of Martin 

 Meylin £14, 4s. 6d. for the naturalization of seven persons. 



Samuel Bltjnston. 



In 1729, the fears of the government were excited, because 

 the Germans adhered to each other, and used their own lan- 

 guage exclusively; their emigration to this country was to be 

 discouraged by passing an act to lay a duty of forty shillings per 

 head on all aliens ! ! 



Received, September 29th, 1731, of Martin Meylin, £8, lis. 

 8d. for passage and head money of John Eschellman. 



Thomas Laweence. 



Philadelphia, 17th, 3d mo., 1729— Received of Martin Mey- 

 lin, £10, 18s. 8d. money of Pa., which with £9, formerly paid 

 to me by James Dawson, is in full for the principal, interest 

 and quit-rents, due to the proprietaries for 200 hundred acres 

 of land near Conestogo, first granted and surveyed to the said 

 James Dawson, but now in possession of said Martin Meylin. 



James Steel, Receiver General, 



