An insolvency petitionHenry I Kochersperger, son of the progenitor of the so-called Philadelphia branch of the family, Johann Martin I Kochersperger, was forced to file for insolvency. One of his largest creditor was his own brother Martin Henry I Kochersperger. Henry was married to Elisabeth Deshong and his daughter Elizabeth Deshong Kochersperger was the wife of John Nelson I Wanamaker and the mother of the founder of the Wanamaker Departement Store, John Wanamaker. Henry I Kochersperger died three years after the bankruptcy of "dropsy". At that time the medical findings, however, were very inaccurate. 
The following interesting document was found at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Insolvency Petitions, 16th June 1835 - June Term #155: June 7. 1835
Insolvency petition
Henry Kochersperger
Farmer
Passyunk Township
Filed June 16th 1835
To the Honorable the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County.
The petition of Henry Kochersperger respectfully sheweth:
That your petitioner has resided in the county of Philadelphia aforesaid for more than one whole year now last past: That he is unable to pay his debts and offers to deliver up to the use of his creditors all the property, real, personal and mixed of which he is possessed or in any manner entitled to – a schedule whereof on oath together with a list of his creditors the nature and amount of their debts sofar as he can ascertain the same, statement of his losses and the means whereby he became insolvent and exhibited with and annexed to this petition: He therefore prays the the relief provided by law for insolvent debtors.
June 1835.
Henry Kochersperger [sig.]
I Henry Kochersperger hereby assign unto Mr. Bates & Martin Kochersperger all my estate real & personal & mixed to which I am in any manner entitled for the use of all my creditors. Witness my
hand & seal this day of June [7th] A.D. 1835.
Witness present
- Seal –
Henry Kochersperger [sig.]
List of the petitioners’ creditors together with the nature and
amount of their debts so far as he can ascertain the same. Greaves & Andrews
| | judgment
| | $12.00
| Isaac Leach
| | judgment
| | $29.00
| David Cork
| | judgment
| | $ 37.00
| | Samuel Gray | | book account
| | $ 55.00
| Alexander Reed
| | book account
| | $ 37.00
| Mr. Dickinson
| | book acct
| | $ 70.00
| Caspar Irvin
| | book account
| | $ 15.00
| Mr. Hill
| | book account
| | $ 12.50
| Mr. Christie
| | book account
| | $ 5.50
| Daniel Kochersperger
| | cash lent
| | $ 35.00
| Hanoch Best
| | book account | | $ 10.00
| James Anderson
| | cash lent
| | $ 1.00
| Dr. Thomas
| | book account
| | $ 62.00
| D. Deshong (nephew)
| | book account
| | $ 100.00
| Oliver Lindsey
| | cash lent
| | $ 50.00
| Lewis Passman
| | book account | | $ 27.00
| C[.. illeg.] Carr
| | book account
| | $ 15.00
| George T. Alberti Jr
| | cash lent
| | $ 5.00
| ...[blank line]...
| | book account
| | $ 6.00
| Henry Dickinson
| | book account
| | $ 11.00
| Martin Kochersperger Jr
| | cash lent
| | $ 9.00 | Mr. R. E. Grubb
| | cash lent
| | $ 5.00
| Martin Kochersperger
| | mortgage & prpt
| | $ 250.00
| Mr. Bates
| | mortgage
| | $ 1500.00
|
Schedule of this petitioners property real, natural and mixed
of which he is possessed or in any manner entitled to:
Real estate none
Cash rec’d from Sheriff this day, $ 38.00
“.......due …[illeg.] remaining in Sheriffs hands, $ 56.22
Goods & chattels: 2 beds, & bedsteads. & bedding - stove, three chairs, 2 tables,
kitchen furniture, spades, fork, wheelbarrow, rake, hoe debts due pmt to Geo Baker $ 15;
Jacob Kochersperger $ 42. Wil LeMaitre $3. Mrs. …[illeg] $ 5. John Bates $ 3. –
Losses & means of insolvency: this petitioner followed the business of a farmer
– and has lost 2 horses, cow, seven pigs. The aforesaid debt which are lost.
Means of insolvency: The aforesaid losses – and sickness of petitioner for 3 years
being unable to work – also weakness of this petitioner’s family. –
Of Philadelphia ss., Henry Kochersperger the petitioner aforesaid declares upon
his solemn oath that his afore going schedule contains a just and true account of
all the property real, personal and mixed to which he is in any manner entitled; and
that the list of his creditors together with the nature and amount of their debt so far
as he can ascertain the same, the statement of their losses and the means whereby
he became insolvent exhibited with, announces to this petition … to be true to the
best knowledge & belief. –
Henry Kochersperger [sig.]
Given & Grants on this
June 16 1835 Before John Burris atr.
[The transcription is provided by Daniel Guggisberg].
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