In the name of the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. As in the world nothing is certain than death, but the time for its coming is uncertain ... I, Christian Merkel, citizen and merchant at Metz, devises ... to my son Peter Merkel, the prayer-book which I had from my deceased father, the black wall-clock which came from my mother's family ... to my heirs, I appoint my children, Peter, Christian and Maria; My wife, Christianna Merkel, to be guardian over my daughter, Maria. My wife, born Munch, is entitled to as much of the furniture as she pleases.