Combined Familientafel (Family Register) and Taufschein

Translation:
Abraham Mehrkamm was born on the 21st of January 1755 in Pennsylvania in Berks County in Maxatawny Township.  The father was Conrad Mehrkamm, the mother Margareth  born Gebhardtin.   He was baptized by [blank.]  The sponsors were Abraham Kuefer and his wife.  Was married to Elisabetha Joergein the 11th of January 1785.  She is born the 17th of August 1762 in Europe in the shire [county] Hessen-Hannau.  Her father was Jacob Joerg and the mother Anna Margaretha a born Klingin and was baptized by [blank.] The sponsors were [blank] the above couple conceived sons and daughters.

Serving to document the important dates of birth, baptism, death and marriage, the family record was an important genealogical account.  This is one of the earliest fraktur attributed to Friedrich Krebs, perhaps the most well-known and prolific fraktur artist.  Krebs traveled throughout southeastern Pennsylvania making whimsical hand-drawn fraktur as well as decorating printed examples. 

His output was so extraordinary that often the artistic quality of his production varied.  He is consistently recognized, however, for his charming, if somewhat simplified, interpretations of sun, moon, and star motifs, stylized parrots, flowers and soft palette.  His work is characterized by a carefree abandon and joyous spirit in its execution.  Krebs lived primarily in Swatara Township, Dauphin County and taught at Lutheran parochial schools.  He decorated and sold blank certificates that were completed by others.  His estate inventory at the time of his death included many “papers for Birth Dayes.”