According to an 1833 document offered on ebay (Report to the 23rd Congress, House of Reps) , Michael made a claim to the US goverment in 1792 for the loss of three continental loan office certificates funding the Revolutionary War. Gratz descendants, check out the sale: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2249981100&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1#ebayphotohosting -------------------- Michael Gratz (1740-1811) was Parnas of Mikveh Israel from 1784 to 1785. As a tribute to him and his wife Miriam, the northwestern section of Mikveh Israel Cemetery was reserved for the Gratz family. He arrived from Germany in 1758, following his older brother, Bernard, who was previously apprenticed to David Franks. Together they set up a coastal shipping service between New Orleans and Quebec. The French & Indian Wars interfered with shipping, and drove the brothers to western frontier trade in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Kentucky. They, along with David Franks, Mathias Bush and others, signed the Non-Importation Resolutions of 1765 to protest the Stamp Act. Later, the Gratz brothers supplied the Continental Army. During the British occupation of Philadelphia, the firm relocated to Lancaster, home of the father-in-law of Michael Gratz, Joseph Simon.