Family trees for Michael Smelser reflect confusion about the Smelser/Schmeltzer/Smeltzer families.

One point of confusion is the identity of Michael's father. Some genealogies name the Adam Smeltzer (1728-1798) buried at St. Mark's Lutheran Church as Michael's father. (Findagrave Memorial 188347685). His bio, however, does not list a son named Michael. This Michael's father is the Adam Schmeltzer (1724-1796) who is buried nearby in the same cemetery.

Michael is also confused with another Michael Smeltzer who lived in York County Pennsylvania at the same time. In fact, they both died in 1831. There doesn't seem to be a burial record for the York County Michael, but he does have Orphan's Court Docket showing that he died in York, Pennsylvania before September 1831. There are census records for both men - one in York County and one in Frederick County - for 1810, 1820, and 1830.

Michael mentions five children in his will - David Smeltzer, George Smeltzer, Mary Norris, Catherine Winrode, and Sally Lantz.

Frederick Co., Maryland Wills [GME#1, pp. 299-301, 12 Dec 1831] 1 Oct 1827 Michael Schmeltzer (his signature) "being in reasonable health of Body" bequeathed his beloved wife Mary: 1 "feather bed, bed sted and all the furniture and bed clothes thereto belonging"; 1 cow, 2 hogs, a case of drawers, 1 iron pot, tea kettle, frying pan, 6 "tea spoons, (silver) one coffee and tea pots;" 12 cups and saucers, 12 plates, 6 knives and forks, tin plate stove & pipe, "my Clock and case," 6 chairs; "my wearing apparel", and $1,000 cash. His son George, & daughters Mary Norris, Catherine Winrode, and Sally Lantz each $150 to be paid half to the first listed the first year after his death, half to the second listed the second year and so on, paying the second half to each in like order and amount after the last received their first half. Son David is bequeathed the remainder and with John Roop of Joseph (who declined) was appointed executor. Witnesses: William Durbin, John Wampler (deceased when probated), and Jacob Shriver.