She was born in Northampton (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania in 1758, probably on her father's farm in old Mucungie Township southwest of the present City of Allentown.

She came to the wilderness of the future Westmoreland County with her parents in 1772.

About 1777 in Westmoreland County, she married Dewalt (Weyl Theobald) MECHLING (III). He was born in Northampton (now Lehigh) County, Pennsylvania in 1757. He was the son of Dewalt (Theobald) MECHLING (II) and Sibilla KOEHLER.

In 1769, as a youngster of about 12 years, Dewalt came with his father to settle in what became Hempfield Township of Westmoreland County. In 1783 he was on a Westmoreland County Property Tax List taken in Hempfield Township and was listed as "Devalt Mecklin Junior" owning 200 acres, 2 horses, 2 cattle, and 1 sheep.

He is listed as a county taxpayer in Hempfield again in 1789 and appears there on the first U.S. census taken in 1790. He was listed on this census as "Devalt Jr." the head of a household in Hempfield Township.

Dewalt died in December of 1790 and Maria remarried. She married Ludwig BONSA (BONSEY). Ludwig was born about 1755.

Ludwig took his new wife and her Mechling children to live in Fairfield County Ohio. These children eventually came to be known by the surname "Macklin".

Maria died on September 18, 1839 at age "about 81 yrs" in Fairfield County, Ohio. She was buried at White Church Cemetery near Lancaster in Fairfield County. Her tombstone (inscribed with the name "Mary Bonsey") was recently found still standing.