A man named Israel Mertz existed. He was buried at Riverview, his tombstone apparently indicates an 1812 birth. He was listed in Census and his age as given was consistent with an 1812 birth. So who was he?

I have taken note of his Old Testament name, such names seemed especially prevalent in Nicholas’ line. I have taken note that despite being buried in Riverview, he was listed in Census in Union and then Snyder County. In fact, in 1850 he lived in Union Township, Union County, the area just a little bit east of New Berlin. Because of this circumstantial evidence I always believed that Israel was the son of Isaac.

Isaac had a son Isaac, I believe, born 8 Mar 1812 who died on 28 Mar 1812 and was buried in Hassinger’s Old Cemetery, Snyder County, PA. His grave is near his grandmother's in Hassingers and I think this younger Isaac was Isaac’s son. Joseph Meiser who transcribed tombstones locally and who attempted to identify people’s parents listed Isaac as Isaac’s son and said he was born in 1812 and died in 1866. But I think Meiser mixed up the younger Isaac with Israel (who died in 1866). Still, I have always thought that Isaac and Israel might have been twins given their mutual 1812 birth.

Obviously I guessed at a lot of things here, but otherwise I had no idea who Israel was. Still, I always wished I had more proof. In 2018, I found the proof. I found record of a court case filed in 1834 in Union County where Israel Mertz was suing his father Isaac for funds Isaac had been holding for Israel but then apparently refused to return to him.

Israel lived in Union Township, Union County in the 1850 Census. In 1860, he had moved to Monroe Township, Snyder County. This may have been a move of a short distance since Monroe and Union share a long border. He was a shoemaker in both Census, the occupation of his Uncle Samuel.

His burial in Riverview seems discordant with the fact that he was last listed in Census in Monroe Township, Snyder County. After his death in 1866, we find his widow Sophia living with their son William and their daughter Louisa in Turbot Township, Northumberland County. But that really doesn’t explain things any better, neither place is that close to Riverview and there were cemeteries closer to both places. So, why Riverview?

I don’t know much about his daughters, other than their names: Mary Ann (1839), Susan (1844), Harriet (1852), Louisa (1856) and Elizabeth (1857).

I think I know the names of Israel’s sons from Census.

P5a3a John born 1838
P5a3b Isaac born 1841
P5a3c William H born 1842
P5a3d Samuel Frederick born 1845
P5a3e Andrew F born 1848
P5a3f Josiah born 1850

Her maiden name is known from the death certificates of several of their children.