Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Spouses
Marriage24 February 1765
Marr Memoby Rev Johann Andrew Krug
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for Conrad Mertz (N3)
We know Conrad as the son of Nicholas from his mention in the various petitions filed after Nicholas’ death. He is designated N3.
On 29 Jan 1760, Conrad Mertz and Elizabeth Hammerig sponsored the baptism of Conrad Mertz son of Jacob and Magdalena. I am certain the sponsor was this Conrad born approximately 1746 standing up for his brother John Jacob. Elizabeth, the other sponsor, might well have been Magdalena's sister, the basis for the theory that Magdalena may have been maiden name Hammerig — or Emmerich. Sometimes baptismal records like this provide a clue to a future marriage of the sponsors, but in this case, that is not who Conrad married.
I firmly believe that Conrad did not move to Northumberland County with his brother and cousins. The Conrad who did appear there and then moved to NY State I believe was his nephew, the Conrad born in 1760.
On 29 Jan 1760, Conrad Mertz and Elizabeth Hammerig sponsored the baptism of Conrad Mertz son of Jacob and Magdalena. I am certain the sponsor was this Conrad born approximately 1746 standing up for his brother John Jacob. Elizabeth, the other sponsor, might well have been Magdalena's sister, the basis for the theory that Magdalena may have been maiden name Hammerig — or Emmerich. Sometimes baptismal records like this provide a clue to a future marriage of the sponsors, but in this case, that is not who Conrad married.
I firmly believe that Conrad did not move to Northumberland County with his brother and cousins. The Conrad who did appear there and then moved to NY State I believe was his nephew, the Conrad born in 1760.
Relocated and Census Tracking notes for Conrad Mertz (N3)
It’s hard to find Conrad in early Census and know it is him and be sure it is not any of the other two Berks County Conrad Mertz I know about — N1a, this Conrad’s nephew, and Y2 of the Mertz Church Mertz family, both of those other two born in 1760.
Conrad Mortz was listed in Bern Township in the 1779 Pennsylvania Septennial Census, this one I would think the only one old enough to be listed.
1790. By process of elimination this Conrad, N3, must be the one in Windsor Township, Berks County. Conrad Y2 is in Rockland, Conrad N1a in Northumberland.
1800. By process of elimination this Conrad, N2, must be the one in Berks County, no township stated. Conrad Y2 had sold his Rockland land and moved to Macungie Township where he will die in 1822, Conrad N1a was in NY State. Note however that Conrad in Berks County had no family living with him, that makes no sense whatsoever.
1810. Conrad N1a was still in NY State but there were two Conrads in Northampton County, one in Macungie Township and one in nearby Upper Milford. The tick marks all fit that the one in Macungie was Conrad Y2 (although I must point out when he died he also owned a little land in Upper Milford in addition to his main holdings in Macungie.)
So who was the Conrad in Upper Milford? He was said to be only 26-45 which is not right for any of the Conrads I know but actually the tick marks for several younger males present may help explain who several males I can’t other wise place might be: Samuel born about 1794 and David born about 1795. Conrad in Upper Milford has two sons age 10-5.
In any event, by 1820, I think this Conrad, N3, has certainly died, Conrad Y2 is in Macungie where he will die in 1822 and Conrad, N1a, has moved to Ohio.
Conrad Mortz was listed in Bern Township in the 1779 Pennsylvania Septennial Census, this one I would think the only one old enough to be listed.
1790. By process of elimination this Conrad, N3, must be the one in Windsor Township, Berks County. Conrad Y2 is in Rockland, Conrad N1a in Northumberland.
1800. By process of elimination this Conrad, N2, must be the one in Berks County, no township stated. Conrad Y2 had sold his Rockland land and moved to Macungie Township where he will die in 1822, Conrad N1a was in NY State. Note however that Conrad in Berks County had no family living with him, that makes no sense whatsoever.
1810. Conrad N1a was still in NY State but there were two Conrads in Northampton County, one in Macungie Township and one in nearby Upper Milford. The tick marks all fit that the one in Macungie was Conrad Y2 (although I must point out when he died he also owned a little land in Upper Milford in addition to his main holdings in Macungie.)
So who was the Conrad in Upper Milford? He was said to be only 26-45 which is not right for any of the Conrads I know but actually the tick marks for several younger males present may help explain who several males I can’t other wise place might be: Samuel born about 1794 and David born about 1795. Conrad in Upper Milford has two sons age 10-5.
In any event, by 1820, I think this Conrad, N3, has certainly died, Conrad Y2 is in Macungie where he will die in 1822 and Conrad, N1a, has moved to Ohio.
Known Sons notes for Conrad Mertz (N3)
There are documented birth/baptisms of two sons of Conrad and Margaret: Heinrich designated N3a and Johannes who I know nothing more about and is not designated.
Heinrich was baptized at Oley Reformed in 1765 with Heinrich Mertz (Conrad’s brother) and Cath Hetman (likely Magaret’s sister) as sponsors.
The 9 Apr 1772 baptism of Johannes is reported by John Humphrey in his Berks County Births 1781-1800 book, he lists the parents as Conrad and wife — this Conrad (N3) being the only one old enough to have had a son in 1772. However, I have found this same baptism, dated 19 April 1772, listed in the records of Rev. Daniel Schumacher and am a little confused by two aspects of that listing. For one thing, Schumacher was a Lutheran minister, wouldn’t Conrad have chosen a Reformed minister? And Schumacher only lists Conrad as the father, no wife. Doesn’t that imply that the wife was absent, did she die?
As I know nothing more about this Johannes, one explanation is perhaps the infant was struggling for life not long after his birth and maybe Conrad found any minister he could and the wife was not yet recovered from child birth to attend. But that is total speculation on my part.
As to Heinrich, there were several Heinrich Mertz of Berks County and I have worked hard to be certain who was who. And while I think there is some evidence for the way I have sorted them out, it is not clear cut. In any event, I believe Heinrich (N3a) ended up in Mannheim Township, Schuylkill County by 1820 and that is exactly where David Martz born about 1795 later shows up.
To be sure, there was an entirely different Mertz family who also ended up in Schuylkill County, that of Peter Mertz (J3). But I have compiled enough information about that family to be able to rule out, I believe, that this David fits in with them in any way. (And the name David of course, is an important name in the Longswamp Mertz family.)
Now I have also considered the possibility that David was Heinrich’s son. At some point Heinrich married Maria Blatner and when her father died in 1808, his estate file named Heinrich and Maria’s eight children — no David among them.
The question I have pondered is whether it’s possible Heinrich had a first wife by whom he had David and then married Maria and had eight more children. If so, he married Maria in, say 1796 or so and had those eight children in about twelve years. That of course is possible but perhaps a little too many children in too short a time.
So my next theory was, since the earliest evidence about David was his appearance in Census in Mannheim Township in 1840, that perhaps he was Heinrich’s brother and followed him there when he reached adulthood. If this theory is correct it means Conrad had Heinrich in 1765 and David about thirty years later (if true an indication Conrad married a second, younger wife). But if I have correctly identified Conrad in the 1810 Census (thinking his age was mis-reported), he did have several young sons including two in the 10-15 year old age bracket where David would fit in.
Yet another theory would be that Conrad’s son Johannes lived to be old enough to have a son David and then died as a young man (leaving no real imprint on history) and Johannes’ sons came to live with Conrad.
I should also add that my work involves knowing every Eastern Pennsylvania Mertz family and I cannot think where else David could possibly fit in. So I believe, one way or another, he was a son or grandson of Conrad’s and I am, for now, making his Conrad’s son which at least keeps him around and gives me a place to put everything I know about him until more information emerges.
Heinrich is designated N3a and David N3b.
Heinrich was baptized at Oley Reformed in 1765 with Heinrich Mertz (Conrad’s brother) and Cath Hetman (likely Magaret’s sister) as sponsors.
The 9 Apr 1772 baptism of Johannes is reported by John Humphrey in his Berks County Births 1781-1800 book, he lists the parents as Conrad and wife — this Conrad (N3) being the only one old enough to have had a son in 1772. However, I have found this same baptism, dated 19 April 1772, listed in the records of Rev. Daniel Schumacher and am a little confused by two aspects of that listing. For one thing, Schumacher was a Lutheran minister, wouldn’t Conrad have chosen a Reformed minister? And Schumacher only lists Conrad as the father, no wife. Doesn’t that imply that the wife was absent, did she die?
As I know nothing more about this Johannes, one explanation is perhaps the infant was struggling for life not long after his birth and maybe Conrad found any minister he could and the wife was not yet recovered from child birth to attend. But that is total speculation on my part.
As to Heinrich, there were several Heinrich Mertz of Berks County and I have worked hard to be certain who was who. And while I think there is some evidence for the way I have sorted them out, it is not clear cut. In any event, I believe Heinrich (N3a) ended up in Mannheim Township, Schuylkill County by 1820 and that is exactly where David Martz born about 1795 later shows up.
To be sure, there was an entirely different Mertz family who also ended up in Schuylkill County, that of Peter Mertz (J3). But I have compiled enough information about that family to be able to rule out, I believe, that this David fits in with them in any way. (And the name David of course, is an important name in the Longswamp Mertz family.)
Now I have also considered the possibility that David was Heinrich’s son. At some point Heinrich married Maria Blatner and when her father died in 1808, his estate file named Heinrich and Maria’s eight children — no David among them.
The question I have pondered is whether it’s possible Heinrich had a first wife by whom he had David and then married Maria and had eight more children. If so, he married Maria in, say 1796 or so and had those eight children in about twelve years. That of course is possible but perhaps a little too many children in too short a time.
So my next theory was, since the earliest evidence about David was his appearance in Census in Mannheim Township in 1840, that perhaps he was Heinrich’s brother and followed him there when he reached adulthood. If this theory is correct it means Conrad had Heinrich in 1765 and David about thirty years later (if true an indication Conrad married a second, younger wife). But if I have correctly identified Conrad in the 1810 Census (thinking his age was mis-reported), he did have several young sons including two in the 10-15 year old age bracket where David would fit in.
Yet another theory would be that Conrad’s son Johannes lived to be old enough to have a son David and then died as a young man (leaving no real imprint on history) and Johannes’ sons came to live with Conrad.
I should also add that my work involves knowing every Eastern Pennsylvania Mertz family and I cannot think where else David could possibly fit in. So I believe, one way or another, he was a son or grandson of Conrad’s and I am, for now, making his Conrad’s son which at least keeps him around and gives me a place to put everything I know about him until more information emerges.
Heinrich is designated N3a and David N3b.
Known Daughters notes for Conrad Mertz (N3)
I’m not aware of any daughters Conrad may have had, no baptism records of any and unfortunately he didn’t leave a will so we couldn’t learn of any that way. But my analysis of my DNA results has led me to believe it’s possible that Conrad may have had two daughters:
Elizabeth who married Andreas Schadt, and
Magdalena who married Carl Shreffler.
I believe there is sufficient evidence for both of these women to conclude they were a Mertz. In both cases, I have a “DNA cousin” who descends from each of these two women and by inspecting the trees of these two cousins I can see no other way we are related and I also cannot think who else might be the father of these two women and at least in the case of Magdalena, my cousin thinks Conrad may have been her father.
I’m always on the lookout for more information.
Elizabeth who married Andreas Schadt, and
Magdalena who married Carl Shreffler.
I believe there is sufficient evidence for both of these women to conclude they were a Mertz. In both cases, I have a “DNA cousin” who descends from each of these two women and by inspecting the trees of these two cousins I can see no other way we are related and I also cannot think who else might be the father of these two women and at least in the case of Magdalena, my cousin thinks Conrad may have been her father.
I’m always on the lookout for more information.
Parent-Proof notes for Anna Margaretha (Spouse 1)
“Conrad Mertz, 2nd son of Nickel of Longswamp to Anna Margareth Heckman, oldest d/o Peter of Ruscombmanor Twp, Feb 24, 1765”