Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Birth1796
Memo(age 54 in 1850, 64 in 1860)
Deathabout 1865
Memo(not present in 1870)
FatherAbraham Mertz (P7) (~1758-1816)
MotherAnna Catharina Griesemer (~1765-<1817)
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for Abraham Mertz (P7b)
We know from his 1817 will and then the filing of the 1830 estate account of Leonard Griesemer of Hereford Township, Berks County — who owned land in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County — that Leonard had a grandson named Abraham Mertz, son of Abraham.
I believe he is the Abraham Mertz in Salisbury in 1820 and 1830.
Leonard’s grandsons were named in this order: Peter, Jacob, Charles and Abraham. Peter was born in 1783 and Jacob in 1799. There were two sons between those two who died young. But from the tick marks in Abraham Sr.’s household, I just think Charles and Abraham were older than Jacob.
Plus he was reported as age 30-39 in 1830. Abraham is designated P7b.
I believe he is the Abraham Mertz in Salisbury in 1820 and 1830.
Leonard’s grandsons were named in this order: Peter, Jacob, Charles and Abraham. Peter was born in 1783 and Jacob in 1799. There were two sons between those two who died young. But from the tick marks in Abraham Sr.’s household, I just think Charles and Abraham were older than Jacob.
Plus he was reported as age 30-39 in 1830. Abraham is designated P7b.
Relocated and Census Tracking notes for Abraham Mertz (P7b)
Abraham Mertz (Sr.) was in Longswamp Township in 1810 and then disappeared from that place. But an Abraham Mertz then showed up in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County who I thought might be him.
Abraham’s father-in-law, Leonard Griesemer, died in 1821 and said in his will he was of Hereford Township, Berks County but then referred to his lands in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County. That ties this all together for me. I should note that neither Hereford nor Salisbury is all that far from Longswamp.
So it seemed logical to me that Abraham had moved to Salisbury by 1820. But then I found a land record indicating that Abraham had died in 1816, his land was sold by the County Sheriff to pay some debt of his. Abraham owed Owen Rice money, Owen got the land.
And then in 1822, Owen Rice sold that 33 acre tract to Abraham Mertz Jr. So then I looked more closely at the 1820 Census record and I can convince myself, even though there was an older man present in the household (Leonard Griesemer?), there was also one age 18-26 and I believe that was Abraham Jr. and he was the named head of household.
Abraham was still in Salisbury in 1830. After that I’m not 100% positive.
I believe Abraham’s brother Jacob moved to Derry Township, then in Columbia County, and I have considered that the Abraham who showed up in nearby Roaring Creek Township may be this Abraham. But after more analysis, I have rejected that idea. See the 18th Century Pioneer Mertzes white paper my website.
I now believe that this Abraham can be found in the poor house of Lehigh County in 1850 and 1860. I can not account for him in 1840, he might well have already have been there.
His 1830 Census listing is a little confusing, but interesting. There were four people present in the household. A male age 15-19, another age 20-29 and one age 30-39. I believe Abraham was the one age 30-39. And there was a female age 60-69. Abraham’s mother had already died, so I’m baffled by who that could be.
The interesting part, though, is that on a separate schedule, it was reported that one person in the household, age 14-24, was blind or dumb. I don’t know whether that was the one age 15-19 or the one 20-29 but my hunch is it was Charles since I otherwise have no idea what happened to him..
I do not know who the extra male was.
Abraham’s father-in-law, Leonard Griesemer, died in 1821 and said in his will he was of Hereford Township, Berks County but then referred to his lands in Salisbury Township, Lehigh County. That ties this all together for me. I should note that neither Hereford nor Salisbury is all that far from Longswamp.
So it seemed logical to me that Abraham had moved to Salisbury by 1820. But then I found a land record indicating that Abraham had died in 1816, his land was sold by the County Sheriff to pay some debt of his. Abraham owed Owen Rice money, Owen got the land.
And then in 1822, Owen Rice sold that 33 acre tract to Abraham Mertz Jr. So then I looked more closely at the 1820 Census record and I can convince myself, even though there was an older man present in the household (Leonard Griesemer?), there was also one age 18-26 and I believe that was Abraham Jr. and he was the named head of household.
Abraham was still in Salisbury in 1830. After that I’m not 100% positive.
I believe Abraham’s brother Jacob moved to Derry Township, then in Columbia County, and I have considered that the Abraham who showed up in nearby Roaring Creek Township may be this Abraham. But after more analysis, I have rejected that idea. See the 18th Century Pioneer Mertzes white paper my website.
I now believe that this Abraham can be found in the poor house of Lehigh County in 1850 and 1860. I can not account for him in 1840, he might well have already have been there.
His 1830 Census listing is a little confusing, but interesting. There were four people present in the household. A male age 15-19, another age 20-29 and one age 30-39. I believe Abraham was the one age 30-39. And there was a female age 60-69. Abraham’s mother had already died, so I’m baffled by who that could be.
The interesting part, though, is that on a separate schedule, it was reported that one person in the household, age 14-24, was blind or dumb. I don’t know whether that was the one age 15-19 or the one 20-29 but my hunch is it was Charles since I otherwise have no idea what happened to him..
I do not know who the extra male was.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for Abraham Mertz (P7b)
I sort of doubt Abraham married. I do not think he had any children. He is not on find-a-grave. I don’t know when he died but I think the 1860 Census was his last so I have estimated 1865.