Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Birth8 November 1808, Shamokin Twp, North'd Co, PA
Memo(Age 53m, 7m, 27d on tombstone per find-a-grave)
Death5 July 1862
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialZion Union, Venango Co, PA
FatherJohn Martz (P2a) (1780-1815)
MotherElizabeth Arter (1777-1852)
Spouses
Birth31 December 1810
Memo(age 74y 1m 20d on tombstone per find-a-grave))
Death20 February 1885
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialZion Union, Venango Co, PA
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for David Martz (P2a1)
We know David as the son of John from the estate files associated with John’s brother David Martz who died in Ohio in 1851 and named the children of his deceased brother John. And David was named as the Executor of his mother’s will when she died in 1852. He is designated P2a1.
The problem was finding him. My assumption was that he must have stayed locally to be the Executor but he was not to be found in any Census in Northumberland County.
I was aware of a David Martz in Venango County of the right age to be him -- but that was not enough. I needed to find something that proved he was the right David. And I finally found it. There was a newspaper advertisement and/or article that appeared in any number of newspapers across the country in 1879 or so seeking the heirs of a Wilhelm Mertz who died in Germany with a small fortune and no German heirs. People who thought they might be entitled to a share of Wilhelm’s estate were requested to write a letter to Rev. George Jacob Martz. It’a quite interesting how many letters came in. I have learned a lot about many of the Mertz and Martz families of that era from those letters including there’s nothing like the promise of money to get people to take the time to write long letters to a stranger.
For example, John Martz of Venango County wrote, in 1881: "My father’s name was David Martz. He was born in Northumberland County. He married Catherine Zimmerman. My father had two brothers and three sisters. They are Jesse, John, Mariah, Susan and Elizabeth. My father's father was John. He had five brothers and one or two sisters. This is about all I know. My oldest brother may know more. He lives in the West. There are three brothers and a sister living. My father is dead. He died in 1863. Mother is still living."
From Census, I knew that the wife of David of Venango County was Catherine, that he had a son John who was age 22 in 1860 and that David was no longer present in the 1870 Census but the remainder of his family was. This was the proof of everything.
The problem was finding him. My assumption was that he must have stayed locally to be the Executor but he was not to be found in any Census in Northumberland County.
I was aware of a David Martz in Venango County of the right age to be him -- but that was not enough. I needed to find something that proved he was the right David. And I finally found it. There was a newspaper advertisement and/or article that appeared in any number of newspapers across the country in 1879 or so seeking the heirs of a Wilhelm Mertz who died in Germany with a small fortune and no German heirs. People who thought they might be entitled to a share of Wilhelm’s estate were requested to write a letter to Rev. George Jacob Martz. It’a quite interesting how many letters came in. I have learned a lot about many of the Mertz and Martz families of that era from those letters including there’s nothing like the promise of money to get people to take the time to write long letters to a stranger.
For example, John Martz of Venango County wrote, in 1881: "My father’s name was David Martz. He was born in Northumberland County. He married Catherine Zimmerman. My father had two brothers and three sisters. They are Jesse, John, Mariah, Susan and Elizabeth. My father's father was John. He had five brothers and one or two sisters. This is about all I know. My oldest brother may know more. He lives in the West. There are three brothers and a sister living. My father is dead. He died in 1863. Mother is still living."
From Census, I knew that the wife of David of Venango County was Catherine, that he had a son John who was age 22 in 1860 and that David was no longer present in the 1870 Census but the remainder of his family was. This was the proof of everything.
Relocated and Census Tracking notes for David Martz (P2a1)
Herbert C Bell in his History of Northumberland County described Sunbury of 1830 and the various buildings on Market Street. “Market Street was then, as now, the business thoroughfare of the borough....Between Third and Second....Henry Shissler's residence, now owned by Mrs. Louisa Shissler; the blacksmith shop of Jesse, David, and John Martz; the old jail building at the corner of Center alley, then the Farmers' Hotel, kept by William Shannon.”
I believe that both John and Jesse died in the 1830’s and perhaps that precipitated David Martz’ decision to move elsewhere and by 1840, he had moved to Venango County.
He was still there in 1850, indexed as Mats, and he was there in 1860, then only his widow Catherine after that.
I believe that both John and Jesse died in the 1830’s and perhaps that precipitated David Martz’ decision to move elsewhere and by 1840, he had moved to Venango County.
He was still there in 1850, indexed as Mats, and he was there in 1860, then only his widow Catherine after that.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for David Martz (P2a1)
David is on find-a-grave.
David wrote his will 28 May 1861, it proved 9 Jul 1863. David seemed to have listed all his children: John, David, Samuel, Elizabeth, Sarah, Hetty and Anne Mary. But he made no mention of his oldest son, Jesse. I’m sure he was still alive, in fact David mentioned his land in Minnesota where Jesse lived. Very curious.
David wrote his will 28 May 1861, it proved 9 Jul 1863. David seemed to have listed all his children: John, David, Samuel, Elizabeth, Sarah, Hetty and Anne Mary. But he made no mention of his oldest son, Jesse. I’m sure he was still alive, in fact David mentioned his land in Minnesota where Jesse lived. Very curious.
Known Daughters notes for David Martz (P2a1)
From Census: Betsy, Sarah, Hester or Ester and Mary.
Mary married Alexander V Orr. She died young.
In 2020, I found a DNA cousin who descends from David’s daughter Sarah whose death certificate says she was born in Northumberland County in 1836, married John Seip in Venango County and died in Holt County, Missouri in 1913.
Mary married Alexander V Orr. She died young.
In 2020, I found a DNA cousin who descends from David’s daughter Sarah whose death certificate says she was born in Northumberland County in 1836, married John Seip in Venango County and died in Holt County, Missouri in 1913.
Known Sons notes for David Martz (P2a1)
From Census: Jesse, John, Harry, David and Samuel. Harry died at age 19, I’m not sure what happened to David. Jesse, John and Samuel are documented further.
Parent-Proof notes for Catherine (Spouse 1)
When I found the letter from her son seeking his fortune, I learned her maiden name. I assume David married her in Northumberland County but I don’t really know that.
The fact that her name was Zimmerman is confirmed by the death certificates of two of her sons, though her daughter Sarah’s Missouri death certificate says she was Catherine Hartman — I think a simple mistake.
The fact that her name was Zimmerman is confirmed by the death certificates of two of her sons, though her daughter Sarah’s Missouri death certificate says she was Catherine Hartman — I think a simple mistake.
Census History notes for Catherine (Spouse 1)
She survived her husband and was listed in Venango County in 1870 and 1880.
Find-a-Grave notes for Catherine (Spouse 1)
Catherine is on find-a-grave. I added her maiden name to her memorial, it may have been unknown by anyone before that.