There is no record of Benjamin’s baptism but his presence at Howerters with Johannes and his family, his presence in Upper Mahanoy Township when he was first listed in Census and then his relocation to Coal Township in the same decade that Johannes made the same move all are strong indications of his being of this family.

Moreover, when Benjamin and wife Lydia baptized their daughter Juliana in 1824, at Howerters, the sponsors were John Mertz and wife Catharina, grandparents [meaning of the infant]. Benjamin and his father Johannes moved to Coal Township about the same time.

Benjamin is designated P3a2.

He was first listed in the 1830 Census in Upper Mahanoy Township.

Then in 1840-1860, he was in Coal Township. Then in 1870 and 1880, he lived with one or the other of his daughters in Shamokin Township.

Benjamin is on find-a-grave. Four children are linked to him: Caroline Weary, Matilda Thomas, Phietta Smink, and John.

There is no document I’ve ever found that names all of Benjamin’s children. From Census, I know he had daughters named Juliana (who I also know from her baptism), Matilda, and Fayetta. Matilda (1834-1909) is known from her death certificate, Matilda Thomas, daughter of Benjamin Martz and Lydia Arnold.

Matilda and Fayetta (Phietta) are also linked to him on find-a-grave. In addition, if find-a-grave is accurate (I consider it a very good source but mistakes do happen), Sarah and Caroline can be added to the list.

I had always wondered about Caroline, who is listed as age 8 in the 1850 Census in Coal Township (where only Benjamin’s family lived at the time) living with John and Sarah Irish. I think the Census listing and find-a-grave both point to the conclusion that both Caroline and Sarah Irish (Irick) were, in fact, daughters of Benjamin’s.

Then there was a Lydia Martz age 24 (living with David and Elizabeth Thompson) also in Coal Township in 1850. Elizabeth was too old to be Benjamin’s daughter I think (certainly not Lydia Arnold’s) but Lydia might be yet another daughter.

One final point. I am a DNA cousin of someone who descends from Sarah and John Irick and the only obvious connection would be that Sarah, was indeed a Martz.

From Census, there was Samuel, John, Charles and Jacob. In addition there was a Daniel Martz living nearby in 1850 but with another family who I wonder if might also have been Benjamin’s son.

Jacob died in August 1869 according to the 1870 Mortality Census and I lose track of Charles. I have tracked Daniel, John and Samuel further.

I am a DNA cousin of someone who descends from Sarah (Martz) Irick, wife of John, who is on find-a-grave buried in Shamokin Cemetery and linked on find-a-grave to Benjamin and Lydia (Arnold) Martz as her parents. This is the Sara “Irish” mentioned elsewhere here.