Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Name6G GM Maria Eva Breining 
Birthabout 1730
Deathabout 1809
Memo(newspaper article)
Spouses
Birthabout 1728, Pennsylvania
Death1 June 17772782
Father7G GF Johann Henrich Hartman (-1744)
Mother7G GM Margaretha Bell
Parent-Proof notes for 6G GM Maria Eva Breining
I do not know the name of her parents. Her name is given also as Breinich, not a different name just a different way to spell whatever her name was.
When she and Johannes baptized daughter Christina in 1765, the sponsors were Jurg and Christina Breynich. These may have been Maria Eva’s parents or perhaps her brother and his wife -- my guess would be the former.
When she and Johannes baptized daughter Christina in 1765, the sponsors were Jurg and Christina Breynich. These may have been Maria Eva’s parents or perhaps her brother and his wife -- my guess would be the former.
Parent-Proof notes for Johannes (Spouse 1)
There were multiple men named John or Johannes Hartman in early eastern Pennsylvania records from the mid-1700’s to early 1800’s -- the period of time when our three ancestors of that name were alive and raising their families. Our three ancestors were:
• Johannes (1728-1777), his son Johannes (1760-1811) and his son John (1779-1850).
• The earliest Johannes started out in Maxatawny Township, Berks County and later moved to Lowhill Township, (then) Northampton County.
• Johannes II lived his entire life in Lowhill though was about to relocate to Mifflinburg when he died.
• John III left Lowhill upon the death of his father and moved to Luzerne County, where he later died.
One of the biggest mistakes genealogists make is not realizing or not seriously considering that not every record that exists naming a person, for example Johannes Hartman, in or near a place and in a time frame when a particular Johannes Hartman lived was, in fact, the Johannes Hartman of interest. People get confused with other persons of the same name. Facts about one person come to be applied to a different person. I think this is especially true when someone moved. You can’t just point to a person of a specific name in a different location in the recent past and say -- that’s the same guy. Often, it wasn’t.
I do not want to be guilty of that error here and so I will try in each case to make it clear how I have ascertained, at least to my own level of satisfaction, that the things I say about any of these three men, in each case, pertains specifically to him and not someone else of the same name.
At the core of my analysis is geography. In the very specific townships they lived, ours were the only John Hartmans present and when they moved there are certain facts that associate John Hartman of the new place with the one of the old place.
So starting with this Johannes -- I’ll designate him Johannes I. I believe a very clear picture can be painted connecting John of Lowhill to Henry, his father, of Maxatawny.
• Johannes (1728-1777), his son Johannes (1760-1811) and his son John (1779-1850).
• The earliest Johannes started out in Maxatawny Township, Berks County and later moved to Lowhill Township, (then) Northampton County.
• Johannes II lived his entire life in Lowhill though was about to relocate to Mifflinburg when he died.
• John III left Lowhill upon the death of his father and moved to Luzerne County, where he later died.
One of the biggest mistakes genealogists make is not realizing or not seriously considering that not every record that exists naming a person, for example Johannes Hartman, in or near a place and in a time frame when a particular Johannes Hartman lived was, in fact, the Johannes Hartman of interest. People get confused with other persons of the same name. Facts about one person come to be applied to a different person. I think this is especially true when someone moved. You can’t just point to a person of a specific name in a different location in the recent past and say -- that’s the same guy. Often, it wasn’t.
I do not want to be guilty of that error here and so I will try in each case to make it clear how I have ascertained, at least to my own level of satisfaction, that the things I say about any of these three men, in each case, pertains specifically to him and not someone else of the same name.
At the core of my analysis is geography. In the very specific townships they lived, ours were the only John Hartmans present and when they moved there are certain facts that associate John Hartman of the new place with the one of the old place.
So starting with this Johannes -- I’ll designate him Johannes I. I believe a very clear picture can be painted connecting John of Lowhill to Henry, his father, of Maxatawny.
Relocated notes for Johannes (Spouse 1)
A Berks County deed tells the story. On 24 Feb 1764, John Hartman of Lowhill Township, Northampton County and wife Eve sold land acquired from the Penns in 1741 by Henry Hartman. The land was 100 acres in Maxatawny Township and it had been bequeathed to John by the will of Henry Hartman dated 16 Feb 1743/44.
My Comments notes for Johannes (Spouse 1)
In Lowhill Township, John farmed about 127 acres but also owned a tavern and a grist mill.
His will was written 13 May 1777 and proved 3 Jun 1777. He mentioned his mill and plantations in Lowhill, Heidelberg and elsewhere, mentioned wife Eve Mary and sons Peter, Henry, John, Jacob and Christian. The only daughter mentioned was Mary in Maxatawny. But he also mentioned minor children which may mean there were additional daughters. It is also not clear from the will the ages or birth order of his sons.
His will was written 13 May 1777 and proved 3 Jun 1777. He mentioned his mill and plantations in Lowhill, Heidelberg and elsewhere, mentioned wife Eve Mary and sons Peter, Henry, John, Jacob and Christian. The only daughter mentioned was Mary in Maxatawny. But he also mentioned minor children which may mean there were additional daughters. It is also not clear from the will the ages or birth order of his sons.