Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Birth6 June 1801, Longswamp Twp, Berks Co, PA
Memo(baptism at Longswamp Reformed, matches find-a-grave)
Death17 February 1888
Memo(find-a-grave, tombstone says age 86)
BurialRinggold Methodist Church, Jefferson Co, PA
FatherJohannes Mertz (P3a) (1776-1858)
MotherCatharine Sterner
Spouses
Birth3 May 1798
Memo(find-a-grave)
Death5 June 1867
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialRinggold Methodist Church, Jefferson Co, PA
FatherAnthony Wehry
Marriage1 October 1819
Marr Memo(newspaper article)
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for Johannes Martz (P3a3)
We know Johannes as a son of Johannes and Catharina from his baptism at Longswamp Reformed, he was born 6 Jun 1801. His parents then moved to Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County where they worshiped at Howerter’s Church, so clearly, this was the John known to have married Polly Wehry in Mahanoy Township and then baptized children with wife Polly at Howerters Church named Daniel (1820) and Elias (1821). And he was quite clearly the John Martz Jr. living near his father in 1820 in Upper Mahanoy Township.
But then what happened to him? For a long time I thought I had tracked this John to Auglaize County, OH because a John Mertz died in Auglaize and reportedly had been born 4 Jun 1801 (find-a-grave now says 15 Jun 1801). I could make any number of arguments for how his birth date was documented as 6 Jun in one place and 4 Jun in another. That small discrepancy was not a big deal to me.
But the tip-off that Mahanoy John was not Auglaize John should have been that there was no mention of Daniel and Elias as being part of Auglaize John’s family and moreover the wife of Auglaize John was Sarah Harmony and not Polly Wehry. So I had to believe that Polly died and John married Sarah second and that when he moved to Auglaize in the 1840’s, his adult sons Daniel and Elias stayed behind.
When DNA proved that Auglaize John was indeed part of the family that originated in Longswamp Township, Berks County -- I felt my theory was substantially proven.
But I was wrong. In 2015, I heard from Donald Sigwalt who told me of his ancestor John Marts (later Martz) who was living in Ringgold Township, Jefferson County, PA at the time of the 1850 Census with wife Mary (aka Polly?) and sons Daniel 30 and Eli (identified as Elias at other times) age 28 -- and a slew of younger children. It had to be John of Mahanoy Township as that would be too big a coincidence to have such an intact family -- the same four names assuming Mary is Polly and all of the right approximate age -- to be some other random family.
And the evidence grew from there. Birth dates of John and his sons Elias and Daniel from their Ringgold tombstones match their known birth dates from their church baptisms. The obituary of John’s son Benjamin Franklin says he was born in Northumberland County to parents John and Mary (Weary) Martz. And finally, a great-great-great-grandson of Johannes has had his DNA tested and it confirms that the Ringgold Martz family is directly descended from the Longswamp Mertz family.
I now think there can be no doubt that Don Sigwalt's ancestor John of Ringgold was indeed Johannes III born in Longswamp.
John is designated P3a3.
But then what happened to him? For a long time I thought I had tracked this John to Auglaize County, OH because a John Mertz died in Auglaize and reportedly had been born 4 Jun 1801 (find-a-grave now says 15 Jun 1801). I could make any number of arguments for how his birth date was documented as 6 Jun in one place and 4 Jun in another. That small discrepancy was not a big deal to me.
But the tip-off that Mahanoy John was not Auglaize John should have been that there was no mention of Daniel and Elias as being part of Auglaize John’s family and moreover the wife of Auglaize John was Sarah Harmony and not Polly Wehry. So I had to believe that Polly died and John married Sarah second and that when he moved to Auglaize in the 1840’s, his adult sons Daniel and Elias stayed behind.
When DNA proved that Auglaize John was indeed part of the family that originated in Longswamp Township, Berks County -- I felt my theory was substantially proven.
But I was wrong. In 2015, I heard from Donald Sigwalt who told me of his ancestor John Marts (later Martz) who was living in Ringgold Township, Jefferson County, PA at the time of the 1850 Census with wife Mary (aka Polly?) and sons Daniel 30 and Eli (identified as Elias at other times) age 28 -- and a slew of younger children. It had to be John of Mahanoy Township as that would be too big a coincidence to have such an intact family -- the same four names assuming Mary is Polly and all of the right approximate age -- to be some other random family.
And the evidence grew from there. Birth dates of John and his sons Elias and Daniel from their Ringgold tombstones match their known birth dates from their church baptisms. The obituary of John’s son Benjamin Franklin says he was born in Northumberland County to parents John and Mary (Weary) Martz. And finally, a great-great-great-grandson of Johannes has had his DNA tested and it confirms that the Ringgold Martz family is directly descended from the Longswamp Mertz family.
I now think there can be no doubt that Don Sigwalt's ancestor John of Ringgold was indeed Johannes III born in Longswamp.
John is designated P3a3.
Relocated and Census Tracking notes for Johannes Martz (P3a3)
John lived near his father in 1820 and 1830 and then moved to Jefferson County, PA by 1840.
In 1850, he lived in Ringgold Township and his family consisted of himself, age 50, wife Mary 53, Daniel 30, Eli 28, Solomon 21, Charles 17, Elizabeth 16, Lydia 13 and Polly 9.
In 1850, he lived in Ringgold Township and his family consisted of himself, age 50, wife Mary 53, Daniel 30, Eli 28, Solomon 21, Charles 17, Elizabeth 16, Lydia 13 and Polly 9.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for Johannes Martz (P3a3)
He is on find-a-grave.
Known Daughters notes for Johannes Martz (P3a3)
From Census, he had daughters named Elizabeth, Lydia and Polly. Elizabeth married Samuel Stewart in 1854 and is linked to him on find-a-grave. Plus there is a Catherine who married Michael Shilling also linked to John and Polly as her parents on find-a-grave.
Known Sons notes for Johannes Martz (P3a3)
I can identify six sons of John’s born before 1850. I know Daniel and Elias from their baptisms at Howerters and their presence with John in 1850. They are also buried at Ringgold Methodist Church, like their parents. Daniel always lived with John and died in 1873. I do not think he married. He is not designated.
I know Solomon and Charles from the 1850 Census. Solomon ends up in Kansas, Charles is buried at Ringgold.
Finally there is a William and a Benjamin Franklin, both linked to John and Polly on find-a-grave as their sons. The were already living on their own in 1850, near their parents. Benjamin Franklin is buried at Ringgold Methodist, William at another area cemetery.
So, the five designated sons are:
P3a3a Elias born 1821
P3a3b William born 1823
P3a3c Benjamin Franklin born 1825
P3a3d Solomon born 1830
P3a3e Charles born 1833
I know Solomon and Charles from the 1850 Census. Solomon ends up in Kansas, Charles is buried at Ringgold.
Finally there is a William and a Benjamin Franklin, both linked to John and Polly on find-a-grave as their sons. The were already living on their own in 1850, near their parents. Benjamin Franklin is buried at Ringgold Methodist, William at another area cemetery.
So, the five designated sons are:
P3a3a Elias born 1821
P3a3b William born 1823
P3a3c Benjamin Franklin born 1825
P3a3d Solomon born 1830
P3a3e Charles born 1833
Parent-Proof notes for Mary Magdalena (Polly) (Spouse 1)
Mention was made in the Nordwetliche Post on 26 Nov 1819 that on 1 Oct, John Merz of Upper Mahony married Polly Wehry daughter of Anthony of Little Mahony.
In 1820 John Mertz and wife Polly sponsored the baptism of Ruben Weary.
When John and Polly baptized their son Elias, the sponsors were Christian Kramer and wife Lydia (Weary).
An 1839 deed records that the heirs of Anthony Weary sold his land. The heirs named included Elizabeth wife of John Martz Jr. and Polly (then later called Lydia twice) wife of Christian Kramer.
I think the deed was a little scrambled, Polly was the wife of John Martz and Lydia the wife of Christian Kramer and I don’t know Elizabeth.
In 1820 John Mertz and wife Polly sponsored the baptism of Ruben Weary.
When John and Polly baptized their son Elias, the sponsors were Christian Kramer and wife Lydia (Weary).
An 1839 deed records that the heirs of Anthony Weary sold his land. The heirs named included Elizabeth wife of John Martz Jr. and Polly (then later called Lydia twice) wife of Christian Kramer.
I think the deed was a little scrambled, Polly was the wife of John Martz and Lydia the wife of Christian Kramer and I don’t know Elizabeth.