A man named Theobald (Dewalt) Mertz existed. He first was listed in the 1810 Census in Heidelberg Township and we know he was born in 1776. Because of where he lived geographically, from his age and from the fact that I have no better idea who he was, I have made Theobald the son of Philip who was older and lived in the same place. He is designated G1c.

In The History of the Counties of Lehigh and Carbon, Chapter XXIV covers Heidelberg Township and in addition to three mentions there of Philip Mertz, Dewalt Mertz was named once — on the 1812 tax list.

This area was Northampton County originally but in the area that would become Lehigh County. Dewalt was also named in the records of Schlosser’s (or Neff’s) Church in nearby North Whitehall Township and also at Lowhill Church in Lowhill Township. It is Dewalt’s connection to these other places (Neff’s and North Whitehall Township) that is the basis of my belief that certain others connected with these same places are of the same larger family.

Theobald was mentioned in the records of Schlosser’s or Neff’s Church in Lehigh County. He and his (unnamed) wife baptized daughter Susanna there 31 Jul 1803.

Another baptism of note at that church was Reuben Mertz son of Joseph & Salome born 14 Jan 1839 baptized 3 Mar. Joseph, I believe, was Theobald’s cousin.

Karen Brislin brought to my attention that Catharina Stiely is buried in Mifflinville, Columbia County and her tombstone says born 1807, daughter of (she thought it said) Donald or Daniel and Magdalena Mertz.

I was surprised that a Columbia County woman would be spelled Mertz and not Martz and so I examined the photo of Catharina’s tombstone -- it does indeed say Mertz -- but it seemed to me that the name of her father was Dewald Mertz, a name I recognized but would not be obvious to anyone who never heard of him.

I then googled the name Dewald Mertz and immediately found this message board post from “Mike”.

“I am looking for information on the family of my 4th great grandmother, Susanna Mertz (b. 5 Jul 1803, d. 15 Feb 1838). She was the first wife of Gottlieb Stehley and lived in North Whitehall, PA.”

When I looked for any record of her, I found that a Susanna Stahley was buried at Neff’s and her lifespan was 5 Jul 1803 to 15 Feb 1838. This had to be the Susanna baptized 31 Jul 1803 at that church by Theobald and wife. Also listed at various times in that church were Catharine Mertz and Joseph Mertz who also tie into this family, I believe.

My view is that it is more than coincidence that both Susanna and Catharina -- born three years apart apparently -- married Stehley men. I think they were both daughters of Theobald.

And one more detail that strengthens my argument that Dewalt has something to do with Philip (Dewalt was his son I believe) is that when Philip’s widow Margaret died in 1824, her estate was administered by Jacob Stehley.

Karen Brislin also told me that when Susanna baptized her own son, Tilghman, in 1837, the sponsors were “Adam Mertz, Rebecca”. This, I think, is a very strange anomaly. I have found evidence of a man named John Philip Mertz whose wife was Theresa — (exactly the names of the Carbon County couple I think were of the Heidelberg family) — but a totally different couple and Adam and Rebecca were related to that other John Philip who had recently arrived from Germany. Why Susanna had them as sponsors I could speculate on endlessly. The truth is I just don’t know.

Identifying Theobald’s sons is a bit of a puzzle.

I found a baptism record in the records of Lowhill Reformed in Northampton County for Theobald Mertz born 16 Jul 1800 baptized 5 Oct 1800 son of Theobald and Catharina. But I know nothing more about him. He must have died young.

In 1850, Dawata Mertz age 74, lived with Morten age 38, a set of facts that would strongly suggest Dawata (Theobald) was living with his son. There was a Martin Mertz buried at Neffs 11 Feb 1810 - 26 Jun 1852 who was no doubt the Morten that Dewald was living with in 1850. It may be he was Theobald’s only son that survived to adulthood. He is designated G1c1.

Theobald of course had a connection to Neff’s Church and obviously so too Martin. So, the obvious first thought is that two other men of about Martin’s age also buried at Neff’s might also be sons of Theobald:

Joseph Mertz, 3 Sep 1809 - 30 Nov 1898, who was no doubt the Joseph, neighbor of Dewald in 1840 and 1850.

Peter Mertz, 28 Jul 1810 - 20 Oct 1888.

The problem is that if all three birth dates are correct — and they for sure have been correctly transcribed from their tombstones — neither Joseph nor Peter could be a brother of Martin’s.

I believe, though, that Joseph was closely associated with this family and, despite the birth date conflict, I have made him a son of Theobald, yet one more discordant note in this family. I just think something must be wrong with either Joseph’s or Martin’s birth date on find-a-grave.

As to Peter, I think this is a rare case of “mixing of the blood” — two entirely unrelated Mertz families found in this close proximity to one another. I think Peter was a descendant of Jost Mertz and Peter is the man I have designated Y1a1.

Theobald’s wife was said to be Catharina when he baptized son Theobald in 1800. But his daughter Catharina born in 1807 was said to be the daughter of Dewald and Magdalena. I could pose the idea that Catharina died and then Theobald married second Magdalena but then who was the Catharina who died in Oct 1849 in North Whitehall?

Census shows that Theobald’s wife of a similar age to him was alive in 1840 and apparently had died by 1850. Was her name Catharina Magdalena? (Unlikely, but I have no better solution.)