Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameMartha Bethiah Cowan 
Birth1777
Memo(Thomas Looker book)
Deathabout 1855
Memo(Thomas Looker book based on absence in Census after 1850)
Spouses
Birth22 July 1771, Frederick Co, MD
Memo(find-a-grave)
Death21 April 1814
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialMartz Cemetery, Tenth Legion, Rockingham, VA
FatherSebastian Martz (March) (S) (~1740-1818)
MotherMary Magdalene Burghard
Marriage19 August 1807
Marr Memo(Thomas Looker book)
ChildrenMartin P (~1811-~1865)
Temperance (1810-1873)
Parent-Proof notes for Martha Bethiah Cowan
Peter married Martha Bethiah Cowan 19 Aug 1807 in Rockingham County according to the Thomas Looker book. She was the daughter of Henry Cowan.
After Peter Martz died in 1814, Martha married second William Pickering Jr. in 1816. William was a descendant of Thomas Looker and so the book on his descendants lists Peter and Martha’s four children, William Pickering’s step-children, as descendants.
William and Martha moved to Champaign County, IL — where two sons of Michael Martz also end up, including Benjamin Hawkins Martz who married his first cousin, Temperance Martz, daughter of Peter and Martha.
After Peter Martz died in 1814, Martha married second William Pickering Jr. in 1816. William was a descendant of Thomas Looker and so the book on his descendants lists Peter and Martha’s four children, William Pickering’s step-children, as descendants.
William and Martha moved to Champaign County, IL — where two sons of Michael Martz also end up, including Benjamin Hawkins Martz who married his first cousin, Temperance Martz, daughter of Peter and Martha.
Find-a-Grave notes for Martha Bethiah Cowan
As of summer 2015, there is no evidence of Martha or William Pickering on find-a-grave, at least in Champaign County, OH.
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for Peter (Spouse 1)
Peter was named in his father’s will. All sources that cover Sebastian’s family show exact birth dates for all of Sebastian’s sons and Peter was, according to those dates, the fourth oldest son.
He is designated S4.
Peter was listed in the 1810 Census in Rockingham County, age 26-45 with two young children.
He is designated S4.
Peter was listed in the 1810 Census in Rockingham County, age 26-45 with two young children.
Discrepancies notes for Peter (Spouse 1)
When Sebastian wrote his will, two of his sons, Michael and Peter, had pre-deceased him.
In the case of Michael, Sebastian simply bequeaths to Michael’s children the land where Michael’s widow now lives. He directs that the land ultimately is to be sold and the proceeds divided amongst Michael’s children.
In the case of Peter, it is a little different in that he bequeaths the land where she now lives to his daughter-in-law Mathia but in the same way directs that the land ultimately is to be sold and the proceeds divided amongst Peter’s children.
Sebastian listed his sons in the same order as their supposed birth dates would suggest — with the sole exception of Peter, who was listed last but supposedly was the fourth oldest. I do not know if he really was the youngest or whether it has something to do with the different way he mentioned Michael versus Peter.
Ralph Fraley Martz and the Rockingham Martz tree say Peter married 5 Dec 1803 and died 14 Aug 1807. As he was listed in the 1810 Census and wrote his will 11 Apr 1814, clearly his date of death is wrong. I believe the 14 Aug 1807 date is his date of marriage.
In the case of Michael, Sebastian simply bequeaths to Michael’s children the land where Michael’s widow now lives. He directs that the land ultimately is to be sold and the proceeds divided amongst Michael’s children.
In the case of Peter, it is a little different in that he bequeaths the land where she now lives to his daughter-in-law Mathia but in the same way directs that the land ultimately is to be sold and the proceeds divided amongst Peter’s children.
Sebastian listed his sons in the same order as their supposed birth dates would suggest — with the sole exception of Peter, who was listed last but supposedly was the fourth oldest. I do not know if he really was the youngest or whether it has something to do with the different way he mentioned Michael versus Peter.
Ralph Fraley Martz and the Rockingham Martz tree say Peter married 5 Dec 1803 and died 14 Aug 1807. As he was listed in the 1810 Census and wrote his will 11 Apr 1814, clearly his date of death is wrong. I believe the 14 Aug 1807 date is his date of marriage.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for Peter (Spouse 1)
Peter wrote his will 11 Apr 1814 and it proved in the June Court 1814. So he died in the Spring of 1814. His will mentioned wife Martha, four children — and “the land his father gave him”. Sebastian may not have considered it yet a gift as a year later, when he wrote his will, he gave the land to Peter’s widow for her use during her lifetime or widowhood.
Peter is on find-a-grave.
Peter is on find-a-grave.