Four Mertz deaths are reported in the records of St Johns Church at Howerters and listed on find-a-grave: John Mertz 1812-1846, Sarah 1816-1884, Tilghman 1844-1863 and Amanda 1844-1881.

Tilghman’s tombstone says he was the son of Johannes and Sarah. Tilghman was born in 1844, his father died in 1846, his widowed mother must be the Sarah living where John previously lived, but with only two young daughters, no sons. So where is Tilghman? He must be the Tilghman, age 6, living with an older John of Allen Township and the Tilghman age 16 in the same John’s household in 1870.

So Tilghman, I think, ties everything together. My conclusion is that the older John was Tilghman’s grandfather. So, I believe, that the older John and Catherine had a son John (1812) whose wife was Sarah and they had Tilghman (1844).

The younger John is designated H4b1.

As to Amanda, she was the wife of Joseph Mertz and a strong clue, I think, that Joseph too was another son of John’s.

John Merz was present in Allen Township in 1840, age 20-29. John was not present in 1850, but Sallie Mery was, age 34, living with Peggy 8 and Cath 4. It must be John’s widow. From the way things were reported, Sallie was listed as head of household as was the older john, but they shared the same house apparently.

John is on find-a-grave, as is his wife Sarah..

One daughter was Catharine who married Stephen Laubach. She is known from the 1850 Census living with her mother and then in later decades her mother lived with her.

All logic and his tombstone, says that Tilghman Mertz 20 Mar 1844-25 Jan 1863 was the son of John and Sarah. He’s on find-a-grave in the same cemetery as his parents. In 1860, he lived in Lower Saucon, Northampton County with John age 75 and Catherine 68 — obviously, it seems to me, his grandparents. Tilghman is not designated, he never lived on his own in Census, I don’t think he ever married.

H4b1a Joseph born 1838. There is also a Harvey S Mertz buried in this same cemetery whose father, known from Census, was Joseph born about 1838. And Amanda Mertz is in the same cemetery; it says on her tombstone, wife of Joseph. I think this is the Joseph of the right age living in Allen Township in 1860-1880 so I am guessing Joseph was another son of John and Sarah.

Her maiden name, Dewees, is given on her tombstone. This is confirmed by the death certificate of her daughter Catherine Laubach (1846-1914).