There was a Joseph Mertz listed in North Whitehall in the 1820 and 1830 Census, no doubt the man of that name buried at the Egypt Cemetery, who from his tombstone was born in 1793 (and died in 1835). I have guessed, therefore, based on geography and his age, that he was the son of Philip Mertz Jr. and brother of Dewald.

Then a younger Joseph showed up in North Whitehall in 1840 and 1850. He was buried at Neff’s Union Cemetery and from his tombstone was born in Sep 1809. From his birth date on his tombstone, he was born 5 1/2 months prior to Martin Mertz, based on his birth date on his tombstone, which seems to rule out Dewalt Mertz as his father. The only other scenario I can think of though is that the younger Joseph was the son of the older Joseph.

The problem with that scenario is that the older Joseph was born in 1793 and the younger in 1809. Moreover, it says on the tombstone of the older Joseph that he had four children with wife Elizabeth Ahner — and they are accounted for.

So I’m stuck with having to believe Joseph was the son of Dewalt and either Martin’s or Joseph’s tombstone has the wrong date of birth. Joseph’s looks like possibly a newer tombstone and perhaps was erected years after he died, and, if so, would not be the only example of an after-the-fact tombstone having an erroneous date.

Joseph is designated G1c1.

Joseph was continuously in North Whitehall in 1840-1870 and should have been there in 1880 but I cannot find him.

Joseph is on find-a-grave.

I know of two sons born before 1850:

G1c1a Tilghman born 1835
G1c1bb Reuben born 1839

On find-a-grave at Neff’s, we find Joseph and also his wife Sallie with similar tombstones. I think Sallie, Sarah and Salome are three names for the same person.