Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Spouses
Birth18 November 1793
Memo(find-a-grave)
Death8 June 1835
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialEgypt Cemetery, Lehigh Co, PA
FatherWilliam Mertz (G1b) (1770-1807)
MotherElizabeth Peter (-<1814)
ChildrenTilghman (1816-1892)
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for Joseph (Spouse 1)
There is a Joseph Mertz buried at Egypt Cemetery in Whitehall, Lehigh County born 1793.
I believe he is the Joseph found in the 1820 Census (age 26-44) and 1830 (age 30-39) in North Whitehall, where we also find in 1830, Showalt. So my theory is that Joseph is of this larger family.
However, Whitehall was also the location where a different Mertz line lived, that of George Heinrich Mertz of Mertz Church whose wife was Eva Guth. There was a Mertz Church baptism of Joseph Mertz by Hener and Eva in 1796. I have had to carefully consider, therefore, if this Joseph, now designated G1b1, was not of the Heidelberg family but instead of the George Heinrich line — but if he were I would then have to rationalize the 1793 versus 1796 birth. So I have slightly leaned to the scenario that Joseph, born 1793 and buried at Egypt, is of the Heidelberg family.
Having said that, there is no real evidence as to who his father was. I don’t think he was Philip’s son as that would make a 32 year span for Philip to have been having children from 1761 to 1793. He might have been George’s son, but I think it makes more sense that George’s sons all went to Carbon County with him and then most of them, in some order, found their way to Westmoreland County.
I also know that when William’s wife, Elizabeth died, she had five minor children but also four who were old enough — presumably born before 1798 or so — who had reached their majority. We don’t knowof any of the four older ones were males but it certainly seems a good possibility.
So almost by the process of elimination, supported a little bit by analysis of Census tick marks, I am placing Joseph into this Heidelberg family as the son of William. Joseph is designated G1b1.
I believe he is the Joseph found in the 1820 Census (age 26-44) and 1830 (age 30-39) in North Whitehall, where we also find in 1830, Showalt. So my theory is that Joseph is of this larger family.
However, Whitehall was also the location where a different Mertz line lived, that of George Heinrich Mertz of Mertz Church whose wife was Eva Guth. There was a Mertz Church baptism of Joseph Mertz by Hener and Eva in 1796. I have had to carefully consider, therefore, if this Joseph, now designated G1b1, was not of the Heidelberg family but instead of the George Heinrich line — but if he were I would then have to rationalize the 1793 versus 1796 birth. So I have slightly leaned to the scenario that Joseph, born 1793 and buried at Egypt, is of the Heidelberg family.
Having said that, there is no real evidence as to who his father was. I don’t think he was Philip’s son as that would make a 32 year span for Philip to have been having children from 1761 to 1793. He might have been George’s son, but I think it makes more sense that George’s sons all went to Carbon County with him and then most of them, in some order, found their way to Westmoreland County.
I also know that when William’s wife, Elizabeth died, she had five minor children but also four who were old enough — presumably born before 1798 or so — who had reached their majority. We don’t knowof any of the four older ones were males but it certainly seems a good possibility.
So almost by the process of elimination, supported a little bit by analysis of Census tick marks, I am placing Joseph into this Heidelberg family as the son of William. Joseph is designated G1b1.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for Joseph (Spouse 1)
Joseph is on find-a-grave with the dates I show for him. His tombstone is in German but it appears to have been translated as saying he married Elizabeth Ahner (I can clearly make that out on his tombstone), and they were the parents of four children.
His estate file seems to show that he was a rather prosperous man. Elizabeth, the widow, posted bond 26 Jul 1835. Reading the inventory and vendue sale, the names that occurred most prominently were: Joseph Mertz and Tilghman Mertz. Also mentioned were Theobald Mertz, Martin Mertz, Abigail Mertz and Caroline Mertz.
An Orphans Court petition dated 4 Sep 1835 by Elizabeth Mertz widow of Joseph of North Whitehall, miller, said his movable estate was insufficient to pay his debts so she desired to sell his 40 acres, saw mill and grist mill to pay his debts and educate his children. His four minor children were: Tilghman, Abigail, Caroline and Attillia (?).
There is also mention in the accounting that there were (only) four children.
There are several important details we can glean from his tombstone and estate file:
• The Arner organization says that the Elizabeth Arner who married Joseph Mertz was the daughter of William Arner who was the son of Felix and Maria Elisabetha (Mertz) Arner. Maria Elisabeth was, if I have Joseph’s connection into this family correct, Joseph’s grandfather’s sister. If all these relationships are correct, that means Joseph and his wife were second cousins. Some people might interpret that to mean maybe I have things wrong but back in those days, such a marriage between second cousins was really not all that atypical (or ill-advised). So I take it as something that adds credibility to what I’m saying, those two families were related, Joseph and Elizabeth knew each other because the families were close, that’s how they met.
• Besides Joseph’s children — Tilghman, Abigail and Caroline — three other Mertzes were named at the estate sale. Theobald, Joseph’s brother was one. Martin, Theobald’s son I think was another.
• But who was Joseph, the buyer at the venue sale? It’s possible and I have considered that he perhaps was a son of the older Joseph by a first wife but according to his tombstone (which may be wrong) the younger Joseph was only 16 years younger than the older. Moreover a statement in the estate settlement seems to confirm that Joseph only had four children, total. So I have made him another son of Joseph’s Uncle Dewalt. I think Martin and the younger Joseph were brothers. But the real point is, it is even more evidence that Joseph, the deceased, was part of the Heidelberg family.
His estate file seems to show that he was a rather prosperous man. Elizabeth, the widow, posted bond 26 Jul 1835. Reading the inventory and vendue sale, the names that occurred most prominently were: Joseph Mertz and Tilghman Mertz. Also mentioned were Theobald Mertz, Martin Mertz, Abigail Mertz and Caroline Mertz.
An Orphans Court petition dated 4 Sep 1835 by Elizabeth Mertz widow of Joseph of North Whitehall, miller, said his movable estate was insufficient to pay his debts so she desired to sell his 40 acres, saw mill and grist mill to pay his debts and educate his children. His four minor children were: Tilghman, Abigail, Caroline and Attillia (?).
There is also mention in the accounting that there were (only) four children.
There are several important details we can glean from his tombstone and estate file:
• The Arner organization says that the Elizabeth Arner who married Joseph Mertz was the daughter of William Arner who was the son of Felix and Maria Elisabetha (Mertz) Arner. Maria Elisabeth was, if I have Joseph’s connection into this family correct, Joseph’s grandfather’s sister. If all these relationships are correct, that means Joseph and his wife were second cousins. Some people might interpret that to mean maybe I have things wrong but back in those days, such a marriage between second cousins was really not all that atypical (or ill-advised). So I take it as something that adds credibility to what I’m saying, those two families were related, Joseph and Elizabeth knew each other because the families were close, that’s how they met.
• Besides Joseph’s children — Tilghman, Abigail and Caroline — three other Mertzes were named at the estate sale. Theobald, Joseph’s brother was one. Martin, Theobald’s son I think was another.
• But who was Joseph, the buyer at the venue sale? It’s possible and I have considered that he perhaps was a son of the older Joseph by a first wife but according to his tombstone (which may be wrong) the younger Joseph was only 16 years younger than the older. Moreover a statement in the estate settlement seems to confirm that Joseph only had four children, total. So I have made him another son of Joseph’s Uncle Dewalt. I think Martin and the younger Joseph were brothers. But the real point is, it is even more evidence that Joseph, the deceased, was part of the Heidelberg family.