In 1860, Mary I Mertz age 10 lived with Rebecca Smith, age 44. In the same household, we find Joseph Smith age 31. Their age difference is confirmed by the 1870 Census when these same three people still lived together. Was Joseph Rebecca’s younger husband or the son of her deceased second husband?

There are two women named Rebecca Smith, both born in 1816, buried in Lehigh County on find-a-grave. Both would seem to be possibly Rebecca (Roth) (Mertz) Smith except one, it says, was married to John Smith (with children born before 1850), the other to George — who lived until 1882. Very strange.

Since “Dawata" was living with a younger Martin in the 1850 Census, I assume Martin was his son. Proof of that belief is actually found on his tombstone: “sohn von Dewald and Catharina.” He is designated G1c2.

I think Martin was just starting his family when he died. I know of no sons and just one daughter for him.

Martin is on find-a-grave at Neff’s Union Cemetery in (or very near) North Whitehall Township. It is the other people named Mertz, born before, say 1830, buried at Neff’s who need to be identified:

Joseph (3 Sep 1809-30 Nov 1898) — their apparent birth dates would seem to rule out that he was Martin’s brother, nut I’ve considered other solutions and none make sense either. I have gone with the idea he was Martin’s brother.

Peter (28 Jul 1810-20 Oct 1888) — their apparent birth dates rule out that he was Martin’s brother and my best guess is he was of a different Mertz line, a descendant of Jost Mertz (Y).

Sallie (1816-1891) — she was the wife of Joseph

Leanna (Mertz) Semmel (1829-1901) — I think she was the daughter of Jonas Mertz, he too of the Heidelberg Mertz family.