Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Birth28 July 1810
Memo(find-a-grave)
Death20 October 1888
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialNeffs Union, Lehigh County, PA
FatherJohann Peter Mertz (Y1a) (1784-1855)
MotherCatharina (1783-1845)
Spouses
Birth1 October 1812
Memo(find-a-grave)
Death21 February 1858
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialSolomons UCC, Lehigh Co, PA
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for Peter Mertz (Y1a1)
His wife Hannah Christman is buried at Solomon’s UCC Cemetery. She is clearly the wife of Peter Mertz in the 1850 Census in Lower Macungie Township, Lehigh County.
The other Mertzes buried at Solomon’s are of the family of Jost Mertz, including Johan Peter (1784-1855) and Heinrich (1786-1861). They were cousins (I think). So I believe Peter is associated with this family.
The question is whether Peter, husband of Hannah, was the son of Johan Peter (Y1a) or of Heinrich (Y2a)? For awhile I felt it could be either based on the 1820 Census, but only Heinrich had a son in the right age bracket living with him in 1830 — and so I thought Peter maybe was Heinrich’s son. But a property division after Heinrich died shows he only had daughters, no sons.
By process of elimination, therefore, I believe this younger Peter must have been the son of the older.
Then there is this: in 1860, Peter’s son Eugene was living with William Loras; in 1850 and 1860, Henrich was living with Mary Ann Loras (Lorash or Lorish). I believe Mary Ann was Heinrich’s daughter. So while the obvious conclusion that Eugene was Heinrich’s grandson is ruled out, I think this becomes instead additional evidence that Peter, given that he was not Heinrich’s son, is correctly identified as related to him in some other way — meaning the idea that Johan Peter was Heinrich’s nephew is supported.
I believe Peter was Johan Peter’s son, he is designated Y1a1.
The other Mertzes buried at Solomon’s are of the family of Jost Mertz, including Johan Peter (1784-1855) and Heinrich (1786-1861). They were cousins (I think). So I believe Peter is associated with this family.
The question is whether Peter, husband of Hannah, was the son of Johan Peter (Y1a) or of Heinrich (Y2a)? For awhile I felt it could be either based on the 1820 Census, but only Heinrich had a son in the right age bracket living with him in 1830 — and so I thought Peter maybe was Heinrich’s son. But a property division after Heinrich died shows he only had daughters, no sons.
By process of elimination, therefore, I believe this younger Peter must have been the son of the older.
Then there is this: in 1860, Peter’s son Eugene was living with William Loras; in 1850 and 1860, Henrich was living with Mary Ann Loras (Lorash or Lorish). I believe Mary Ann was Heinrich’s daughter. So while the obvious conclusion that Eugene was Heinrich’s grandson is ruled out, I think this becomes instead additional evidence that Peter, given that he was not Heinrich’s son, is correctly identified as related to him in some other way — meaning the idea that Johan Peter was Heinrich’s nephew is supported.
I believe Peter was Johan Peter’s son, he is designated Y1a1.
Relocated and Census Tracking notes for Peter Mertz (Y1a1)
In 1840, there were three Peter Mertz in Lehigh County. This one, in Lower Macungie, was the youngest of the three, consistent with his still being there, age 37, in 1850.
In 1850, living with him were Hannah 37, Monroe 8, Ugene 6, Maria 4, Ellen Jane 2 and Madison 0.
In 1860, now in Upper Milford, we find Peter Maertz 48 with Franklin 27, Ellen 14, Sarah 8, Emma 5, Lucinda 24, Jonas 3 and Charles 1. I think Lucinda was the wife of Franklin and mother of Jonas and Charles. Eugene by 1860 was living on his own.
But then where was Peter in 1870 and 1880 and where were his younger daughters?
In 1870, in Catasauqua, Lehigh County we find Sarah 18 living with a bunch of random people. Peter has gone missing.
In 1850, living with him were Hannah 37, Monroe 8, Ugene 6, Maria 4, Ellen Jane 2 and Madison 0.
In 1860, now in Upper Milford, we find Peter Maertz 48 with Franklin 27, Ellen 14, Sarah 8, Emma 5, Lucinda 24, Jonas 3 and Charles 1. I think Lucinda was the wife of Franklin and mother of Jonas and Charles. Eugene by 1860 was living on his own.
But then where was Peter in 1870 and 1880 and where were his younger daughters?
In 1870, in Catasauqua, Lehigh County we find Sarah 18 living with a bunch of random people. Peter has gone missing.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for Peter Mertz (Y1a1)
I believe Peter is on find-a-grave, but it took me awhile to convince myself it was this Peter.
At Neff’s Cemetery in Lehigh County, we find Peter Mertz with the dates I show for him as well as Joseph Mertz born 1809 and Martin Mertz born, like Peter, in 1810. My first thought is they might be brothers, but their birth dates preclude that, but might they have been cousins?
It turns out, I believe, that Martin and Joseph may well have been brothers, sons of Theobald Mertz (G1c) while Peter I think is of the Jost (Y) line — a rare case of what I call “mixing of the blood”.
The tell-tale for Peter, in my opinion, is that we find one other Mertz at Neffs and that is Eugene and he was clearly Peter’s son. I cannot find Peter in 1870 or 1880 but after his wife Hannah died and she was buried with "his family" at Solomons, Peter's family pretty much dissolved and moved elsewhere. His son Eugene became an apprentice shoemaker by age 17 and had left home.
But Eugene is a fairly unique name and he is buried at Neffs. In 1880, Eugene was in Lower Macungie and then in 1900 he was in Washington Township, Lehigh County. It even says “southern part” on Census. If you have google map draw the outline of Washington Township, you can't help but see the village of Neffs just south of the outlined border. So I think Eugene moved there soon after 1880 Census and Peter came to live with him his last year or two and they buried him at Neffs and then Eugene joined him.
Case closed.
At Neff’s Cemetery in Lehigh County, we find Peter Mertz with the dates I show for him as well as Joseph Mertz born 1809 and Martin Mertz born, like Peter, in 1810. My first thought is they might be brothers, but their birth dates preclude that, but might they have been cousins?
It turns out, I believe, that Martin and Joseph may well have been brothers, sons of Theobald Mertz (G1c) while Peter I think is of the Jost (Y) line — a rare case of what I call “mixing of the blood”.
The tell-tale for Peter, in my opinion, is that we find one other Mertz at Neffs and that is Eugene and he was clearly Peter’s son. I cannot find Peter in 1870 or 1880 but after his wife Hannah died and she was buried with "his family" at Solomons, Peter's family pretty much dissolved and moved elsewhere. His son Eugene became an apprentice shoemaker by age 17 and had left home.
But Eugene is a fairly unique name and he is buried at Neffs. In 1880, Eugene was in Lower Macungie and then in 1900 he was in Washington Township, Lehigh County. It even says “southern part” on Census. If you have google map draw the outline of Washington Township, you can't help but see the village of Neffs just south of the outlined border. So I think Eugene moved there soon after 1880 Census and Peter came to live with him his last year or two and they buried him at Neffs and then Eugene joined him.
Case closed.
Known Daughters notes for Peter Mertz (Y1a1)
The death certificate of Sarah Gaugler 1853-1915 says she was the daughter of Peter Mertz and Hannah Cristman.
Known Sons notes for Peter Mertz (Y1a1)
From the 1850 Census, there was Monroe, Eugene and Madison. But then in 1860, an older male, Franklin, was living with Peter. I think those were his four sons, three named after America’s founding fathers?
Franklin is a bit of a mystery. I cannot account for him in 1850, you’d think he would be listed in his parents’ household. In 1860, not married, he was living with Peter. In 1870, he and Lucinda were then living on their own with son Charles. And then all three of them, poof, disappear totally. He is designated Y1a1a but that’s all I know about him.
Madison, who would only have been age 10 or so, was not reported in Peter’s 1860 household. He may well have been the Madison Mertz age 9 living elsewhere in Lehigh County with the Charles Hill family, perhaps being too much for Peter to handle after his wife died. He may also be the Madison Mertz (it is a unique name), age 28, unmarried, living in Mercer County, Pennsylvania in 1880. In any event, I am unable to track him further and so have not designated him.
Monroe, too, disappears from Peter’s household prematurely and may well be the Monroe Mertz living with the Benjamin Jarrett family in 1860 in Lower Macungie. He then disappears entirely and so he is also not designated or tracked further.
Y1a1b Eugene is the only one of Peter’s sons I can truly track.
Franklin is a bit of a mystery. I cannot account for him in 1850, you’d think he would be listed in his parents’ household. In 1860, not married, he was living with Peter. In 1870, he and Lucinda were then living on their own with son Charles. And then all three of them, poof, disappear totally. He is designated Y1a1a but that’s all I know about him.
Madison, who would only have been age 10 or so, was not reported in Peter’s 1860 household. He may well have been the Madison Mertz age 9 living elsewhere in Lehigh County with the Charles Hill family, perhaps being too much for Peter to handle after his wife died. He may also be the Madison Mertz (it is a unique name), age 28, unmarried, living in Mercer County, Pennsylvania in 1880. In any event, I am unable to track him further and so have not designated him.
Monroe, too, disappears from Peter’s household prematurely and may well be the Monroe Mertz living with the Benjamin Jarrett family in 1860 in Lower Macungie. He then disappears entirely and so he is also not designated or tracked further.
Y1a1b Eugene is the only one of Peter’s sons I can truly track.
Parent-Proof notes for Hannah (Spouse 1)
Her tombstone says daughter of George Christman and there is a note that she is buried next to Maria Christman Haas, wife of Ludwig, daughter of George — her sister.
Find-a-Grave notes for Hannah (Spouse 1)
She is on find-a-grave with the dates I show for her. I can see that her tombstone says wife of Peter Mertz, though that fact is not picked up by find-a-grave.