Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Birth27 August 1822
Memo(find-a-grave)
Death4 February 1898
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialMt Lebanon, Lebanon, PA
FatherMajor George Martz (H5a) (1786-1868)
MotherCatherine E Reese (1787-1858)
Spouses
Birth28 August 1833
Memo(find-a-grave)
Death6 December 1916
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialMt Lebanon, Lebanon, PA
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for Rev George Jacob Martz (H5a3)
We know George Jacob as the son of Major George from the Frederick County History book. He is designated H5a3.
Rev George is the man who in the 1880’s propagated the story that Wilhelm Mertz had died in Germany with a small fortune and no heirs and they were seeking any possible heirs in America. This story was picked up by several newspapers and the word spread. As a result, many people wrote Rev George to state their ancestry as best they knew it and to try to claim a share of the fortune.
These letters have been quite helpful to me because people in the 1880’s would tell of their parents and perhaps grand-parents and I have been able to place people in their proper families that way. These letters were obtained by Ralph Fraley Martz (from a daughter of Rev George) and published in his book.
As bad as his book is with so many erroneous statements and false conclusions, these letters are surely the best thing RFM ever did.
The question in my mind is whether the whole story was a hoax, perhaps an attempt by Rev George to try to understand the different Mertz families present in America. Maybe he was aware that his grandfather had a brother William and chose the name for that reason hoping to learn of any distant cousins. Perhaps, especially, after he came east to Berks and Dauphin Counties, where other family branches where present, he wondered who they all were and concocted this tall-tale to learn of the different families.
In any event, I am grateful for the whole effort.
Rev George is the man who in the 1880’s propagated the story that Wilhelm Mertz had died in Germany with a small fortune and no heirs and they were seeking any possible heirs in America. This story was picked up by several newspapers and the word spread. As a result, many people wrote Rev George to state their ancestry as best they knew it and to try to claim a share of the fortune.
These letters have been quite helpful to me because people in the 1880’s would tell of their parents and perhaps grand-parents and I have been able to place people in their proper families that way. These letters were obtained by Ralph Fraley Martz (from a daughter of Rev George) and published in his book.
As bad as his book is with so many erroneous statements and false conclusions, these letters are surely the best thing RFM ever did.
The question in my mind is whether the whole story was a hoax, perhaps an attempt by Rev George to try to understand the different Mertz families present in America. Maybe he was aware that his grandfather had a brother William and chose the name for that reason hoping to learn of any distant cousins. Perhaps, especially, after he came east to Berks and Dauphin Counties, where other family branches where present, he wondered who they all were and concocted this tall-tale to learn of the different families.
In any event, I am grateful for the whole effort.
Relocated and Census Tracking notes for Rev George Jacob Martz (H5a3)
Rev George was a minister who lived in several places but ended up in Lebanon County.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for Rev George Jacob Martz (H5a3)
He and his wife are on find-a-grave wth several children linked to them.
Known Sons notes for Rev George Jacob Martz (H5a3)
There is evidence that George and Caroline had a son William prior to 1850 but as he was not listed in their family in 1860, I suspect he died young.