Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Spouses
Birth20 July 1793
Memo(find-a-grave)
Death12 December 1874
Memo(find-a-grave)
BurialEmmanuel Cemetery, Export, PA
FatherBoaz Walton (1739-1825)
MotherMary Ashton (1752-1833)
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for Nicholas Martz (G1a1)
William Martz or Marts and Nicholas Martz or Marts are the two most obvious and easiest to document pioneers of their family in Westmoreland County. Their presence on find-a-grave and in Census from 1810 (William) or 1820 (Nicholas) to 1860 make them easy to identify and learn something about. One was born in 1784, the other in 1786 — both somewhere in Pennsylvania.
They married sisters — according to a book on Boaz Walton and his descendants — and this seems to be accepted as absolute truth by descendants of both men so I never had any reason to worry that it was fiction. And then when going through Westmorland deeds, I found this fact confirmed by the releases the heirs of Boaz signed in 1832.
The question is what was their relationship to each other, if any, and to an older George Mertz, born 1761, who I believe moved from Northampton County to Westmoreland County in 1818.
On an 1808 tax list of Penn Township, Northampton County, both George and Nicholas Mertz were named (Nicholas, a single freeman). I believe for sure he was the George Mertz who arrived in 1818. I strongly suspect too, it was the same Nicholas Mertz in Penn Township who is found later in Westmoreland. I also note that Boaz Walton, father-in-law to William and Nicholas, came to Westmoreland County from that same area of Northampton County.
My theory is that Willam and Nicholas were sons of George. The order of things seems to be that Willam and Nicholas were in Westmoreland several years prior to George’s arrival. It is possible both of them came at the same time Boaz did and then their father, George, followed a few years later.
As his oldest son, Nicholas is designated G1a1.
They married sisters — according to a book on Boaz Walton and his descendants — and this seems to be accepted as absolute truth by descendants of both men so I never had any reason to worry that it was fiction. And then when going through Westmorland deeds, I found this fact confirmed by the releases the heirs of Boaz signed in 1832.
The question is what was their relationship to each other, if any, and to an older George Mertz, born 1761, who I believe moved from Northampton County to Westmoreland County in 1818.
On an 1808 tax list of Penn Township, Northampton County, both George and Nicholas Mertz were named (Nicholas, a single freeman). I believe for sure he was the George Mertz who arrived in 1818. I strongly suspect too, it was the same Nicholas Mertz in Penn Township who is found later in Westmoreland. I also note that Boaz Walton, father-in-law to William and Nicholas, came to Westmoreland County from that same area of Northampton County.
My theory is that Willam and Nicholas were sons of George. The order of things seems to be that Willam and Nicholas were in Westmoreland several years prior to George’s arrival. It is possible both of them came at the same time Boaz did and then their father, George, followed a few years later.
As his oldest son, Nicholas is designated G1a1.
Relocated and Census Tracking notes for Nicholas Martz (G1a1)
Nicholas was present in Census in Westmoreland County from possibly 1820 through 1860, always in Franklin Township. I can’t find him, though, in 1840. Someone annotated the 1840 Census listing for George Martz, son of Nicholas, with the name Nicholas. There was an older woman in the household, Amy?, but no sign of someone Nicholas’ age.
The 1820 listing actually has been transcribed as “H Martz” but upon examination I think it says “N Martz” and I think it must be Nicholas.
An interesting baptism record at the First Lutheran Church in Greensburg, PA shows an 1810 baptism of Elizabeth Waldin (I think likely Walton) with Nicholas Mertz and Barbara Best as sponsors. I assume they were two single people, perhaps an indication that Nicholas had not yet married.
So Nicholas was, I believe, in East Penn in 1808 and then in Westmoreland by apparently as early as 1810. His wife was born in 1793, their oldest known child born in 1815. The idea they married in 1812 or 1813 or so all seems to fit.
The 1820 listing actually has been transcribed as “H Martz” but upon examination I think it says “N Martz” and I think it must be Nicholas.
An interesting baptism record at the First Lutheran Church in Greensburg, PA shows an 1810 baptism of Elizabeth Waldin (I think likely Walton) with Nicholas Mertz and Barbara Best as sponsors. I assume they were two single people, perhaps an indication that Nicholas had not yet married.
So Nicholas was, I believe, in East Penn in 1808 and then in Westmoreland by apparently as early as 1810. His wife was born in 1793, their oldest known child born in 1815. The idea they married in 1812 or 1813 or so all seems to fit.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for Nicholas Martz (G1a1)
Nicholas and Amy are on find-a-grave.
Over the years of my trying to document this Westmoreland family, my main interest being where had they come from more so than knowing the later generations, I reached out to several people who seemed to be descended from one or another of the Martzes of Westmoreland and encouraged them to do some real research on their family. No one ever did, that I know of.
So, in 2018, I finally did a review of every Westmoreland deed up to about 1885 where a Martz was named as grantor or grantee. And in Deed Book 127, page 162, I found a key document dated 14 Sep 1867 naming all of Nicholas’ heirs, basically they were all signing over what had been Nicholas’ land to his son Josiah.
Over the years of my trying to document this Westmoreland family, my main interest being where had they come from more so than knowing the later generations, I reached out to several people who seemed to be descended from one or another of the Martzes of Westmoreland and encouraged them to do some real research on their family. No one ever did, that I know of.
So, in 2018, I finally did a review of every Westmoreland deed up to about 1885 where a Martz was named as grantor or grantee. And in Deed Book 127, page 162, I found a key document dated 14 Sep 1867 naming all of Nicholas’ heirs, basically they were all signing over what had been Nicholas’ land to his son Josiah.
Known Daughters notes for Nicholas Martz (G1a1)
The 1867 deed lists the heirs of Nicholas Martz including his widow Amy and these daughters: Levina (unmarried), Mary Ann married to Jacob Heasley, Elizabeth married to John C Cline, Sarah married to Jacob Cline and Amy married to William Cline.
To those three Martz-Cline marriages, we can add that three of Nicholas’ sons also married Clines: George married Hannah Cline, Boaz married Martha Cline and Josiah married Kezziah Cline.
To those three Martz-Cline marriages, we can add that three of Nicholas’ sons also married Clines: George married Hannah Cline, Boaz married Martha Cline and Josiah married Kezziah Cline.
Known Sons notes for Nicholas Martz (G1a1)
Before I found this definitive land record, my basic theory was that William and Nicholas were closely related and their sons were the next generation of Martzes in Westmoreland County born in the 1812-1829 period and they could be sorted out and linked to either William or Nicholas based on where they lived and where they were buried.
If they lived in Salem Township and are buried in Delmont, I believed them to be the sons of William, if they lived in Franklin Township and are buried in Export, I believed them to be the sons of Nicholas. It was a good way of doing it but the land record I found naming Nicholas’ heirs and a similar one naming William’s heirs are authoritative.
Nicholas’ sons were:
George whose wife was Hannah, he is designated G1a1a
Boaz whose wife was Martha, he is designated G1a1b
Jeremiah whose wife Julyann, he is designated G1a1c, and his twin
Josiah whose wife was Kezziah, he is designated G1a1d.
If they lived in Salem Township and are buried in Delmont, I believed them to be the sons of William, if they lived in Franklin Township and are buried in Export, I believed them to be the sons of Nicholas. It was a good way of doing it but the land record I found naming Nicholas’ heirs and a similar one naming William’s heirs are authoritative.
Nicholas’ sons were:
George whose wife was Hannah, he is designated G1a1a
Boaz whose wife was Martha, he is designated G1a1b
Jeremiah whose wife Julyann, he is designated G1a1c, and his twin
Josiah whose wife was Kezziah, he is designated G1a1d.
Parent-Proof notes for Amelia (Amy) (Spouse 1)
Byberry Waltons tells the story of Boaz Walton who moved from the part of Northampton County that later became Carbon County to Westmoreland County, PA and that two of his daughters married men named Martz.
On 14 Jan 1832, Mary Walton, widow of Boaz, and Samuel Walton, Peter Waugaman and wife Rachel, George Amint (?) and wife Elizabeth, Nicholas Martz and wife Amy, William Martz and wife Mary, George Blose and wife Sarah, Daniel Blose and wife Martha — heirs of the late Boaz Walton state they have been satisfied with the settlement of his estate by his administrators, Boaz Walton Jr. and Joseph Walton. [Westmoreland Deed Book 19, page 326.]
On 14 Jan 1832, Mary Walton, widow of Boaz, and Samuel Walton, Peter Waugaman and wife Rachel, George Amint (?) and wife Elizabeth, Nicholas Martz and wife Amy, William Martz and wife Mary, George Blose and wife Sarah, Daniel Blose and wife Martha — heirs of the late Boaz Walton state they have been satisfied with the settlement of his estate by his administrators, Boaz Walton Jr. and Joseph Walton. [Westmoreland Deed Book 19, page 326.]