Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Spouses
ChildrenConrad (1760-)
Elizabeth (1762-<1810)
Anna Catherine (1763-1854)
David (~1765-1817)
Mary Magdalena (1772-)
Jacob (1777-1844)
Maria Eva (1782-1861)
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for John Jacob Mertz (N1)
Orphans Court filings after the death of Nicholas state that John Jacob was his oldest son. He is designated N1.
There was a baptism recorded in 1764 at the Longswamp Church of Johannes Litweiler born 10 Dec 1752 son of Heinrich and Sara. But whether the baptism occurred nearer his 1752 birth or nearer the 1764 date when many early baptisms were recorded in the church book is not clear. Cristina Klein and Jacob Mertz were sponsors. If the baptism were closer to 1752, then I think this record would help to date Jacob's birth as probably closer to 1735 than 1738.
In 1761, prominent citizens of Longswamp petitioned to have Longswamp officially recognized as a township in Berks County. Among the 26 signers were Jacob and Peter Mertz. That had to have been Hans Peter and his nephew John Jacob. Jacob was quite young to be considered a prominent citizen but I think the explanation may be that he was, in a way, representing his father Nicholas, recently deceased.
TOO MANY MEN NAMED JACOB MERTZ. There were quite a number of men named Jacob Mertz born between 1735 and 1800 whose names appear in the records of Berks and Northumberland County. There were three of them born between 1735 and 1755 or so. And at least eight more born in the 1770’s or later.
John Jacob was one of the three older ones. Another was the son of John Henry Mertz of Rockland Township born in 1741. Many secondary sources say he was the Jacob who appeared in the 1790 Census in Northumberland County and many sources say that Jacob of Northumberland County was born in 1741 -- making it seem obvious he must be one and the same as Jacob, son of John Henry. But I believe there is no basis whatsoever for knowing the exact birth year of the earliest Jacobs of Northumberland County.
I believe that John Jacob, son of John Henry Mertz, stayed in Berks County, was only associated with Mertz Church and may be the only Mertz buried in that graveyard. His tombstone says 1741-1811. He baptized daughter Ester there in 1789 and daughter Hanna in 1792. I believe he was the Jacob Mertz living in Rockland Township in the 1790, 1800 and 1810 Census. He did not move to Northumberland County before 1790 and he did not go back and forth.
The third, and youngest, of the three older Jacobs was John Jacob’s cousin Jacob, son of Hans Peter. The two Jacobs of Longswamp can be distinguished partly by their age (Peter’s son was probably at least 15 years younger than John Jacob) and also by the name of their wives. John Jacob married Magdalena and Jacob married Margaretha.
So it all seems simple to me now to tell the three apart and not confuse them in any way. But when I was just starting to research this family I received an email from Gerard Karcher who brought to my attention that Jacob Martz, Conrad Martz and Jacob Welch were listed in the 1853 History of the Settlement of Steuben County, NY by Guy McMaster as early settlers of that county. Certain statements in the book indicated some previous connection to Northumberland County. Gerard also cited a different source which seemed to imply that Conrad was Jacob's son. It of course begged the question: which Jacob was it who moved?
But, with analysis, the answer to that question became apparent. The Jacob in Steuben County in the 1800 Census was 45+ while the Jacob who stayed in Northumberland County and was listed in the 1800 Census there was 26-45. A Jacob Mertz died in Northumberland County in 1803 and his wife was named Margaretha. It was the younger Jacob whose wife was named Margaretha. And perhaps most importantly, Jacob and wife Magdalena baptized daughter Anna Catharine at Longswamp Reformed in 1763 and she must have been the Anna Catharina who with husband Jacob Welsh baptized a daughter in that church in 1784.
Gerard in fact stated that Jacob Welch was married to Anna Catharine Martz, John Jacob's daughter and their son Conrad Welch reminisced that his grandfather had a farm in Sunbury. So I believe the early settlers of Steuben County were John Jacob, his son Conrad and his son-in-law Jacob Welsh.
Like other puzzles I have had to solve to understand these early Mertzes, after much analysis and gathering of facts and following theories until they either seemed to prove out or led to a contradiction -- it all became clear. John Jacob, son of Nicholas, lived briefly in Northumberland County then moved a second time to New York State -- and his whole family went with him. Left in Northumberland County were only Peter’s sons.
There was a baptism recorded in 1764 at the Longswamp Church of Johannes Litweiler born 10 Dec 1752 son of Heinrich and Sara. But whether the baptism occurred nearer his 1752 birth or nearer the 1764 date when many early baptisms were recorded in the church book is not clear. Cristina Klein and Jacob Mertz were sponsors. If the baptism were closer to 1752, then I think this record would help to date Jacob's birth as probably closer to 1735 than 1738.
In 1761, prominent citizens of Longswamp petitioned to have Longswamp officially recognized as a township in Berks County. Among the 26 signers were Jacob and Peter Mertz. That had to have been Hans Peter and his nephew John Jacob. Jacob was quite young to be considered a prominent citizen but I think the explanation may be that he was, in a way, representing his father Nicholas, recently deceased.
TOO MANY MEN NAMED JACOB MERTZ. There were quite a number of men named Jacob Mertz born between 1735 and 1800 whose names appear in the records of Berks and Northumberland County. There were three of them born between 1735 and 1755 or so. And at least eight more born in the 1770’s or later.
John Jacob was one of the three older ones. Another was the son of John Henry Mertz of Rockland Township born in 1741. Many secondary sources say he was the Jacob who appeared in the 1790 Census in Northumberland County and many sources say that Jacob of Northumberland County was born in 1741 -- making it seem obvious he must be one and the same as Jacob, son of John Henry. But I believe there is no basis whatsoever for knowing the exact birth year of the earliest Jacobs of Northumberland County.
I believe that John Jacob, son of John Henry Mertz, stayed in Berks County, was only associated with Mertz Church and may be the only Mertz buried in that graveyard. His tombstone says 1741-1811. He baptized daughter Ester there in 1789 and daughter Hanna in 1792. I believe he was the Jacob Mertz living in Rockland Township in the 1790, 1800 and 1810 Census. He did not move to Northumberland County before 1790 and he did not go back and forth.
The third, and youngest, of the three older Jacobs was John Jacob’s cousin Jacob, son of Hans Peter. The two Jacobs of Longswamp can be distinguished partly by their age (Peter’s son was probably at least 15 years younger than John Jacob) and also by the name of their wives. John Jacob married Magdalena and Jacob married Margaretha.
So it all seems simple to me now to tell the three apart and not confuse them in any way. But when I was just starting to research this family I received an email from Gerard Karcher who brought to my attention that Jacob Martz, Conrad Martz and Jacob Welch were listed in the 1853 History of the Settlement of Steuben County, NY by Guy McMaster as early settlers of that county. Certain statements in the book indicated some previous connection to Northumberland County. Gerard also cited a different source which seemed to imply that Conrad was Jacob's son. It of course begged the question: which Jacob was it who moved?
But, with analysis, the answer to that question became apparent. The Jacob in Steuben County in the 1800 Census was 45+ while the Jacob who stayed in Northumberland County and was listed in the 1800 Census there was 26-45. A Jacob Mertz died in Northumberland County in 1803 and his wife was named Margaretha. It was the younger Jacob whose wife was named Margaretha. And perhaps most importantly, Jacob and wife Magdalena baptized daughter Anna Catharine at Longswamp Reformed in 1763 and she must have been the Anna Catharina who with husband Jacob Welsh baptized a daughter in that church in 1784.
Gerard in fact stated that Jacob Welch was married to Anna Catharine Martz, John Jacob's daughter and their son Conrad Welch reminisced that his grandfather had a farm in Sunbury. So I believe the early settlers of Steuben County were John Jacob, his son Conrad and his son-in-law Jacob Welsh.
Like other puzzles I have had to solve to understand these early Mertzes, after much analysis and gathering of facts and following theories until they either seemed to prove out or led to a contradiction -- it all became clear. John Jacob, son of Nicholas, lived briefly in Northumberland County then moved a second time to New York State -- and his whole family went with him. Left in Northumberland County were only Peter’s sons.
Relocated and Census Tracking notes for John Jacob Mertz (N1)
THE SPARTA, NY MERTZES. John Jacob moved from Berks County to Augusta Township in the mid-1780’s and then moved again, this time to New York State before 1800. His family made both moves with him including his adult son Conrad, adult daughter Anna Catherine (and her husband Jacob Welch) and his other younger children. The family lived in western NY in places named Sparta and Dansville in Steuben, Livingston and Ontario counties and then some of his descendants moved on to Erie County, PA which was actually not distant at all from their New York home.
It is interesting that Jacob does not appear to have been listed in the 1779 Pennsylvania Septennial Census, nor 1786 nor 1793.
In Berks deed book B1 page 457, on 4 Dec 1767 Jacob Mertz son of Nicholas sold three lots, one of which belonged to Nicholas’ widow, deceased. The other two were assigned to Jacob by the Orphans Court with him to pay the younger children.
1790. Two cousins named Jacob Mertz, one the son of Nicholas, one the son of Hans Peter, had moved to Northumberland County and both were listed in the 1790 Census there. One as Jacob Mertz Sr. and the other as Jacob Martz. Jacob Sr. was reported immediately adjacent to David, Conrad and Peter. So the question is which is which. Both of the Jacobs had a teenage son named Jacob. Did that warrant one of them being called Sr. or was he called Sr. to differentiate him from the other? It is known that Jacob, son of Hans Peter, the younger of the two settled on land immediately adjacent to David. It is also known that Conrad was the son of the older one. I cannot distinguish one from the other using the counts of other people in the household. So I could argue this either way and it really doesn’t matter, both were present, but I have guessed that Jacob Sr. was indeed the older of the two and report it that way here.
1800. Jacob Marts lived in Sparta, Ontario County, NY
1810. There was a man listed as Jacob Mar?? by Ancestry.com in Avon, Ontario Co, NY age 45+. I can make out that the next letter is “t” and then it is smudged. I think it is none other than Jacob Marts. I wish I had brought it to the attention of Mary Lou Kueker and had her comment on it. The rest of the family is in Genesee County.
It is interesting that Jacob does not appear to have been listed in the 1779 Pennsylvania Septennial Census, nor 1786 nor 1793.
In Berks deed book B1 page 457, on 4 Dec 1767 Jacob Mertz son of Nicholas sold three lots, one of which belonged to Nicholas’ widow, deceased. The other two were assigned to Jacob by the Orphans Court with him to pay the younger children.
1790. Two cousins named Jacob Mertz, one the son of Nicholas, one the son of Hans Peter, had moved to Northumberland County and both were listed in the 1790 Census there. One as Jacob Mertz Sr. and the other as Jacob Martz. Jacob Sr. was reported immediately adjacent to David, Conrad and Peter. So the question is which is which. Both of the Jacobs had a teenage son named Jacob. Did that warrant one of them being called Sr. or was he called Sr. to differentiate him from the other? It is known that Jacob, son of Hans Peter, the younger of the two settled on land immediately adjacent to David. It is also known that Conrad was the son of the older one. I cannot distinguish one from the other using the counts of other people in the household. So I could argue this either way and it really doesn’t matter, both were present, but I have guessed that Jacob Sr. was indeed the older of the two and report it that way here.
1800. Jacob Marts lived in Sparta, Ontario County, NY
1810. There was a man listed as Jacob Mar?? by Ancestry.com in Avon, Ontario Co, NY age 45+. I can make out that the next letter is “t” and then it is smudged. I think it is none other than Jacob Marts. I wish I had brought it to the attention of Mary Lou Kueker and had her comment on it. The rest of the family is in Genesee County.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for John Jacob Mertz (N1)
I have looked for a will of Jacob Mertz of Ontario County in the 1794-1834 period with no luck. We don’t know when exactly he died but I think it was between the time of the 1810 and 1820 Census.
John Jacob is not on find-a-grave.
John Jacob is not on find-a-grave.
Known Daughters notes for John Jacob Mertz (N1)
I know of four daughters for Jacob and Magdalena.
Elizabeth. She was one of at least four women named Elizabeth Mertz living in Longswamp Township by about 1765. I believe this one married Peter Fegely and I think they stayed on in nearby Lehigh County when the rest of her family moved to Northumberland County.
Anna Catherine. This is the daughter who married Jacob Welch and they moved with her father first to Northumberland County and then on to NY State where they remained. Both Jacob and Anna Catherine are on find-a-grave.
Mary Magdalena. I know her from her baptism but I know nothing more about her.
Maria Eva. She too moved with her father first to Northumberland County and then to NY State. She married Christian Fritts and sometime before the 1840 Census they moved to Venango Township, Erie County, PA (near Eva's brother Jacob who moved to Wayne Township). She and Christian are buried in the Lowville Cemetery where others of her family are also buried.
Elizabeth. She was one of at least four women named Elizabeth Mertz living in Longswamp Township by about 1765. I believe this one married Peter Fegely and I think they stayed on in nearby Lehigh County when the rest of her family moved to Northumberland County.
Anna Catherine. This is the daughter who married Jacob Welch and they moved with her father first to Northumberland County and then on to NY State where they remained. Both Jacob and Anna Catherine are on find-a-grave.
Mary Magdalena. I know her from her baptism but I know nothing more about her.
Maria Eva. She too moved with her father first to Northumberland County and then to NY State. She married Christian Fritts and sometime before the 1840 Census they moved to Venango Township, Erie County, PA (near Eva's brother Jacob who moved to Wayne Township). She and Christian are buried in the Lowville Cemetery where others of her family are also buried.
Known Sons notes for John Jacob Mertz (N1)
John Jacob had three sons:
N1a Conrad
N1b David
N1c Jacob
N1a Conrad
N1b David
N1c Jacob
Parent-Proof notes for Magdalena (Spouse 1)
John Jacob married Magdalena Emmerich or possibly Hamrig.
I have in very old handwritten notes this from Butz: Jacob and Magdalena Hamrig baptized children from 1760-1774. I don't remember if this is where I got the idea originally that Magdalena was nee Hamrig or whether I saw it somewhere else too. But the appearance of an Elizabeth Hamrig as sponsor at the baptism of John Jacob and Magdalena's first child supports this notion.
Mary Lou Kueker, though, says the last name was probably Emmerich, since Hamrig was not a real name.
I have in very old handwritten notes this from Butz: Jacob and Magdalena Hamrig baptized children from 1760-1774. I don't remember if this is where I got the idea originally that Magdalena was nee Hamrig or whether I saw it somewhere else too. But the appearance of an Elizabeth Hamrig as sponsor at the baptism of John Jacob and Magdalena's first child supports this notion.
Mary Lou Kueker, though, says the last name was probably Emmerich, since Hamrig was not a real name.