Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
My Comments notes for 5G GF Philip Diehl
I do not know if Philip Diehl was our ancestor, I rather suspect he wasn’t. I only put his name in my database as the father of our ancestor George to give me a place to discuss the possibilities.
Charles A Fisher -- well-known Snyder County genealogist -- says that "Philip Diehl died in Berks County around 1800 and in 1802, his oldest son Michael petitioned the Northumberland County Court for an inquest of Philip's estate. Tradition has it that the Diehls of Snyder, Union and Northumberland County descend from Philip of Berks."
The names of Philip, Michael and John Diehl can be found in late 1700’s Berks County tax records, actually in Longswamp Township where our Mertz immigrant ancestors first settled. In fact, there was a Philip Heinrich Diehl born 2 May 1744 and later baptized at Longswamp Reformed Church. A sponsor at his baptism was Christina Mertz, sister of our ancestor Peter. I would love to connect our Diehls to the Diehls of Longswamp just for the coincidence of the thing -- but I have no evidence, other than possibly Fisher’s statement, to make the connection.
The names Philip, Michael and John Diehl also show up in Northumberland County. In 1807, for example, Michael and Philip Diehl sold to John Diel of Mahanoy Township 139 acres bought in 1805 from Peter Hilbush (none other than a cousin of our ancestor Peter Hilbish). But I can’t find anything to suggest a connection of these Diehls to our George.
George Diehl just appeared in the 1830 Census of Union County in Center Township. He was buried in Kratzerville, which in 1830 was either part of Center Township or was very close to its boundary as then defined. From his tombstone, I know that he was born about 1760.
So where was he at the time of the 1790, 1800, 1810 and 1820 Censuses? I’m certain he was married and raising children in those years, he must have been a head of household (as opposed living in someone else's household) -- so where was he?
The problem is there were several men of that name in those years, especially if all the possible spellings are considered -- Diehl, Deal, Dale -- and there is just no way to know for certain which may have been our George. One man of that name was a neighbor of Anthony Kleckner in Northampton County in 1790. The Kleckners moved to the Mifflinburg area by the 1790’s and a few generations later Rachel Kleckner married William H Diehl -- so did the families know each other back in Northampton? Could George have been, say, a son of Philip of Berks County and simply moved first to Northampton? It was not very far, and I know other people who made that move in that timeframe. I only have all these questions, I have no answers.
Then there is the man named William Harrison Diehl and his son William Harrison Diehl, Jr. Both lived and died in Northumberland (borough). William Sr. was born 30 Jul 1860 and William Jr. 16 Nov 1891. Now Grandma’s grandfather, the William H Diehl mentioned above, was born in Sep 1841. I do not know what the “H” in his name stood for -- but a lot of boys born in the early 1840’s were named William Harrison (or William Henry) in honor of the recently deceased President William Henry Harrison -- who died 4 Apr 1841.
The obvious thought is that William Harrison Diehl born in 1860 might have been a son of our William H. But he was not. If he were, he would have been living with our William H in the 1870 Census. In fact, he can be found living with his actual father Isaac (and wife Susan Stroop). Isaac was the son of Joseph who was born about 1809.
Kenneth Diehl was the son of William Harrison Jr. and he posted some information to the message boards on 12 Dec 1993 that he thought Joseph was the son of Michael Diehl who was listed in the 1790 Census of Berks County. So we’re back to the Michael Diehl that Charles A Fisher says was the son of Philip. And it looks like some Diehls of Northumberland do connect to Philip and/or Michael but that does not mean our line does too -- my hunch is ours doesn’t.
Someday I’d like to figure it out. Until I do, I cannot even guess who our immigrant Diehl ancestor was and when he came to America.
Charles A Fisher -- well-known Snyder County genealogist -- says that "Philip Diehl died in Berks County around 1800 and in 1802, his oldest son Michael petitioned the Northumberland County Court for an inquest of Philip's estate. Tradition has it that the Diehls of Snyder, Union and Northumberland County descend from Philip of Berks."
The names of Philip, Michael and John Diehl can be found in late 1700’s Berks County tax records, actually in Longswamp Township where our Mertz immigrant ancestors first settled. In fact, there was a Philip Heinrich Diehl born 2 May 1744 and later baptized at Longswamp Reformed Church. A sponsor at his baptism was Christina Mertz, sister of our ancestor Peter. I would love to connect our Diehls to the Diehls of Longswamp just for the coincidence of the thing -- but I have no evidence, other than possibly Fisher’s statement, to make the connection.
The names Philip, Michael and John Diehl also show up in Northumberland County. In 1807, for example, Michael and Philip Diehl sold to John Diel of Mahanoy Township 139 acres bought in 1805 from Peter Hilbush (none other than a cousin of our ancestor Peter Hilbish). But I can’t find anything to suggest a connection of these Diehls to our George.
George Diehl just appeared in the 1830 Census of Union County in Center Township. He was buried in Kratzerville, which in 1830 was either part of Center Township or was very close to its boundary as then defined. From his tombstone, I know that he was born about 1760.
So where was he at the time of the 1790, 1800, 1810 and 1820 Censuses? I’m certain he was married and raising children in those years, he must have been a head of household (as opposed living in someone else's household) -- so where was he?
The problem is there were several men of that name in those years, especially if all the possible spellings are considered -- Diehl, Deal, Dale -- and there is just no way to know for certain which may have been our George. One man of that name was a neighbor of Anthony Kleckner in Northampton County in 1790. The Kleckners moved to the Mifflinburg area by the 1790’s and a few generations later Rachel Kleckner married William H Diehl -- so did the families know each other back in Northampton? Could George have been, say, a son of Philip of Berks County and simply moved first to Northampton? It was not very far, and I know other people who made that move in that timeframe. I only have all these questions, I have no answers.
Then there is the man named William Harrison Diehl and his son William Harrison Diehl, Jr. Both lived and died in Northumberland (borough). William Sr. was born 30 Jul 1860 and William Jr. 16 Nov 1891. Now Grandma’s grandfather, the William H Diehl mentioned above, was born in Sep 1841. I do not know what the “H” in his name stood for -- but a lot of boys born in the early 1840’s were named William Harrison (or William Henry) in honor of the recently deceased President William Henry Harrison -- who died 4 Apr 1841.
The obvious thought is that William Harrison Diehl born in 1860 might have been a son of our William H. But he was not. If he were, he would have been living with our William H in the 1870 Census. In fact, he can be found living with his actual father Isaac (and wife Susan Stroop). Isaac was the son of Joseph who was born about 1809.
Kenneth Diehl was the son of William Harrison Jr. and he posted some information to the message boards on 12 Dec 1993 that he thought Joseph was the son of Michael Diehl who was listed in the 1790 Census of Berks County. So we’re back to the Michael Diehl that Charles A Fisher says was the son of Philip. And it looks like some Diehls of Northumberland do connect to Philip and/or Michael but that does not mean our line does too -- my hunch is ours doesn’t.
Someday I’d like to figure it out. Until I do, I cannot even guess who our immigrant Diehl ancestor was and when he came to America.