Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Name4G GF George Diehl 
2156
2156Birth1760
Memo(tombstone)
Death28 November 18402157
Memo(tombstone)
BurialLutheran and Reformed Cemetery, Kratzerville, Snyder Co, PA2158
Father5G GF Philip Diehl
Parent-Proof notes for 4G GF George Diehl
I don’t know the names of his parents. I have listed him as the son of Philip Diehl for reasons explained in my discussion of Philip but I really don’t think he was.
Relocated notes for 4G GF George Diehl
George just appeared in Union County in time for the 1830 Census. I do not know from where he came. There was a George Diehl in the 1820 Census in both York and Bedford Counties. I have studied the Diehl families of both of those places and my opinion is that neither is our George.
Census History notes for 4G GF George Diehl
I should be able to find George Diehl born in 1760 in every Census until his death. But I am not sure where he lived before 1830 and the listings cited below may or may not be him.
1790. George Deal lives immediately next door to Anthony Kleckner in Northampton County. Could this possibly have any relevance whatsoever?
1800. George Diel lives in Moore Twp, Northampton County, age 45+. Conrad Diel lives nearby. Anthony Kleckner lives in the same place.
1810. There is a Philip Deal and a John Deal both in W Buffalo Twp, both pretty young and neither old enough to be the father of George, but perhaps his brothers?
1820. I do not know where George is. There is a George Diehl in both Bedford County and York County -- places I’ve thought from time to time our Diehls might have an association with -- as well as other places in PA.
1830. An older George Diehl lives in Centre Twp, Union Co while a younger one lives in Union Twp, Union Co. I believe this is father and son. living not too far from each other. This is the earliest Census for which I am reasonably certain I have found the right George Diehl.
1840. There is a George Diehl household in Penns Twp, Union Co which I think is the right household. (Another George Deal of the right age but with children that appear to be too old lives in Perry Twp, Union Co.) I’m not sure why the family is in Penns Twp and I also don’t know if the head of household is the male age 30-40 or the one age 70-80. My hunch is that it is the younger man who is head of household and that living with him are both of his parents as well as his wife and children.
1790. George Deal lives immediately next door to Anthony Kleckner in Northampton County. Could this possibly have any relevance whatsoever?
1800. George Diel lives in Moore Twp, Northampton County, age 45+. Conrad Diel lives nearby. Anthony Kleckner lives in the same place.
1810. There is a Philip Deal and a John Deal both in W Buffalo Twp, both pretty young and neither old enough to be the father of George, but perhaps his brothers?
1820. I do not know where George is. There is a George Diehl in both Bedford County and York County -- places I’ve thought from time to time our Diehls might have an association with -- as well as other places in PA.
1830. An older George Diehl lives in Centre Twp, Union Co while a younger one lives in Union Twp, Union Co. I believe this is father and son. living not too far from each other. This is the earliest Census for which I am reasonably certain I have found the right George Diehl.
1840. There is a George Diehl household in Penns Twp, Union Co which I think is the right household. (Another George Deal of the right age but with children that appear to be too old lives in Perry Twp, Union Co.) I’m not sure why the family is in Penns Twp and I also don’t know if the head of household is the male age 30-40 or the one age 70-80. My hunch is that it is the younger man who is head of household and that living with him are both of his parents as well as his wife and children.
Research notes for 4G GF George Diehl
Early Union County tax lists covering Buffalo, West Buffalo and East Buffalo Townships show:
Buffalo.
1780-1783. Philip Deal is first a non-resident, then later owns uncultivated land
1783-1787. Christian Deal is a taxable (atop Limestone Ridge)
1785-1787. Henry Deal, single freeman
1789-1790. Christian, Henry and Christian Jr. Deal
1791. Christian and Henry Deal
1808. Henry and Frederick Deal
1812. Henry and Philip Deal
West Buffalo
1793. Christian Deal
These men may be related to each other or may comprise totally separate families. Whether any of them have anything to do with our George Diehl, I do not know.
An interesting hint at the family's possible further lineage is found in a book on the "Diehl Families in America" and it concerns Samuel Diehl, son of Josef Diehl (immigrant in about 1727 from Germany), who removed from Loudon, VA to Bedford Co, PA in about 1788 with supposed brothers Philip and George. The book goes on to state that Philip and George disappear after some time and and the author says "leaving no known record of their destiny or their descendants."
When I found George Diehl in 1820 in Bedford County, I thought this was our man -- soon to leave for Union County. But the problem is that in 1830 there are still two men, one age 60-70, named George Diehl in Bedford County.
Now it may be that several of the original brothers all had sons named George -- but between Bedford and Union County, in 1830, George Diehl is a not uncommon name.
It will take more work to prove this lineage is true, if it in fact is.
The other clue may be the early Union County tax records showing Diehls named Christian, Philip, Frederick and Henry -- they could be related to our George. The early history of Dreisbach Church (North'd Co Historical Soc proceedings) shows a baptism by Christian Diehl and wife Regina of son Cornelius in 1774. So Christian was in the area quite early.
Buffalo.
1780-1783. Philip Deal is first a non-resident, then later owns uncultivated land
1783-1787. Christian Deal is a taxable (atop Limestone Ridge)
1785-1787. Henry Deal, single freeman
1789-1790. Christian, Henry and Christian Jr. Deal
1791. Christian and Henry Deal
1808. Henry and Frederick Deal
1812. Henry and Philip Deal
West Buffalo
1793. Christian Deal
These men may be related to each other or may comprise totally separate families. Whether any of them have anything to do with our George Diehl, I do not know.
An interesting hint at the family's possible further lineage is found in a book on the "Diehl Families in America" and it concerns Samuel Diehl, son of Josef Diehl (immigrant in about 1727 from Germany), who removed from Loudon, VA to Bedford Co, PA in about 1788 with supposed brothers Philip and George. The book goes on to state that Philip and George disappear after some time and and the author says "leaving no known record of their destiny or their descendants."
When I found George Diehl in 1820 in Bedford County, I thought this was our man -- soon to leave for Union County. But the problem is that in 1830 there are still two men, one age 60-70, named George Diehl in Bedford County.
Now it may be that several of the original brothers all had sons named George -- but between Bedford and Union County, in 1830, George Diehl is a not uncommon name.
It will take more work to prove this lineage is true, if it in fact is.
The other clue may be the early Union County tax records showing Diehls named Christian, Philip, Frederick and Henry -- they could be related to our George. The early history of Dreisbach Church (North'd Co Historical Soc proceedings) shows a baptism by Christian Diehl and wife Regina of son Cornelius in 1774. So Christian was in the area quite early.
My Comments notes for 4G GF George Diehl
It wasn’t hard to trace the Diehl family back from Grandma Mertz (Radie Diehl) to her great-grandfather George Diehl, born in 1807 somewhere in Pennsylvania and who died in 1885 in New Berlin. Subsequently, I believe, I have pushed her ancestry one more generation back.
A message board posting by local Union County genealogist Mary B Lontz (whom I contacted about this and she said she was working for a client and learned nothing as a result of her posting) mentioned George Diehl born 1807, died 1885 Union County, buried at New Berlin and said: "There is supposedly a George Diehl born 1760 died 28 Nov 1840 wife Maria (1764-1840) supposedly buried Kratzerville, are these the parents?”
These Kratzerville tombstones were also cited by Charles A Fisher who said George was a Revolutionary Soldier. And I have gone and found the tombstones of George and Maria myself. Jim Diehl though also found them and he says that Maria’s tombstone indicates she was actually George’s daughter, not his wife.
The older George Diehl that Lontz referred to most certainly was the man of that name in the 1830 Census in Union County, Center Township age 60-70 as was his wife. But he is not to be found in the 1840 Census. However, living with the younger George Diehl in 1840 were two older persons -- a male age 70-80 and a female age 60-70 -- and they were not the parents of George's wife, Elizabeth, as her parents were neighbors of theirs. So where was George (older) in 1840 and who were the older people living with George (younger)? It’s only a theory that the answer to the latter question also explains the former -- but it sure seems to make sense.
The lynchpin, though, of my analysis that 1760 George was the father of 1807 George came in the form of a deed referring to the younger George as George Jr. So I am reasonably confident that this George Diehl was the father of 1807 George -- but I wouldn’t mind finding even more proof someday.
A message board posting by local Union County genealogist Mary B Lontz (whom I contacted about this and she said she was working for a client and learned nothing as a result of her posting) mentioned George Diehl born 1807, died 1885 Union County, buried at New Berlin and said: "There is supposedly a George Diehl born 1760 died 28 Nov 1840 wife Maria (1764-1840) supposedly buried Kratzerville, are these the parents?”
These Kratzerville tombstones were also cited by Charles A Fisher who said George was a Revolutionary Soldier. And I have gone and found the tombstones of George and Maria myself. Jim Diehl though also found them and he says that Maria’s tombstone indicates she was actually George’s daughter, not his wife.
The older George Diehl that Lontz referred to most certainly was the man of that name in the 1830 Census in Union County, Center Township age 60-70 as was his wife. But he is not to be found in the 1840 Census. However, living with the younger George Diehl in 1840 were two older persons -- a male age 70-80 and a female age 60-70 -- and they were not the parents of George's wife, Elizabeth, as her parents were neighbors of theirs. So where was George (older) in 1840 and who were the older people living with George (younger)? It’s only a theory that the answer to the latter question also explains the former -- but it sure seems to make sense.
The lynchpin, though, of my analysis that 1760 George was the father of 1807 George came in the form of a deed referring to the younger George as George Jr. So I am reasonably confident that this George Diehl was the father of 1807 George -- but I wouldn’t mind finding even more proof someday.
Find-a-Grave notes for 4G GF George Diehl
DNA Evidence notes for 4G GF George Diehl
There is a book Diehl Families of America which, despite it’s title, is really about one Diehl family, albeit a large one. The Diehl family it covers started out in Loudon County, Virgina and then moved to Bedford County, PA where the family is pretty well documented. The main “progenitor” covered is Samuel Diehl (1740-1828). Among the interesting statements in the book is that a George Diehl accompanied Samuel from Loudon to Bedford and then disappeared from the record. It doesn’t say George was Samuel’s brother but that seems to be a reasonable assumption to make. Coudl that George be our George, Sr.?
I don’t really know the answer to that question, but I do believe a strong case can be made, based on DNA, that my Diehl ancestry traces to the Loudon/Bedofr famiy in one way or another. Consider:
DNA cousin B.S. (managed by helenlallo) descends from Philip Diehl (1802-1853) and Julian Ritchey (1809-1861). The Diehl book says he was born in Friend’s Cove, Bedford County, PA, the son of John Diehl the son of John Diehl (1768-1842) who was born in Loudon County, VA and came to Bedford County, PA with his parents in 1783. John, in turn, was the son of Samuel Diehl (1740-1828) who lived first in Loudon County and then came to Bedford County later.
DNA cousin D.D. (managed by rlpalen) descends from Samuel Diehl Jr. (1775-1848) and Sarah Mowery (1781-1885). Diehl Families of America says he was the son of Samuel Diehl (1740-1828) who lived first in Loudon County and then came to Bedford County later.
DNA cousin Faolwyrm shares D.D.’s lineage back to Jacob William Diehl (1801-1878) son of Samuel, Jr. DNA cousin Gary Wendt, according to interpolations by Ancestry, does too.
DNA cousin Roger Nunamaker, according to Ancestry’s interpolations, descends from Catherine Diehl, sister of Samuel Sr. She also married a Ritchey. Ancestry, not the Diehl book, says this Catherine and Samuel Sr. were the children of Josef Deal.
DNA cousin Judith Stuart, according to Ancestry’s interpolations, descends from Henry Diehl, brother of Samuel Sr. Ancestry, not the Diehl book, says this Henry was the son of Josef Deal.
Ancestry believes George Diehl (1760-1840) was yet another of Josef’s children.
DNA cousin Robert Morton descends from Philip Diehl (1766-1852) whose mother was Margaretha Ritschy, this all of the Loudon family.
Note that the Philip Diehl referred to in this DNA discussion is not the Philip Diehl that I have placed as George’s father, two different men sharing the same name.
I don’t really know the answer to that question, but I do believe a strong case can be made, based on DNA, that my Diehl ancestry traces to the Loudon/Bedofr famiy in one way or another. Consider:
DNA cousin B.S. (managed by helenlallo) descends from Philip Diehl (1802-1853) and Julian Ritchey (1809-1861). The Diehl book says he was born in Friend’s Cove, Bedford County, PA, the son of John Diehl the son of John Diehl (1768-1842) who was born in Loudon County, VA and came to Bedford County, PA with his parents in 1783. John, in turn, was the son of Samuel Diehl (1740-1828) who lived first in Loudon County and then came to Bedford County later.
DNA cousin D.D. (managed by rlpalen) descends from Samuel Diehl Jr. (1775-1848) and Sarah Mowery (1781-1885). Diehl Families of America says he was the son of Samuel Diehl (1740-1828) who lived first in Loudon County and then came to Bedford County later.
DNA cousin Faolwyrm shares D.D.’s lineage back to Jacob William Diehl (1801-1878) son of Samuel, Jr. DNA cousin Gary Wendt, according to interpolations by Ancestry, does too.
DNA cousin Roger Nunamaker, according to Ancestry’s interpolations, descends from Catherine Diehl, sister of Samuel Sr. She also married a Ritchey. Ancestry, not the Diehl book, says this Catherine and Samuel Sr. were the children of Josef Deal.
DNA cousin Judith Stuart, according to Ancestry’s interpolations, descends from Henry Diehl, brother of Samuel Sr. Ancestry, not the Diehl book, says this Henry was the son of Josef Deal.
Ancestry believes George Diehl (1760-1840) was yet another of Josef’s children.
DNA cousin Robert Morton descends from Philip Diehl (1766-1852) whose mother was Margaretha Ritschy, this all of the Loudon family.
Note that the Philip Diehl referred to in this DNA discussion is not the Philip Diehl that I have placed as George’s father, two different men sharing the same name.