Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Relocated notes for 7G GF Johann Henrich Hartman
IMMIGRANT. Hendrick Hartman arrived Philadelphia 18 Sep 1727 on the ship William and Sarah -- his party included two other people -- presumably his wife and one child.
Since Henrich Hartman was a not uncommon name, the question is can we be sure this was actually our Henrich? We can’t really, but I think it was him because we know that our Henrich acquired 100 acres in Maxatawny Township from the Penn family, patent recorded 1741 -- so he obviously arrived before then.
But also, unlike most of our German ancestors, Henrich had only a very few children and everything we know about them is consistent with the theory that only one had been born in Germany.
The William and Sarah, interestingly, was the earliest ship to arrive Pennsylvania after the Colonial government required a listing of all passengers. Some ships had arrived earlier, but the William and Sarah was the earliest documented ship.
Since Henrich Hartman was a not uncommon name, the question is can we be sure this was actually our Henrich? We can’t really, but I think it was him because we know that our Henrich acquired 100 acres in Maxatawny Township from the Penn family, patent recorded 1741 -- so he obviously arrived before then.
But also, unlike most of our German ancestors, Henrich had only a very few children and everything we know about them is consistent with the theory that only one had been born in Germany.
The William and Sarah, interestingly, was the earliest ship to arrive Pennsylvania after the Colonial government required a listing of all passengers. Some ships had arrived earlier, but the William and Sarah was the earliest documented ship.
My Comments notes for 7G GF Johann Henrich Hartman
“The Hartman Family”, a book written by George Hartman, says he wrote his will 16 Feb 1744 and that the will referred to his wife “Jane” (some people speculate it must have been Joanne or Joannes), oldest daughter Gertrude (who had already received her inheritance, thus presumably already married), son John (who was about 16 according to this book) and another daughter, Catherine.
Henrich’s will should be on file in Philadelphia County (as Maxatawny was still part of that county when he died) -- but it is not to be found. I don’t really understand why it isn’t there or, in that case, how or where George Hartman found it. And I have seen a different abstract of his will, which I don’t think was based on the George Hartman book -- and it too makes the key point that son John was about 16 years old. This version also says that oldest daughter Gertrude had already received her inheritance by the time Henrich wrote his will -- meaning she no doubt was already married by that time.
Henrich’s will should be on file in Philadelphia County (as Maxatawny was still part of that county when he died) -- but it is not to be found. I don’t really understand why it isn’t there or, in that case, how or where George Hartman found it. And I have seen a different abstract of his will, which I don’t think was based on the George Hartman book -- and it too makes the key point that son John was about 16 years old. This version also says that oldest daughter Gertrude had already received her inheritance by the time Henrich wrote his will -- meaning she no doubt was already married by that time.
My Comments notes for Margaretha (Spouse 1)
Whether Henrich’s wife was really named Jane is a real question. Jane was not a German name. Of course, it could be a mis-transcription of a different name, like Joanne, but I’m not sure that was a German name either. There is an alternate theory -- that indeed there was a mis-transcription and perhaps the will said Mrs. Johann Hartman. In that case, her name could be anything and a case can be made that she was Margaretha Bell.
Children Names notes for Margaretha (Spouse 1)
When he died, Henrich had three children -- two daughters of which Gertrude was the older and presumably married and son John age about 16. John’s age is so important because if he was 16 or under, he was born in America after the family arrived -- but I wish I knew if that fact can be inferred from Henrich’s will or whether it was an assumption of those who have seen and summarized that will.
In any event, the theory of everyone researching this family is that Gertrude was the only child born in Germany before the family left for America and she was the third person in Henrich’s arrival party. And in the family tree of Dave (Helfrich, I believe), there is mention of work by Rink and Weiser who found the birth record in a German church in Wald (or Solingen-Wald) of Gertrude Hartman born 7 Feb 1718 to parents Henrich Hartman and wife Margaretha Bell.
It is known that Gertrude Hartman married in 1739 in Maxatawny. So everything seems to paint this very consistent picture that Gertrude who married in Maxatawny was Gertrude born in Wald and was person three on the William and Sarah. And if that is the case, then Henrich’s wife was named Margaretha Bell.
In any event, the theory of everyone researching this family is that Gertrude was the only child born in Germany before the family left for America and she was the third person in Henrich’s arrival party. And in the family tree of Dave (Helfrich, I believe), there is mention of work by Rink and Weiser who found the birth record in a German church in Wald (or Solingen-Wald) of Gertrude Hartman born 7 Feb 1718 to parents Henrich Hartman and wife Margaretha Bell.
It is known that Gertrude Hartman married in 1739 in Maxatawny. So everything seems to paint this very consistent picture that Gertrude who married in Maxatawny was Gertrude born in Wald and was person three on the William and Sarah. And if that is the case, then Henrich’s wife was named Margaretha Bell.