All the family histories on the Somerset Martz family say that Jacob was the oldest son of William who died there in 1803. They say he was born 3 Oct 1777 — indeed that is the date given on his tombstone. I believe Jacob was born in 1776 and baptized at Jerusalem Church in Salisbury, (now) Lehigh County, PA.

In any event, I don’t think there is any doubt that William had a son Jacob, the one listed in Census from 1800-1840 in Somerset County. I have designated him H2a, the oldest son of William (H2). His birth date is somewhat immaterial. It is clear always who he was.

After moving with his father to Somerset County as a very young child, Jacob lived the remainder of his life in Somerset and died there in 1845.

Jacob was listed in every Census 1810-1840, always in Southampton Township, Somerset County. In 1830, he was Jacob Martz, Esquire. Jacob did not survive to 1850 but his widow Magdalena did. She is found in the 1850 Census living with their son Henry.

Jacob is listed on find-a-grave, died 10 Feb 1845, consistent with Census that he was alive in 1840 and deceased by 1850.

Jacob wrote his will 24 Oct 1844, he very kindly named all his children.

Discussed elsewhere is my theory that the infant baptized as Johan J was likely Johan Jacob, named for his baptismal sponsor, Jacob Seip. That child was born 4 Aug 1776.

There is a photo of Jacob’s tombstone on find-a-grave. The dates given on that memorial are: 3 Oct 1777-10 Feb 1845. I cannot make out all the detail on the tombstone but I can see that 1845 was indeed the year of death and I can see the first part of his age which says 67 years.

I think the date of birth on his memorial was calculated from his age as given on the tombstone. It must read 67y 4m 7d, that would compute to 3 Oct 1777. It would have needed to say 68y 6m 6d to compute to 4 Aug 1776. Sometimes numbers on tombstones can be hard to read -- and are mis-read -- but in this case a lot of numbers would have had to have been mis-read to conform to what I think really is Jacob’s birth date. I don’t know how to rationalize the discrepancy. I have no explanation for why the tombstone may be wrong.

The child I think was Jacob had a sister Catherine, born 10 Dec 1777 which rules out any idea that 1776 Jacob died as an infant and a second Jacob was born 3 Oct 1777.

We learn from his will that his three daughters were Polly, Hannah and Catharine. I have a hand drawn extensive family tree of Jacob’s family done by Alice Margaret Werkman — she being “Aunt Peggy” to a man whose DNA was tested as part of our DNA studies. He is a descendant of Jacob’s and his DNA places him squarely in our “Mertz Church” DNA group.

“Aunt Peggy” shows these three daughters as well. For only one of the daughters was a husband named, Catherine married Daniel Boyer. Three of Catherine’s brothers married Boyer girls who were either cousins, sisters or half-sisters of each other — though how Daniel fit into the mix was not stated.

I have the names of seven sons of Jacob’s from the work of Hannibal Lincoln Martz edited by Edna Shepard. She cited Jacob’s will which named his ten children.

Richard and Henry were appointed Executors. They received the old home and were to make certain cash payments to other heirs who each received either land (Jonathan and George), a note due to Jacob from someone else (Polly, Catharine, William, Daniel) or cash (John and Hannah) so that each heir received the equivalent of $250.

The same seven sons are named by Aunt Peggy, every source is in agreement.

They are:

H2a1 John born 1798
H2a2 Daniel born 1802
H2a3 William born 1808
H2a4 Jonathan born 1810
H2a5 Henry born 1812
H2a6 Richard born 1815
H2a7 George born 1817

She’s on find-a-grave with dates 3 Oct 1772 to 16 Nov 1875.