Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameMary Specht 
Spouses
Birthabout 1806
Memo(age 44 in 1850 Census)
FatherDaniel Mertz (H1d) (1779-1851)
MotherMaria Stoudt (1788-1851)
Birth, Parent-Proof, Designation notes for William (Spouse 1)
Louis Fackler considers William a son of Daniel based on his proximity to Daniel in the 1850 Census, his approximate birth date of 1806 which would be not inconsistent with a January 1806 marriage date for his parents and supported by an analysis of tick marks in earlier Census records.
In addition, in the 1860 Census, William’s son Jacob (age 11) lived with Daniel Martz age 46 and in 1870, William’s son Samuel (age 12) lived with Jacob Martz age 39. The adult males in both these instances were sons of Daniel (H1d) — a strong indication that William was their brother.
William is designated H1d1.
In addition, in the 1860 Census, William’s son Jacob (age 11) lived with Daniel Martz age 46 and in 1870, William’s son Samuel (age 12) lived with Jacob Martz age 39. The adult males in both these instances were sons of Daniel (H1d) — a strong indication that William was their brother.
William is designated H1d1.
Relocated and Census Tracking notes for William (Spouse 1)
William’s family seems to have a total turnover of people between 1850 and 1860, but he is in the right place (East Hanover) and the right age. Louis Fackler comments on this and says that he thinks too it is the same William, that his first wife must have died and now he has remarried.
Indeed, death certificates for William’s sons John (born 1841) and Amos (born 1847) say their parents were William Martz and Lena Pannebaker (not spelled exactly right in either case but close enough) while the death certificate of William’s son Adam (born 1856) says his parents were William Martz and Mary Specht.
So in 1850, we find William age 44 in East Hanover, Dauphin, PA, with Mary 34, Mary 14, Benjamin 12, John H 10, William 7, Amos 4 and Jacob 2. This is William, his second wife Mary and all his children.
And in 1860, it is William age 53 in East Hanover, Dauphin, PA, with Susanna 26, Solomon 10, Adam 3, Samuel 2, William Fulmer 10, Lydia Hoffman 5 and Elizabeth Speck 65. The assumption I would make is that the “missing” children were by wife Lena and had been sent off to live with others. I think Elizabeth Speck was likely the mother of William’s second wife Mary. I think Solomon, Adam and Samuel were all sons of William’s by Mary Specht. The question is was Susanna a third wife — if so I would guess maybe she was also a Specht (else why was Elizabeth Specht still there?). But she may have been William’s sister Susannah with an age discrepancy from one census to another. And I don’t know who the other two “random” people were.
Louis Fackler wondered, as I did too, where the older children from William’s first marriage were in 1860. He found most of them living with different “random” families: John W age 20 living with the Balsback family, William age 16 living with the Early family, Amos age 15 living with the Hedrick family and Jacob age 11 living with his Uncle Daniel (Jr.). I found Mary already married to Reuben Reed and they were living in East Hanover Township. Leaving only Benjamin unaccounted for. I note that we don’t have a death certificate for Jacob but I I think the fact that he was “farmed out” in 1860 is an indication he was William’s son by his first wife.
Indeed, death certificates for William’s sons John (born 1841) and Amos (born 1847) say their parents were William Martz and Lena Pannebaker (not spelled exactly right in either case but close enough) while the death certificate of William’s son Adam (born 1856) says his parents were William Martz and Mary Specht.
So in 1850, we find William age 44 in East Hanover, Dauphin, PA, with Mary 34, Mary 14, Benjamin 12, John H 10, William 7, Amos 4 and Jacob 2. This is William, his second wife Mary and all his children.
And in 1860, it is William age 53 in East Hanover, Dauphin, PA, with Susanna 26, Solomon 10, Adam 3, Samuel 2, William Fulmer 10, Lydia Hoffman 5 and Elizabeth Speck 65. The assumption I would make is that the “missing” children were by wife Lena and had been sent off to live with others. I think Elizabeth Speck was likely the mother of William’s second wife Mary. I think Solomon, Adam and Samuel were all sons of William’s by Mary Specht. The question is was Susanna a third wife — if so I would guess maybe she was also a Specht (else why was Elizabeth Specht still there?). But she may have been William’s sister Susannah with an age discrepancy from one census to another. And I don’t know who the other two “random” people were.
Louis Fackler wondered, as I did too, where the older children from William’s first marriage were in 1860. He found most of them living with different “random” families: John W age 20 living with the Balsback family, William age 16 living with the Early family, Amos age 15 living with the Hedrick family and Jacob age 11 living with his Uncle Daniel (Jr.). I found Mary already married to Reuben Reed and they were living in East Hanover Township. Leaving only Benjamin unaccounted for. I note that we don’t have a death certificate for Jacob but I I think the fact that he was “farmed out” in 1860 is an indication he was William’s son by his first wife.
Death and Find-a-Grave notes for William (Spouse 1)
William is not on find-a-grave.