Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Birthbefore 1715
Memo(son Tobias born by 1735)
Memo(will written 10 Jan 1753 proved 12 Feb 1753)
Father7G GF Father Yerger
Relocated notes for 6G GF Peter Yerger
If Martin came from Anspach, Germany and if he, in fact, was Peter’s brother and if Vert, the older brother, came in 1732 and Martin, the middle (we assume) brother, came in 1730 -- then I think I can say that Peter must have come to America from Anspach about the same time. But when did he come?
To answer that question, it would be helpful if we knew when Peter was born. Neither the captain of Martin’s ship nor of Vert’s ship happened to list younger persons on board -- only males over 16 were listed. So, one possibility is that Peter came with either Martin or Vert and was under 16 at the time. If he came with Martin, that would mean he was born after about 1715.
The only real clue we have to Peter’s age is that there are clues to when his older sons, Tobias and Vert, were born. Unfortunately, the clues are inconsistent.
• Tobias was confirmed in 1750 and said to be age 15. [1735 implied]. But a transcription of tombstones at New Hanover says he was the son of Peter and Barbara, born 13 Jun 1731, died 15 Jan 1815.
• Peter was confirmed in 1753 and said to be age 16. [1737 implied]. But a transcription of tombstones at New Hanover says he was the son of Peter and Barbara, born 1734, died 26 Oct 1796.
• It seems to me that the dates of the confirmations of both Tobias and Peter must be considered accurate and that and in both cases, their ages were given and consistent with what was typical back then. Moreover, I’ve been to the cemetery at New Hanover Lutheran and did not look for Tobias or Peter’s tombstone myself, but I can say, all those old tombstones there are very hard to read.
My conclusion is that Tobias, Peter’s oldest son, was born about 1735 and we therefore can conclude that Peter was born say as early as 1710 (if he was 25 when he had Tobias) and probably no later than 1716 (if he was 19). I strongly doubt that he came to America with Vert as that would mean Peter was only 15 then, thus born in 1717 and he married at age 17 and had his first son at age 18.
If he came with an older brother, the only plausible scenario is that he came with Martin. It would still seem that he married and had his first son at a particularly young age, but it is within the realm of the possible. If he came with Martin, then that would also mean that Martin and Peter, the younger brothers, both unmarried, came first and then two years later, the older brother, Vert, probably married and with family, then followed. John, the youngest brother could have come at either time, he’s not my problem.
I have searched ships passenger lists for any other possibility -- using all spelling variations -- and the only other possibility I could find was that a Peter Jäger came in 1734. But I think that was not our ancestor -- for one thing I think Yeager is a different name than Yerger. I also think it makes more sense that Peter would have come with an older brother rather than to have followed, alone, at the age of about 19.
To answer that question, it would be helpful if we knew when Peter was born. Neither the captain of Martin’s ship nor of Vert’s ship happened to list younger persons on board -- only males over 16 were listed. So, one possibility is that Peter came with either Martin or Vert and was under 16 at the time. If he came with Martin, that would mean he was born after about 1715.
The only real clue we have to Peter’s age is that there are clues to when his older sons, Tobias and Vert, were born. Unfortunately, the clues are inconsistent.
• Tobias was confirmed in 1750 and said to be age 15. [1735 implied]. But a transcription of tombstones at New Hanover says he was the son of Peter and Barbara, born 13 Jun 1731, died 15 Jan 1815.
• Peter was confirmed in 1753 and said to be age 16. [1737 implied]. But a transcription of tombstones at New Hanover says he was the son of Peter and Barbara, born 1734, died 26 Oct 1796.
• It seems to me that the dates of the confirmations of both Tobias and Peter must be considered accurate and that and in both cases, their ages were given and consistent with what was typical back then. Moreover, I’ve been to the cemetery at New Hanover Lutheran and did not look for Tobias or Peter’s tombstone myself, but I can say, all those old tombstones there are very hard to read.
My conclusion is that Tobias, Peter’s oldest son, was born about 1735 and we therefore can conclude that Peter was born say as early as 1710 (if he was 25 when he had Tobias) and probably no later than 1716 (if he was 19). I strongly doubt that he came to America with Vert as that would mean Peter was only 15 then, thus born in 1717 and he married at age 17 and had his first son at age 18.
If he came with an older brother, the only plausible scenario is that he came with Martin. It would still seem that he married and had his first son at a particularly young age, but it is within the realm of the possible. If he came with Martin, then that would also mean that Martin and Peter, the younger brothers, both unmarried, came first and then two years later, the older brother, Vert, probably married and with family, then followed. John, the youngest brother could have come at either time, he’s not my problem.
I have searched ships passenger lists for any other possibility -- using all spelling variations -- and the only other possibility I could find was that a Peter Jäger came in 1734. But I think that was not our ancestor -- for one thing I think Yeager is a different name than Yerger. I also think it makes more sense that Peter would have come with an older brother rather than to have followed, alone, at the age of about 19.
My Comments notes for 6G GF Peter Yerger
The 1753 will of Peter Yerger named wife Barbara and sons Tobias and Peter and it is clear that there were other minor children as well. He named his brothers Vert and John as Executors.
Peter bought 140 acres in Hannover Township in January 1753, curiously but a few weeks before he died. I don’t think it was his first land acquisition since he mentioned several places in his will.
Peter bought 140 acres in Hannover Township in January 1753, curiously but a few weeks before he died. I don’t think it was his first land acquisition since he mentioned several places in his will.
Children Names notes for Barbara (Spouse 1)
In 1767, Tobias (1735), petitioned the Orphan’s Court to value Peter’s land in Douglas Township on behalf of himself, Peter (1737), David, Michael (1743), Catharina (1745) wife of George Seitsinger and Johannes (1750). Approximate birth dates from church records.