John Hale of Falls Church, VA (Jhale97811@aol.com) has found the proof needed to be certain that his Hiram Wertz, b.a.1852/54, IS a son of David and Matilda Custer Wertz of Roanoke Co., VA (see article in our Wertz Newsletter #42, pages 2 and 8).
The family records on file for this David Wertz family showed a son named Hiram born about 1842. This date is apparently an error.
The 1850 Census records the David and Matilda Wertz family in the 57th District of Roanoke County, Virginia under the surname spelling of "Wartz"! John tells us that they are on page 600B or 90B or 301B, depending on which numbering system one uses! AND there is NO child named Hiram in their family in 1850, thus leading to the conclusion that their son named Hiram was in fact born after 1850, as the 1860 to 1920 census records listing this Hiram Wirt(s)(z) (etc) indicate.
Having now resolved the questions regarding his birth year, we are all now convinced that John Hale's Hiram is in fact the son of David and Matilda Wertz.
Also recorded on this 1850 Census of the 57th District of Roanoke County, Virginia is an "Adam S. Wartz", page 310; and a "Berry Wartz", on page 301 & 302 (according to the AIS). Is this Adam perhaps the younger brother of David Wertz; and is "Berry" perhaps David's eldest son, called Barnabus in the family records?
On the 1860 Census, Salem P.O., Roanoke County, Virginia; page 751, the David and Matilda "Wortz" family are listed in two adjoining households. The first household included only David and Matilda Wortz; and next to them is listed son Andrew Wortz, age 23, with siblings Caroline, David, Margaret, a male whose name in indecipherable, and Hiram. Also listed in this household is a James Richardson, age 12; and Martha Custer (Matilda's mother). Perhaps the family was in the midst of building a new house in 1860, and was thus split between the two buildings?
We believe that brother Andrew, age 23 in 1860, was the one who married about 1860/62 (see Wertz Newsletters #42, page 8; and #38, page 4), to Anna Louise and/or Ann R. Nichols. But we are still looking for more records on this family to prove all these relationships.
Please contact us at Choppin.Carolyn@usa.net if you can help.
