Additional records just received from Carolyn Gearhart and Bob Messersmith have led us to the conclusion that we have been confusing TWO very different Nicholas Wertz families. Some years ago we sorted out the Bedford County Nicholas and Diana Weirich Wertz family, but in that process we incorrectly attributed the Missouri records (see Newsletter #6, page 7) to the Perry County Nicholas Wertz families, not realizing that there was also a New Jersey Nicholas Wertz family. So here is our current guestiment as to which records belong to each family.
First, Johann Nicholas Wertz Sr., 1761-1824, of Northampton, Adams and Perry Counties, PA
His records include the 1790 Northampton County Census records “Nicholas Wirt” in Heidelberg Township (page 172). In 1800 he is listed as “Nicholas Wertz” in Tyrone township, Adams County, PA: with a family of 2 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 2 males 16 to 26, 1 male over 45; 3 females under 10, 2 females 10 to 16, and 1 female 26 to 45. About 1810 he moved again, this time to Perry County.
In 1820 he is recorded as “Nicholas Wertz” in Juniata township, Perry County, PA with a family of 2 males under 10, 1 male 10-16, 1 male 26 to 45, 1 male over 45; 1 female under 10, 1 female 10-16, 1 female 16-26, and 1 female 26-45. We believe that this listing also includes the family of son Nicholas Wertz Jr., now age 30/31, married to Rebecca (age 28) and their two children: Peter, born 1818, and Christina, born 1819.
J. Nicholas Wertz Sr. died in Perry County by 2 August 1824 when his will was probated. See also our Wertz Book, pages 250-251, for more on this family.
Conclusions: J. Nicholas Wertz, 1761-1824 was the 9th of ten children of Ulrich and Maria Schmit Wirt(h), Wiet(z), or Wert(s), who emigrated to America in 1748 on the ship “Two Brothers”. J. Nicholas Wert(z) married (first) 5 Nov. 1782 to Margaret Sidel or Lydel. They had 12 children. He married second about 1810 to Mrs. Anna McKearns Ronsall, and they had 3 more children.
His Son, Nicholas Wertz Jr., 1789-1853, of Greenwood twp., Perry County, PA
The fourth child of J. Nicholas and Margaret Wertz was son Nicholas Wertz Jr., born 9 Dec. 1789 near Unionville, Northampton County, PA. He died 17 March 1853 in Greenwood twp., Perry County, PA.; having moved with his father’s family first to Adams County and later in his youth to Perry County.
His records include the following Census records all in Greenwood twp., Perry County, PA:
1830: “Nicholas Wertz, 1 male 10-15, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 40-50, 1 female 30-40.
1840: “Nicholas Wertz, 1 male 20-30, 1 male 50-60, 2 females under 5, 1 female 5 to 10, 1 female 20-30, 1 female 40 to 50.
1850: page 518, dwelling 80, family 80: “Nicholas Wertz, age 60, farmer, real estate of $1800, born PA; (wife) Anny, age 64, born PA; (son) Peter Wertz, age 32, born PA; and Eliza Vesp or Veep, age 20, b.PA.
1853 Perry County Death Record (see Newsletter #47, page 2).
Rider’s or Old Newport Cemetery tombstones for: “Nicholas Werts born 9 Dec. 1789, died 17 March 1853”; “Rebecca, wife of Nicholas Werts, born 8 August 1792, died 2 March 1822”; and “Christina daughter of Nicholas and Rebecca Werts, born 3 October 1819, died 11 Feb. 1821.”
Probate records of Christina Rider that include a $25.00 bequest to grandson Peter Wert(s), son of daughter “Rebecca Rider Wert”.
Carolyn Gearhart also tells us that this Peter Wert(s)(z) married on 22 February 1853 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Bloomfield, Centre twp., Perry Co., PA to Sarah Ann Roedel.
Conclusions: Nicholas Wert(s)(z) Jr., 1789-1853, of Greenwood twp. Perry County, PA probably only married twice, first to Rebecca Christina Rider, 1792-1822; and second to Anna (maybe Anna Kauffman – see Newsletter #47, page 1; and #7, page 9), who was his surviving widow in 1853. Apparently Nicholas and Rebecca had only two children, Peter and Christina. And if Nicholas and Anna had any children they must have died young, as son Peter appears to be the only surviving child, according to the 1853 death record.
ANY records that might shed more light on this family would be welcome!
Second: Nicholas and Sophia Winghart Wertz of New Jersey
Their records include:
the Biographical sketch of son John W. Werts of Milford, Missouri (see Newsletter #6, page 7).
The Ancestral File records of wife Sophia, daughter Margaret, 1837-1903, and sons Nicholas, 1846-1922, and George, born 1849.
The 1850 Census of Mullica twp., Atlantic County, New Jersey; Dwelling 1384, Family 1409: “Nicholas Wortz, age 54, blacksmith, born Germany, can’t read or write; (wife) Mary S., age 41, born Germany, can’t read or write; (son) William age 14, born NJ; (daughter) Mary S., age 10, born NJ; (son) John W., age 8, born NJ; (son) Nicholas, age 3, born NJ; (son) George, age 1, born NJ.)
The 1860 Census of Magnolia twp., Putnam County, Illinois; dwelling #903, family #834: “Joseph Worts, age 33, blacksmith, born Germany, personal property $60.; (wife) Susan, age 23, born NJ; (son) Nikolas F., age 3, born NJ; (daughter) Ida May, age 1, born Ill.; and Mary J. Moore, age 11, born NJ.” And two families away, in dwelling #906, Family #837: “Nikolas Werts, age 64, blacksmith, born Elsau or Elsace (probably Alsace), Germany, personal property $125; (wife) Sophia, age 52, born Elsau or Elsace, Germany; (daughter) Margaret, age 23, born NJ; (daughter) Mary, age 21, born NJ; (son) John, age 18, born NJ; (son) Nikolas, age 12, born NJ; (son) Geo., age 10, born NJ.” And next door to them in dwelling #907, family #938: “Jacob Werts, age 29, day laborer, born NJ; (wife) Martha J., age 24, born PA; (daughter) Flora B., age 4, born Ill.; (daughter) Georgina, age 1, born Ill.”
The 1870 Census of Magnolia, Putnam County, IL; dwelling 194, family #192: “Sophia Wertz, age 60, born Prussia, parents foreign born, real estate $600, personal property $100; (son) Nicholas Wertz, age 23, born NJ, parents foreign born, personal property $200; (daughter) Mary Wertz, age 20, born NJ, domestic servant, parents foreign born; (son) George, age 21, born NJ, farm hand, parents foreign born; and Anne Wertz, age 11, born Illinois.”
Then in LaSalle County, Illinois, dwelling #961, family #904: “Joseph Werts, age 40, born NJ., blacksmith, parents foreign born; (wife) Susan A., age 34, born NJ; (son) Nicholas F., age 12, born NJ; (daughter) Ida M., age 10, born Ill.; (son) Geo. C., age 4, born Ill.”
NOTE: Sophia in NOT listed in Illinois in 1880; and Joseph is listed in Rock Island County. (see Newsletter #47, page 3.)
IGI record for son “Joseph Werts, born 28 August 1856, Winslow twp., Camden County, New
Jersey; son of Susanna and Nicholas J. Werts.”
Conclusions: This Nicholas Wert(s)(z) or Wortz was born about 1795 (A) or 1796 (C) in Germany, possibly in the Alsace region. He married Mary (C) Susanna (D) Sophia (A) (B) (C) Winghardt (A), born about 1805 (A) or 1809 (C) or 1810 (B). He/they emigrated to America about 1822 (A), settled first in New Jersey and about 1856 they moved to Illinois. Nicholas and Sophia Wert(s)(z) had at least 8 and maybe as many as 15 children, most born in New Jersey.
Their children included the following:
William (C) born about 1836 in NJ (age 14 in 1850).
Margaretta, born 28 May 1837, NJ (B); married William Knoffsinger Bower.
Mary S., (A) born about 1840, NJ (age 10 in 1850, 21 in 1860; married William Gillmore (A).
John W., born 17 Feb. 1842, NJ; (A) (age 8 in 1850, 18 in 1860) Subject of the bio sketch (A).
Christian (A); probably died young, before 1850.
Nicholas, (A) born 1846, died 1922 (B) (age 3 in 1850, 12 in 1860).
George (A), born 25 Feb. 1849, NJ (B) (age 1 in 1850, 10 in 1860).
Joseph (A), born 28 August 1856, NJ (D).
Anne, born about 1861, Illinois (age 11 in 1870). Could this be a granddaughter??
(10)“Catherine, wife of George Parks” (A)
(11) “Anthony, who died in New Jersey” (A) Perhaps the Anthony Wertz born about 1830, still living in New Jersey in 1880 (see Newsletter #47, page 3.)
(12) the Jacob Werts, born about 1831, NJ (age 29 in 1860) living next door to Nicholas and Sophia in 1860. Is he a son, brother, or nephew???
(13) the Joseph Worts, born about 1827 in Germany; also living in Magnolia twp., Putnam County, Illinois near Nicholas and Sophia in 1860, with a wife and two children all born in New Jersey. Is he a son, brother, or nephew of Nicholas Wertz?
(14) and (15) perhaps another Mary and/or George?? (A)
Wanted:
Probate record(s) and/or obituary for THIS Nicholas Wert(s)(z), who probably died between 1860 and 1870 probably in Putnam County, Illinois. AND for his wife/widow, Mary Susanna Sophia Winghardt Wertz, who may have died between 1870 and 1880, maybe in Putnam County, Illinois.
Does anyone have access to Putnam County Illinois death, cemetery, and/or probate records? Perhaps a more accurate listing of their children can be found there.
Please send any updates, correction, or additional records to:
Reply to Carolyn Choppin at:
Choppin.Carolyn@usa.net
