(Hans) Peter Mertz was the younger son of David and Veronica Mertz who arrived with his family at the Port of Philadelphia on September 20, 1733.  It is believed that he is the Peter Mertze who was born in 1717 in Alsace and baptized there on December 28, 1717. There is, however, a discrepancy between this date and his age, 13¾, as recorded at his arrival at Philadelphia on September 28, 1733. The possible explanations for this difference are discussed at length by Oakey Mertz.   Peter Mertz is listed with his father, David Mertz and elder brother,  Nicholas Mertz, as a founder of the Longswamp Church. In 1762 Peter was one of the petitioners requesting that the place called "Longswamp" be erected as a township in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Mertz family researcher, Oakey Mertz, infers the following children of Peter Mertz: Peter Mertz, Jr., David, Johannes, Philip, Jacob, Nicholas, Abraham, and daughters Barbara, Maria, and Elizabeth. Other researchers cite the name of Peter's wife as a Miss Sheradan, and add children George, Henry, and Christina, although no source has been provided. In 1761 Peter also was appointed guardian of his nephew, Conrad Mertz, a son of his deceased brother Nicholas. Peter Mertz died in 1787 or possibly late 1786.

A word about the spelling of Peter's surname. For the most part it is consistently given as  "Mertz" in public records, however there are occasional variations including "Martz", "March", "Marsh", and "Metz" which are reproduced in the entries that follow. 

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Hans Peter, son of David and Verena Mertz, was baptized 28 Dec 1717 in Alsace. 
-http://mertzgenealogy.com/names/peter_mertz_family_p.pdf
-https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:3CQH-PRY
(Note: Special thanks to Oakey Mertz for sharing a copy of the original document provided by Fredy Mertz, former mayor of Hangwiller, Alsace. -rjm)

Peter Mertz , along with 25 others including Jacob Mertz petitions the justices of Berks County to erect the place called Longswamp into a township. A survey was made by Nicholas Bunn on February 2, 1761. It was bounded and described as follows:
"Beginning at a corner of Maxatawny township, in the Northampton County line; thence along said township S. W. 1286 ps.; thence along Rockland township, S. 34 E. 955 ps., and East 1262 ps.; thence along Hereford township, N.E. 610 ps.; thence along said county line N.W. 1840 ps. to the beginning; containing 13,935 acres."
The township was officially erected in May, 1761, although it had been known as Longswamp from the time of the earliest settlements in 1734.
-History of Berks County Pennsylvania, Morton L. Montgomery

	Acres	Horses	Cattle	Sheep	Tax
Peter Mertz	225	4	5	3	14
Margaret Mertz	100	1	-	-	1
Jacob Mertz	130	2	2	3	5
Single
John Mertz					15 s.
Peter Mertz					15 s.
Philip (Mertz)					15 s.

-Berks County Proprietary and State Tax List, Longswamp Township, 1767, Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 18

During 1768

	Acres	Horses	Cattle	Sheep	Tax
Peter Mertz	200	4	6	6	13
Jacob Mertz	-	1	1	-	1
Henry Mertz	-	-	1	-	1
Single
John Mertz					15 s.
Philip (Mertz)					15 s.

-Berks County Proprietary and State Tax List, Longswamp Township, 1767, Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 18, p.139
(Note: Where is Peter Mertz, Jr.? -rjm)

During 1769

Peter Martz is taxed: £.2.6 on a value of £10
Also listed:
Henry Martz, £..9 tax on £3
Peter Mertz, Jr., £..6 tax on £2
Single:
Philip Mertz, 9 shillings tax
-Berks County Tax List, Longswamp Township, 1769
(Note: Peter Mertz, Jr., who was missing in last year's tax record, is now listed as married. Has he married Susanna Brown and is she the daughter of Frederick Brown? There are no marriage records in the Longswamp Church register. -rjm)

July 6, 1776 (Saturday)

Declaration Read in the County.-- In pursuance of the resolution of Congress, the State Board of Safety addressed a letter to the committee of Berks County on the 6th of July, 1776, enclosing a copy of the Declaration of Independence, and directing that it be read on Monday, July 8th, at 12 o'clock noon, at the place where the election of delegates was to be held. This was done by Henry Vanderslice, the sheriff of the county, on that day at the Court House on Penn Square the bell having been rung earnestly before hand, as elsewhere, to call the people together so that they should learn the comprehensive significance of that important and courageous public document in behalf of political freedom and representative government.
-Berks County in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, Morton L. Montgomery, Reading, 1894

During October, 1776

Some current prices:
Linen, per yd.................. 12sh. Wood, per cord.................. £2
Shoes, per pr.................... 15 " Meat, per lb...................... 10d
Salt, per bu..................... 25 " The prices of articles generally
Pork, per quarter............... 13 " were two and three times what
Butter, per lb.................... 2 " they were before 1775.
-Berks County in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, Morton L. Montgomery, Reading, 1894

During October, 1777

Some current prices in October, 1777, as fixed by the Commissary General:
Wheat, per bu........................ 8sh., 6d. Pork, per 100 lb...................... $7 and $8
Rye, " ................................. 8sh., 6d. Whisky, per gall.................... 8sh., 6d.
Indian Corn, per bu.............. 6sh., 6d. Hay, per ton, 1st crop,.......... £7, 10sh.
Beef, per 100 lb....................... $10 " " 2nd " ................. £6

Other Prices:
Salt, per bu.............................. £10 and £15. Potatoes, per bu.................... 16sh.
Cord Wood, per cord........... 65sh. Chickens, apiece..................... 10sh.
-Berks County in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783, Morton L. Montgomery, Reading, 1894

During 1779

	Occupation	Acres	Horses	Cattle	Tax
Peter Mertz		300	4	6	1275
Peter Mertz, Jr.	weaver	-	-	2	16
Phillip Mertz	wheelwright	-	1	2	64
John Mertz	blacksmith	-	1	3	68
Peter Mertz	executor	50	-	-	355
Henry Mertz		-	-	-	9
Fred'k Brown		150	3	4	872
Single
David Mertz					15 sh.
Abr'm Mertz					10 sh.

-Berks County Register of Property, Longswamp Township, 1779, Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 18, p.44

During 1780

	Occupation	Acres	Horses	Cattle	Tax
Peter Merz, Sr. [sic]		400	4	4	50.2.6
Peter Mertz, Jr.	weaver	-	-	2	4.0.0
Phil. Mertz	wheelwright	-	1	3	5.5.0
Peter Mertz	executor	50	4	4	2.7.6
Nich's Mertz		6	-	-	17.6
Henry Merz [sic]	cordwainer	-	-	1	2.10.0
David Merz	blacksmith	-	-	2	4.17.6
Fred'k Brown		200	3	4	30.17.6
Geo. Brown	weaver	50	-	-	6.15.0
Single
Abr'm Mertz					5.5.0

-Berks County Return and Assessment, Longswamp Township, 1780, Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 18, p.375

During 1781

	Occupation	Acres	Horses	Cattle	Tax
Peter Mertz		400	4	4	10.5.0
Peter Mertz, Jr.	weaver	-	-	2	15.0
John Mertz	blacksmith	-	2	4	1.2.6
Henry Merz [sic]	cordwainer	-	-	2	9.0
David Mertz	blacksmith	-	-	2	16.3
Philip Mertz	wheelwright	-	1	3	1.0.0
Frederick Brown		200	4	7	6.7.6
Geo. Brown	weaver	50	-	3	1.2.6

-Berks County Return and Assessment, Longswamp Township, 1781, Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 18, p.500

During 1784

	Occupation	Acres	Horses	Cattle	Sheep	Persons
Peter Mertz	weaver	-	-	2	4	6
John Mertz	blacksmith	-	1	3	4	4
Abraham Merz		400	4	4	6	1
David Merz	blacksmith	-	-	2	-	3
Philip Mertz	wheelwright	-	2	3	4	7
Fred'k Brown		200	2	3	5	7

-Berks County Return and Assessment, Longswamp Township, 1784, Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 18, p.621
(Note: Did Abraham take over Peter Mertz, Sr.'s property? (cf. 1781 and 1785) -rjm)

During 1785

Peter Mertz, Sr.  is taxed: (no tax assessed)
Also listed:
Peter Mertz, Jr., 8.0
John Mertz, 12.6
Henry Mertz, 6.6
Nich's Mertz, 12.6
Fred'k Brown, 5.0.0
-Berks County Assessment of Taxes, Longswamp Township, 1785, Pennsylvania Archives, Series 3, Volume 18, p.760
(Note: All monetary units are presumed to be British. -rjm)

August 7, 1787 (Tuesday)

Will of Peter Mertz, Longswamp Township, Lancaster County is proved (no date recorded in Will Book). Estate to divide in equal shares except my son John Mertz's, Philip and Gertraut shall have £15 each before hand. Peter Mertz, Jr. and Nicholas Mertz, executors. Witness by Peter Braun, Christian Miller, and Peter Klein.
-Berks County Will Book A, page 143
-Abstract of Wills of Berks County, Pennsylvania, vol.1 1752-1798, Alfred Smith, 1898 in the Library of the Pennsylvania Historical Society
(Note: An apparent contemporary translation is also found in the files pertaining to this will. -rjm)

and . . .

Registers Office at Reading in Berks County, August 7th, 1787.
Letters Testamentary in common form under the seal of the said office on the will of Peter Mertz late of Longswamp Township in Berks County, yeoman deceased were granted to Peter Mertz, Jr. and Nicholas Mertz, executors therein named they being first duly sworn thereto according to law. Inventory to be exhibited on or before the 7th day of September next and an account when required the said will was on the same day duly proved by the oath of Christian Miller and Peter Klein, two of the subscribing witnesses to the said will.
-Berks County Register Book 3, page 77.
(Note: Except for Johann Mertz, the relationships of those named in the will to the deceased are not clearly stated. We might cautiously assume that the executors are also sons of the deceased.  -rjm)