Ray (and others who have commented on my posting), This is how I arrived at my info: Since I have never seen any original documentation that would indicate Daniel Hallman¹s first wife was a Loretz, my guess is that someone a long time ago was familiar with the Loretz family and incorrectly interpreted the writing on the marriage bond or some other document. This mistake dates back at least to Bynum¹s book on marriage bonds in 1929 and Sherrill¹s ³Annals of Lincoln County² in 1937. Mary/Polly¹s surname on the marriage bond doesn¹t have enough letters to spell Loretz. I¹ve shown this document to a number of people here in Ohio who have never heard of the Loretz family, and they have been unanimous in saying that the name on the bond is Lontz. The death certificate of her daughter Mary Catherine gives her mother¹s maiden name as Luntz. Unfortunately, the death certificate for her daughter Martha Emeline left her name blank, and her other children died before NC issued death certificates. Another piece of evidence is the Lincoln Co. Real Estate Conveyance, C060.40010 (NC State Archives), Vol. 33, p. 42-43, 281-83, 381, and Vol. 34, p. 480-481. These involve the estate of George Lontz and refer several times to Daniel Hallman Jr. and his wife Mary/Polly as George¹s heirs. Her sisters Barbara and Anna who also are sometimes mistaken for Loretzes are among the other heirs. At a couple points during the proceedings, Mary and her sisters were interviewed away from their husbands to make sure they agreed with their husbands want to do. There are also a couple old family stories that I won¹t repeat here since I can¹t verify them and don¹t want to spread any more incorrect info, but they would fit with what is known about the Lontzes and not with the Loretzes. Rev. Andrew Loretz did a have daughter named Mary; but if Sherrill got it right, she was older and married David Ramsour. Also, Rev. Loretz had a son John born in the same year as my Mary Lontz, according to their tombstones; if the dates are correct, my Mary couldn¹t be a Loretz. Daniel¹s second wife was Sarah ³Sally² Keener. They are mentioned a number of times as heirs in the estate settlement for Michael Keener that is in the NC State Archives (complete with Confederate bonds and money). Sarah is buried near Daniel at St. Matthews UCC with stones for 2 children who are probably hers. Three of the children of her daughter Margaret Hallman Hartsoe are also there. I¹m interested in comments or other info. Jan From: "ray" <tnemelcy@wk.net> Date: Sun, 19 Oct 2003 13:06:56 -0500 To: CATAWBA-WEST-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [CATAWBA-WEST] Re: CATAWBA-WEST-D Digest V03 #83 Interesting information you have sent. I have Daniel Hallman b January, 19, 1803 and died January 13, 1891. One of his wives Mary Lorentz (???) b October 5, 1801 and died November 18,1842. He married her February 5, 1824. His second wife was Sally and I have no further information on her. I have a Mary Lorentz who's father was Andrew H. Lorentz b about 1763 and died March 31, 1812 he married Elizabeth Ramsour b around 1787 and died around 1833 or later. 1788 - Andrew Loretz came west of the Catawba after arriving in Pennsylvania from Switzerland where he was a member of the German Reformed Church. 1789 - Pastor Loretz was ordained and began serving the German Reformed Congregations in the area. These were the Congregations that met in the Union Meeting Houses throughout the area. 1812 - March 31, Rev. Andrew Loretz died at the age of 59 and was buried at Daniels Church four miles north-west of Lincolnton with members of his family. Andrew H. Lorentz's father was Andrew Von Lorentz but little other information. He had Andrew H and a Daughter Mary Von Lorentz. Most of my information was picked up as collaterial information from my Ramsour, Whitner, Roney/Rhoney, Summerow, Hallman, etc., files in searching for my wife's family Rhoney. Just thought I would get your input on these names, but you have indicated you thought the spelling was different. Most of these families came out of Pennsylvania after emmigrating from Europe. They then travelled down to North Carolina and settled in the Lincolnton area of North Carolina. ray taylor tnemelcy@wk.net