Individual Details
George HELMAN
(From Est 1783 to 1785 - Aft 1870)
George Helman who settled in Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania was a son of George Sebastian Helman, Jr. George Sebastian Helman, Jr. remained in Franklin County, Pennsylvania where he died in 1832. Estate records in Franklin County, Pennsylvania give the names of his children. Among them was the George Helman of Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. His first wife was Catharine Heffner (Heiffner) who was a daughter of John Heffner. She is often erroneously listed as the first wife of the George Helman living in East Mahoning Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania. Her father's will written in 1823 in Franklin County, Pennsylvania and probated in 1828 gives us the first clue. Although it does not give her husband's first name, her father prevents him from sharing in her inheritance by giving her the interest on it and giving the principal to her children after they become 21. He states that her husband deserted her and their children leaving them living in poverty.
The second clue to the identity of Catharine (Heiffner) Helman's husband occurs after the death of George Sebastian Helman, Jr. in 1832. George Helman, one of the children of George Sebastian Helman, Jr, is presumed dead and Catharine's brother, John Heffner, is appointed guardian in 1833 for George and Catharine's children: Elizabeth, Susan, John, Polly, and Peter, all of whom are over 14 years of age except for Peter. The guardianship order is vacated in 1835 since George Helman is not deceased as thought.
Catharine Helman is listed as a head of household in the 1830 and 1840 censuses in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. She is living with a John W. and Elizabeth Cromer in the 1850 and 1860 censuses in Franklin County. She had a daughter Elizabeth so this is probably her daughter and son in law. Find A Grave has a tombstone for Catherine Heiffner Helman born 14 February 1782 and died 9 April 1863. She is buried in Mont Alto Cemetery, Franklin County, Pennsylvania.
George Helman is living in Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania with Fanny in the 1850 and 1860 censuses. He is living with his son Gordon in the 1870 census. Gordon Hellman's death certificate gives his parents names as George Helman and Frances Strange. It is not known if George Helman obtained a divorce before marrying or living with Fanny since the Franklin County records indicate he deserted his wife and children sometime prior to 1823. He then shows up in 1835 to collect his inheritance from his father. He evidently was living with Fanny soon after leaving his wife Catharine since he has children with her in the 1820's and 1830's. When Gordon sold property in 1860, Fanny did not release her dower right but it is not known if she was living then. It is not known if George's children to his first wife Catharine and his children with Fanny knew about each other.
Events
| Birth | From Est 1783 to 1785 |  | |||
| Marriage | Abt 1811 | Catharine HEIFFNER |  | ||
| Census | 1820 | Washington Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Marriage | Aft 1823 | Frances STRANGE | | ||
| Census | 1840 | Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Property | 14 Feb 1846 | 68 acres from David Black and Margaret his wife for $477.40 - Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Census | 1850 | Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Property | 29 Dec 1853 | 100 acres from Levi Anthony and Mary his wife for $200 - Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Census | 1860 | Chambersville Post Office, Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Property | 22 Mar 1860 | his son, James Helman, to transfer 50 acres to him under the terms of the agreement - Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania | | | |
| Property | 20 Nov 1860 | 21 acres to Sarah Helman, wife of William Helman, for $50 | | ||
| Property | 29 Dec 1860 | 25 acres to Jacob Steer for $300 - Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Census | 1870 | Chambersville Post Office, Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania | | ||
| Death | Aft 1870 |
Families
| Spouse | Frances STRANGE (1800 - 1860) |
| Child | William HELMAN (1825 - 1864) |
| Child | James HELMAN (1826 - 1860) |
| Child | Gordon HELMAN (1829 - 1916) |
| Child | George HELMAN (1838 - 1861) |
| Child | John HELMAN (1838 - ) |
| Spouse | Catharine HEIFFNER (1782 - 1863) |
| Child | Elizabeth HELMAN (1812 - ) |
| Child | Susan HELMAN (1819 - ) |
| Child | John HELMAN (1819 - ) |
| Child | Polly HELMAN (1819 - ) |
| Child | Peter HELMAN (1822 - ) |
| Father | George Sebastian HELMAN Jr. (1753 - 1832) |
| Mother | Elizabeth ( - ) |
| Sibling | Susanna HELMAN (1774 - 1832) |
| Sibling | Daniel HELMAN (1776 - 1868) |
| Sibling | Martha HELMAN (1778 - ) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth "Betsy" HELMAN (1782 - ) |
| Sibling | Peter HELMAN (1788 - ) |
| Sibling | Michael HELMAN (1791 - ) |
| Sibling | Jacob HELMAN (1793 - 1862) |
| Sibling | Samuel HELMAN (1799 - 1864) |
Notes
Birth
George was 26 through 44 in the 1820 census (born 1776 to 1794).He was 50 to 59 in the 1840 census (born 1781 to 1790).
He was George was 65 in the 1850 census (born 1785).
He was 60 in the 1860 census (born 1800).
He was 87 in the 1870 census (born 1783).
All are consistent except for the 1860 census. If the 1860 census is eliminated, his birthdate is estimated to be 1783 to 1785 based on his age in the above censuses.
Marriage
The death certificate for their son, Gordon Helman, gives his parents' names as George Helman and Frances Strange but it is not known if they were married. It is not known if he divorced his first wife, Catharine Heiffner, whom he deserted prior to 1823. He and Frances Strange "Fanny" had several children together.Census
There was a John Strange living in Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania in the 1830 census. He does not appear in Indiana County in the 1840 census. According to the death certificate for Gordon Helman, a son of George Helman, his parents were George Helman and Frances Strange. It is not known if there is any relationship between John Strange and Frances Strange.There are two George Helmans in Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania listed in the 1840 census. It is difficult to determine which one is the George Helman married to Frances Strange. There are two George Helmans in the 1850 and 1860 censuses who are first cousins but are separate persons.
The first George Helman has the following family composition:
Free white males under 5-1
Free white males 5 thru 9-1
Free white males 10 thru 14-1
Free white males 50 thru 59-1
Free white females 5 thru 9-2
Free white females 30 thru 39-1
Persons employed in agriculture-1
The second George Helman has the following family composition:
Free white males under 5-1
Free white males 5 thru 9-1
Free white males 15 thru 19-2
Free white males 50 thru 59-1
Free white females 5 thru 9-1
Free white females 10 thru 14-1
Free white females 40 thru 49-1
Persons employed in agriculture-2
Property
James Helman was to receive 50 acres after his parents' death if he paid $200 which was to be applied judgments and debts against George Helman, Sr. James Helman was to farm the land or cause it to be farmed in a farmlike manner, pay the taxes, keep the fences in repair during the lifetime of his father and mother, and deliver to them 1/3 of the grain, potatoes, turnips, and c. in the bushel that shall be raised on the farm yearly. George Helman Sr. reserved the dwelling house, garden, pasture, and fodder for one cow and six sheep. The lane along the township road shall be as it is now traveled and not as it was at first located.Endnotes
1. Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Probate Records, John Hieffner (1828), John Hieffner's Will, 30 August 1823; probated January 1828; Franklin County Courthouse, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
2. Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Orphans Court Records C:156-157, Petition of Daniel Hefner by his guardian David Wertz , Request to partition real estate (names heirs of John Hefner), 1828; Franklin County Courthouse, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
3. 1820 U.S. census, Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Washington Township, page 98, George Helman; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 February 2016); from National Archives microfilm M33, roll 101.
4. Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Indiana County Deed Records, 14:91, David Black and Margaret his wife to George Hellman, 14 February 1846; recorded 21 May 1846; Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana, Pennsylvania.
5. 1850 U.S. census, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Washington Township, page 212B, dwelling 28, family 28, George Hellman; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 February 2016); from National Archives microfilm M432, roll 785.
6. Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Indiana County Deed Records, 19:508, Levi Anthony and Mary his wife to George Helman, 29 December 1853; recorded 6 January 1854; Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana, Pennsylvania.
7. 1860 U.S. census, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Washington Township, Chambersville Post Office, page 345 (stamped), page 274 (penned) , dwelling 1943, family 1897, George Helman; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 December 2013); from National Archives microfilm M653, roll 1117.
8. Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Indiana County Deed Records, 25:119-120, Article of agreement between George Helman Sr. and James Helman, his son, 22 March 1860; recorded 22 March 1860; Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana, Pennsylvania.
9. Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Indiana County Deed Records, 29:333, George Helman, Senr. to to Sarah Helman, wife of William Helman, 20 November 1860; recorded 7 December 1864; Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana, Pennsylvania.
10. Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Indiana County Deed Records, 25:629, George Helman, Sr. and Eliza Helman, wife of Gordon Helman to Jacob Steer, 29 December 1860; recorded 20 February 1861; Indiana County Courthouse, Indiana, Pennsylvania.
11. 1870 U.S. census, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Washington Township, Chambersville Post Office, page 373B (stamped), page 12 (penned) , dwelling 151, family 153 , George Helman; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 December 2013); from National Archives microfilm M593, roll 1351.