Individual Details

Sarah Ellen CONNER

(25 May 1829 - 25 Feb 1915)

Sarah was married to Anthony Siefert in 1871 but later denied they were ever married when she reapplied for a pension based on her first husband, William Helman's Civil War service after the death of her last husband. Evidently neither Anthony Siefert nor Sarah obtained a divorce before marrying again. Anthony Siefert married again and said he thought she had died. There are depositions by both Sarah Pringle and Anthony Siefert in the Civil War widow's pension file for Sarah Helman who received a pension based on the Civil War service of her first husband, William Helman. Anthony Siefert's application for a pension has been combined with Sarah's Civil War pension file. Sarah married Andrew Shaffer, her third husband, after she and Anthony Siefert separated and then married John G. Pringle, her fourth husband, after Andrew Shaffer's death. She was unable to obtain a pension after John G. Pringle's death since she was never divorced from Anthony Siefert before remarrying again. There is a affidavit in her pension file from the minister who married she and Anthony Siefert. She lost her widow's pension after her marriage to Anthony Siefert but a guardian appointed for her children received the pension for them.

Events

Birth25 May 1829Indiana County, Pennsylvania
Marriage5 Sep 1850Washington Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania - William HELMAN
Census1870Indiana, Indiana County, Pennsylvania
Marriage26 Oct 1871Indiana, Indiana County, Pennsylvania - Anthony SEIFERT
Census1880Paint Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania
MarriageJan 1882Andrew SHAFFER
Marriage6 Nov 1897Walnut Grove, Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania - John G. PRINGLE
Census1900Summerhill, Croyle Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Census1910233 First Street, Precinct 1, East Conemaugh, Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Death25 Feb 1915from pneumonia - Dale, Cambria County, Pennsylvania
Burial27 Feb 1915Sandyvale Cemetery, Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania

Families

SpouseWilliam HELMAN (1825 - 1864)
ChildEliza Jane HELMAN (1852 - )
ChildMary Francis HELMAN (1855 - )
ChildSarah Adaline HELMAN (1858 - )
ChildHiram James HELMAN (1861 - )
ChildWilliam Alexander HELMAN (1864 - )
SpouseAnthony SEIFERT (1847 - 1909)
SpouseAndrew SHAFFER (1816 - 1895)
SpouseJohn G. PRINGLE (1820 - 1904)

Notes

Marriage

Sarah states she was married to Andrew Shaffer in January, 1882 in her reapplication for a widow's pension but she was listed as his wife in the 1880 census.

Endnotes

1. Bureau of Vital Statistics, Pennsylvania Department of Health, "Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 December 2015), Sarah Jane Pringle, died 25 February 1915; citing Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Death certificate 11855.

2. Sandyvale Cemetery (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania), Find A Grave , database and images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 February 2016), memorial page for Sarah Ellen Conner Pringle, Find A Grave Memorial # 76641120, memorial created by Brian J. Ensley.

3. "Civil War Widows' Pensions," database, Fold3 (https:fold3.com : accessed 19 December 2015), Affidavit of William Connor and Eliza Helman to marriage of William Helman and Sarah Conner, 5 December 1850 ; citing NARA, Record Group 15; Sarah Connor Helman, widow of William Helman, certificate number 147914.

4. 1870 U.S. census, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Indiana Borough, Indiana Post Office, page 445 (stamped), page 5 (penned), dwelling 35, family 36, Sarah Helman; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 February 2016); from National Archives microfilm M593, roll 1351.

5. "Civil War Widows' Pensions," database, Fold3 (https:fold3.com : accessed 19 December 2015), Affidavit of Rev. A. C. Ehrenfeld who performed the marriage of Anthony Siefert to Sarah Helman, 26 October 1871; citing NARA, Record Group 15; Sarah Connor Helman, widow of William Helman, certificate number 147914.

6. "SIEFART-HELMAN," Marriage notice, The Indiana Progress, 2 November 1871, "On the 26th ult., at the residence of the bride, by the Rev. A. C. Ehrenfeld, Mr. Anthony Siefart and Madam Sarah Helman, both of Indiana, Pa."; Newspapers.com (http://www.newspapers.com : accessed 8 June 2017).

7. 1880 U.S. census, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, Paint Township, enumeration district (ED) 18, page 21, dwelling 162, family 174, Andrew Shaffer; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 February 2016); from National Archives microfilm T9, roll 1195.

8. "Civil War Widows' Pensions," database, Fold3 (https:fold3.com : accessed 19 December 2015), Declaration of a widow who has remarried dated 28 May 1907; citing NARA, Record Group 15; Sarah Connor Helman, widow of William Helman, certificate number 147914.

9. "Pennsylvania County Marriages, 1885-1950," index and images, Family Search (https://familysearch.org : accessed 11 Februay 2016), John G. Pringle and Sarah Ellen Helman, 6 November 1897; Number 7502; FHL 1,294,608.

10. 1900 U.S. census, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Croyle Township, Summerhill, enumeration district (ED) 113, sheet 17A, dwelling 72, family 76, John Pringle; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 February 2016); from National Archives microfilm T623, roll 1388.

11. 1910 U.S. census, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, East Conemaugh Borough, Precinct 1, enumeration district (ED) 110, sheet 43B, dwelling 478, family 696, Sarah A. Pringle; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 11 February 2016); from National Archives T624, roll 1323.

12. Bureau of Vital Statistics, Pennsylvania Department of Health, "Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 December 2015), Sarah Jane Pringle, died 25 February 1915; citing Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Death certificate 11855.

13. Sandyvale Cemetery (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania), Find A Grave , database and images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 February 2016), memorial page for Sarah Ellen Conner Pringle, Find A Grave Memorial # 76641120, memorial created by Brian J. Ensley.

14. Bureau of Vital Statistics, Pennsylvania Department of Health, "Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963," database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 19 December 2015), Sarah Jane Pringle, died 25 February 1915; citing Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Death certificate 11855.

15. Sandyvale Cemetery (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania), Find A Grave , database and images (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 February 2016), memorial page for Sarah Ellen Conner Pringle, Find A Grave Memorial # 76641120, memorial created by Brian J. Ensley.