There were two George Helmans living in Indiana County, Pennsylvania during the 1800's. They were first cousins. Both were born in the 1780's in Franklin County, Pennsylvania to sons of George Sebastian Helman. George Helman who eventually settled in East Mahoning Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania was a son of John Daniel Helman. John Daniel Helman left Franklin County, Pennsylvania and moved to Somerset County, Pennsylvania where he was living in the 1810 census. The first wife of George Helman (son of John Daniel Helman) may have been Catherine Seese. His second wife was Mary Miller. More information will be given on the George Helman living in East Mahoning Township in a future blog post.
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. The surname Heffner has various spellings. 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 30 August 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 (...her husband being a worthless husband he discerting his wife and left her in the greadest poverty therefore shall the said Helman forever be excluded from having any part of my estate..)
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 he is not deceased. George Helman must have come forward to collect his inheritance.
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 George Helman 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.
George had the following children with Frances Strange:
1) William Helman (about 1825-4 April 1864) married Sarah Ellen Conner (1829-1915)
2) James Helman (born about 1826 to 1830-died after 1860) married Mary Ann Harmon
3) Gordon Helman (1829-26 March 1916) married Elizabeth Conner (1820-1911)
4) George Helman (about 1836-31 December 1861)
5) John Helman (born about 1838)
William, Gordon, and George were in the Civil War. William and George died during the Civil War. The pension file for William Helman's widow, Sarah Helman, is available on Fold3. George Helman, Sr. applied for a pension based on his son George's service in the Civil War but never received it.
See the will of John Hieffner in Franklin County Will Book D-pages 26 to 28.
See the guardianship record for George Helman's children in Franklin County Orphans Court Record Book C-pages 300 and 301 and the order
vacating the guardianship order in Book C-page 409 since George Helman was not deceased.
The above records are available on Family Search in their Pennsylvania Probate Records but they are not indexed. They are organized by county and can be easily accessed with the above information.
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