The First Wife of George "Big" George" Helman of East Mahoning Township, Indiana County, Pennsylvania

I had never been able to determine who the first wife of "Big George" Helman was since the Helman newsletter gave her name as Catherine Seese. The death certificate for David Helman, George Helman's son, gave his parents' names as George Helman and Elizabeth Platz. (see previous blog post for George "Big George" Helman of East Mahoning Township, Indiana County,Pennsylvania). George Helman lived in Shade Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania in the 1820 and 1830 censuses prior to moving to Indiana County. Elizabeth Platz' father, George Platz, lived in Allegheny Township, Somerset County from 1813 until 1840 (see tax assessments on FamilySearch for Somerset County) and then moved to Holmes County, Ohio where he died on 15 May 1843. He wrote a will naming his daughter, Elizabeth, but the will does not give her married name (see will book A:141 for Holmes County, Ohio on FamilySearch). I decided to try the Full Text Search on FamilySearch using "George Platz" and searching Holmes County, Ohio. I hit the jackpot.

This is where I finally found a record naming Elizabeth Platz' children as heirs of George Platz. This is the proof needed to prove that George Platz' daughter, Elizabeth, was married to George Helman. This record names George Platz' heirs and the Helman children are named since Elizabeth had died. 

George Platz and his third wife had taken out a mortgage from the county to purchase land in Holmes County, Ohio but George Platz died before the mortgage was satisfied. His heirs were sued in Chancery Court in Holmes County on 9 May 1844 for the amount of the mortgage and court costs. These records list his children and the children of his daughter, Elizabeth Helman, who was deceased. Elizabeth Helman's children were Adam Helman, Elizabeth Helman, George Helman, David Helman, and Catharine Helman. The Chancery Court record also gives the known residence for George Platz' children. The Helman grandchildren were living in Pennsylvania. Pages 55 and 56 of the Chancery Court records lists George Platz' heirs and their locations. These records can be accessed on Family Search.

Chancery Court Record Holmes County Ohio page 55

Chancery Court Record Holmes County Ohio page 56
 

George Helman and Elizabeth Platz are my third great grandparents.The only records where Elizabeth Platz is named is in her son, David Helman's death certifcate and her father, George Platz' will. The Chancery Court records only name her children. These three documents together prove that she was married to George Helman.

The next blog post will give more information about George Platz, Elizabeth's father.