Person:Peter Helphenstine (1)

Early Land Acquisition in Virginia

Acquisition of Land from Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants:

• L-97: Maj. Peter Helphinstine of Frederick Co., Logg 197 adj. Lott 196, Lott 210, Leicester St., Cameron St. 15 May 1753. [Virginia Northern Neck Land Grants, 1742-1775, Vol. 2, Gertrude E. Gray, pg. 142].

Will Abstract of Peter Helphenstine

Abstracts of the Will of Major Peter Helphenstine. Probated Court House, Frederick County, VA, May 4, 1779:

I, Major Peter Helphenstine, of the town of Winchester, County of Frederick, and Colony of Virginia, make this my last will and testament. I will the third part of my estate to my dear wife, Catherine Helphenstine, with all wearing apparel, plate and the two thirds to be equally divided between my sons, Phillip, Peter, William, and Henry, and my daughters, Catherine, Rosanna, Charlotta, and Elizabeth, sons to be paid at the age of 21, daughters paid at the age of 18 or days of marriage. I witness hereunto, I set my hand and seal, this 24th day of March 1776. [Source: "Tennessee Bible Records and Tombstone Inscriptions", Acklen, pg. 146].

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Find A Grave.

   Maj Peter Phillip Helphenstine
   Birth: Jun. 17, 1724
   Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
   Death: May 11, 1779
   Winchester
   Frederick County
   Virginia, USA
   
   
   Peter Helphenstein was born in the city of Koln, Germany, on 17 June 1724, the son of Pieter Helfenstein (1698-17??) and Mary Biedermann (approx. 1702-1787). (Peter's paternal grandfather's name was Phillip Helphenstein/Helfenstein, who was born and died in Germany, and his paternal great-grandfather was John Helphenstein/Helfenstein)
   
   Peter married Catheryne Berger in Germany between 1750-1752. One source lists their marriage date as 3 July 1750. Their first child, John Philip Jacob Helphenstein, was born on the ship Recovery en route to the American colonies in 1754. The Helphensteins landed in the American colonies in Cape Fear, North Carolina on 23 October 1754. (I have also found a source claiming that Recovery sailed from Rotterdam and Cowes, landing in Wilmington, Delaware.)
   
   Some sources list the civilian Helphenstein as studying surveying at the University of Bonn in Germany before coming to the Colonies. In addition, various historical sources list him as a shoemaker, carpenter and farmer, and it is possible he dabbled in all of these trades.
   
   Maj. Helphenstein served in the American Revolution with the 8th Virginia regiment, aka "the German regiment," commanded by Col. Muhlenberg. Legend has it that he became a trusted friend of Gen. George Washington after Gen. Washington contracted him to make shoes for his troops during the Braddock's War campaign. Peter was one of the founding fathers of the German Lutheran Congregation in Winchester, Virginia.
   
   
   
   Peter and Catheryne had the following children: John Philip Jacob (b. Sept. 6, 1754 on the Atlantic Ocean), Rosanna Charlotta (b. 1762 in Winchester, VA), Catheryne (b. June 4, 1761 in Winchester, VA), Henry (b. 5 Oct. 1773 in Winchester), William Henry (b. 4 Oct. 1774,in Winchester), Peter Philip Jr. (b. 10 Jan. 1757 in Winchester), and Elizabeth (b. 1767 in Winchester).
   
   Family links:
   Spouse:
   Catherine Berger (1731 - 1796)*
   
   Children:
   Peter Philip Helphenstine (1757 - 1842)*
   
   http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16786329

2. ↑ Acklen, Jeannette Tillotson. Tennessee Records : Bible Records and Marriage Bonds. (Tucson, Arizona: W.C. Cox, 1974)
   pg. 146.