Will of John Helman 1786-1874

I, John Helman, of the County of Wayne and the state of Ohio, do make and publish this my last will and testament as follows. It is my will that all my debts and funeral expenses be first fully paid. I give to my beloved wife Sophia Helman, in lieu of her dower, years support and other allowances given by law, the house and lot in West Salem in said County of Wayne and all the furniture and house hold goods during her natural life; also I give & bequeath to my said wife one horse, buggy and harness, one cow and two hogs. I also give and bequeath to my said beloved wife the intent of six thousand dollars to be paid to her by my executor herein after named semi annually during her natural life, the first payment of said intent to be paid to my wife at the expiration of six months after my death. The above bequeaths are to also be in lieu of the distribution share of my said wife in my personal estate of every kind, and in case the intent of six thousand dollars shall be insufficient to support my said wife then in that case I direct my executor to pay her such sum out of the said six thousand dollars a may be necessary for her comfortable support. I also will that at the death of my said beloved wife all the real and personal estate that shall belong to me and remain unexpended(?) at the death of my said wife shall be divided amongst my children as follows; to my son David Helman one dollar and no more; to my daughter Mary Eshelman one equal eight part; to Royce S. Crial and Mary Maria Crial children of my daughter Catherine Walkey one equal eighth part to be equally divided between them share and share alike and to their said mother Catherine Walkey I give the sum of one dollar and no more; to my son Herman Helman one equal eighth part; to my son Abel D. Helman one dollar and no more; to my daughter Emmeline Helman one equal eight part; to my son John R. Helman three equal eighths parts and to Jacob D. Helman one equal eighth part, and each of said bequests shall be for the <illegible> parties their heirs and assigns forever. And at the death of my said beloved wife I authorize my executor herein named to sell and convey my real estate by <illegible> and sufficient deed or deeds to whomever he may sell the same and on the best terms my executor in his judgment may deem best and the proceeds to be divided as above directed. I hereby nominate and appoint my son John R. Helman executor of this my last will and testament; and I hereby revoke all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I the said John Helman hereunto set my hand and seal this 7th day of January AD 1868.

Signed and sealed and acknowledged on our presence by the said John Helman as and for his last will and testament, and we signed the same as witnesses in his presence and at his request and in presence of each other.
J. H. McCombs
A.D. Curtis

Testimony Of Witness To Will

In the Matter of the Last Will and Testament of John Helman deceased, I James M. Smith duly appointed and commissioned by the judge of the Probate Court of the County of Wayne in the state of Ohio to take the testimony of John H. McCombs and A.D. Curtis the subscribing witnesses of the last Will and Testament of John Helman deceased, late a resident of said County of Wayne, in the state of Ohio, which commission and the said Will are hereto annexed I do hereby certify that in pursuance of said commission, I caused John H. McCombs and A.D. Curtis said subscribing witnesses as aforesaid, to come personally before me, at My office in the town of Ashland County of Ashland and state of Ohio who, being by me first sworn, according to law, to speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, concerning and in relation to the execution of said Will, dispose and say that they were present at the making of the Will, hereto attached, marked "A" and, at the request of the deceased and of each other; that they saw the said John Helman deceased, sign and seal said Will and heard him acknowledge the same to be his last Will and Testament; that the said John Helman, deceased, was, at the time of making, signing, and sealing said last Will and Testament, of legal age and of sound mind and memory, and under no undue or unlawful restraint whatsoever.

A D Combs
J. H. McCombs

I, James M. Smith do further certify that the said testimony was reduced to writing by myself in the presence of said witnesses receptively and subscribed by said witness in my presence on this 25 day of November A.D. 1874

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of November A.D. 1874

James M. Smith
Commissioner

Back to: The Helman Family Home Page