Valentine Heffner joined the Revolutionary Cause at the age of nineteen when he was
drafted into the Continental Army in June, 1777. According to his
military records he continued to serve in a state of readiness as a
minute man in the militia of Franklin County, Pennsylvania until 1781. He says he served under such noted Generals as Arnold, Armstrong, Smallwood and Washington. In the
pension application records of 1837, he is named as Vallintin
Haffner.
The Revolutionary War Pension record of Valentine Heffner provides an account of his service. In his own words Valentine describes his terms of service in 1777, 1778 and 1779. He was at the Battle of Brandywine under the leadership of General George Washington. This painting "Nation Makers" by Howard Pyle at the Brandywine Museum in Chadds Ford Pennsylvania depicts the battle.
His service was provided in and around the area north and west of Philadelphia. At the time of enlistment he resided near Chambersburg in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Also in this record Valentine attests that he was born in 1758 in Germany and came to this country as a child. Other records show he was born in Teitzland, Pfalz of Zwiebrucken, (Hessia), Germany.
Much of what I first learned of the Heffner family history came from a booklet written by my great grandmother, Ella May Heffner Long. The Heffner Reunion, Huntingdon, PA, Aug. 30, 1924, "A Brief Genealogy of the Family of John, Son of Valentine Heffner", Mrs. H.H. Long, family historian. In it she writes:
"The Heffner family is of German descent and runs back into the past beyond the scope of this article. The direct lineal ancestry has been traced seven generations to Valentine and Barbara (Nancy ) Miller Heffner, natives of Franklin Co., PA. Valentine Heffner and his brother, Jacob, had served in the Revolutionary War and become citizens of Walker Twp, Huntingdon Co., which land was purchased from the Indians in 1754. Valentine Heffner, after living a few years upon the farm near the upper mill, the foundation of which remains, later known as the Robb farm, returned to Franklin County; but in 1796 came to make permanent settlement in Walker Twp. Valentine and Jacob each secured 96 acres of land in the Little Valley; Jacob occupying the lower farm and living there until 1817 when he moved to Ohio. The upper farm has always belonged to the Heffner famly and there Valentine died in 1848 at the age of 89 and was buried in the cemetery; having for a number of years been a Revolutionary pensioner. He was the father of fourteen children."
It is unclear if Barbara or Nancy or Mary are the same person. All are names given as the wife of Valentine Heffner in various documents. It is recorded that he married Nancy/Barbara Miller on April 30, 1783 in Washington County, Maryland. In 1855 his wife Mary applied for a widow's pension.
Of the fourteen children of Valentine and his wife, only seven lived to mature years. They were:
1. Catherine Heffner who was born March 31, 1787 and died 26 January 26. 1871. She married Martin Speck.
2. Jacob Heffner who was born in 1789 and died in 1876. He married Susannah Nelson.
3. Peter Heffner who was born May 1, 1793 and died April 19, 1849. He married Catherine Enyeart a daughter of William Enyeart and Jane Norris.
4. John Heffner. who was born April 7, 1797 and died September 16, 1881. He married Rachel Enyeart, also a daughter of William Enyeart and Jane Norris.
5. Adam was born in 1799 and died in April of 1840. He married Rebecca Enyeart, another daughter of William Enyeart and Jane Norris.
6. Barbara Heffner who was born 1802 and died 1832. She married Christian Rowland and moved to Ashland Ohio.
7. Elizabeth Heffner who was born May 1, 1807 and died March 19, 1880. She moved to Ashland, Ohio and married Andrew Mason.
His grave in the McConnellstown Cemetery in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania is marked with a relatively new stone commemorating his service in the War for Independence. No grave for his wife has been located. Valentine was the great, great grandfather of my grandmother, Sarah Eliza Long McEwen.
This page and all contents © 2012 Cynthia H. Smith
Email to chsmith47@yahoo.com
It is unclear if Barbara or Nancy or Mary are the same person. All are names given as the wife of Valentine Heffner in various documents. It is recorded that he married Nancy/Barbara Miller on April 30, 1783 in Washington County, Maryland. In 1855 his wife Mary applied for a widow's pension.
Of the fourteen children of Valentine and his wife, only seven lived to mature years. They were:
1. Catherine Heffner who was born March 31, 1787 and died 26 January 26. 1871. She married Martin Speck.
2. Jacob Heffner who was born in 1789 and died in 1876. He married Susannah Nelson.
3. Peter Heffner who was born May 1, 1793 and died April 19, 1849. He married Catherine Enyeart a daughter of William Enyeart and Jane Norris.
4. John Heffner. who was born April 7, 1797 and died September 16, 1881. He married Rachel Enyeart, also a daughter of William Enyeart and Jane Norris.
5. Adam was born in 1799 and died in April of 1840. He married Rebecca Enyeart, another daughter of William Enyeart and Jane Norris.
6. Barbara Heffner who was born 1802 and died 1832. She married Christian Rowland and moved to Ashland Ohio.
7. Elizabeth Heffner who was born May 1, 1807 and died March 19, 1880. She moved to Ashland, Ohio and married Andrew Mason.
His grave in the McConnellstown Cemetery in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania is marked with a relatively new stone commemorating his service in the War for Independence. No grave for his wife has been located. Valentine was the great, great grandfather of my grandmother, Sarah Eliza Long McEwen.
This page and all contents © 2012 Cynthia H. Smith
Email to chsmith47@yahoo.com
