This is the second in the series from Henry S. Hallman's book he wrote in 1910 on the Hallman history. "The fact that we find the name Hallman in the literature of Europe dating back several hundred years, leaves us in doubt as to the correct spelling of the name of the descendants of Anthony Hallman. Undoubtly there have been Hallman's and Heilman's in Europe for several hundred years. Rev. U. H.Heilman, of Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pa., informs me that his family has records dating back to 1305, the founder of the family being Viet, der Heilman. He states that this indicates that the founder was a physician and that his children, as was the custom in the Middle Ages, assumed the name of his profession. Rev. Heilman also states that 'one of our ancestors was a Abbott in a Roman Catholic Monastery; another a Commander-in Chief of the German Armies. They belonged to the German nobility and had numerous castles and lands in different provinces in Germany.' "In the records of Augustus Lutheran Church Anthony Hallman's name is always spelled Heilman, and several of the older tombstones in the Mennonite graveyard at Skippack also show the same spelling. "These facts indicate that the descendants of Anthony are in reality Heilmans and not Hallmans. This is also the contention of Rev. U. H. Heilman. The family name may have been changed, as was the case with so many family names, by the English scriveners who wrote the wills, deeds and other documents pertaining to these early settlers. It would be most interesting if the descendants of Anthony and John Heilman could also trace their descent from Viet, der Heilman. "Several branches of the Hallman and Heilman family emigrated to America. Our ancestor came about 1720. There were at least two distinct families, both emigrating about the same time, that of Anthony who settled in what is now Skippach township, Montgomery County, Penna., and the other is that of John, who settled in Chester County, probably in Pikeland township. "We find frequent references to both of these families in the records of Augustus Lutheran Church, Trappe, Pa., of which they were members, and of which Anthony was an elder as early as 1748 and served on the committee that erected the old church, in 1743, which is still standing. "May 10, 1728, the settlers of what was then the frontier of Pennsylvania, sent a petition to Governor Gordon of the Province, asking for protection against the Indians who were invading the outlying settlements of Falckner Swamps, and Goshenhoppen, and Anthony Hallman's name appears on this list of petitioners. (Penna. Archives, Vol I, p. 213)." Tomorrow, I will post H. S. Hallman's description of Anthony Hallman's Family. All for now, Faith Hutchings faith@verdenet.com