Cousins and All, I recently visited the Archives and Manuscripts room at the Library of Virginia (the state archives and library) and saw the Philip Helsley papers. There are about 16 folders of material from this man who was justice of peace serving the Conicville, Liberty Furnace, Columbia Furnace area. He is not a direct ancestor but in a close collateral line. I was looking primarily for the long lost parents of my Civil War soldier ancestor William Helsley. Although I was unable to find parents for William, the papers confirm once again that Peter Helsley was William's grandfather and estate settlement of Peter Helsley and others are importants papers in the collection. So hurry to Richmond if you had ancestors in the area between 1840 to the end of the century. There are even personal letters into the 20th century - specially from/to Minnie Helsley. Most records are from the 1850s. If you have a Trook ancestor, you should check out the Helsley papers. Other names include Delllinger, Andrick, Funkhouser, and others you would expect in the neighborhood. Be careful to follow the rules. I got so excited that I had more than one folder out at a time which is a no-no. The staff is very helpful and the parking is free under the building. They are open on Saturday from 9-5 and that worked great when I was there. The library/archives is next to the state capitol at Broad and 9th St. This is going over ground already trod by Jane Helsley Mitakides. But since we both have been through the papers without finding William's father, we'll have to look elsewhere in our continuing search. This is already too long so I won't tell you about the rest of my eventful weekend with my 87 year old in-laws. We had a great time. Terry Helsley

Thanks for the tip for "Trook". I live in Indiana but hope to get to the Library in Richmond one day. John N. Trook married Amanda Grandstaff in 1854 in Shenandoah County. She listed her parents as Jacob and Rebecca. If she was Peter Helsley's granddaughter, as stated in his will, then who where her parents? I always thought that they were Jacob Grandstaff and Mary Koontz (who died when Amanda was born). Maybe this Rebecca was an adopted mother. Or maybe Amanda was raised by a Helsley and Peter just considered her a granddaughter. Well, it is all a mystery to me. Any help on Amanda would be great. Is the William Helsley listed with Peter Helsley in 1850 census the one you are looking for? Amanda was also listed in Peter's household. Amanda & hubby John Nicholas Trook moved to Stark County, Ohio. Carole Trook-Hacker ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, July 06, 2007 2:27 AM Subject: [VASHENAN] Helsley Papers for Trook, Dellinger, Funkhouser et al. > Cousins and All, > > I recently visited the Archives and Manuscripts room at the Library of > Virginia (the state archives and library) and saw the Philip Helsley > papers. There are about 16 folders of material from this man who was > justice of peace serving the Conicville, Liberty Furnace, Columbia Furnace > area. > > He is not a direct ancestor but in a close collateral line. I was looking > primarily for the long lost parents of my Civil War soldier ancestor > William Helsley. Although I was unable to find parents for William, the > papers confirm once again that Peter Helsley was William's grandfather and > estate settlement of Peter Helsley and others are importants papers in the > collection. > > So hurry to Richmond if you had ancestors in the area between 1840 to the > end of the century. There are even personal letters into the 20th > century - specially from/to Minnie Helsley. Most records are from the > 1850s. > > If you have a Trook ancestor, you should check out the Helsley papers. > Other names include Delllinger, Andrick, Funkhouser, and others you would > expect in the neighborhood. > > Be careful to follow the rules. I got so excited that I had more than one > folder out at a time which is a no-no. The staff is very helpful and the > parking is free under the building. They are open on Saturday from 9-5 > and that worked great when I was there. The library/archives is next to > the state capitol at Broad and 9th St. > > This is going over ground already trod by Jane Helsley Mitakides. But > since we both have been through the papers without finding William's > father, we'll have to look elsewhere in our continuing search. > > This is already too long so I won't tell you about the rest of my eventful > weekend with my 87 year old in-laws. We had a great time. > > Terry Helsley > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message