Walter Hellen was born in Calvert County, Maryland in probably about 1726, the exact year unconfirmed. He is confirmed as a grandson of David Hellen I and Susanna Milton Hellen, the New World Hellen founders, but the path of his descent from them, his parents, remains debatable among family researchers. Specific research inherited in my Hellen branch from my great "Aunt Lillie", Carrie Elizabeth Hellen Faris, is adamant that he was one son of David Hellen II (1692-bef 1750) and his wife, Ann Dawkins (1698-1738). Others suggest his father was David II’s brother, Richard Hellen (1701-abt 1747), based however, on only one very weak and inconclusive source. What has complicated this research, aside from an almost complete lack of adequate records from that period, is that it appears there were two, perhaps three Walter Hellens in the early 1700s, one found in a tax record of 1733, a son of John Hellen, (1690-abt 1763, another brother of Richard and David II), and his wife Jane Hungerford, that Walter born no later than 1717. He remains to date the only well documented Walter Hellen, and just may have been this Walter Hellen Sr. if my great aunt's research and conclusions were mistaken, then also revising his approximate birth year. John Hellen is now noted in my personal tree as an alternate father to David II, and this Walter's date of birth then noted as about 1717 per the tax records, another suggesting as early as 1714.
Colonial Families of the US, assembled from SAR/DAR applications, including some with Walter Hellen Jr., which were not vetted, have further added to the confusion with conflicting records on Walter Hellen Sr. and his son, Walter Jr., plus a profusion of wives named “Mary Johnson”, some wholly incorrect or undocumented, and in some cases, three Johnson wives incorrectly assigned to Walter Jr. Colonial Families also contradicts itself, sometimes on the same page, but does note one account, of several, correctly.
It is very unlikely at this time that all the likely early “Walters” will be sorted out despite the “mention” of “(a) Walter Hellen” in various wills for apparent siblings, none fully conclusive as to parentage. What is very likely, however, is that the first was named for Col Walter Smith (abt 1667-1711) of Calvert County, he a prominent citizen, his brother, John, a neighbor to the Hellens on the Patuxent River, and godfather to several of the first generation of Hellen offspring.
Of this Walter Hellen, sufficient records can be confirmed to provide some details of his life, primary sources as noted below.
He and Mary Baker Johnson, a sister of then future Maryland Governor Thomas Johnson II, were married in Calvert County about 1745, he then only perhaps about nineteen (depending) and she about sixteen. “By 1750” he purchased a parcel of the much larger “Hooper’s Neck” farm in Eltonhead Hundred from Henry Hooper III, the parcel 275 acres, which suggests some means for a still young man, perhaps inherited. The choice of that location was most certainly that others of his family also already owned land on "Hooper's Neck", including John Hellen. Records for his grandfather, David Hellen I, note him also owning a portion of "Hooper's Neck" in 1707, which may have ultimately passed to Walter, but remains unclear. If so, then the likely full farm was eventually significantly larger than the 275 acres noted. The name of the farm was retained by Walter, and this appears to have become the “dwelling plantation” for Walter and Mary where their offspring were born, and later passing to Mary after Walter’s death. A total of five offspring are inferred from various sources, one an older son Thomas, but only Walter Jr., appearing the youngest, is both confirmed and has a memorial.
A transcription of an inventory of property, appearing accurate, and dated March 1, 1776, has been found noting his death on Dec 2, 1775 in Calvert County. To date, no will has been found and the original of the inventory record not yet located. The absence of a will suggests a relatively sudden, unexpected, death. Mary is noted as (one) next of kin and (one) administer, the other “John”, appearing their son. Another “Jr.” next of kin, the entry incomplete, is thought to have been Walter Jr., then only about ten years of age.
The Hooper’s Neck farm is noted again later in a tax record for Mary in 1782. It appears not the only property owned by Walter Sr. in his lifetime but the full extent remains unknown. Several sources refer to him as Walter Hellen, Esquire, often at that time merely as an honorific suggesting prominence and “landed gentry”. He may have also engaged in business, such as tobacco speculation, as his youngest son did later.
Walter Hellen Jr., given his mother’s family, both before, but certainly after his father’s death, was likely influenced by his Johnson uncles and their entrepreneurial activities. He was unlikely to have ever inherited anything of substance early in his life, and would make his own way.
The burial locations for both Walter in 1775 and later Mary in 1801 are unknown. It is possible both were buried together on what was then Hooper’s Neck farm, and the location of that family burial ground now lost, as are so many others. Even the exact location of Walter and Mary’s Hooper’s Neck farm cannot now be determined with accuracy, although the general location has been confirmed.
A last record for the property relative to the Hellens was its sale in 1823 by the estate of Walter Hellen Jr., who had obviously inherited it before his death, possibly from his mother, although it is, curiously, not mentioned in his will.
________________________________________________________________________
A note on sources: Aside from other sources, as Walter Hellen Jr. was later closely/repeatedly also linked to the prominent Johnson and Adams families, many of the sources for them, plus correspondence, biographies, and other information, some available through the Massachusetts Historical Society, frequently note the Hellens. They are quite specific on Walter Hellen Sr. and his marriage to Mary Baker Johnson, Walter Jr. being both the first cousin and spouse of his two Johnson wives, and both sisters of Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams. As noted above, there appear to have been other Walter Hellens, and there were other Mary Johnsons as well, but no question regarding the marriage of these two specific individuals.
As research continues, if additional records can be found more definitively supporting one speculative father over another for Walter Sr., this biography will be modified accordingly.
Allan Garner - revised 5 Aug 2019
Colonial Families of the US, assembled from SAR/DAR applications, including some with Walter Hellen Jr., which were not vetted, have further added to the confusion with conflicting records on Walter Hellen Sr. and his son, Walter Jr., plus a profusion of wives named “Mary Johnson”, some wholly incorrect or undocumented, and in some cases, three Johnson wives incorrectly assigned to Walter Jr. Colonial Families also contradicts itself, sometimes on the same page, but does note one account, of several, correctly.
It is very unlikely at this time that all the likely early “Walters” will be sorted out despite the “mention” of “(a) Walter Hellen” in various wills for apparent siblings, none fully conclusive as to parentage. What is very likely, however, is that the first was named for Col Walter Smith (abt 1667-1711) of Calvert County, he a prominent citizen, his brother, John, a neighbor to the Hellens on the Patuxent River, and godfather to several of the first generation of Hellen offspring.
Of this Walter Hellen, sufficient records can be confirmed to provide some details of his life, primary sources as noted below.
He and Mary Baker Johnson, a sister of then future Maryland Governor Thomas Johnson II, were married in Calvert County about 1745, he then only perhaps about nineteen (depending) and she about sixteen. “By 1750” he purchased a parcel of the much larger “Hooper’s Neck” farm in Eltonhead Hundred from Henry Hooper III, the parcel 275 acres, which suggests some means for a still young man, perhaps inherited. The choice of that location was most certainly that others of his family also already owned land on "Hooper's Neck", including John Hellen. Records for his grandfather, David Hellen I, note him also owning a portion of "Hooper's Neck" in 1707, which may have ultimately passed to Walter, but remains unclear. If so, then the likely full farm was eventually significantly larger than the 275 acres noted. The name of the farm was retained by Walter, and this appears to have become the “dwelling plantation” for Walter and Mary where their offspring were born, and later passing to Mary after Walter’s death. A total of five offspring are inferred from various sources, one an older son Thomas, but only Walter Jr., appearing the youngest, is both confirmed and has a memorial.
A transcription of an inventory of property, appearing accurate, and dated March 1, 1776, has been found noting his death on Dec 2, 1775 in Calvert County. To date, no will has been found and the original of the inventory record not yet located. The absence of a will suggests a relatively sudden, unexpected, death. Mary is noted as (one) next of kin and (one) administer, the other “John”, appearing their son. Another “Jr.” next of kin, the entry incomplete, is thought to have been Walter Jr., then only about ten years of age.
The Hooper’s Neck farm is noted again later in a tax record for Mary in 1782. It appears not the only property owned by Walter Sr. in his lifetime but the full extent remains unknown. Several sources refer to him as Walter Hellen, Esquire, often at that time merely as an honorific suggesting prominence and “landed gentry”. He may have also engaged in business, such as tobacco speculation, as his youngest son did later.
Walter Hellen Jr., given his mother’s family, both before, but certainly after his father’s death, was likely influenced by his Johnson uncles and their entrepreneurial activities. He was unlikely to have ever inherited anything of substance early in his life, and would make his own way.
The burial locations for both Walter in 1775 and later Mary in 1801 are unknown. It is possible both were buried together on what was then Hooper’s Neck farm, and the location of that family burial ground now lost, as are so many others. Even the exact location of Walter and Mary’s Hooper’s Neck farm cannot now be determined with accuracy, although the general location has been confirmed.
A last record for the property relative to the Hellens was its sale in 1823 by the estate of Walter Hellen Jr., who had obviously inherited it before his death, possibly from his mother, although it is, curiously, not mentioned in his will.
________________________________________________________________________
A note on sources: Aside from other sources, as Walter Hellen Jr. was later closely/repeatedly also linked to the prominent Johnson and Adams families, many of the sources for them, plus correspondence, biographies, and other information, some available through the Massachusetts Historical Society, frequently note the Hellens. They are quite specific on Walter Hellen Sr. and his marriage to Mary Baker Johnson, Walter Jr. being both the first cousin and spouse of his two Johnson wives, and both sisters of Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams. As noted above, there appear to have been other Walter Hellens, and there were other Mary Johnsons as well, but no question regarding the marriage of these two specific individuals.
As research continues, if additional records can be found more definitively supporting one speculative father over another for Walter Sr., this biography will be modified accordingly.
Allan Garner - revised 5 Aug 2019
Walter Hellen was born in Calvert County, Maryland in probably about 1726, the exact year unconfirmed. He is confirmed as a grandson of David Hellen I and Susanna Milton Hellen, the New World Hellen founders, but the path of his descent from them, his parents, remains debatable among family researchers. Specific research inherited in my Hellen branch from my great "Aunt Lillie", Carrie Elizabeth Hellen Faris, is adamant that he was one son of David Hellen II (1692-bef 1750) and his wife, Ann Dawkins (1698-1738). Others suggest his father was David II’s brother, Richard Hellen (1701-abt 1747), based however, on only one very weak and inconclusive source. What has complicated this research, aside from an almost complete lack of adequate records from that period, is that it appears there were two, perhaps three Walter Hellens in the early 1700s, one found in a tax record of 1733, a son of John Hellen, (1690-abt 1763, another brother of Richard and David II), and his wife Jane Hungerford, that Walter born no later than 1717. He remains to date the only well documented Walter Hellen, and just may have been this Walter Hellen Sr. if my great aunt's research and conclusions were mistaken, then also revising his approximate birth year. John Hellen is now noted in my personal tree as an alternate father to David II, and this Walter's date of birth then noted as about 1717 per the tax records, another suggesting as early as 1714.
Colonial Families of the US, assembled from SAR/DAR applications, including some with Walter Hellen Jr., which were not vetted, have further added to the confusion with conflicting records on Walter Hellen Sr. and his son, Walter Jr., plus a profusion of wives named “Mary Johnson”, some wholly incorrect or undocumented, and in some cases, three Johnson wives incorrectly assigned to Walter Jr. Colonial Families also contradicts itself, sometimes on the same page, but does note one account, of several, correctly.
It is very unlikely at this time that all the likely early “Walters” will be sorted out despite the “mention” of “(a) Walter Hellen” in various wills for apparent siblings, none fully conclusive as to parentage. What is very likely, however, is that the first was named for Col Walter Smith (abt 1667-1711) of Calvert County, he a prominent citizen, his brother, John, a neighbor to the Hellens on the Patuxent River, and godfather to several of the first generation of Hellen offspring.
Of this Walter Hellen, sufficient records can be confirmed to provide some details of his life, primary sources as noted below.
He and Mary Baker Johnson, a sister of then future Maryland Governor Thomas Johnson II, were married in Calvert County about 1745, he then only perhaps about nineteen (depending) and she about sixteen. “By 1750” he purchased a parcel of the much larger “Hooper’s Neck” farm in Eltonhead Hundred from Henry Hooper III, the parcel 275 acres, which suggests some means for a still young man, perhaps inherited. The choice of that location was most certainly that others of his family also already owned land on "Hooper's Neck", including John Hellen. Records for his grandfather, David Hellen I, note him also owning a portion of "Hooper's Neck" in 1707, which may have ultimately passed to Walter, but remains unclear. If so, then the likely full farm was eventually significantly larger than the 275 acres noted. The name of the farm was retained by Walter, and this appears to have become the “dwelling plantation” for Walter and Mary where their offspring were born, and later passing to Mary after Walter’s death. A total of five offspring are inferred from various sources, one an older son Thomas, but only Walter Jr., appearing the youngest, is both confirmed and has a memorial.
A transcription of an inventory of property, appearing accurate, and dated March 1, 1776, has been found noting his death on Dec 2, 1775 in Calvert County. To date, no will has been found and the original of the inventory record not yet located. The absence of a will suggests a relatively sudden, unexpected, death. Mary is noted as (one) next of kin and (one) administer, the other “John”, appearing their son. Another “Jr.” next of kin, the entry incomplete, is thought to have been Walter Jr., then only about ten years of age.
The Hooper’s Neck farm is noted again later in a tax record for Mary in 1782. It appears not the only property owned by Walter Sr. in his lifetime but the full extent remains unknown. Several sources refer to him as Walter Hellen, Esquire, often at that time merely as an honorific suggesting prominence and “landed gentry”. He may have also engaged in business, such as tobacco speculation, as his youngest son did later.
Walter Hellen Jr., given his mother’s family, both before, but certainly after his father’s death, was likely influenced by his Johnson uncles and their entrepreneurial activities. He was unlikely to have ever inherited anything of substance early in his life, and would make his own way.
The burial locations for both Walter in 1775 and later Mary in 1801 are unknown. It is possible both were buried together on what was then Hooper’s Neck farm, and the location of that family burial ground now lost, as are so many others. Even the exact location of Walter and Mary’s Hooper’s Neck farm cannot now be determined with accuracy, although the general location has been confirmed.
A last record for the property relative to the Hellens was its sale in 1823 by the estate of Walter Hellen Jr., who had obviously inherited it before his death, possibly from his mother, although it is, curiously, not mentioned in his will.
________________________________________________________________________
A note on sources: Aside from other sources, as Walter Hellen Jr. was later closely/repeatedly also linked to the prominent Johnson and Adams families, many of the sources for them, plus correspondence, biographies, and other information, some available through the Massachusetts Historical Society, frequently note the Hellens. They are quite specific on Walter Hellen Sr. and his marriage to Mary Baker Johnson, Walter Jr. being both the first cousin and spouse of his two Johnson wives, and both sisters of Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams. As noted above, there appear to have been other Walter Hellens, and there were other Mary Johnsons as well, but no question regarding the marriage of these two specific individuals.
As research continues, if additional records can be found more definitively supporting one speculative father over another for Walter Sr., this biography will be modified accordingly.
Allan Garner - revised 5 Aug 2019
Colonial Families of the US, assembled from SAR/DAR applications, including some with Walter Hellen Jr., which were not vetted, have further added to the confusion with conflicting records on Walter Hellen Sr. and his son, Walter Jr., plus a profusion of wives named “Mary Johnson”, some wholly incorrect or undocumented, and in some cases, three Johnson wives incorrectly assigned to Walter Jr. Colonial Families also contradicts itself, sometimes on the same page, but does note one account, of several, correctly.
It is very unlikely at this time that all the likely early “Walters” will be sorted out despite the “mention” of “(a) Walter Hellen” in various wills for apparent siblings, none fully conclusive as to parentage. What is very likely, however, is that the first was named for Col Walter Smith (abt 1667-1711) of Calvert County, he a prominent citizen, his brother, John, a neighbor to the Hellens on the Patuxent River, and godfather to several of the first generation of Hellen offspring.
Of this Walter Hellen, sufficient records can be confirmed to provide some details of his life, primary sources as noted below.
He and Mary Baker Johnson, a sister of then future Maryland Governor Thomas Johnson II, were married in Calvert County about 1745, he then only perhaps about nineteen (depending) and she about sixteen. “By 1750” he purchased a parcel of the much larger “Hooper’s Neck” farm in Eltonhead Hundred from Henry Hooper III, the parcel 275 acres, which suggests some means for a still young man, perhaps inherited. The choice of that location was most certainly that others of his family also already owned land on "Hooper's Neck", including John Hellen. Records for his grandfather, David Hellen I, note him also owning a portion of "Hooper's Neck" in 1707, which may have ultimately passed to Walter, but remains unclear. If so, then the likely full farm was eventually significantly larger than the 275 acres noted. The name of the farm was retained by Walter, and this appears to have become the “dwelling plantation” for Walter and Mary where their offspring were born, and later passing to Mary after Walter’s death. A total of five offspring are inferred from various sources, one an older son Thomas, but only Walter Jr., appearing the youngest, is both confirmed and has a memorial.
A transcription of an inventory of property, appearing accurate, and dated March 1, 1776, has been found noting his death on Dec 2, 1775 in Calvert County. To date, no will has been found and the original of the inventory record not yet located. The absence of a will suggests a relatively sudden, unexpected, death. Mary is noted as (one) next of kin and (one) administer, the other “John”, appearing their son. Another “Jr.” next of kin, the entry incomplete, is thought to have been Walter Jr., then only about ten years of age.
The Hooper’s Neck farm is noted again later in a tax record for Mary in 1782. It appears not the only property owned by Walter Sr. in his lifetime but the full extent remains unknown. Several sources refer to him as Walter Hellen, Esquire, often at that time merely as an honorific suggesting prominence and “landed gentry”. He may have also engaged in business, such as tobacco speculation, as his youngest son did later.
Walter Hellen Jr., given his mother’s family, both before, but certainly after his father’s death, was likely influenced by his Johnson uncles and their entrepreneurial activities. He was unlikely to have ever inherited anything of substance early in his life, and would make his own way.
The burial locations for both Walter in 1775 and later Mary in 1801 are unknown. It is possible both were buried together on what was then Hooper’s Neck farm, and the location of that family burial ground now lost, as are so many others. Even the exact location of Walter and Mary’s Hooper’s Neck farm cannot now be determined with accuracy, although the general location has been confirmed.
A last record for the property relative to the Hellens was its sale in 1823 by the estate of Walter Hellen Jr., who had obviously inherited it before his death, possibly from his mother, although it is, curiously, not mentioned in his will.
________________________________________________________________________
A note on sources: Aside from other sources, as Walter Hellen Jr. was later closely/repeatedly also linked to the prominent Johnson and Adams families, many of the sources for them, plus correspondence, biographies, and other information, some available through the Massachusetts Historical Society, frequently note the Hellens. They are quite specific on Walter Hellen Sr. and his marriage to Mary Baker Johnson, Walter Jr. being both the first cousin and spouse of his two Johnson wives, and both sisters of Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams. As noted above, there appear to have been other Walter Hellens, and there were other Mary Johnsons as well, but no question regarding the marriage of these two specific individuals.
As research continues, if additional records can be found more definitively supporting one speculative father over another for Walter Sr., this biography will be modified accordingly.
Allan Garner - revised 5 Aug 2019
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