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John Philip Jacob Helphenstein John Philip Jacob Helphenstein was born at sea while his parents were arriving on the ship Recovery in 1754 from Rhineland Germany. He was a shoemaker, like his father. While living in Kentucky, John Philip Jacob went by his second given name. Part of his mother’s (Rebecca Wolfe) pension application includes a notarized statement from a man called Joseph Secrest who knew both of them in Virginia. In it, he states that John Philip Jacob went by the name of Philip for many years, having dropped John and Jacob because of length. Philip was a Lieutenant in the 8th Virginia Regiment during the Revolutionary War, and served under his father Major Peter Phillip Helphenstine. He was engaged in the Battle of Great Bridge, the Battle of Sullivan’s Island (Mt. Moultrie), and at the siege of Charleston. He was discharged in November, 1777. Between 1779 and 1781, he served several tours in the militia and, after the surrender of Cornwallis, he was appointed Conductor to the French Army and served as such until September 28, 1782. 
1806 was the last year John Phillip Jacob Helphenstein was recorded in the Greenbrier, Virginia, Tax Records. In 1810, he was listed as a resident of Fleming County, Kentucky, with three boys and three girls still listed as being at home. At the time of John Philip Jacob's death in 1830 he owned 194 acres of bounty land. This is recorded in Deed Book S pp. 200-201. When he died, Philip Henry received 105 acres and William Philip 93 acres. Probate records in Fleming Co. Ky. show a lawsuit forcing William to sell the land and give Philip Henry his rightful share according to the will. John Philip Jacob Helphenstein's
Last Will & Testament In the name of God Amen. I, Philip Helvestine, of the county of Fleming and the State of Kentucky, finding myself weak in body but being properly sound in mind & memory, thanks be to God. And, calling into mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of the God who gave me life, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent and christian-like manner at the discretion of my executors. Nothing doubting that at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and touching such worldly estate wherewith, likely has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise, and dispose of in the following manner and form. That is to say, principally and first of all, I give and bequeath to Rebecca my beloved wife all my personal property. Also, I give and bequeath to my son John Helvestine the sum of two dollars out of the personal property. ……(missing)…bequeath to my son…(missing)… I give and bequeath to my son Jacob Helvestine two dollars out of my personal property. Also, I bequeath to my son Philip Helvestine the lot or tract of land that he now lives on or a title for the same quantity his bonds call for, and two dollars of my personal property. I also bequeath to my son William Helvestine the lot or tract of land I now live on and also personal property that falls to my wife at her death. I also give and bequeath to my daughter Rebecca Humphreys and William Humphreys two dollars. I also give and bequeath to my daughter Susanna Swim and Trumbo Swim two dollars. I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Littleton and Joseph Littleton two dollars of my personal property. And, furthermore, I do hereby ordain and appoint my two sons Peter Helvestine and William Helvestine to be the sole executors of this my last will and testament and no other, and hereby disarm, revoke, and disclaim all and every other former wills or testaments that might have heretofore been made or assigned by me and do declare, publish, confirm and establish this and no other to be my last will and testament, and in testimony of the above I have herewith set my hand and affixed my seal this thirteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and twenty three. In the presence of
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