In the 1700s and the early 1800s there were several Anthony Heffners in Berks County. Info from the probate records of Berks County, available from the Latter Day Saints Family Search site; from U.S. Census records; from county tax lists and from Church records may help to clarify the relationships between these Anthony Heffners.
Tax List of Rockland Township, Berks County
Propriatary Return 1767 Heffner, Geo. Jr 110 acres Heffner, Jacob 100 acres Heffner, Geo. 175 acres Single men Anthony Hefner Fred'd Heffner Propriatary Return 1768 Heffner, Geo. Jr. Heffner, Jacob Heffner, George Single men Frederick Heffner County of Berks 1779 Hefner, Geo. Heffrner, Geo. Jr. Heffner, Jacob Single men Heffner, Henry County of Berks 1780 Heffner, Geo. Heffner. Geo. Jr. Heffner, Jacob County of Berks 1781 Heffner, Geo. Heffner, Geo. Jr. Heffner, Fred'k Heffner, Jacob Return and Assessment 1781 Heffner, Geo. Heffner, Geo. Jr. Heffner, Fred'k Heffner, Jacob Return and Assessment 1784 Heffner, Jacob 6 persons Heffner, Frederick 6 persons Heffner, Geo Jr. 4 persons Assessment of Taxes 1785 Hefner, Jacob Hefner, Geo. Hefner, Geo. Jr.
An Anthony Heffner was on the tax list for Maxatawny Township in 1779, 1781, 1784, 1785,. Henry Hefner,single, was also on the 1781 and, 1784 tax list there.
Census Records
1790 There were seven Heffners in Berks Anthony and George in M/axatawny Henry Sr. and Jr. in Richmond George in Greenwich Henry in Manheim Jacob in Rockland. 2 2 2 1800 There were six Heffners and three Hefners in Berks County Rockland Twp. Anthony Sr. 45+ Anthony Jr. 26-45 Daniel 16-26 Jacob 45+ John 26-45 Greenwich George Richmond Henry Maxatawny Anthony 45+ John 1810 There were 11 Heffners in Berks Rockland Anthony Sr. 45+ Anthony Jr. 26-45 Daniel 16-26 Jacob 45+ John 26-45 Manheim Widow Catherine Greenwich George, George and Jacob Pinegrove John Richmond Henry 1820 Eight Heffners in Berks Abraham, Anthony, Jacob, Jacob and John in Rockland
Probate Records
George Heffner
In 1788 the estate of George Heffner of Rockland township was probated. Bond was taken out with John Zerby and Peter Kieffer. His wife, Barbara and son George signed a renunciation of their right to administer the estate and the administration went to his son Jacob. Another son whose name is illegible also signed the renunciation. The papers mentioned debt owed by George Heffner, Jacob Heffner, Frederick Heffner, Anthony Heffner and Henry Heffner.
Anthony Heffner
In 1818 estate papers were filed for Anthony Heffner. Of Rockland Twp. His brother, John Heffner, did the inventory. His son, Abraham, was the administrator. His widow was Maria. This was Maria Bower, daughter of Mathias Bower. She secondly married Jacob Breil and had a son, Charles Breil”
The children of Anthony Heffner and Maria were: Abraham born 1797 Elizabeth born 1798 Catherine Isaac over 14 in 1818 deceased in 1849 Jacob over 14 in 1818 Maria over 14 in 1818 married Philip Frederick Susanna Sarah married Daniel Kutz Esther married Jacob Deysher Anthony Margaret married Lewis Fisher The last five were under 14 in 1818.
The final settlement of the estate was made in 1849 when Maria Bower Heffner Breil died.
Jacob Heffner
In 1829 estate papers were filed for Jacob Heffner of Rockland twp. Administration went to his sons Anthony Heffner and John Heffner. A widow, Maria Barbara survived him. His children were:
Daniel Had three children by his first wife: Lydia, Daniel, and Eve Henry Anthony John Elizabeth Her son, Reuben, wrote the will dictated by Jacob.
This may be Jacob Heffner, son of George Heffner. Who was born about 1736 in Germantown and who married Elizabeth Lyass. According to her tombstone at Mertz church she was born Jan 15, 1736 and died Feb 23 1806 at age 69.5.6. Jacob may have married again after her death.
Anthony Heffner
In 1849 estate papers were filed for Anthony Heffner of Richmond Twp. He had a daughter, Elizabeth, who married John Fisher.
Their children were: Esther, who married Benjamin Kaercher (1785-1852), and had children Charles, and Mary Ann Kaercher who were under 14 in 1849. Henry over 14 Florence over 14 James under 14 Leah under14 Distribution of the estate was made to the following. It is not clear whether they were children or grandchildren Elizabeth Fisher Margaret Heffner Catherine Polly Albright Salome Jacob Heffner Charles who married Hannah Rothemel Henry Hannah This Anthony Heffner is probably the one buried at Mertz Church whose gravestone reads: Born: Apr. 13, 1767 Died: Jan 19, 1849
This may be the Anthony Heffner who married Catherine Moll. She was born Jun 7, 1773 and died Feb 8, 1838, Aged 64.8.1, according to her gravestone at Mertz Church
Anthony Heffner
In 1803 estate papers were filed for Anthony Heffner of Maxatawny Twp. His widow, Catherine, renounced her right to administer the estate. The administration went to sons George and Jacob.
This Anthony was married to Catherine Hill. She died in 1806 and her son George administered her estate Their children were:
George Jacob John, (oldest son) Abraham Catherine married John Faust Fanny married Isaac Pfeiffer Isaac Polly married John Sterner
This Anthony Heffner was born 1742 and died 1803. He married Catherine Hill in 1760
Some observations which can be deducted from the previous info:
George Heffner whose estate was probated in 1788 is probably the George Heffner who married (1) Orstel and (2) Johanna Barrall. He apparently married (3) Barbara. He probably had sons George, Jr, Frederick, Jacob, Anthony, and Henry.
Anthony Heffner, son of George Heffner who was baptized at Mertz church in 1760 would have been 50 years old in 1810 so he is not the same as Anthony Jr. who was 26-45 years old in that census.
George Heffner's son Anthony was the Anthony Sr, in the 1800 and the 1810 census. Anthony's son is Anthony Jr. of those censuses. They are listed nest to each other in the census. Anthony Sr. died after 1820. Anthony Jr. died before 1820 (actually in 1818). Anthony Sr. was born 1746 or earlier if it is assumed that he was at least 21 in the 1767 census. Anthony Jr. was probably born about 1774 ,making him about 4 years older than his wife.
Jacob Heffner, son of George Sr. apparently had a son, Anthony born 1767 and died 1849.
The Anthony Heffner in the 1790 and 1899 census in Maxatawny Township is NOT the son of George Sr. His age is about the same as George's son, Anthony but they are not the same person since Anthony of Maxatawny died in 1803 and Anthony of Rockland was still in the 1810 and 1820 census.
The Anthony Heffners of Berks in the 1700s and early 1800s were:
Submitted by: Beatrice