Mary Jane (McNeely) Helms (1837 - aft. 1910)

Born May 1837 in Union County, North Carolina, United States of America

Ancestors

Wife of Daniel W Helms — married 4 Sep 1857 in Union County, North Carolina, United States of America

Descendants

Died after Jun 1910 after age 73 in North Carolina, United States of America [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Debi Hoag [send private message]

Biography

She is profiled in the "McNeely Family" as the second daughter of William Henry McNeely and Caroline Winchester along with sister Susan. Caroline was William's first wife. ^[1]

Information

• 1857 Marriage Bond^[2]
  Abstracted from attached image by Debi McGee Hoag (hereafter DMH), 4 July 2017
  • Daniel Helms & J H W Secrest
  • Pledge five hundred pounds
  • 27 August 1857
  • No lawful cause to obstruct the said Marriage of Daniel Helms and Mary McNeely
  • In the presence of J F Hough
  • Daniel Helms and J H W Secrest both made their marks

• 1857 Marriage^[3]
  Abstracted from attached image by DMH, 4 July 2017
  • License issued: 27 August 1857
  • Married: 27 August 1857
  • Groom: Daniel Helms
  • Bride: Mary McNeely
  • Officiant: Rev James Deans

• 1860 Census^[4]
  Abstracted from attached image by DMH, 4 July 2017
  • Enumerated as of 1 July 1860; enumerated on 25 July 1860
  • Residence: Monroe Post Office, Union County, North Carolina
  • Mary J Helms, age 21, F, Dower, born " [ditto to line 1, N. C.]
  • Also enumerated in the household
    • Daniel Helms, age 22, M, Farmer, personal property $250, born " [ditto to line 1, N. C.], cannot read or write

▪ Comments by DHM

▪ Why was her occupation "Dower"? She had been married 3 years. Her marriage records do not indicate that she had been previously married. See Research Notes.

• 1870 Census^[5]
  Abstracted from attached image by DMH, 7 July 2017
  • Enumerated as of 1 June 1870; enumerated on 18 August 1870
  • Residence: Monroe, Monroe township, North Carolina, United States
  • Mary Helms, eldest female in household of Daniel W Helms
    • Age 21[sic], female, white, keeping house, born North Carolina
  • Also in the household:
    • Daniel W Helms M 32 North Carolina, farmer, real estate $100, personal property $100
    • Three minor children, all born in North Carolina
      • Henry (male 9), Abraham (male 4), Allison (male 2)

• 1880 Census^[6]
  Abstracted from attached image by DMH, 4 July 2017
  • Enumerated as of 1 June 1880; enumerated on 26 June 1880
  • Residence: Monroe township, Union County, North Carolina
  • Mary J, wife in household of Daniel W Helms
    • Age 43, keeping house, born in N.Caro., parents born in N.C.
  • Also in the household:
    • Daniel W Helms Self M 44 North Carolina, United States, Farmer
    • 6 minor children, all born in North Carolina, no surname listed, ditto line to line 27, Daniel W Helms
      • Henry Lee (son 19 farming), Abraham J (son 14 works on farm), Allie D (son 10 works on farm), Philip R (son 8), Corin L (son 6), Mattie (daughter 4)

• 31 August 1883. Land, lying in Lancaster County, South Carolina, known as the George Wolf tract, deeded to Susan Secrest, wife of Miles Secrest, and Mary J. Helms, wife of Daniel W. Helms, children of Caroline McNeely, deceased. Laid off 177 ½ acres each of the land of William Winchester, deceased, as heirs from his Estate.^[7]

• 1900 Census^[8]
  Abstract from attached image by DMH, 16 July 2017
  • Mary J Helms, wife in household of Daniel Helms
  • Age 63, born in May 1837 in North Carolina, married 43 years, mother of 9 children, 6 living
  • Also in the household:
    • Daniel Helms Head M 63 North Carolina

▪ Comments by DMH, 16 July 2017

▪ Tabulators' marks have partially obscured Daniel's name. FamilySearch indexers interpreted the name as Darryl.

▪ Enumerated in the previous household is Allie D Helms, age 32, and family. This is probably her son Allison D Helms, born about 1868.

• 1910 Widow's Pension - Civil War^[9]
  Abstract from attached image by DMH, 24 September 2016
  • Applied 4 Jul 1910 - Approved

Research Notes

1860 Occupation: Dower:

• Had she been willed property by someone, either a first husband or a deceased relative?
• Possible resources - Anson, Union, Mecklenburg Counties: Probate, Property Records
  • Mecklenburg County
    • Found 9 wills referenced in the FamilySearch image database Wills, 1763-1930 using the [Mecklenburg County] "General index, Direct/Reverse 1763-1930" - looked up and read the wills, none of which explicitly references a Mary Jane McNeely. There is a Jane McNeely referenced in Book J, page 208, but Mary Jane was married by that time.
      • 1827 Andrew McNeely to Rachel McNeely and others C:5
      • 1830 Rachel McNeely to Martha Harris & Others G:140
      • 1831 John McNeely to Jno W McNeely, Jannot, WIlliam, & Silas G216
      • 1842 J W McNeely to Jane, Eleanor S & Sarah E McNeely H:93
      • 1858 John F McNeely to Margt, Jane, Alexander & others J:208
      • 1885 James A McNeely to Harriet T Rumple & Others L:93
      • 1886 Martha L McNeely to Jane M Blakely & Lawrence Rumple L125
      • 1892 Robert A McNeely to Louisa Regina McNeely & Maggie McNeely (dec'd) M:64
      • 1913 Jno C McNeely to Emma Miller McNeely Q:352
  • Union County
    • Not Started
  • Anson County
    • Not Started
  • 1860 Occupation "Dower"? https://books.google.com/books?id=R95MAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA214

When did Mary McNeely Helms, widow of Daniel Helms, die?

• Known: She was alive on 4 July 1910 when she applied and was approved for a pension based on Daniel's Civil War service
• Possible Resources: North Carolina Civil War Pension records, City Directories, Death Certificate, Cemetery Records, Newspapers, Family Holdings
• The following records show up in various online trees as being applicable to the Mary Helms of this profile.
  • 1907 City Directory^[10]
    Abstracted from attached image by DMH, 15 Oct 2016
    • Helms Danl W (Mary), driver, r 418 E 15th. - probably this Mary

▪Comments by DMH, 15 October 2016

▪Danl nor Mary were found in the 1908 Charlotte City Directory.

▪2 Danls were found in the 1909 Charlotte City Directory, neither record identifies a wife.

▪Danl was not found in the 1910 Charlotte City Directory; a Mary was found but is the widow of John M. - probably not this Mary

• My current thinking is that this Death Record may not be for the widow of Daniel:
  • 1915 Death Certificate^[11]
    Abstracted from image by DMH, 21 July 2017
    • Mary J Helms
    • Died: 4 Sep 1915, Morning Star, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
    • Buried: 5 Sep 1915, Matthews, NC
    • Undertaker: None
    • Informant: ? S R Helms, Matthews NC RR19
      • Demographics: Female, White, Widowed, age 69 yrs 1 mo 21 da, could read & write
      • Birth: 14 July 1846, Lancaster Co, S. C.
      • Father "blank" McNeely, born Lancaster Co, S. C.
      • Mother: Don't Know, born Lancaster Co, S. C.

▪Comments by DMH, 22 July 2017

▪The informant could be one of her children but there is not enough inormation to verify that

▪The birth date in July 1847 is inconsistent with information found in other sources. She and Daniel were married in Aug 1857 and she was enumerated as 21 years old on the 1860 Census. Her birth month and year were recorded as May 1837 on the 1900 Census. In July 1910, she was 76 years old

▪The birth location of Mary and her parents is inconsistent with data found on the 1860-1900 Census enumerations

Records for Family Members

• "North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FP69-LLC : 1 July 2015), Mary Jane Mcneely in entry for Henry Lee Helm, 16 Jan 1936; citing Bogue, Columbus, North Carolina, fn 1842 cn 304, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,943,111.
• "North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGQZ-J5K : 1 July 2015), Mary Mcneely, mother in entry for Mattie Martha Boyte, 09 Nov 1958; citing Pineville, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, item 5 cn 30820, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,952,925.
• "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VXYQ-HXK : 22 December 2016), Mary Helms in entry for C L Helms and Louise Fesperman, 21 May 1955; citing Cabarrus, North Carolina, United States, p. , Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 540,355.
• "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8CH-3LV : 22 December 2016), M. J. Helms in entry for Henry L. Helms and Florence M. Benton, 12 May 1881; citing Goose Creek, Union, North Carolina, United States, p. , Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 593,484.
• "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F89G-BLM : 22 December 2016), Mary Helms in entry for C. L. Helms and Florence Loyd, 16 Aug 1924; citing , Concord, North Carolina, United States, p. , Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 540,350.
• "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8CH-633 : 22 December 2016), M. J. Helms in entry for H. L. Helms and Drucilla Moore, 04 Sep 1886; citing Vance, Union, North Carolina, United States, p. , Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 593,485.
• "North Carolina Deaths, 1931-1994," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FPHK-C6P : 28 June 2015), Abram J. Holms, 17 Feb 1952; citing Gold Hill, Cabarrus, North Carolina, 4763, State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,926,904.

Sources

1. ↑ pp307-308; The Heritage of Union County, North Carolina Sesquicentennial 1842-1992" pub. Carolinas Genealogical Society & Walsworth Pub. Co. LOC No. 93-71499
2. ↑ Union County, North Carolina, United States, Marriage Bond, Daniel Helms and Mary McNeely, 27 August 1857; "Marriage licenses, 1843-1922," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99VV-383Y : accessed 4 July 2017); FHL microfilm 593,482, image 372 of 526, bottom left.
3. ↑ "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZYS-DQH : 8 July 2016, accessed 14 Aug 2016), Daniel Helms and Mary Mcneely, 27 Aug 1857; citing North Carolina, Union County, Marriages Register 1857, pg 76, entry 461.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDD5-LLN : 30 December 2015), Mary J Helms in entry for Daniel Helms, household 278, Union County, North Carolina, United States; U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), microfilm publication M653, roll 915 (Washington, D.C.: NARA).
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWD3-6DW : 17 October 2014), Mary Helms in household of Daniel W Helms, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 30, family 211, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,660.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCXR-1R2 : 11 August 2016), Mary J Helms in household of Daniel W Helms, Monroe, Union, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district ED 210, sheet 348D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0983; FHL microfilm 1,254,983.
7. ↑ William Winchester (Estate), Grantor, to Susan Secrest and Mary J. Helms, Grantee : 31 August 1883, Deed Record Book 14, pages128-129, Union County, North Carolina.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSB3-BPZ : accessed 17 July 2017), Mary J Helms in household of Darryl[sic] Helms, Township 13, Morningstar Matthews town, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 65, sheet 5B, family 106, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,206. [review of the image reviews that tabulators' marks have partially obscured Daniel's name, causing indexing confusion.
9. ↑ "1901 Confederate Pension Applications," database with images, North Carolina Digital Collections, (http://digital.ncdcr.gov/cdm/ref/collection/p16062coll21/id/64160 : accessed 24 Sep 2016), Daniel Helms, 4 July 1908, pgs 1-2 and Mary Jane Helms, 4 July 1910, pgs 3-4; Pension Bureau: Act of 1901 Pension Applications. Office of the State Auditor. State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.
10. ↑ Charlotte, North Carolina, City Directory 1907 (Charleston, South Carolina, USA: The Walsh Directory Company), pg 307, Helms Danl W; "U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995," database with images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2469 : accessed 15 Oct 2016), image 123 of 292.
11. ↑ Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Certificate of Death no 240, Mary J Helms, 4 September 1915; State Department of Archives and History, Raleigh; "North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12315-90907-28 : 21 May 2014, accessed 20 Sep 2016); FHL microfilm no 1877965, "Death certificates File no. 136 (401-500) - File no. 141 1915," image 888 of 2782.

Also Consulted:

• 1857 Marriage Bond Index Record - "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8NL-H58 : 22 December 2016), Daniel Helmy and Mary Mc Neely, 27 Aug 1857; citing , Union, North Carolina, United States, p. , Office of Archives and History, Division of Archives and Records. State Archive of North Carolina and various county Register of Deeds; FHL microfilm 593,482.
• 1860 US Census, North Carolina, Union County, Monroe Post Office, page 36, dwelling 278, family 278, Daniel & Mary J Helms; image 1440 of 220, database with images, Ancestry.com (http://interactive.ancestry.com/7667/4237521_00231 : accessed 15 Oct 2016); citing US National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication M653, roll 915 (NARA, Washington D.

• Gerald C. Helms, Tilman, George and Jonathan Helms, Brothers, 1720-1881 : History and Genealogy of the Helms Family, Gerald C Helms and Jo Ann Stevenson, (Matthews, NC), 1984, page 176.
  • Includes sources but also includes information which is not sourced. This book should be used for clues only.
• Myers, Sara M and Sallie C Pressley, George Helms and Tilman Helms, 1720-1900: History & Genealogy of the Helms Family, Pioneers of Anson & Meck. Counties, North Carolina, Five Generations (Cassopolis, Michigan: S.M. Myers, 1981), pg 69. WorldCat link
  • Include sources but also include information which is not sourced. This book should be used for clues only.
• Typed list of Daniel & Mary McNeely Helms' descendants & those of their son, C. L. & Lula Phillips Helms' descendants. This list has been copied and attached with a The Monroe Enquirer article dated 3 November 1960, Section B, "Our Heritage - The Helms" by Ney McNeely - birth year, death month and day; Helms Family Files. Privately held by Debi McGee Hoag, Leesburg, Florida.
• A Gift of Memories from Grandpa - Martin Helms, notes by Deborah McGee Cundiff during an interview with Martin Helms, circa 1884; Helms Family Files. Privately held by Debi McGee Hoag, Leesburg, Florida.
• Gerald Helms (Weddington, North Carolina), Descendants Chart of J Walker Helms (1800), 6 December 1996, page 3; correspondence received 7 December 1996 by Debi McGee Hoag; Helms Family Files. Privately held by Debi McGee Hoag, Leesburg, Florida.