Leonard Helm (abt. 1660 - bef. 1745)

Born about 1660 in Goosnargh, Lancashire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Calmes (Meredith) Helm — married about 1684 in Goosnargh, Lancashire, England [uncertain]

Husband of Jane (Unknown) Helm — married about 1684 (to before 10 Jun 1687) in Lancashire, England

Husband of Elizabeth Greenwood — married 23 Nov 1687 in Holy Trinity Church, Bolton le Sands, Lancashire, England

Descendants

Died before 6 Nov 1745 before about age 85 in Frederick, Virginia

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Biography

Leonard Helm was born about 1660 in Goosnargh, Lancashire, England to parents Leonard Thomas Helm and Margaret Lynaugh.

He married Elizabeth "Betty" Calmes Meredith about 1687 in Lancashire, England.^[1]

Children: Thomas, Christopher, Meredith, Leonard, Mayberry, Mary, Bridget, Ann, Joseph.

He died before 6 Nov 1745 at Frederick County, Virginia.

Leonard Helm Records

In order to follow Leonard's movements, the following county formations are noted:

1720 - Spotsylvania Co from Essex Co, Stafford Co is immediately north of Spotsylvania
1730 - Prince William Co from Stafford Co
1734 - Orange Co from Spotsylvania Co
1738 - Frederick Co from Orange Co

At Spotsylvania Co VA Court 2 Mar 1724/25

Leonard Helms in order to prove his right to take up land according to the Royall Charter made oath that he came into this countrey and that he brought with him Elizabeth his wife and Joseph Helms, Maybre Helms, Leonard Helms, Ann Helms and Mary Helms his children and that this is the first time of proveing their said importations, whereupon certificate is ordered to be granted them of rights to take up three hundred and fifty acres of Land.^[2]

At Spotsylvania Co VA Court 3 Nov 1724

Wee of the Grand Jury of our Sovereign Lord the King and the body of this County do present John Huluck for absenting him selfe from devine Service Likewise Alexr. Cammell and Agnis his Wife; Thomas Jones, Mary Burbridge, Capt Leonard Helms and Elizabeth his wife, William Roberts & Elizabeth his Wife, Meredith Helms and Ann his Wife; William Perry & Elizabeth his Wife, George Purvis, Jane Sparks, Henry Goodloe Gentl, Robert Spotswood, William Pearl for the same Offence^[3]

On 26 Jan 1726, Leonard Helmes of the County of Stafford VA was granted 152 acres in Stafford Co VA on the "upper side of Dorrells Run."^[4] The survey is on file with the North Neck Surveys loose files can be seen here.

On the same day, Leonard Helmes of Stafford County was granted 673 acres of land in Stafford "on a branch of Ceadar Run commonly called Lucky Run."^[5] One of the borders is Richard Tedwell. His name is also spelled Helms in the grant. The survey is on file with the North Neck Surveys loose files can be seen here.

It is probable that one of the above surveys was for Leonard Jr.

8 Jul 1739 - Gabriel Muffet and Mary Helms were married at Stafford Co VA^[6]

Death

Last Will and Testament of Leonard Helm

Recorded Frederick Co VA Will Book 1 page 62^[7]

In the name of God Amen. ye Twentie fifth day of September 1745. I, Leonard Helm, in ye Parish and County of Frederick, a Colony of Virginia, being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks to God. Therefore calling to mind ye Mortality of my body and knowing yt it Appointed for all men once to die, do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament, viz: principally and first of all, I Recommend my Soul to God and my body to ye Earth to be Buried at ye Discretion of my Executors; and as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, Demise and Depose of ye Same in ye following manner and form.

Item, I Give and Bequeath to my Son Mabry Helm ye first Colt of my young black Mare.

Item, I Give and Bequeath to my son Joseph Helm Forty Shillings Current Money of Virginia.

Item, I give to Christopher Helms forty Shillings Current money of ye above said Province.

Item, I give to Bridget Maddin youngest daughter Three Cows.

Item, I give to Edward Broughton' Fifteen Pounds Current Money of ye above said Province and an Horse; and to live with my Son Meredith till he be fifteen years of Age and then to be sent to my son Mabry Helm and Ten pounds with him only.

Item, I give to Leonard Helm, Junior my House and Household Goods (Ye Beds and Bedding Excepted) and ye Young black Mare; as also ye Plantation and his Share of ye Crop; and ye said Leonard shall give a Just Account of ye Two last years Crops of Tobacco; to ye Executor hereof According to Law; likewise, I appoint my son Leonard to be joint Executor with Meredith on Condition yt he Shall agree to this my Last Will; otherwise not.

Item, I give and Bequeath to my Eldest Son, Meredith Helm, whom I likewise appoint, Constitute and Ordain Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, all and singular my whole Estate viz. ye half of ye Crop for this present year; ye Negroe Guy, ye Servant Woman together with all my Moveable Good and Chattles Whatsomever, by him freely to be Possessed and Enjoyed, (he paying and discharging ye above said Legacies and bequests) and I do hereby utterly Disannual and Revoke all and every other former Wills, Testaments, legacies, Bequests and Executors by many wise before Named, Ratifying and Confirming this and no Other to be my Last Will and Testament; in witness whereof I hereunto Set my hand and Seal ye day and Year above Written. /s/ Leo. Helm

Signed, Sealed and Delivered by ye said Leonard Helm as his Last Will and Testament in ye presence of us ye Subscribers. John Gordon, James (X) Scott, Duncan D. (X) Stewart. The will was proved 6 November 1745.

Research Notes

Leonard's grandson, Edward Broughton, was probably the son of this man, Edward Broughton NC-VA-SC. This Edward Broughton seems to be in the same places as the Helm family during the 1730's in Virginia.

Excerpt from Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and their Descendants, p 470, Thomas Kemp Cartmell, 1909: This name appears in Virginia about 1700, when we find Leonard Helm in the territory that was soon to be known as the Shenandoah Valley. His will was probated in Frederick County, Va., Dec. 5, 1745. He mentions his children: Meredith, Leonard, Mayberry, Joseph, Christopher and his youngest daughter, Bridget Madison[Madden]. Meredith and Leonard qualified as executors. Doubtless the founder of the Valley family left his native country, England, with other members of the older set, landing on Long Island 1675. Thomas Helm was a resident there for several years, and is supposed to be the father of the Leonard named. A history of the Parochial Chapelry of Goosnargh, Lancashire, England, by Henry Fishnick, F. H. S." gives interesting facts relating to the Helm family, who were prominent during the 16th and 17th Centuries. The family names, appearing in America far into the 18th and 19th Centuries, bear unmistakable evidence that this Leonard Helm was one of this English family. Meredith Helm who appears as one of the Justices of the first court held in Frederick County, 1743, and Sheriff in 1753, and who frequently appears in public life until his death in 1768, lived near Winchester at one time. His plantations were in that part of the county known at this writing as Clarke. He died intestate; but the settlement of his estate shows two of his sons. Meredith and Thomas, as his administrators. Meredith married Margaret Neill, and Thomas married Elizabeth Neill. The descendants of these marriages are too numerous to mention in this connection. The author is in correspondence with the line of Thomas Helm, the co-admr. of Meredith. He was a Justice of the Peace when the Revolutionary War began. Thomas had four sons, and probably more: William, Joseph B., Thomas and Meredith. One of Joseph's descendants, Mrs. John T. Doneghy, lives in Macon, Mo. Many of the name live in Kentucky.

Sources

1. ↑ NOT a reliable source: U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
2. ↑ Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Court Order Book, 1724-1730, page 37
3. ↑ Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Court Order Book, 1724-1730, page 29
4. ↑ Northern Neck Land Grants Book B p 35
5. ↑ Northern Neck Grants B, 1726-1729 p 37
6. ↑ Overwharton Parish Register 1724/5-1774, Stafford Co VA Episcopal Church Records p 35
7. ↑ Frederick Co VA Will Book 1 page 62

• Shenandoah Families Image of original document by Bessie Conkwright.

• https://www.colonial-settlers-md-va.us/getperson.php?personID=I80408&tree=Tree1

• List of 9 generations of Helms by Bessie Conkwright

• Cartmell, T. K. Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia. Berryville, Virginia: Chesapeake Book Company, 1963, page 470.

• Bennett, Frances Helm. The Hampton, Helm and Carter Families. Carmel, Ind.: unknown, 1968.