English studies02.html

ENGLISH BACKGROUND STUDIES

1.0 America, Page 2

This data has been derived principally in an effort to make links which trace back to England or to and/or through English colonies such as those in the Caribbean for Helms, Helme, Elme, etc. Susan Grimshaw has labored long and hard in this area of research for many years, as this extensive data shows and is very adept at using the records found in England. Irene Helms contributed the information found in section 4.9, as a result of her research. The numerous interactions with the overall Helms research team over recent years has contributed to the depth and completeness to this study.
The data includes neighbors and allied families which are found; especially those with intermarriages in early Colonial times. To some extent, the initial allied families of the North Carolina Helms families which settled in Anson Co., NC in about 1750 have been searched but this section is devoted to looking at it from the English perspective. Some attention has been given to other Helm/Helms etc lines known to have been here in Colonial times. See "Other Helms" section in the NC Helms website. To view this section click here. Please use your browser "back button" to return here. Some attention is being paid to families who were associated with or located close to Helmes/Elmes, etc being studies in England, Scotland and Ireland. So far, little attention has paid to Wales even though the NC Helms were supposed to have gone to Carolina with the Welsh.
Credit for collecting this information largely due to the work of Mrs. Susan (Helme) Grimshaw and Irene Helm. In this paper, the collections are grouped using a locality structure. This research is a continuing effort and revisions will be made as new information is developed. No attempt is made herein to determine a specific trace of the NC Helms as it has been found to be extremely difficult to make the linkages involved. Thus this information is for exploratory use only.

1.1 Introduction

Some effort has been made to trace the English roots for these people on a selective basis. This set starts with America, where we are looking for the initial steps into this country more so than filling in the genealogies through the years. We would like to determine the English roots, if they exist, for these families. These are selected data items which relate to the primary families which we are searching to link to other places of origin. These data have been placed in sections for particular source places as much as possible, recognizing that people often interact with other places and with persons from other places. Thus, these items are simply placed in groups which seem to be appropriate by place. This has been exploratory since the actual place of entry and the path to the final settlement place here is not known with any certainty.

As will be seen, the American data is scarce for these immigrants. A pervasive problem has been the loss of records for a number of key places.

Helm/Helme, Helms/Elmes, and families with other spellings have been found in early American records. The sources for these people were quite varied from England, Scotland, and Ireland; Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Holland and probably others, as the basic Helm name is like Smith and was used in a number of countries. The justification for including the Elmes is beyond the scope of this write up. Simply stated we have been led to believe by English Sources that the Helme and Elmes be considered the same. And, often, Helmes are reported as Holme, mostly because of hand writing quirks, but also because of regional pronouncing effects, where a spelling like Helmes is rendered as "Ohlmes" in some sections of England. An example is Christopher Helmes of RI whose father is listed as Wm Elmes of Long Sutton, England. See pa 69, below.

General Data Items:

LISTS OF EMIGRANTS TO AMERICA 1600 - 1700, HOTTEN

Page 134, RICHARD ELMES aboard the John of London bound for St Christopher.

In the Planter, being transported to New England RODOLPHUS ELMES, aged 15,
10 Apr 1635. (This would be the Rodulphus from Gillingham,Dorsetshire.).

THE ROYAL DESCENTS OF 500 IMMIGRANTS TO THE AMERICAN COLONIES OR THE UNITED STATES by Gary Boyd Roberts

The following at this point of history are numbered in line to the throne

1. John Lackford, King of England d 1216 = Isabel of Angoulem?
2. Richard Plantagent
3 Richard de Cornwall

and it goes on

12 Alice St John = EDMUND ELMES
13 Elizabeth ELMES = Sir Edward Apsley
14 Alice Apsley = (1) Sir John Boteler (Butler) and (2) George Fenwick (1`603_1656/7) a colonist, a founder of Saybrook, Conn

Note attached saying see Visitations of Northamptonshire 1564 and 1618_19
(1887) Padge 18 (Elmes). Therefore these must be the Northampton Elmes.

FILBY MEYER SUPPLEMENT ,1999

George Helmes _ America _ 1724 ref 1220 11 p 380
Henry Helmes _ America _ 1730 ref 1220 11 p380

1220 = Coldham _ Complete book of immigrants in bondage 1614 _ 1778, Baltimore.

Elizabeth Elmes _ America _ 1742, ref 1220 11 p26
Mary Helmes, Barbados, 1664 ref 1220 11 p 260
Robert Elmes _ America, 1722 ref 1220 11 p260
Thomas Elmes _ Virginia 1721, ref 1220 11 p261
Edward Elmes _ America 1725, 1220 11 p 260
Samuel Elmes _ USA 1733 1220 11 p260

ENGLISH WILLS OF COLONIAL FAMILIES by Noel Currer_Briggs. Couldn't find any Helmes/Elmes _ didn't have time to look for related families.

Brian Rhodes, a correspondent in Lancashire, England, .has provided Mormon data surname indexes on the following families that include some associated names for whom there is data.

Sutton and Cox
Rouse and Card
Rouse and Spencer
Rouse and Sutton
Clarke/Rouse/Webb
Rouse/Meek
Rouse/Broughton
Andrew Presley Rhodes
Sutton/Bowman
Sutton/Denwood/Maclain/Washington/Williams/Wright
Sutton/Clarke
Sutton/Vaughan
Meade/Lindsay/Neal
All of those names are associated with our work

Intellectual Reserve, Inc has provided a synopsis of the 1880 US Census, from which a list of the Helm/Helms, etc who listed their origination place as being in England and Ireland have been abstracted. This is from the 1880 United States Census - National Index.

This is beyond the scope of our fundamental search from about 1600 to 1750 when the North Carolina Helms were settled. However, the list shows that the stream of Helm/Helms, etc. coming here from England and Ireland continued into the 1800's. Their settling places probably indicate the phases of westward migrations or new territories, as the inhabited nation was enlarged.

By State Census, and country of origin, the list is as follows:

From England:

Name, Relationship, Year, Gender. Race, Birthplace, State Census
HELM, Fannie S., Wife, 1842, F, W, ENGL. CA
HELM, Fanny, Wife, 1845, F, W, ENGL. CA
HELM, John, Other, 1842, M, W, ENGL, CA
HELMS, Kate, Wife, 1851, F, W ENGL, CA

HELM, Thomas, Self, 1845, M, W, ENGL, CO
____, James, Self, 1843, M, W, ENGL, IA
HELME, John, Self, 1811, M, W, ENGL, IL
HELM, John, Self, 1819, M, W, ENGL, IL
HELM John, Self, 1823, M, W, ENGL, IL
HELM, Margrett, Wife, 1847, F,W ENGL, IL
HELM, Rachel, Self, 1830, F,W ENGL, IL
HELM, William, Brother, 1828, M, W, ENG,L IL
HELM, William, Other, 1844, M, W, ENGL, KY
HELM, Thomas, Self, 1816, M, W, ENGL, KS
HELM, Thomas, Other, 1818, M, W, ENGL, MI
HELM, William, Self, 1839, M, W, ENGL, MI
HELMS, Gracy E., Wife, 1849, F,W ENGL, MO
HELM, Ann, Wife, 1841, F, W ENGL, NJ
HELM, Louisa, Dau, 1869, F, W ENGL, NJ
HELM, Thomas, Self, 1840, M, W, ENGL, NJ
HELMS, Annie, Wife, 1831, F, W ENGL, NY
HELM, Eliza, Wife, 1811, F, W ENGL, NY
HELM, Thos. Self, 1820, M, W, ENGL, NY
HELM, William, Other, 1833, M, W, ENGL, NY
HELM, Celia, Wife, 1846, F, W ENGL, OH
HELM, Harriot, Wife, 1817, F, W ENGL, OH
HELM, Daniel, Self, 1843, M, W, ENGL, PA
HELM, Edw., Self, 1852, M, W, ENGL, PA
HELM, Hugh, Self, 1810, M, W, ENGL, PA
HELM, Hugh, Self, 1837, M, W, ENGL, PA
HELM, Jas., Self, 1849, M, W, ENGL, PA
HELM, Thomas J., Self, 1847, M, W, ENGL, PA
HELME, George, Self, 1845, M, W, ENGL, RI
HELME, Hannah, Wife, 1846, F, W, ENGL, RI
HELM, Maria, Aunt, 1827, F, W, ENGL, RI
HELME, Whitehead, Self, 1848, M, W, ENGL, RI
HELM, Elizabeth, Wife, 1833, F, W, ENGL, UT
HELM, Emily, Wife, 1845, F, W, ENGL, UT
HELM, Jane, Self, 1850, F, W, ENGL, UT
HELM, Thomas B., Self, 1834, M, W, ENGL, UT
HELM, John, Self, 1837, M, W, ENGL, WI

For Ireland the same list is as follows:

Name, Relationship, Year, Gender. Race, Birthplace, State Census
HELMES, Sarah, Wife, 1845, F, W, IREL, IL
HELM, Fannie, Wife, 1860, F, W, IREL IN
HELM, Julia, Wife, 1842, F, W, IREL MT
HELM, Ellen, Wife, 1825, F, W, IREL NY
HELME, Lawrence, Self, 1827, M, W, IREL NY HELMS,
_____, Mary, Wife, 1838, F, W, IREL NYC
HELME, Christina, Wife, 1842, F, W, IREL NY
HELM, Barton, Other, 1852, M, W, IREL NY
HELM, Leslie, Other, 1855, M, W, IREL NY
HELM, Lester, Other, 1857, M, W, IREL NY
HELM, Anna, Wife, 1845, F, W, IREL PA
HELM, Catharine, Wife, 1850, F, W, IREL PA
ELM, Margeret, Wife, 1850, F, W, IREL PA
ELM, Mary, Wife, 1811, F, W, IREL PA

Excerpts from:
1880 United States Census - National Index Copyright (c) 2000 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved
HELMs and HOLMEs in Filby Meyer Passenger and Immigration Lists and other source documents.
These are listings for HELM(s) and HOLMEs (some of which are definitely Helmes).
Some comments are interwoven to relate the person with our studies wherever possible.
Thomas Helm (Age unknown) from Barbados, 1679 Ref 3283 Page 502 with servants 3283 This is from John Camden Hotten - The Original Lists of Persons of Quality - also published by Baltimore Publishing in 1974. It is believed that this Thomas went to Maryland. However, we have not identified him just yet. It should be mentioned that thousands went from the Caribbean to the mainland from the 1600's to the 1700's, while only approximately one year of ships passenger data is available, the rest being lost, so the few available should not be over emphasized.

Christian Helm (age unknown) America 1786 ref 2883 Page 47 2883 from Charles M Hall "Pal-Index". A Surname Index of Eighteen Century Immigrants. Salt Lake City: Global Research Systems 1979.

John Helm (age unknown) Maryland 1662 ref 8510 Page 220 8510 Gust Skordas "The Early Settlers of Maryland: An Index to Names of Immigrants, Compiled from Records of Land Patents 1638 - 1680 in the Hall of Records Annapolis, Maryland (Baltimore 1968) We have found this John Helme in Charles County, Md. He was indentured to John Meeks and died in MD in 1666. He was survived by his wife Penelope, who administered his estate. There were also records for a second John Helme in Maryland from about 1667 to 1674, when he sold a place there, possibly signifying leaving.

We have another John Helme in Jamestown Colony and certified as a survivor of the Indian attacks with a wife and small child.

HOLMES
George Holme (age unknown) Leeward Islands 1730 2144 page 34 His port of entry is not known. If this is a George Helmes he would be a possible HELMS immigrant candidate.

Robert Holme age 22 Barbados and/or St Christopher 1634 ref 1672 Page 99 also mentioned again in 8835 Page 347
Also Rob Holme Age 22 St Christopher 1634 ref 1674 Page 99
We have several Robert Helmes/Elmes from Gillingham, Dorset. Persons with that name did migrate to New England. However the Robert there is listed as ELMES. Which may be legitimate, as the English considered Helme and Elme to be the same.
The "H" before a vowel like "E" is sometimes not sounded in certain regions of England. (Similarly a true Holmes might be pronounced "Olms".)
Thomas Holme, Maine 1651-1652 9143 Page 147

Capt Holmes, Jamestown, Va, 1624, ref 720 Page 42 also mentioned again 1623, ref 720 Page 25 This is possibly the Helms who had a ship.

Christiana Holmes, San Francisco with child, 1851, ref 7158 Page 128 Obadiah Holmes, Salem, Mass 16239, ref 1936 Page 148 again in 1639 ref 9448, Page 38. This is a true Holmes, his background is known in NJ.

Richard Holmes, Age 24, Barbados, 1624 ref 1672 Page 100 mentioned again in 1634, ref 1674 page 100
mentioned again in 1634, ref 8835 Page 348 mentioned again age 25 Maryland 6179 Page 95

The following five HOLMES might possibly be the line of Major Thomas Helmes and Sarah his wife of Barbados, except that both were dead by those dates, as was their son, Thomas, per the Mother's will.
There was a concurrent John Helme on Barbados who could have had a son, Thomas.
There are other possibilities; see the lists in this paper.

Sarah Holmes, Maryland 1667, ref 8510 Page 234
Thomas Holmes, Maryland, 1663 ref 8510 Page 234
ditto Maryland, 1665 ref 8510 Page 234
ditto Maryland 1666 ref " " "
ditto " 1671 " " "
ref 8510 was Skordas again.

Xtopr Holmes (latin for Christopher) Virginia, 1664 ref 7220, Page 430
Thomas Holme Barbados 1654 - 1663 ref: 943 Page 62
Bristol and America: A Record of the First Settlers of the Colonies of
North America 1654 - 1685. Reprint Baltimore Publishing Co 1967

Thomas Holme, Delaware, 1682, ref 248 Page 36

George Holmes, Barbados, 1699, ref 1223, Page 74

Henry Holmes, Barbados, 1679, ref 3283, Page 495 (Wife _o_o_o_na)

Henry Holmes, Barbados, with servants, 1680, ref: 3283, Page 479

Henry Holmes, Jamaica, 1685, ref 2524, Page 114.

Each of the Holmes above need to be further identified and placed here.

Data has been gathered for selected American Colonies, as follows:

 

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