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BACKGROUND STUDIES
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3.0 Caribbean 3.01 Intro, General The English Caribbean Island Colonies figured strongly in English Colonization. Notably, numerous mentions of Helme.Elme, etc are found in records there. The focus of the following, by Colony, belies the administrative integration of those colonies, where common administration and much interlocking occurred. Thus, we find mentions of people in multiple places. Perhaps they had holdings in several places , but not necessarily, and mentions in a particular island colony do not necessarily mean holdings there. Numerous intermarriages occurred among the families there, across the board. Caribbeana Herewith some snippets from Caribbeana IV. This is a mix of Island Colonies which were closely linked. See later items by each Island Colony. Mr George Elmes died at Duncan's, Jamaica July 1796. Wills recorded in Barbados 1736 Benjamin Elmes Those had been missed in earlier studies. Court of Chancery _ Antigua To the Hon Coll Edward Powell, Governor and Chancellor. Petition of Wm Helmes, merchant. Jonas Langford names. Ref to a letter of 20.2.1680/81 ordering coppers. List of Inhabitants and Whites and Blacks of Monserrat in 1729 referred to in Col Mathew's letter of 28.5.1730:_ John Madden, Planter. 1 house, no women, 1 white dau under 14, 1 negro male, 1 negro female, two negro girls, 1/2 acre of land cultivated, 2 acres uncultivated, 2 hoggs, 1 firearm. John Madden was in St George's or Windward District. P229 _ SWYMMER of Jamaica Will of Anthony Swymmer of City of Bristol, Esq., late resident in the Island of Jamaica and now bound thither again. Mentions Meredith Davies of Bristol, merchant, who lived with him in Jamaica. Witness by Tho Langton, Wm Jones, Wm Meredith, Wm Brayne, John Sellwood. Proved 13.10.1688. Barbados Wills The Hite listings are interesting in the light of earlier Hites in Western Va. Why now in Barbados? The 1694 mention of Falkonborough is very interesting, indeed. See also the separate Topical on the Falkenburgs. It is possible that the origin of Falkenburgs prior to immigration to America is England. See comments elsewhere on Falconberg and Conyers pp 6, 27, 142). Gillingham Record Office had reported: "Mr Conyers bill of account of business done for Mr Thomas Helme of Antigua" dated january 1744, which is discussed later. Smith of Nevis There was a long article on Smith of Nevis which is definitely of interest to us. In 1820s Chantry Orchard was in the hand of William Harris and passed Wm Phipp, Yeo and Wm Bell Gentleman. (Bells were related to the Helmes and The Phipps have a pedigree as long as your arm and are spread throughout the Caribbean). Page 250 (Dutch Island of Saba) Marriages and Deaths from "The Columbian Magazine or Monthly Miscellany published in Kingston Jamaica 1796_1800 Died in November 1798 _ In Kingston, Mr John Duesbury. MARY DEWBERRY, 47, buried 22 March 1773 at St Thomas' Church, Middle Island, St Christopher. The name Dewberry enters in SC genealogy and is the name of one Helme's house in England.. This what was found on CALLENDER Page 160 Clement Bowcher This is what was found on FORSTER This is what was found on FOSTER 3.1 Antigua Conyers -"Mr Conyers bill of account of business done for Mr Thomas Helme of Antigua" dated january 1744. Details amounts spent over 3 pages and at the bottom mentions: ......... of Mr Thos Helme by the hand of Mr Edward Bowman seventy one pounds and ten shillings _ in for ye money paid by me to Mr John Conyers on amount of and in full of this before going Bill and also the sum of ten pounds ten shillings to be paid by and......... etc Also mention John Frederick Pinney. Court of Chancery _ Antigua To the Hon Coll Edward Powell, Governor and Chancellor. Petition of Wm Helmes, merchant. Jonas Langford names. Ref to a letter of 20.2.1680/81 ordering coppers. 3.2 BAHAMAS Land Office on Bay Street in Nassau: 3.3 Barbados There was an interesting Book "Barbados and America" by D. L. Kent. It lists another reference "Memoirs of the First Settlement of the Island of Barbados", by Wm Duke, which lists 758 settlers having over 10 acres. These brought the population to over 20,000 (another source had said 61,000, counting the slaves) where it remained until 1700. Migration to the mainland began in the earliest times and continued up until the Revolution. The first Colonists to MD left England on the Dove 1633 arrived at St. Clements Isl. on the Potomac via Barbados. According to Chandler: "from 1660-1667 some 10,000 people left Barbados, (mainly in the landless class, initially) and four to five thousand more from 1668-1672(mainly in the planter class), and, in 1678-82, 2000 more planters." There was an Act to bring in more servants in 1696 which resulted in 2000 emigres. These were expected to go to the mainland (to "Pennsylvania, Carelena and northern Colonies")where the weather is more temperate, after their indentures. The decay of the sugar trade after 1730 brought many of the planters to South Carolina. In 1655, Friends came from England, and in 1671 George Fox organized a "Society" there. In the early 1700's, there were Meeting Houses at Bridgetown, Speight's Town, The Spring, The thickets, Pumpkin Hill, and Heathcote's Bay. The Migration of Quakers later are abstracted in "Quaker Arrivals at Philadelphia 1682-1750" by A. C. Myers. M. P. Thompson said: " There was constant trade in early times with Barbados..." in one week in 1692, there were 4 ships from Barbados at Portsmouth, NH, with cargoes of rum, sugar, salt, and English goods-it is interesting that tobacco was not in the list. I think it highly likely that the mainland Helms were into this trade. Kent says that a small colony sprung up in NJ at New Barbados Neck in Bergen Co. Capt. Wm Standford patented a 15,000 a. tract, now called New Barbados, in 1668. R. L. Bowen is quoted as saying that "The connection between Barbados and RI was extremely close. Many had brothers or kinsmen among the settlers at Barbados and there was constant migration of families between the two places." RI exported timber, pipe staves, salt fish, cheese, horses, etc. and imported sugar, and molasses, which were made into New England rum. Pa and VA also had trade with Barbados. Intermarriage and business relations between families residing in Barbados and in the colonies was common. Kent says the Barbados imprint was deepest in the Carolinas. The Cape Fear settlement is well known, see "Colonial Records of North Carolina." That settlement broke up in 1667., the people going to Albemarle and Nansemond Co. in VA, along with people from New England. The Port Royal settlement in 1670 moved to the Charleston, SC site, in 1680. That province was divided into the same seven parishes as in Barbados. A driver for the exit of planters from Barbados was that the government of the Restoration had questioned the planters land titles in Barbados. Colonial trade was theoretically stopped by Continental association Act in 1774, but it really did not. Trade centers continued at: Annapolis, Boston, Norfolk, New London, NY, New Port, Philadelphia, Portsmouth, NH, Williamsburg, and Cape fear and several districts in VA. In 1874, J. C. Hotten compiled a list of the early families of the Continental colonies coming from Barbados. that was augmented by the 1715 Barbados Census which is included in Kent's book, from which the various Helmes/Elmes entries were largely drawn. Many of the records in Barbados were lost in hurricanes, neglect. and deterioration. The 1715 census had been saved in England. Passenger lists of Barbados immigrants and emigrants are available in "A Bibliography of Ship Passenger Lists 1538-1825", by H. Lancour and R. J. Wolfe, for which there is a supplement that is available at the Dept of Archives in Barbados. Kent indicates that an important Bibliographic Finding Aid is "A Guide to Source Materials for the Study of Barbados History-1627-1834", by J. S. Chandler. Richard Dutton was Governor of Barbados in 1681 - is this the family from whom Dutton Helmes got his name? See also Duttons in London In the book "Omitted Chapters, from Hottens", Major John Helmes is listed as owning 200 acres of land among the most 'Eminent Planters' in Barbados as of 1673. Notes during a Visit to Barbados Record Office in 1994: 31.5.1679 John Helmes in the Ketch Nicholas and Rebecca for New York.Nicholas Blake, Comander time out. List of Emigrants to America _ Parish Records 20.12.1679 Thomas Helmes, Maj Immigrants to America 1718 _ 1759 Thomas Elam, St Andrews, Holborn, Labourer. Mother: Ann Sellers
SF. George Allam, Elland, Yorks Helmes in the Census of Barbados 1679/80 Census Oct/Nov 1715 Marriages 1643 _ 1800 Burials _ Anglican Other Barbados data: BMHS Vol 9 Page 100 MAJOR THOMAS HELME of St James, Barbados, sells to Sir Timothy Thornhill,Bart, of St James, Barbados, all his lands and buildings situate in Towne of Speights Bay, alias Little Bristol, Dated 15 Oct 1683 Thomas Helme BMS Vol 15 Page 72 Judith Porter 22 Nov 1665 (Hene 129) B'dos. My husband Capt. Willm Porter my estate till my son Willm Pinney is 21. Sister Eliz. Shewell. Brother William Yate of Colthroppe, Glos., Capt THOS HELMES of B'dos.Wits: Thos, Mary and _o_o_o_na Evans, John Hickes. Proved 1668. Close Roll 22, Ch2, Pt 7, No 34 Pinney v Porter > Extract from Wills Volume II, Page 197 Coll John Netheway, Governor of Nevis, 25 July 1691 (Frane 171). My
sister in law Anna widow of Mathew Hanscombe living in London etc etc.
Friends Capt Walter Simonds, Capt William Helmes, Capt John Standley,
Daniel Smith + 5 (first 4 overseers/). Proved at London. SARAH HELME widow MAJOR THOS HELME 4 Sept 1681 RB6/8, Page 531 William Wilson, planter Wf _ xtrx, 4 chn, 1 son and 3 dau, friend Capt Morras Helme and
his wf _ BARABY HOLMES (Obvously Helmes, from other references) I BARNABY HOLMES (Helmes) of the Island of Barbados, Gent, being
by the grace of God, bound of for the Kingdom of England and considering
as well the eminent perils of a sea voyage as also the uncertainty of
Human Life, for the disposal of such worldly estate as it hath pleased
Almighty God to bless me with in this world, do hereby make and declare
my last will and testament as followeth Edwyn Steder A List of West Indian Deeds on the Close Rolls 1661 -1800 (these are kept in PRO London - appear to be property transactions, but does not state what the land was called or exactly where it was) Thomas Elmes by Thomas Martin, Elizabeth his wife, Mary Crooke, John Martin, Ashton Warner - Antigua 1741 ( Ref 6-4 95). Mary Crooke, widow and Thomas Elmes Junior, Antigua 1741 (B1) Henry Sandys and Thomas Smith - Bermudas 1674 (15) Marriages in Jamaica Heraldry of St John's Church, Fig Tree, Nevis Memorial Inscription - ST John's Fig Tree, Nevis Barbados Mercury and Bridgetown Gazette 1805 - 1818 St Ann, Sandy Point, Island of St Christopher Pemberton Pedigree of Nevis and St Christopher Caribbeana - Vol 1 The following families are mentioned in volume 1 and are scattered about in the Caribbean:- BROOM (BROME, BROOME) CROUCH JESSOP (JESSEPP, JESSUP, JESUP) EDE COX READ THORNE (Thorn) MATHEW (METHHEW) MATHEWS (MATTHEWS) PINNEY PORTER WILLOUGHBY WYKE MEREDITH SUTTON BAXTER HILL CHESTER CHUTTERBUCK CHAPMAN BAXTER The following references should be available at the Library of Congress:- 2 Genealogies of Barbados Families (excepts from Caribbeana and the Journals of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society) by Vere Langford Oliver - Baltimore 1983 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUE CARD NO 82 -83586. 3 volumes of The History of the Island of Antigua (London 1894-99) by Vere Langford Oliver. 4 Caribbeana volumes by Vere Langford Oliver - the LOC must have it. Helms neighbors in Barbados HOOPER, ANDREW, TAITT X 2, COX, PRIDEAUX, WALKER, CLARK X 2, GIBBES X 3, MORRIS, PLAT, APPLEWHAM, I CARTER, HAYNE, WORREL, W.CARTER, HARWOOD, ASHFORD, DOWNS, GUBBENS, CLINKET, CAR, BRUAN, WILLIAMS, BLUNT, SPENSER, CARLTON, PAR, MARTINDALE, GOLLOP, LUKE, PARSONS, BRANDON, DARBY, AFRIN, HOLDER, GASKIN, CHAPMAN, HELMS, SKEETE, GAR, ELECOK, TINDEFLY, ADAMS, GIBBES, BANNISTER, DOUNS, CECIL, WALK, ROGERS, SADLIER, SAMPSON, RIDGEWAY, COPLA, BULLARD X 2, HOWARD, ALLAMBY, DAVIS, DOBIN, CALVEN, HARPER, HAM X 2, CANTRELL, ODEL. Note, Chapman, Helms, Skeete in close proximity to each other. We know Aaron Chapman married Christiana Helmes of Gillingham. Didn't I report on Helms in connection with Skeete on another island - I can't find it because I am having trouble locating all the 'e's which I saved before Christmas round about the time I reregistered twice with my ISP. I have the photocopy somewhere of the exact reference from Caribbeana Vol III. We know that the Coxes and the Clarks were related to the Gillingham Helmes. Some excerpts: Genealogies of Barbados Families by Vere Langford Oliver BUTLER/HARRISON/NEILS/WORRELLS The majority of the surnames were also on Barbados and Nevis. Starting with the Butler family of Barbados which we know the Gillingham Helmes were related to: "The Butler families of Nevis of which the more prominent members was Captain Gregory Butler, a commissioner under General Venables c1645, bore arms recorded by Caribbeana ...... Duval records this crest as belonging to the families of the Irish nobility and gives several other crests used by other Butler families. Among these the crest of Butler families of London, Durham and Scotland is that of a covered cup. The Harrison family of Barbados was connected by marriage with both the Worrell and the Butler family". The books went on to show that the Butlers were also on Jamaica. The above Worrell family was from Clifton, Bristol, England and was intermarried with the Neils. (SEE the HELM families of Western Va.) Worrell family tree is on Pages 618 - 635 SKINNERS ROBINS LEE WHITEHALL HARRISON KENDAL Now the Kendal family was connected with the HOTHERSALL family of Barbados. The Hothersall were more than likely related to the Goosnargh Helmes. At the end of their pages it said: See Baines, History of Lancashire. These are none other than the Hothersalls of Hothersall Hall which is situated on the banks of the river just outside of Longridge (near Dutton where James Helm came from in 1730). The Hothersalls were an extremely wealthy gentry family who had to leave the country because of the heavy fines imposed on them because they were Catholic. LEE THOROGOOD OR THOROWGOOD BASKERVILE BASKERVILLE TURNERS PORTERS WASHINGTONS POPE A lot of the above families were intermarried. The Somersets were not found, but in 1608, Edward Somerset was the 3rd Earl of Worcester and lived at Badmington in Avon. There were no Calverts either - in one book it said that George Calvert, Baron Baltimore, planted a colony at Avalon Newfoundland and his son founded Baltimore. The Kerrs owned Floors Castle. The Gibsons were on Barbados. English Wills of Colonial Families by Noel Currer-Briggs Map of Barbados in 1747 HOOPER, ANDREW, TAITT X 2, COX, PRIDEAUX, WALKER, CLARK X 2, GIBBES X 3, MORRIS, PLAT, APPLEWHAM, I CARTER, HAYNE, WORREL, W.CARTER, HARWOOD, ASHFORD, DOWNS, GUBBENS, CLINKET, CAR, BRUAN, WILLIAMS, BLUNT, SPENSER, CARLTON, PAR, MARTINDALE, GOLLOP, LUKE, PARSONS, BRANDON, DARBY, AFRIN, HOLDER, GASKIN, CHAPMAN, HELMES, SKEETE, GAR, ELECOK, TINDEFLY, ADAMS, GIBBES, BANNISTER, DOUNS, CECIL, WALK, ROGERS, SADLIER, SAMPSON, RIDGEWAY, COPLA, BULLARD X 2, HOWARD, ALLAMBY, DAVIS, DOBIN, CALVEN, HARPER, HAM X 2, CANTRELL, ODEL. Note, Chapman, Helme, Skeete in close proximity to each other. Barbados Marriages St Thomas Par., Barbados St James, Barbados Herewith some snippets from Caribbeana IV. Wills recorded in Barbados Additional Barbados Wills MIs in the Churches & Churchyards of the Island of Barbados, British West Indies These are of associated families only. THE MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS IN THE CHURCHES AND CHURCHYARDS OF THE ISLAND OF BARBADOS, BRITISH WEST INDIES by VERE LANGFORD OLIVER ST JAMES CHURCH _ HOLE TOWN No 964 (TOUCHING No 963) YNDER THIS PLACE LYETH BVRIED Robert son of Robert Harrison of Barbados gent, Merton College ( assume this is Oxford or Cambridge), matric 23 October 1705, a. 17. Edward son of Robert Harrison, same date, a 16, adm to Middle Temple
1700 960 Woodward
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ST MICHAEL'S CATHEDRAL, Barbados One odd thing - there were no Porter or Pinney memorials, either. We
know they were there, were extremely wealthy _ were the bodies shipped
home or were they not CofE? MIs _ Barbados _ West Indies _ Vere Langford Oliver, cont. CHAPMAN Family Churchyard ST MICHAEL'S CATHEDRAL No 563 SISNETT No 88 on the north side of the nave are three tablets and one brass: The following will is interesting as it mentions relatives of the Gillingham Helmes: and the Thomas Helme family of Barbados, eg. Egginton. RALPH HOOKER of Barbados, 14 March 1663. proved 27 May 1665. To my good friend and neighbor MRS JUDITH PINNEY eight hundred and twenty one pounds eight shillings and three pence which she oweth me, and also one hundred thousand pounds of Muscovado Sugar. And for the remainder of her debt to me my executors to forbear to call on her for it until February next, excepting only the debt which she owes me as executrix of MR ROBERT CHALLONER deceased, which I desire may be paid this year. To my friends CAPT JEREMY EGGINTON, MR JOHN KNIGHT, MR STEPHEN SPICER, MR JOHN BOWDEON AND MR JOHN SPARKS each a ring with a death's head, value three pounds sterling. To my frend DR PETER LA ROUS fifty pounds sterling to buy himself a ring. To MR JEOFFRIE BODY two thousand pounds of Muscovado Sugar. To EDWARD RUSSELL my servant one half piece dowlas. To my cousin MR JAMES WOODS of London merchant, ten pounds sterling and to his wife ten pounds sterling. To my cousin MRS WOODS relict of my cousin JOHN WOODS five pounds sterling. To my cousing EDWARD HOOKER his children that are alive in England five pounds sterling each. To my cousins ROBERT AND EDWARD BOYS, my cousing SOANE and her sister and my cousin ANNE BOYS to each of them five pounds sterling. (Boys is a name associated with Tennessee in later times.) Item I give and bequeath unto my young cousin PETER BENNETT the son
of RICHARD BENNETT of New England (the which Peter was my own sister's
son) the sum of one hundred pounds sterling, to be paid him when he shall
accomplish the age of eighteen years of age. To my poor kindred in England
one hundred and fifty pounds sterling, to be distributed by my cousin
James Woods, something of it to be given to my AUNT WEBBE her children
of Ottebourne, if any alive, my cousin Edward Hooker of Chilcombe can
inform. For goods consigned by CAPT SAMUEL DAVIS and myself he to make
returns to the principals in London, but not to meddle or intermedle with
any of my other consignations. A reference to goods sold in this island
on account of SIR ANDREW RICCARD and CO. To CAPT DAVIS five pounds sterling
and a horse. To my friend CAPT WILLIAM PORTER ten pounds and a gold had
band and my best baver if he pleases to wear it for my sake. To HUGH LEWIS
three pounds sterling to buy him a ring. My executor to confer with MR
STEPHEN SPICER who is administrator with me about MR JOHN WILLIAMS estated.
Reference to shipments home to MR MICO on account of JOHN WILLIAMS deceased,
_ much more sugar that I have received on account. My executor may employ
MR JEOFFERY BODY on my books and accounts. He knows the acocunts between
MR JOHN KNIGHTS and myself and also about Mr John Wiliams esate, MR JOHN
LEWIS' estate and all athe accounts in my books. My loving cousin John
Hooker now residing in the Island of Barbados, to be sole executor and
my cousin James Woods of London, merchant, to be overseer in trust. Map of Barbados 1747 St Lucy's Parish The Hothersalls were from Ribchester, England and would be known to the Goosnargh Helmes. The Ledgards were from Cumbria. The Fletchers had some of kind of family relationship with the Goosnargh Helmes if it is the same titled Fletcher family from Cumbria. St Lucy's had an interesting combination ie, Starky (Starkie?), Homes (Helms), Brome, Harrison. The Barbados (Gillingham?) Helmes were related to the Harrisons and the Bromes (Brooms) and don't the Starkies turn up with the Helmes in the USA? Barbados Information from [email protected] (Barrie Callinan.) Regarding early Quakers in Barbados: I also found an article written by Clifford Pearce and published in the Journal of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society Vol: XXXV 1978. Below are some `snippets' which may be of interest. "There is now no Quaker Meeting in Barbados but at the begining of the eighteenth century Quakers made up a substantial part of the population of the island. There may well have been 1,200 altogether and they were to be found in every section of the community and some were rich. Persecution in Barbados could have been nearly as fierce as in London..........examination of the papers of the Friends West India Property Committee in the library of Friends House, London has done much to clarify this." Quaker Property about 1700: "By the turn of the eighteenth century Quakers, though already in decline, were a well organized community and the diaries of visitors show what they were like. Thomas Chalkley came many times between 1703 and 1738. Thomas Story in 1709 and again in 1714." [In another article by Henry J. Cadbury he writes that "George Fox came to Barbados in 1671 (stayed 3 months) and promptly arranged for women's meetings." There are at least 190 Quakeress names listed and several men in another list. Six Meeting Places are also mentioned namely....Plantation Meeting, Thicketts and Clift Meeting, Winward Meeting, Bridge Meeting, Spring Meeting and Champion Ground Meeting.] The great Decline, 1700 to 1763: "John Smith visited the island in 1741_2 and noted that few Quakers remained and his impression is confirmed by Edmund Peckover in 1743.""Monthly Meetings ceased in 1760. It cannot be emphasized too strongly how important that was. In a Society where legitimacy of business depends so much upon open meetings, it is important to know precisely who is and who is not a member, and any Quaker anywhere can point to a minute of some Monthly Meeting to establish his status. No one born in Barbados after 1760 could have had any formal membership and consequently could not participate in Quaker decision making or serve on a Quaker trust. Therefore, from about 1760 approximately a century after its inception, the Society of Friends on Barbados had ceased to exist as an organized body." The article goes on to explain what happened to the Quaker property and to some of the members who remained and died there. MONUMENTAL INSCRIPTIONS IN THE CHURCHES AND CHURCHYARDS OF THE ISLAND
OF St Michael's Cathedral No 16 is the Crisp family of Kent, England. There are also several Yates family members mentioned (the Yates family were related to the Barbados Helmes)._ No 19 is the Withers Family. This was passed on to Janie Elms Matthews. No 26 No 41 No 52 At the east end:_ At the south Side:_ No 70 No 77 No 78 No 97 No 127 No 203 No 211 No 283 No 284 No 285 NO 292 Vault No 294 No 323 No 334 No 340 No 342 No 412 No 417 No 422 No 428 No 477 No 545 No 562 NO 565 NO 596 No 597 St Paul's Chapel, Bridgetown
No 662 St Paul's Churchyard No 694 No 735 St George's No 871 No 894 No 808 NO 910 ST James's Holetown Sir Adam L. of Stoke Milburgh, co Salop, was created a Baronet in 1642 and dying circa 1647 was succeeded by his eldest son Sir Thos., who di 1681; father of Sir Tho., Speaker, who d. sp in 1710 (Burke's Extinct peerage) Edward L. was agent for the Island in 1691 (Oldmixon, ii, 46). NO 964 MAJOR EDWARD HARRISON borne at Burnenson in ye county of Darby (Derby?) and died 16 Feb 1669 aged 63 yrs. (Another Merton College/Middle Temple family!) No 965 GIBBES/COLLINS Holder's Plantation Thorpe's Plantation Porter's Plantation St Peter's Speightstown No 1026 The KNIGHT family and BURCH family. St Philip's Halton's Plantation St Lucy's Church Wills 1681 _ 1700 _ Barbados SARAH HELME widow St James Parish, 17.10.1694, RB6/11, Page 216 MAJOR THOS HELME William Wilson, planter St Peters Parish, 4 May 1681, RB6/14 Page 230 Wf _ xtrx, 4 chn, 1 son and 3 dau, friend Capt Morras Helme and
his wf _ BARABY HOLMES (also spelled Helmes) bound for England 2 May 1683 RB6/40, Page 210 My mo; eldest bro Thomas Holmes and Margaret Holmes* his wife; bro John
Holmes; William Chester, Dorothy Chester, and Elizabeth Chester all at
21 or marriage, son and daus of bro in law William Chester (also spelled
Shester) and born of my sis Sarah Chester* his wf; cousin Samuel Wiseman;
bro and sis Mary Helmes*; Capt John Mills; Rosamond Harrison 40 lbs sterling
for a diamond ring; the next ch of bro Thomas; bro Thomas Holmes _ I BARNABY HOLMES of the Island of Barbados, Gent, being by the grace
of God, bound of for the Kingdom of England and considering as well the
eminent perils of a sea voyage as also the uncertainty of Human Life,
for the disposal of such worldly estate as it hath pleased Almighty God
to bless me with in this world, do hereby make and declare my last will
and testament as followeth Edwyn Steder In "The Chesters of Chicheley" Page 92 Elizabeth dau of William Duncombe; occ widow 1562 married Robert Waller of Beaconsfield d.1545. They had Edmund Waller of Coleshill Bucks who married Cecily Bal who were married at Amersham 7 Oct 1555 and Edmund Waller was buried 10 April 1603. Edmund Waller had a sister Catherine Waller (died 1572) who married Hugh Pope, cit. and haberdasher of London. Will dated 22 Nov 1562 proved 14 Jan 1562_3. Catherine Waller remarried Sir Henry Boteler, Knight, of Hatfield, Woodhall, marrying on 26 July 1563. Catherine Waller and Sir Henry Boteler Kt, had Elizabeth Boteler who married on 24 October 1589 Sir Anthony Chester Bart of Chicheley. The Hampens and the Wallers were also married into the Cave families and the Tomkins. So this pedigree links Chester/Waller/Boteler. The Caves were also related to the Westons who were English knights. Pages 168 _ 171 Francis Chester lice her sisters Diana, Elizabeth and Ruperta received a marriage portion of £400 under the Settlement of 1646. She married in 1666 SAMUEL WISEMAN Esq of Barbados. They had no issue and he was buried at St Michael's Bridgetown Barbados on 2 Feb 1691_2. His widow Francis long survived him and inherited in 1696 an annuity of £50 per annum by the Will of her nephew William Chester of Barbados. Francis' brother, Petyone Chester was born at Blunham Bedfordshire _ bapt 9 Mar 1635_6. He was educated at St John's College Cambridge and was admitted to Gray's Inn and Inner Temple. He went to the exiled court at Brussels (Belgium) and returned to England with his royal master in the Restoration. He will states he wanted to be buried beside his sister Diana Chester. WILLIAM CHESTER the fourth son of SIR ANTHONY CHESTER and Elizabeth Peyton, was baptised at Chicheley on 10 July 1639 and was destined from boyhood to a mercantile life, for in the Settlement of 16646 his father set aside £300 for him to bind him Prentice and to raise him a Stock. He was bound apprentice for 8 yrs on 19 Nov 1656 to Robert Wilding, citizen and haberdasher of London. Robert W was also Colonel of the Tower Hamlets Regiment in 1660. .... Soon after the restoration, William Chester was enabled by the returning property of his family to cancel his indenture and to emigrate to Barbados, which loyal colony was then frequented by many cadets of Cavalier families in search of fortune. he traded there as a merchant with great success and acquired large estates in the island. He resided in the parish of St James, Bridgetown, and married SARAH dau of MAJOR THOMAS HELMES of Barbados, who survived him. He died at the end of 1687 soon after make his will. William Chester's will is dated23 Nov 1697. To his wife Sarah
all his household good. To 3 young children, Dorothy, Elizabeth and Anthony
Chester £4000 each to be paid to my said daus at 18 and to my son
at 21.
William Chester of Barbados had issue: 3 children, Sarah, Thomas
and Henry who died in infancy. Doroth Chester married after her father's
death. Elizabeth Chester married at Bridgetown 24 Feb 1697_8 Captain John Nanfan, Lieut_Governor of New York. He was the nephew of Bridges Nanfan Esq of Birts Morton in Worcestershire, whose only child Catherine was the wife of Richard Coote, Earl of Bellamont. The Earl had been selected by William III in 1696 for the government of New York as being a man of resolution and integrity. Anthony Chester was born in 1686 and survived his father, but died young before his brother William. Sarah, the widow of William Chester and mother of his children, married secondly JOHN EGGINGTON Esq of Barbados and had a dau Elizabeth born before 1696, but she died before 14 March 1703_4 when the Will was proved by her husband. William Chester the son and heir of William and Sarah Chester of Barbados, scarcely lived to enjoy the great estate left to him by his father. He was born 17 Oct 1675 and died on 17 Oct 1696 on the very day of his coming of age. He was buried at St James, Bridgetown on the next day. His will is dated 14 October 1696.... to my mother SARAH EGINTON £1000; to my father in law JOHN EGINGTON Esq £1000; to my sister ELIZABETH EGINTON £1000 at 18 or marriage; to my nephew JAMES BUTLER £1000 at 21; to my niece SARAH BUTLER £1000 at 18 or marriage; to my kinsman HENRY CHESTER gent £1000 to my aunt MARY CLUTTERBUCK, widow of CAPT TOBIAS CLUTTERBUCKE £500; to my aunt FRANCIS WISEMAN widow £50 a year for her life; to my Aunt Ruperta CONEY £50 a year for her life; to the Honourable FRANCES BOND Esq and Elizabeth his wife £100 for mourning.... Sarah Eginton my negro slaves........ mentions Col Abel Alleyne ........ residue to my sister DOROTH BUTLER with remainder to her son JAMES BUTLER ... menitons CHARLES NICHOLAS EYRE. Excutor was JOHN EGGINGTON. There is a Mills connections with the Caribbean Helmes _ it is as follows:_ BARABY HOLMES (also spelled Helmes) bound for England 2 May 1683 RB6/40, Page 210 My mo; eldest bro Thomas Holmes and Margaret Holmes* his wife; bro John
Holmes; William Chester, Dorothy Chester, and Elizabeth Chester all at
21 or marriage, son and daus of bro in law William Chester (also spelled
Shester) and born of my sis Sarah Chester* his wf; cousin Samuel Wiseman;
bro and sis Mary Helmes*; Capt John Mills; Rosam and Harrison 40
lbs sterling for a diamond ring; the next ch of bro Thomas; bro Thomas
Holmes _ Xtr signed Baraby Helme Barbados I have gone through my Barbados info and Medford's this morning and I convinced that the Thomas Helmes on Barbados are the Gillingham Helmes. The Reads/Reids witnessed the land transactions between Thornhill and Helmes. The Thornhill / Thornhull family came from Dorset. Wills - Porter - mentions Pinney and Capt Thomas Helmes of Barbados. Phipps late of St Kitts mentions Eliz Porter of London and Capt Thomas Helmes. Medford made the Pinney Helme connection on Barbados and he did try to point everyone in the direction of Dorset. A Study Bob Law's Porter info and Chapman and Broom info shows a possible link with Moses Helm of Bedford Va. and Gillingham. Worcester Record Office may hold the key for us. Virginia Records 1. There is a William Helmes in the Barbados records who witnessed the 1679 will of Sir George Hurst. Also mentioned in the will is Lady Willoughby Yeomans. She is the daughter of Baronet John Yeomans (also called Col John Yeomans) _ he made out a will in May of 1671 (not proved until December 1674), when he was "embarking to the Province of Carolina." Also mentioned in the will was his son Robert Yeomans, Thomas Jones, Henry Jones and a Mrs. Standford. John Yeomans owned substantial land holdings and a ship named Hopewell. Willoughby Yeomans was likely a Willoughby ancestor in her near past. Also remember that the Willoughby's settled in Norfolk Co, Va. 2. On 8/14/1692, John Broome (In other records he is called Major John Broome) is mentioned in the will of Col Samuel Tidcombe _ the listing is "my nephew, John Broome and his sister Priscilla Yeomans, wife of Robert Yeomans." Note: Tidcombe was part owner of ship named Saldado. 3. On May 26, 1645, Roger Neathway married Margaret Peterkins in Chris Church Parish, Barbados 4. There are dozens of entries in the Barbados records for various Willoughbys _ including several for Thomas and numerous Littleton entries. Listed below are some Presley, Broome, and Standiford/Standford listings from Barbados. (That would be an English Pressley line rather than a derivative of the German Preslar line thought pt have been a line leading to Helms marriages in NC.) We have also seen data for English Pressleys in Cecil Co., MD. Also recall the Helms marriages to Broomes in NC.
Related material: PRESLEY: STANDIFORD/STANDFORD RALPH HOOKER of Barbados, 14 March 1663. proved 27 May 1665. To my good friend and neighbor MRS JUDITH PINNEY eight hundred and twenty one pounds eight shillings and three pence which she oweth me, and also one hundred thousand pounds of Muscovado Sugar. And for the remainder of her debt to me my executors to forbear to call on her for it until February next, excepting only the debt which she owes me as executrix of MR ROBERT CHALLONER deceased, which I desire may be paid this year. To my friends CAPT JEREMY EGGINTON, MR JOHN KNIGHT, MR STEPHEN SPICER, MR JOHN BOWDEON AND MR JOHN SPARKS each a ring with a death's head, value three pounds sterling. To my frend DR PETER LA ROUS fifty pounds sterling to buy himself a ring. To MR JEOFFRIE BODY two thousand pounds of Muscovado Sugar. To EDWARD RUSSELL my servant one half piece dowlas. To my cousin MR JAMES WOODS of London merchant, ten pounds sterling and to his wife ten pounds sterling. To my cousin MRS WOODS relict of my cousin JOHN WOODS five pounds sterling. To my cousing EDWARD HOOKER his children that are alive in England five pounds sterling each. To my cousins ROBERT AND EDWARD BOYS, my cousing SOANE and her sister and my cousin ANNE BOYS to each of them five pounds sterling. Item I give and bequeath unto my young cousin PETER BENNETT the son of RICHARD BENNETT of New England (the which Peter was my own sister's son) the sum of one hundred pounds sterling, to be paid him when he shall accomplish the age of eighteen years of age. To my poor kindred in England one hundred and fifty pounds sterling, to be distributed by my cousin James Woods, something of it to be given to my AUNT WEBBE her children of Ottebourne, if any alive, my cousin Edward Hooker of Chilcombe can inform. For goods consigned by CAPT SAMUEL DAVIS and myself he to make returns to the principals in London, but not to meddle or intermedle with any of my other consignations. A reference to goods sold in this island on account of SIR ANDREW RICCARD and CO. To CAPT DAVIS five pounds sterling and ahorse. To my friend CAPT WILLIAM PORTER ten pounds and a gold had band an my best baver if he pleases to wear it for my sake. To HUGH LEWIS three pounds sterling to buy him a ring. My executor to confer with MR STEPHEN SPICER who is administrator with me about MR JOHN WILLIAMS estated. Reference to shipments home to MR MICO on account of JOHN WILLIAMS deceased, _ much more sugar that I have received on account. My executor may employ MR JEOFFERY BODY on my books and accounts. He knows the acocunts between MR JOHN KNIGHTS and myself and also about Mr John Wiliams esate, MR JOHN LEWIS' estate and all athe accounts in my books. My loving cousin John Hooker now residing in the Island of Barbados, to be sole executor and my cousin James Woods of London, merchant, to be overseer in trust. Wit; JOHN HAWKESWORTH, JOSIAS COX, JOHN WATKINS (The Richard Bennett referred to in the above will, said by Savage to have been of Salem in 1638, afterwards of Boston, had a wife Sybil, the mother of his children whose maid name is here shown to be HOoker, and a second wife Margaret. His will was proved at Boston 8 Sep 1677. In it he mentions grandchild _o_o_o_na Bennett, dau of son Peter, wife Margaret Bennett, son JONAS CLARKE and _o_o_o_ne his wife and cousin Anthony Bennet of Bass River, New England. (Suffolk probate registry)." |
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