Hunterdon County Query
| Surname: HELMS | |
I am searching for more detail on Thomas Helms who once owned "Helms Mill" at Hacketstown, NJ, in 1764, and who died in Sussex Co., NJ in 1772. He is thought to have returned to NJ from NC where he made a NC Deed in about 1749. He left NC about 1750, and was unheard of thereafter. He is supposed to have had brothers Tilman, George, and Jonathan Helms who may have left with him from Old Bethlehem TWP, Hunterdon, Co. in about 1747, on a wagon trip to NC through the Shenandoah Valley of Va. It has been reported that the area in which they were in in NJ was a German Mennonite community. Thomas' father was probably John or Johan Helms who may have come with Thomas to NJ from Germany about 1738. Alternatively, the family may have been English, and coming here from Ireland. Alternatively the Helms may have just passed thru England/Ireland. We also are looking for John Helms in NJ c. 1740. John and his wife may have been lost due to Indian attacks or floods in western MD/VA. in about 1747-49. A Moses Helms may have been a brother of Thomas. Their names appear together in Court in Cecil Co., MD, in 1740, where Thomas appeared as a witness. Moses and Thomas Helms came to NJ about 1740. Moses had a place in Piscataway, NJ c. 1740, bought from Mathias Smock. Whether Thomas or any other family members or relatives were with Moses at Piscataway is not known. Moses ultimately removed to Bedford Co. Va. There was lost mail for Moses and a Christopher Helms in NJ and in Philadelphia. The notation for Moses was M. T. Helms, possibly signifying Moses and Thomas. In NC, the family intermarried with several Germans or German Palatines who lived nearby and who came here after about 1710. (Presslar, Falkenborough(sp), Mullis, Hargate, Baucom, Cheney, and probably others. ) |
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| Posted by: Ira Helms | Date Posted: June 10, 2002 |
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