Christopher Helme of Rhode Island
Encyclopedia
Christopher Helme was an originator of a long line of descent
of Helmes, Helms and Helmses in North America
.
, England
, the son of William Elme and Grisill Spratt. He arrived in Boston
in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
in July 1637, part of a group associated with the Reverend John Wheelwright
, a clergyman from Lincolnshire
who had arrived the previous year. Wheelwright and his sister-in-law Anne Hutchinson
(a cousin of Christopher’s stepmother, Priscilla Wentworth) quickly became embroiled in religious upheavals which caused considerable turmoil in the Colony. Governor Winthrop
gave the group permission to remain in the Colony for only four months. In November 1637, the group settled into winter quarters at Piscataqua (Portsmouth, New Hampshire
) and in May 1639 established the settlement of Exeter
.
Wheelwright and some of his followers left Exeter for Maine
around 1643, shortly after the government of New Hampshire
had been taken over by Massachusetts
. At this time Christopher returned to Boston. In November 1643, two of his companions, Samuel Gorton
and Richard Carder, were imprisoned for heresy and sedition by the Massachusetts authorities. In 1644, the Gortonists were banished from Massachusetts. It is likely that Christopher left Boston with this group. Gorton and a few friends bought land from the Narragansett Indians
about twenty miles south of Providence
, where they established Warwick
.
Christopher was appointed Town Sergeant
, a role which required him to serve warrants, inform the town council
of breaches of the law and civil disturbances, and to hold in custody those committed to his care. In August 1647, he was chosen as one of four to lay out lots and highways. In 1648, six men from each town in the colony (Providence, Newport
, Warwick and Portsmouth
) were chosen to be members of the Court of Trials. Christopher was one of the six chosen from Warwick.
A year later, in January 1649, he was disfranchised for threatening the town in general and for going about to undermine it. Subsequently the censure was removed. In May of that year, he was charged in the death of a Rufus Barton, but was acquitted. However, the same court found him guilty regarding the “pretended purchase” of land in Warwick, for which he was fined.
Christopher died in Warwick between his trial in May 1649 and December 19, 1650, when his widow Margaret sold the family home. He was about 47 years of age. A farmer who worked his own land, he left a considerable personal estate of £1274, including a still valued at £11. His cattle
and swine were worth £497, and his four “negroes” £195.
Margaret and Christopher were likely married about 1639, perhaps in New Hampshire. Her maiden name may have been Rouse. Her second son was given that name, and it continued to be used for many generations in the Helme family. The Rouse family name was in use early in Maine and Massachusetts, with ties back to England. Among his descendants were George Washington Helme
, a Confederate officer and tobacco merchant, and former president Jimmy Carter.
Kinship
Kinship is a relationship between any entities that share a genealogical origin, through either biological, cultural, or historical descent. And descent groups, lineages, etc. are treated in their own subsections....
of Helmes, Helms and Helmses in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Biography
Helme was baptized on 24 July 1603 in Long Sutton, LincolnshireLong Sutton, Lincolnshire
Long Sutton, is a market town in Lincolnshire, England. Located in South Holland district, it lies close to the Wash.-Geography:The town has an estimated population of 5,037 in 2007. It is 13 miles east from Spalding.-Lincolnshire Fens:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of William Elme and Grisill Spratt. He arrived in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
in July 1637, part of a group associated with the Reverend John Wheelwright
John Wheelwright
John Wheelwright was a clergyman in England and America.-Early life:...
, a clergyman from Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
who had arrived the previous year. Wheelwright and his sister-in-law Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson
Anne Hutchinson was one of the most prominent women in colonial America, noted for her strong religious convictions, and for her stand against the staunch religious orthodoxy of 17th century Massachusetts...
(a cousin of Christopher’s stepmother, Priscilla Wentworth) quickly became embroiled in religious upheavals which caused considerable turmoil in the Colony. Governor Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
gave the group permission to remain in the Colony for only four months. In November 1637, the group settled into winter quarters at Piscataqua (Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
) and in May 1639 established the settlement of Exeter
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town's population was 14,306 at the 2010 census. Exeter was the county seat until 1997, when county offices were moved to neighboring Brentwood...
.
Wheelwright and some of his followers left Exeter for Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
around 1643, shortly after the government of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
had been taken over by Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. At this time Christopher returned to Boston. In November 1643, two of his companions, Samuel Gorton
Samuel Gorton
Samuel Gorton , was an early settler and civic leader of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and President of the towns of Providence and Warwick for one term...
and Richard Carder, were imprisoned for heresy and sedition by the Massachusetts authorities. In 1644, the Gortonists were banished from Massachusetts. It is likely that Christopher left Boston with this group. Gorton and a few friends bought land from the Narragansett Indians
Narragansett (tribe)
The Narragansett tribe are an Algonquian Native American tribe from Rhode Island. In 1983 they regained federal recognition as the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island. In 2009, the United States Supreme Court ruled against their request that the Department of Interior take land into trust...
about twenty miles south of Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, where they established Warwick
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
.
Christopher was appointed Town Sergeant
Town Serjeant
The Town Serjeant is the Serjeant-at-Arms for English borough councils. The position dates to the 16th Century and its functions included macebearer, bailiff, and gaoler....
, a role which required him to serve warrants, inform the town council
Town council
A town council is a democratically elected form of government for small municipalities or civil parishes. A council may serve as both the representative and executive branch....
of breaches of the law and civil disturbances, and to hold in custody those committed to his care. In August 1647, he was chosen as one of four to lay out lots and highways. In 1648, six men from each town in the colony (Providence, Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, Warwick and Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,389 at the 2010 U.S. Census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. Most of its land area lies on Aquidneck...
) were chosen to be members of the Court of Trials. Christopher was one of the six chosen from Warwick.
A year later, in January 1649, he was disfranchised for threatening the town in general and for going about to undermine it. Subsequently the censure was removed. In May of that year, he was charged in the death of a Rufus Barton, but was acquitted. However, the same court found him guilty regarding the “pretended purchase” of land in Warwick, for which he was fined.
Christopher died in Warwick between his trial in May 1649 and December 19, 1650, when his widow Margaret sold the family home. He was about 47 years of age. A farmer who worked his own land, he left a considerable personal estate of £1274, including a still valued at £11. His cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
and swine were worth £497, and his four “negroes” £195.
Post death
Helme left four young sons, William, Rouse, Samuel, and Christopher. William, the eldest, was probably not yet of legal age, since his mother Margaret disposed of the family property. Margaret continued to live in Warwick with her children after her husband’s death, and is mentioned several times in the town records. One entry contains the following cryptic notation: “Ordered that for Divers considerations moving the Towne therunto they have accepted of Mrs Helmes to bee an Inhabitant & to have equal privilege with the rest of the Inhabitants notwithstanding any former order to the contrary.”Margaret and Christopher were likely married about 1639, perhaps in New Hampshire. Her maiden name may have been Rouse. Her second son was given that name, and it continued to be used for many generations in the Helme family. The Rouse family name was in use early in Maine and Massachusetts, with ties back to England. Among his descendants were George Washington Helme
George Washington Helme
George Washington Helme , the founder of Helmetta, New Jersey, was the ninth child and fifth son of Major Oliver Helme by his second wife Sarah Pease Fish....
, a Confederate officer and tobacco merchant, and former president Jimmy Carter.