Copyright 2013, The Hopelessly Hooked Genealogist (B. Harrison)
My 4th great-grandfather George Helm Sr, and his father Leonard Helm (my 5th great-grandfather) both served as officers in the Revolutionary War from Virginia. They both relocated to Kentucky after the war. They are ancestors on the paternal side of my family tree.
George Helm Sr. was born 22 August 1747 in Virginia, the son of Leonard Helm and Elizabeth "Betty" Calmes . He married 1st wife Mary Frances Calmes about 1767 in Virginia, who appears to have been a relative of his mother's (possibly his cousin). After Mary Frances died in 1783, he married 2nd wife Frances "Frankie" Coppedge (who was the sister of his daughter's husband Travis Coppedge). George was a Corporal under Captain Dunmore in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted under Captain Abe Shepherd in Colonel Rawlings Rifle Regiment from Virginia. While living in Kentucky after the war, he served in Whitaker's Battalion, Mounted Volunteers. There is also a George Helm listed as having served in the War of 1812. His Revolutionary War pension was approved in 1826, while he was living in Tennessee. He then returned to Lincoln County, Kentucky, where he died about 1831. The Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots indicates he is buried at McCormack Cemetery in Lincoln Co, KY. He has a memorial page posted on the Find A grave website under memorial # 11519529.
Copyright 2013, The Hopelessly Hooked Genealogist (B. Harrison)
Leonard Helm Sr. was born about 1720 in Stafford, Virginia and died in June 1782 "of consumption or bad medicine" at Beargrass Creek near Louisville, Kentucky. Leonard married Elizabeth "Betty" Calmes in 1746 in Frederick, Virginia. He served as a Captain in the Virginia State Line in the Revolutionary War under General George Rogers Clarke. A land bounty claim filed by his heirs 52 years after his death, was approved and concluded that he was "the only Leonard Helm on record" as having served in the Revolutionary War (file #S38021). In 1779 he had received a commission as an Indian Agent from the State of Virginia. An article on his life and exploits was published by Fauquier Historical Society of Virginia, and is available online at http://www.fauquierhistory.com/UserFiles/File/Vol27No2.pdf. In it, Leonard Helm was described as "somewhat rugged, outspoken, abounding in wit and fun, fearless, intelligent, level-headed and trustworthy". Conversely, he was also described as "an intemperant man" who ran up large tavern bills and liked his whiskey. Leonard died poor, and had not received payment, land or pension for his military services at the time of his death in 1782. He died while on a trail in Kentucky, apparently acting in his capacity as Indian Agent. At the time, it had been thought that he had just vanished and was probably killed by Indians. His widow applied for but was denied a Widow's Pension (file number R14982) because Leonard had not served until the end of the Revolutionary War (as rules for a pension required) but had accepted a commission as Indian Agent instead prior to the close of the war. A sworn deposition of Edward Parker dated 5 Feb 1833 confirmed that Captain Leonard Helm had actually died in 1782 "of consumption or some other bilgious disease. John Jones, a nephew of Leonard's daughter Sara, confirmed this story and indicated that "bad medicine" might have contributed to Leonard's death. His burial place is unknown. Following are pages from the Veteran's Land Bounty and Widow's Pension Application files verifying the service of Captain Leonard Helm.
Captain Helm was my kinsman. I'm a genealogist and historian. There is so much more to tell about his role in reducing the British forts in the western territory during the American rebellion. His contributions were so valuable to the war effort that he was granted 3,249 acres in what was known as Clark's Land Grant. I wrote a little excursus about him some time ago. I'll share it here if space permits.
ReplyDeleteThe French had built the fort on the Wabash River to check British expansion. They called it Poste Vincents, and around it sprung up the garrison village of Vincennes. The Frenchmen of Vincennes could be counted upon to become the new best friends of whoever took possession of the fort.
The British rebuilt it in 1777 and renamed it Fort Sackville for the ease in which it fell into their hands during the French and Indian Wars. It was one of their few outposts in the west during the American rebellion.
After the forts at Kaskaskia and Cahokia fell to Col. George Rogers Clark, he sent a small force against the Vincennes outpost. It quickly surrendered to the American captain. He renamed it Fort Patrick Henry. The British commander in Detroit was both incensed and humiliated. He determined to reclaim his fort.
Taking a page from young Clark's book, Lt. Colonel Henry Hamilton moved swiftly, but cautiously, towards Vincennes. As his force of 600 neared the old French village he came upon a burning raft. It was a sign that his advance was being monitored.
Patrols were quickly dispatched on both sides of the river to capture the American spies. They returned three days later with Capt. Broullet of the Vincennes militia. He was carrying commissions from both the British and the Americans. During his interrogation Broullet revealed the fort was being held by a single officer and only a few men.
Hamilton would have an easy victory if the Frenchman was being truthful. But he had been fooled before by such tactics. A captive named Daniel Boone had confessed a great deal of intelligence under duress. Hamilton believed him with disastrous results. He wasn't about to be fooled again.
The scouts he had sent forward returned with good news. Not only was Boullet truthful, but Vincennes was already celebrating Hamilton's victory by returning its allegiance to the Crown.
The desertion of the Vincennes militia left the American captain without means to repel the forthcoming attack. Nor did he have anything with which to negotiate favorable terms of surrender. He faced a certain unfavorable future which, at best, meant captivity until the war was over. He also faced a bottle of whisky on his desk. It inspired him.
Hamilton's approach upon the fort was met with silence. Had the Americans deserted their post? When they were within a few yards the gates slowly began to creak open.
Hamilton strained to get a look inside, but the gates only opened enough for him to see a large cannon with a smiling American officer standing next to it. In one hand he held a lighted match. In the other he held a bottle of whiskey. It was an offer Col. Henry Hamilton could not refuse. Captain Leonard Helm was now in a position to negotiate.
Bubba, thank you so much for adding these interesting details to supplement my ancestor story on Captain Leonard Helm. He was indeed, a most colorful figure in history and I am proud to count him among my ancestry, and you as kin!
ReplyDeleteThere are several books, fictional based on those events, The long knives, and the old Vincennes...he has inspired a few books, and he was very colourful person, the British commander actually took a liking to him and would play cards with his frequently, while he held Leonard captive.
ReplyDelete