- Lewis Neill was commissioned sheriff of Frederick County by Lewis Burrell, president of the Council of Virginia, April 19, 1751. He was the fifth person to hold this office. His bondsmen were Meredith Helm, Samuel Earle, Thomas Swearingen, Leonard Helm, William Cocks, Robert Calvert, Peter Wolf, John Jones, John Madden, John Shearer, John Thurman, John McCormick, all of Frederick County, and William Russell, of Culpeper County. They were bound in the sum of one thousand pounds sterling. The cornmission was renewed September 13, 1751, and he was always afterwards styled Lewis Neill, gentleman.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=frostinaz01&id=I10444
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- Filed proof of immigration papers (to qualify for land acquisition) at Germana in Spotsylvania Co, Virginia, on 7 Jul 1724. Papers indicated he arrived in Virginia in Nov 1719. Appointed one of first Justices of Fred. Co, 22 Oct 1743. Active in public affairs: Col. Gov Gooch called him Capt. Meredith Helm.
Major Meredith HELM was born about 1685 in England. He died about 1755 in Frederick County, VA. He died intestate in Frederick County, Virginia (now Clark County) between 4 December 1755 and 1 June 1756. He had one child when he immigrated to Virginia in 1719. He proved his right in Germana, the county seat of Spotsylvania County. He was issued a certificate at that time for 150 acres of land. It is likely this land was in what became Orange County in 1734 and in Frederick County when it was formed from Orange County in 1738. He had no other holdings when he died. [Shenandoah Families - Helm]
Frederick Co. VA Order Book #2, page 57, 1745 - Leonard Helm plt, vs. Meredith Helm and Leonard Helm Sr. deceased. The suit is dismissed, the Defendant paying all costs. (source: John Reedy)
Frederick Co. VA Order Book #2, page 55, 1745 - Meredith Helm and Leonard Helm Sr. deceased vs. Leonard Helm - The suit is dismissed with plaintiff paying costs. (source: John Reedy)
Frederick Co. VA Order Book #2, page 63, 1745 - Leonard Helms vs. Meredith Helms is continued. (source John Reedy)
Frederick Co. VA Order book #2, page 218, Mar 6, 1746 - justices named - one is Meredith Helm.
Meredith was one of the first justices in Frederick County, with MARQUIS CALMES; a position he held continuously from the organization of the county until his death. He served as coroner and church warden in 1749; and kept a county ferry over the Shenandoah River in 1750. He took the oath as sheriff 7 August 1753; his securities for bond of a thousand pounds were THOMAS HELM, JOHN MADDEN, and others. In 1752 he was granted 405 acres by Lord Fairfax which he later leased to his son JOSEPH HELM. Joseph, in turn, leased the land to WILLIAM HELM. Witnesses to the transaction included CHARLES and JOHN HELM, most likely the sons of John Helm of Loudoun County, Virginia.
He became "Major Meredith" on 2 May 1753; was court martialed 2 September 1755 for failure to appear at muster.
Ann was mentioned in court records as an administrator of her husband's estate 6 August 1768; on 8 February 1769, when final settlement was granted her son Thomas Helm, there was no mention of her name.
Served as a county court judge in Frederick County, Virginia, beginning in 1743, until his death in 1755/1756. He was also a major in the county militia. He also served as the sheriff of Frederick County, taking the oath of office on 7 Aug 1753.
The Frederick County Fee Book signed by the Sheriff, Meredith Helm, dated Jan 17, 1754---- James Wood, Clk of Court provided a list of 502 heads of families, along with fee assessments totaling 66,451 pounds of tobacco. This list is very important to researchers, because it gives a type of "census of families" just before the mass emigration from Frederick County brought about by the French and Indian War.
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Meredith (abt 1685 - conventional est. and will said he's oldest. He did not migrate/immigrate because he was grown and came on his own. This is son who would take in Edw Broughton (his nephew) -- exr - rest of estate, as set out in his father's will in 1745.
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