Westward In The USA

How we connect to the Mayflower

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Generation No. 1

1.	Sarah BENT was born BEF 1748. She was the daughter of 2. John BENT and 3. Mary BILLINGTON. She married Niles HELME 9 Mar 1769 in Narragansett, Rhode Isalnd.

Ahnentafel, Generation No. 2

2.	John BENT was born BEF 1712, and died 15 Jun 13 Sep 1784 in Hopkinton, Rhode Island.

Mary BILLINGTON was born 1720 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island. She was the daughter of 6. Elisha BILLINGTON and 7. Jane.

Children of Mary BILLINGTON and John BENT are:

	i.	Mary BENT was born 1744.
	ii.	John BENT was born 1746, and died BEF 1784. He married Hannah SAUNDERS 10 Oct 1770 in Westerly, Rhode Island.
1.	iii.	Sarah BENT was born BEF 1748. She married Niles HELME 9 Mar 1769 in Narragansett, Rhode Isalnd.
	iv.	Elizabeth BENT was born BEF 1750 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island. She married DOUGLAS BEF 1784.
	v.	Catherine BENT was born BEF 1752 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island. She married Thomas Potter GARDNER 15 Apr 1773 in Hopkinton, Rhode Island.
	vi.	Jane BENT was born BEF 1756.

Ahnentafel, Generation No. 3

6.	Elisha BILLINGTON was born 1680 in New Shoreham, Block Island, Rhode Island, and died BEF 13 Apr 1741 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. He was the son of 12. Joseph BILLINGTON and 13. Grace.

Jane.

Children of Jane and Elisha BILLINGTON are:

	i.	Daniel BILLINGTON was born BEF 1713 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, and died 15 Aug 1799 in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. He married Mary AUSTEN 10 Mar 1736 in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, daughter of John AUSTEN.
	ii.	Joseph BILLINGTON was born BEF 1716 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island, and died AFT 1782 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island. He married Abigail BRAMAN 21 Dec 1746 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island, daughter of Joseph BRAMAN and Abigail ALLEN. She was born 23 Dec 1727 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island.
	iii.	Sarah BILLINGTON was born 1718 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island, and died AFT 1740. She married James ROSE 20 Apr 1740 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island.
3.	iv.	Mary BILLINGTON was born 1720 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island. She married John BENT 2 Feb 1743 in South Knigstown, Rhode Island. He was born BEF 1712, and died 15 Jun 13 Sep 1784 in Hopkinton, Rhode Island.

Ahnentafel, Generation No. 4

12.	Joseph BILLINGTON was born 1636 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, and died AFT 7 Jan 1684/1685 in Block Island, Rhode Island. He was the son of 24. Francis BILLINGTON and 25. Christian PENN.

13.

Grace was born in New Shoreham, Block Island, Rhode Island.

Children of Grace and Joseph BILLINGTON are:

	i.	Mary BILLINGTON was born Sep 1674 in New Shoreham, Block Island, Rhode Island.
	ii.	Francis BILLINGTON was born 1676 in New Shoreham, Block Island, Rhode Island, and died AFT 3 Dec 1719. He married Abigail CHURCHILL 17 May 1702 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, daughter of Eleazer CHURCHILL and Mary BRYANT. She was born BEF 1680 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
6.	iii.	Elisha BILLINGTON was born 1680 in New Shoreham, Block Island, Rhode Island, and died BEF 13 Apr 1741 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. He married Jane.

Ahnentafel, Generation No. 5

24.	Francis BILLINGTON was born 1606 in Spaulding, Lincolnshire, England, and died 3 Dec 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, MA. He was the son of 48. John BILLINGTON and 49. Elinor LOCKWOOD.

25.

Christian PENN was born 1606 in England, and died 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, MA. She was the daughter of 50. George PENN and 51. Elizabeth.

Children of Christian PENN and Francis BILLINGTON are:

	i.	Elizabeth BILLINGTON was born 10 Jul 1635 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. She married Richard BULLOCK 21 Sep 1660 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. He was born 1622 in England, and died BEF 22 Oct 1667. She married Robert BEERE OR BEERS 25 Jun 1673 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts. He died 28 Mar 1676. She married Thomas Patey or Patte 1679. He died 19 Aug 1695.
12.	ii.	Joseph BILLINGTON was born 1636 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, and died AFT 7 Jan 1684/1685 in Block Island, Rhode Island. He married Grace 16 Sep 1672 in New Shoreham, Block Island, Rhode Island. She was born in New Shoreham, Block Island, Rhode Island.
	iii.	Martha BILLINGTON was born 1638 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. She married Samuel EATON 10 Jan 1660/1661 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, son of Francis EATON and Sarah. He was born 1620 in England, and died BEF 29 Oct 1692 in Middleboro, Massachusetts.
	iv.	Mary BILLINGTON was born 1640 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, and died AFT 28 Jun 1717. She married Samuel SABIN 20 Jan 1663/1664 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts, son of William SABIN. He was born BEF 1640, and died 23 Sep 1699 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.
	v.	Isaac BILLINGTON was born 1644 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. He married Hannah GLASS BEF 1675, daughter of James GLASS and Mary PONTUS. She was born 24 Dec 1651 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, and died AFT 30 Aug 1704.
	vi.	child BILLINGTON was born in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
	vii.	Rebecca BILLINGTON was born 8 Jun 1648 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
	viii.	Dorcas BILLINGTON was born 1650 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, and died AFT 1 Aug 1701. She married Edward MAY AFT 29 Mar 1673. He died 10 Aug 1691 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.
	ix.	Mercy BILLINGTON was born 25 Feb 1650/1651 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, and died 28 Sep 1718 in Rehobeth, Bristol, MA. She married John MARTIN 27 Jun 1681 in Rehobeth, Bristol, Massachusetts, son of Richard MARTIN and Elizabeth SALTER. He was born Jan 1651/1652 in Ottery St.Mary, Devonshire, England, and died 28 Aug 1720 in Rehobeth, Bristol, Massachusetts.

Ahnentafel, Generation No. 6

48.	John BILLINGTON was born 1580 in Spaulding, Lincolnshire, England, and died Sep 1630 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

49.

Elinor LOCKWOOD was born 1580 in All Hallow's Par, Stayning, England, and died 12 Mar 1643 in MA.

Children of Elinor LOCKWOOD and John BILLINGTON are:

	i.	John BILLINGTON was born 1604.
24.	ii.	Francis BILLINGTON was born 1606 in Spaulding, Lincolnshire, England, and died 3 Dec 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, MA. He married Christian PENN Jul 1634 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, daughter of George PENN and Elizabeth. She was born 1606 in England, and died 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, MA.

50.	George PENN was born 1583.

51.

Elizabeth was born 1587.

Child of Elizabeth and George PENN is:

25.

Christian PENN was born 1606 in England, and died 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, MA. She married Francis BILLINGTON Jul 1634 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, son of John BILLINGTON and Elinor LOCKWOOD. He was born 1606 in Spaulding, Lincolnshire, England, and died 3 Dec 1684 in Middleboro, Plymouth, MA. She married Francis EATON.

Letters

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Cedar Falls Iowa Jan the 18 1887

Dear Brother & Sister (Jane & Rheuben Helm)I take the pleasure to answer you kind and most welcome letter and was glad to hear from you. We are well hoping you are the same. Our weather here has been as cold as 8 below zero wind blow like evering thing the snow here is a bout a foot and a half deep. We are living a lone. We live where barney did last winter. Abner told me to write and tell you that he sold our land to William and William wants you to send him a deed of the last eighty or the west eighty. If you hint got the money, William will send you money enough to make out the deed, and we will send you a deed of the other eighty.

Jim Mapes (a relative – don’t know how) is dead, he was buried Saturday they was nothing a matter with him, him and Jim went and got some hay and when they got al-most hime the load tip over but I guess it dident hurt him and when they got loaded up he was on the load and fell over dead. Jane you dident say eny thing about your boy (Ora). I expect it was a nice one and that is the reason you dident want to say eny thing a bout it. Well Jane I hope you and Rheuben will do well I would like to see all of you. This is all for this time so good by write soon from Nettie & Abner (Helm)

Remember me when this you see

Remember me when far from thee

And when my grave shall come my bed

Remember me when I am dead

Palmer Neb. 10 March 1889

Dear Aunt & Uncle I received your letter a few days ago it found us all uiet well to day is Sunday Clara is not very well she is to bed now our Nellie mare is a bout to die she is awful sick they cant tell what ails her it will be a big loss t us Barney & family has been with us all winter they have all been uite well this winter so far it is very sickly here this spring we had a letter from mate she said lizzie had not laughted aloud for seven months she has spit blood for several months I think if she lives until fall that will be as long as she can live mate says it is sickly there Cash Jones girl (Etta ?) is at jane shaffers she has been sick this winter mrs Ferguson is dead she has been dead three years then he told Etta sho she was and then Etta wanted to see them all she is smart judging from her letters I guess the boys will send for her to go to them they are in arkansas I think she looks like levi they say grand mother stays to Janes yet we got a letter from Wal (Wallace Jones) he is in Cheyene so he likes the country awfu lwell lon and abner is in Idaho they are awful home sick they are coming back in the spring abner wrote to his father to rent the place his father told him to go where Wal is Harlows folks are all well Maria is fat again Josephine lost one this fall liked to ended her she came over and stayed two nights with us we have some one all the time Harlow (Jones?) haint been over but once this winter Janian come back tn October and has been with us ever since he was very sick this winter then the horses run away with him and like to broke his leg we have 10 in family this winter Angelina you ought to see ora now hw is nearly as large as Emmett and saucy as can be arlie is a big girl now I was please with my______it is awful pretty I think I am much obliged to you well I cant think of any more now so good by my love to you both write soon

From Jane to Angeline Adams

Varnum Helm

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appears that Varnum went from New York to Michigan, where he purchased land in November 1833. He probably remained there until at least 1835, when his son Alonzo was born. He arrived in Illinois by 1838, where his daughter

Charlotte was born. He then went to Iowa by 1843, but returned to Illinois where he purchased land in 1848. He remained

there for a short period and by 1850 is in Benton County, Iowa. The 1850 census of Benton County lists his place of birth

as Rhode Island, and his age as 56. It states that he is a farmer. The 1870 census of Washington, Black Hawk County, Iowa

lists his place of birth as Rhode Island, his age as 75, and states that he is a farmer. He and his wife Anna live alone, except

for an 18-year old farm laborer, Harvey Adams. Ten years later, the 1880 census of Washington Township, Black Hawk

County gives his age as 87, and indicates that he is living with his son, William Helm. His wife Anna had died several

years earlier. If Varnum is the son of John, then he had a grand-uncle, William Helme, who in 1775 and 1776 served in a

regiment of the Rhode Island Line commanded by Colonel Varnum. Is it possible that this is where his name came from?

Articles provided to the writer by some of his descendants indicate that Varnum appears to have been of strong, perhaps

pungent, character, as can be seen from the following:1501,1502

1. A paragraph in the 1883 “History of Tama County” states: Varnum Helm was another of the early settlers. He was a

native of Rhode Island. At quite an early day he left his native State and pushed to the frontier. He remained but a short

time in one place, for as soon as the country commenced to settle he would sell out and seek another home farther west. He

came from Benton county in 1853, and settled on section 36 in this township. After remaining a few years, although an old

man, he became restless and dissatisfied, settlers coming in made him again desirous of seeking another home in the

western wilds, and consequently, he concluded to sell out again and journey toward the setting sun. But his wife refused to

make another move in that direction, having had all the experience in pioneer life desirable. Not being able to persuade

her to accompany him he divided the property and journeyed on alone, but soon returned and lived here with his family for

a time, then exchanged his land for a farm in Black Hawk County, to which place he moved and was living at last

accounts.

2. Another book on North Tama County has a section “Old Buckingham, Two Men and Their Quest” which contains a

paragraph on page 13 which describes Varnum as follows: Varnum Helm was of the type that moved on and whom the

neighbors like to see move as soon as possible. Varnum had reached Benton about 1850. The family had an “extensive”

reputation. One day some men called at the house, took one of the sons out and buried him. The family moved hastily to

Clark township, then Buckingham. Timber was desirable. (Two men) went to Six Mile grove after timber; meeting Helm,

they inquired the location of a certain corner. “I don't know,” Helm replied. “I ain't got no learnin'. I don't know nothin'.

Soon Helm (not wanting them to buy timber) cried back to them , “Say, be you speculators? If you be, we will steal all

your timber.”

3. An article entitled “A Visit to the Poorhouse” in the “Iowa State Reporter” on February 1, 1882 states: The oldest

inmate is Vernum Helm, who is past 99 (ED: 89) years old, and is strong and hearty. He looks back upon almost a century

of time. He has been in California and has spent some time on the Isthmus of Panama where it is proposed to cut the canal

which is creating so much excitement both in this country and in Europe. His travels did not have the effect of improving

his disposition, as he is able to be extremely ugly occasionally, though quite good natured generally.

Notes on the name Helm

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There are some questions related to the spelling of his surname. Christopher Helme spelled it “Helme,” as is shown by

his signature on “The Exeter Combination,” mentioned later. However, his father in the will above spells his surname

“Elme.” His father's ancestors are, in turn, identified as “Elmes.” Christopher's sons in Rhode Island are variously

identified as “Helme” or “Helmes.” This could be attributed to lack of spelling conventions and/or regional pronunciations.

Interestingly, while dropping the “e” or adding an “s” to the end of this surname is not uncommon in the written records so

far examined on either side of the Atlantic, it is significantly less common to find an “H” added to or dropped from the

speling of the surname, changing “Elme” to “Helme,” or vice-versa.

Rouse Helme

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68. Rouse6 HELME (Rouse5, Christopher4, William3 Elme, William2 Elmes, John1) was born circa 1683 in Kingston,

Washington County, Rhode Island;215,216 he married Sarah Niles, daughter of Captain Nathaniel Niles and Sarah Sands,

21 Jul 1709 in North Kingston. (They were married by John Eldred, who may have been the brother of Rouse's

mother.)217,218 He died 28 Aug 1751 in South Kingston.219 Rouse was born in Kings Town and died in South Kingston,

which had later been formed from part of Kings Town. (However, his grave is not found in the South Kingston cemetery

listing.)

In 1719 the South Kingston Township records state: Christopher Allen and Rouse Helme Justices were at the house

where John Hoxsie formerly dwelt in Westerly sometime in April 1719 while the young woman called Freelove Dolleware

lay there dead & we did examine Larrance Vilett concerning the young woman's death & sd Vilett declared that Reuben

Hill had shot her with a gun the day before. We impanniled a jury at the request of the deceased persons parents. 19 Sept

1719. Joseph Sheffield of Kingston being present at the abovesaid Vilett examination testifieth to the truth of what is

written above, he the foreman of the jury.220 Rouse was Clerk of the State Assembly in 1720, and Judge of the Superior

Court for over twenty years. He was an assistant Justice of the Peace and performed a number of marriages and other

related legal duties in the South Kingston area from 1716 through at least 1739.221 In February of 1723, he and Francis

Willett were appointed by the Assembly to copy all records belonging to South Kingston from the records of the late Kings

Town, and deliver it to the clerk of South Kingston. (The two towns of North and South Kingston had recently been formed

from Kings Town.) After transcribing 1,230 pages they submitted their bill for £66, but were willing to take £60 if paid

promptly. The towns of North and South Kingston refused to pay, whereupon the State Assembly ordered North Kingston

to pay £30 to Willet, and South Kingston £30 to Helme. If the towns refused, the General Treasurer was to pay the bill and

withhold certain revenues from the towns. Rouse built the county court house, which was completed in 1732, billing the

State Assembly £791. It was located near the center of a village known as Tower Hill, which was an outgrowth of the

original settlement site in what was known as the Pettaquamscutt Purchase.222 At a meeting of the town of North Kingston

on August 26, 1746, Rouse, Francis Willett, and James Wightman were appointed as a committee to consider proposals for

a highway. Their report three days later read: That having viewed the highway that leads from Mr. Jeremiah Gardner's, and

so across the hills to the highway, leading to Robert Eldred's, they found the highway across the hills (as it was shown

them by Mr. Congdon), to be in some places so very steep, that it was not passable, especially with carts; and were of the

opinion, that the best method of exchanging said way, would be, from the highway that leads to Mr. Job Tripp's, and to go

by Mr. Congdon's house, on the plain, to the highway that leads to Mr. Robert Eldred's, according to a draught made by

Mr. Benoni Hall, surveyor, which Mr. Congdon would submit to, provided he might have the liberty of hanging gates, and

making bars at his corner house, and the plain where the highway turns southward. The report was accepted by the town

and subsequently endorsed by the Rhode Island General Assembly.223

Rouse's will was dated April 15, 1748, and proved on September 9, 1751. The executors were his sons James and Rouse.

He left his wife Sarah half of his dwelling house and a third of his real and personal estate for the rest of her life. He left

his daughter Sarah Helme £150. The rest of his estate he left to his six sons; James (of South Kingston), Rouse (of North

Kingston), Nathaniel, Silas (of East Haddam), Oliver and Samuel. At death of his wife all of the sons, except James and

Rouse who had already received their parts, were to have the house and land. The youngest sons Oliver and Samuel were to

have the opportunity of learning a trade, being bound out, and were given Rouse's tools to share equally. All the sons and

daughters were admonished to be kind to their mother, and dutiful to her in all respects.

Children of Rouse6 Helme and Sarah Niles were as follows:

+ 107. i. Judge James7 HELME, born 7 May 1710 in North Kingston; married Esther Bernon Powell.

215Latter Day

Christopher Helme

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Christopher Helme was the first Helm in my tree to come to America here is a bit about him.

Christopher HELME (William Elme, William Elmes, John) was baptized on 24 Jul 1603 in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire,
England. He married Margaret Rouse (?) circa 1639, perhaps in New Hampshire. He died between 26 May 1649 and
19 Dec 1650 in Warwick, Kent County, Rhode Island. He was also identified as Christopher "Elme" or "Elmes."
He is believed to have arrived in Boston in July of 1637 (a time of conflict between the colonists and the Pequot Indians in Rhode Island
and Connecticut). He was likely part of a group led by the Reverend John Wheelwright, a clergyman from Lincolnshire, who had
indirect family ties to Christopher’s stepmother Priscilla Wentworth. Wheelwright was the brother-in-law of Anne Hutchinson,
with whom he shared the same religious beliefs. Christopher’s step-mother Priscilla was Anne’s cousin. Wheelwright "was a man of
leading character, of advanced opinions, and of bold speech; one who in those times might well look forward to being silenced, any day,
for non-conformity." Wheelwright left Lincolnshire in 1632 and emigrated to New England in 1636. In Boston, he and Anne
Hutchinson soon became embroiled in religious upheavals which caused considerable turmoil in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for years.
Not long after his arrival Wheelwright was banished from Massachusetts and went to New Hampshire, where, along with thirty-four others
(including Christopher Helme), he signed the Exeter Combination on May 4, 1639.

Another Revolutionary

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Isaac "British" Horton immigrated to the American Colonies in the early 1770's. A British seaman, he jumped ship in the port of Boston, and chose for his destiny the fate of these same colonies. On March 30, 1781 he enlisted in Marshville, Massachusetts in Captain Pillsbury's Company of the 6th Regiment under the command of Colonel Smith. Isaac Horton's enlistment was for a period of three years. His duties while under Captain Pillsbury's command were the conveying of supplies and men in Naval Operations. Later he was transferred to the 3rd Regiment under the command of Colonel Hines. Under this assignment, Isaac Horton was charged with conveying officers and orders up the Hudson River between West Point, New Windsor, and Newburg, New York. He was discharged by Captain Williams under order of General Knox following the peace o f 1783. About 1785 Issac married Hannah Ferris in New York state.

The Civil War

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In the autumn of 1845 David Barnett, age 18, came to Arkansas with a group by ox wagon train, leaving his home in McMinn County, Tennessee. The emigrants were seeking a home in the new state of Arkansas. They traveled over a military road from Memphis, tennessee to Buffalo City, Arkansas then followed a country trail leading north west until they came to a little place called Yellville. From there they went southwest to Buffalo River, stopping in the buffalo-Tomahawk section in Dec. 1845 near Gilbert, Searcy Co., Arkansas. This was the only place the Buffalo was crossable at that time of the year. Here they stayed and camped for the winter. David married one of the crew, Flurry Grinder and they settled on the tract of land where they camped. They built a house and homesteaded the land and lived most of their lives at this place.
When the Civil War broke out David and a bunch of other men got together and did not aim to take sides in the war. But the Rebel Army heard of them and sent soldiers to capture them and chain them together two and two like cattle, maklng them walk while the soldiers road at a fast gait. At Little Rock, David and the other men were made to sign up in the Rebel Army. Affidavits to his pension file indicate that in the month of November or December 1861 he had joined an organization know as the(Arkansas Peace Society) Yellow Rag(the spelling is not clear), a Union group, but before the parties that belonged to the organization had time to get to the Union Army, the Confederate authorities took them and chained them together and put them in the Confederate Army under Captain Dawson. This group was also known a a peace group and many parts of thIs group were treated the same way. The choice was to enroll or be shot. The only record of his service is his enrollment.
According to the affidavits in David's pension file, the first chance David got he ran away--came home a few days then went to the Federal Army and joined them. As a reprisal by the Confederates two male members of his family were taken away in the chain gang . One was released six months later but one was never heard of again.

This account may be similar to what happened to William Thomas Fisher. He was listed as a member of the "Arkansas Peace Society". He was a member of a Chain Gang and made to join the CONF. ARMY in Little Rock Ak, in Dec 18, 1861. (His son Christopher Columbus would have been 2 1/2 months old at the time). He served in Co 1, 18th Ark Inf. He was later in 3rd Conf Inf. (18th ArK Inf(Marmaduke), was later redesignate 3rd Conf Inf. Jan 31, 1862. On Feb 28th 1863 he was disignated a teamster. On August 4th, 1863 He deserted at Fynch Station. He was captured the same day at Bridgeport, Al. On Aug 11th he was sent to Louisville KY. He was released upon taking an oath to remain north of the Ohio River. He enlisted on Sept 5th, 1864 at Springfield (D L Ruff), Mo for 6 months in the UNION ARMY. He was a pvt. in Co F, 46th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He was placed on detached service by special order No 9 on Sept 20th, 1864 to Quarter Master's Office.

The American Revolution

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Niles Helm, was probably very typical of the men who fought against the British in the American Revolution. Here is a summary of his time.

His Revolutionary War Pension application summarizes his
activities during and after that conflict. On the night of
December 10, 1777, the British under Sir James Wallace landed
near his home in South Kingston, Rhode Island. Awakened by the
firing of musketry, he seized his arms and went out with other
members of the militia to meet the enemy. However, the British
advanced with such force that the militia was routed, and Niles
returned to his home just in time to remove his wife and
children before the British set his house on fire and destroyed
all his property. Three months later, in March , 1778, he was
drafted in South Kingston to serve a tour of 30 days under
Captain Stephen Babcock, guarding points along the coast. A
year later, in the spring of 1779, he was again drafted to
serve a similar tour of duty, during which the British
attempted a landing with a view to forage and plunder. They
were attacked by Nile's unit and driven off, with much
difficulty. Nile's next tour of duty was with General Sullivan
when he attempted in conjunction with the French fleet to expel
the British from Newport. Niles was first drafted at Newport
for 20 days, subsequently extended to 40 days. His unit,
initially stationed at South Kingston, was subsequently
transported by boat to the north end of Rhode Island to join
the main army. The army remained there for about 15 days, when
it retreated back to Butts Hill. The retreat began near
evening, with a guard of 500 men left to cover its movements.
This guard remained through the night and became lost in the
fog the next morning when it attempted to rejoin the main body
of troops. It was attacked and "much harassed" by the British.
Subsequently a general battle ensued between Butts and Turkey
Hills, beginning about 8 o'clock in the morning and continuing
until mid-afternoon, when the enemy asked for a truce to bury
their dead. General Sullivan granted the request and sent back
word to the British Commander that "before the next morning he
would bury them all." The enemy became alarmed lest their
retreat should be cut off, and the night after the battle
retreated back to their fort near Tommony (?) Hill, which
enabled General Sullivan to affect his retreat without further
molestation. During these actions, Niles was in the right wing
which was partially engaged with the enemy and fought through
the day. Several days later he was discharged and returned
home. Niles then enlisted for 6 months under Captain John
Weeden, who was in charge of a gun defending the Beacon light
on Little Rest Hill in South Kingston. Besides these tours of
duty, Niles, as was the custom of most of the able-bodied
population in those days, turned out as a volunteer for several
days at a time, sometimes to defend or unload vessels, or
"repel predatory incursions of the enemy."
In his pension application he states that two brothers were in
regular service during the war; Peleg, a sergeant, and William,
a lieutenant.
Some time after the war he moved to Amsterdam, Montgomery
County, New York. (This was probably after 1790, since there is
a Niles Helme listed in the 1790 Rhode Island census on page
48. His household consists of 1 free white male over 16; 2
white males under 16; and 2 free white females.) He
subsequently moved to Westmoreland in Oneida County, then to
Fabius in Onondaga County, back to Amsterdam, and finally to
French Creek in Chautauqua County.

The Mayflower

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My story starts here, John Billington, his family was not part of the religious group, and therefore he was somewhat of an outsider. His death was surrounded by controversy, was he framed, was it self defense, was it basically a dual, shots fired in the heat of an argument, or was he really guilty of murder.

John Billington came on the Mayflower with his wife Ellen and children John and Francis. The Billingtons are recorded as a contentious family. Young Francis Billington nearly blew up the Mayflower while it was sitting in Provincetown Harbor--he shot off a gun near an open barrel of gun powder inside the Mayflower's cabin. Shortly after settling down at Plymouth, John Billington the elder was charged with contempt when he bad-mouthed and insulted Myles Standish, and was sentenced to have his neck and heels tied together, but he humbled himself and was forgiven. A few months later, John Billington the younger wandered off into the woods, and was taken by the Nauset Indians to Cape Cod, where he lived for about a month before he was returned.
In 1624, John Billington the Elder was implicated in the Oldham-Lyford scandal, in which blasphemous letters were secretly being written and sent to England trying to undermine the Plymouth Colony. However, Billington claimed he was a scapegoat, and there was not enough evidence to show he was a party to the scandal so the matter was dropped.
In 1630, John Billington the Elder was tried and executed for the murder of John Newcomen, whom Billington had shot with a musket in a quarrel over a past dispute between the two. He was found guilty by a grand and petty jury, "by plain and notorious evidence", and became the first Englishman to be hanged in New England.