helms-9.html

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and currently under construction. This page will
be updated as information is developed.

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PART NINE
DNA STUDIES

Recently, Matthew Helm, a descendant of the line of Georg Helm, the Weaver-Merchant in Winchester, VA initiated a Project of DNA testing. The purpose of this project is to use DNA tests as a basis to determine the extent of kinship among the several lines of Helm/Helms, etc lines in this country. For years the various groups have wondered about it. The logic is that since the male Y-DNA is passed from the father to son as an exact copy at each generation, in theory at least. Therefore, a single test of a male descendant in each such line could be compared and conclusions reached as to similarity. The assumption is that if any two or more lines have nearly exact copies of their Y-DNA, this would signify a possible kinship. Exact copies would doubtlessly show the two are directly related in some way.

So, continuing with that assumption, Y-DNA tests are currently being made, with at least one such test subject from each line which can be compared. These test results will be compared and some conclusions reached. In the case of the North Carolina Helms, we have candidates for the lines of three Helms men Tilman Helms, George Helms, and Jonathan Helms lines. The reasoning is that it has not been proven the Helms men were brothers. It is thought this might be the case, and the tests will show any relationship. The results of this first phase testing should be available in soon.

Initially 12 DYS Y-DNA tests were done, which were essentially identical, indicating that the three were probably brothers. Now extended tests are being done for George and Tilman. In those cases 37 DYS tests are being done. The reason for these tests is to discover a so-called modal Y-DNA data set for our Helms lines as well as to compare with the other tests in the project. The present study is a Phase I of the project and follow-on activities are being planned by Matthew Helm. The participants from the North Carolina Helms, will continue this cooperative effort. Matthew will be making an announcement in the near future.

It should be mentioned that the same general idea is also present for the female lines involved, since a mother's DNA is similarly passed to her daughter and so on down the line. However, it is difficult to find a present-day (living) descendant with an unbroken female line all the way back to the three families (Partly because a new or different DNA is introduced at each generation and because not every family had daughters.)

This is a good way to use the female DNA test results where there is a break in the male line if there are no sons in a line family, but where there were female children. In such a case, a female detour is a workaround to recover the continuity needed on the male side. As an example there were no known female children in the original families of Tilman, George and Jonathan Helms. This means that a female continuous linkage in the Helms case is not possible, baring finding a sister of the original Helms mother who had a traceable genealogy. Of course, working on the so-called allied lines, meaning the lines of the numerous wives over the years, is also a legitimate area of study. We intend to perform this study selectively, and are looking for cases where unique benefits are offered. In addition simply recording of one's genetic data is a valid thing to do for both males and females.

Sound genealogy is required to make the best use of this new approach.

You may expect to hear more about these activities. Your ideas and participation would be welcome. The more cases there are, the better the statistics and conclusions will be.

More information on this research will be placed here, as it is developed.

We would like to obtain DNA tests of the SC Hellums to establish their line and to compare it with ours.

THE HELM-HELMS PROJECT

The Helm-Helms project is located at: Familytreedna.com, a nationally recognized DNA testing program.

Additional information or instructions for test volunteers should contact one of the following people:

Matthew Helms at: mhelm@familytoolbox.net

Ira Helms at: Irahelms@aol.com

Gerald Helms at: ghelms6@yahoo.com

Use the link below to join the project and purchase your DNA test.

FamilySearch.org - Family History and Genealogy Records

(Follow the instructions to locate and join the project under "H").

Matthew Helms has written a summary report of the first phase of the DNA project. The project is being administered as a private rather than an open or "Public" project. This protects the privacy of the participants. While this phase deals only with non-sensitive generic issues, this may be best way to administer the project. However, in order to expand the utility of the project, a more open approach may be needed in the future. A number of other such DNA projects are being administered as "Public" projects. In the case of the North Carolina Helms, it has been so far found that the Helms DNA, as represented by descendants of Tilman, George, and Jonathan Helms, settlers in Old Anson County, North Carolina in about 1750, does not closely match that of any of the other lines, and since our dna for the three "brothers" substantially match, any one of our DNA's can be considered representative.

Therefore, I the editor of this website have decided to open my own DNA data, which is representative, to any Helms person who is seeking to know if we may have common ancestors. If you desire to make comparisons to my DNA data please contact me direct at: Irahelms@aol.com

So, any such person can obtain a DNA test to make comparisons. Since we have the North Carolina Helms genealogy fairly well developed, we can exchange data as needed to establish the genealogy side. Hopefully, some new candidates will be entirely new to us and thus we will both profit from the exchange.

We have not yet encountered a genealogy problem needing candidates for the female genetics, but we recognize that possibility and would entertain examples.

Also, there is great value in the idea of archiving the DNA for private and future potential uses, especially in lines which are thinning.

The attached file illustrates some uses of the female mt DNA to assist in solving some family puzzles. Click here to view the file "Maternal or Matrilineal Studies Using mt DNA"

Background and Additional Instructions

In October 2005, the Helm/Helme/Helms Surname DNA project was initiated.

The goals established for the project include:
(1) discovering the number of common ancestors bearing the Helm/Helme/Helms and similar surnames;
(2) establishing how the various lines bearing the surnames are related;
(3) determining how the families within the United States are related to those families located elsewhere in the World;
(4) connecting individuals with the surname who have not established their ancestry with those families with established ancestry;
(5) deriving genetic footprints for the various family lines -- to be used to match future researchers with family lines established by the project.

As of January 2006, the project has 29 members representing 14 family lines.
These lines include:
Christopher Helme of Rhode Island
Georg Helm of Virginia
George Helms of North Carolina
Jacob Helm of Gammelsbach, Germany
Jonathan Helms of North Carolina
Leonard Helm of Virginia
Littleton Helm of South Carolina
Moses Helm of Pennsylvania/Virginia
Peter Helm of Grevenmacher Luxembourg
Robert Helme of Lancashire, England
Thomas Helme of New York
Tilman Helms of North Carolina
William Helme of Lancashire, England
William Jasper Helms of Tennessee

The project is now focusing on getting a wider representation of participants from families located outside of the United States. The test is quite easy. It requires swabbing the cheek with two swabs and mailing the test into the testing company who analyzes the results -- the project selected FamilyTreeDNA as its testing service. The 12 marker Y-DNA test cost $99 U.S.dollars (at our group rate) has been the test for the pilot study.

However, we are setting the 25-marker test ($169 U.S.) as our standard to obtain a clearer definition of the relationships between family lines. However, the 37 marker test ($189 US) is preferred. Either test is acceptable and the participant can always upgrade the test to more markers at a later date using the same testee sample. Participants need to be a direct male descendant possessing the Helm/Helme/Helms or similar surname - such as Elme or Hellums.

An individual can participate by following this link:

http://www.familytreedna.com/surname_join.asp?code=W87869

This link will take you to the Family tree dna website where you can enroll and order the test kit.

The testing process is quite simple and is as follows:
A test kit is mailed to you (or the test person) by the lab. The testee uses a swab to rub their cheek then send the swab back to the lab. The lab performs the DNA test and informs both you (or the testee) and Matthew Helms about the results. The lab and Matthew analyze the results and compare them with the other Helm-like lines in their database (if you permit it) and Matthew will integrates the results into the Helm/etc project study. Some of the tests have been of English residents and since there are two long distance mail times involved, the English tests have taken somewhat longer to complete.

Matthew needs a simplified family line for the testee which covers up to the earliest person for which you have records. An typical example would be:

GGGF John Elmes (dates if known, place, if known,), Lancashire?(1600?-1689)
GGF William ELMES
GF John ELMES
F George Elmes
Son Hanabal ELMES of Worwick (1932- )

An extensive genealogy is not required. But, information sources would be of great benefit.
If your line corresponds to one of the current lines listed above, such as Leonard of Lancashire or Christopher of Lincolnshire, you might explain the connection, if known.

Additional information on DNA Testing can be seen in the attached file. "Maternal or Matrilineal Studies Using mt DNA" Click here to view this file
This file shows, as an example, the essentials from a similar Blair DNA project.

Another example can be seen at the following website;

http://www.familytreedna.com/public/fortenberrydna/

We are interested in the Falkenburgs because they intermarried with our HELMS in America.

TO PART TEN - HELMS MIGRATION FROM NC

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New February 2006
Revised September 2006
Revised August 2007 Request for DNA on SC Hellums