FREDERICK COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Tomb of George Helm
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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection


LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Tomb of George Helm:
                  1937 Oct. 22
                  Research made by William Wood Glass

Cemetery Location:  Old Reformed Church Section, Mount Hebron Cemetery, 
                    Winchester, Virginia.
                    Frederick County


DATE:

1769.

OWNERS:

Reformed Lutheran Church.

DESCRIPTION:

The grave of the first person ever known to have had an inscribed tombstone 
erected over his last resting place in the old Reformed Church section of Mount 
Hebron Cemetery has been rescued from oblivion by some unknown person interested 
in the preservation of antiquities.

The grave is that of one George Helm, who died in 1769 at the age of 46 years.  
Records have been traced, and it was found his grave was the first to be marked 
by a stone.

Efforts were made recently to renew the inscription, but the surface of the red 
sandstone marker chipped so easily as a result of the ravages of weather and 
time that the task had to be abandoned.

New Stone Set In

Instead, the marble cutter, who did the work, set a white marble slab in cement 
into the opposite side of the stone with a duplicate of the original 
inscription, which had been faintly traced and brought out more distinctly with 
pencil and paper.

The grave of Helm is some distance north of the old Lutheran Church wall, and is 
at the corner of a small lot, around which many years ago had been erected by 
someone a small paling fence.  A tree stands nearby.

The lot is covered with myrtle and other vines, and it has not been found 
whether there are additional graves in the lot.  If so, they are not marked.

Inscription In German

The inscription, as copied from the front of the old stone, is in German.  It 
reads:

“Hier ligt in Gotte’s hand der leib
George Helm, G.B., 1723.  G. B. S.,
1769, Att. 46.”

Translated, the inscription records that

“Here lies in God’s hand the body of
George Helm.  Born 1723.  Died, 1769;
aged 46.”

At the top of the old stone was carved a rectangular square, with crossed lines 
extending to and from the four corners, in the center of which is a small 
circle.  No one who has seen the stone seemed to know what the symbol meant.


HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

An examination of the old Frederick County records discloses that Helm was one 
of the early settlers here.  He was one of the original lot owners at 
Stephensburg, now Stephens City.  He sold his lot there and purchased one in 
Winchester from Philip Bush, who had acquired it with others from Col. John 
Hite.  The lot is the same ground on which the home of Mrs. W. R. Willis now 
stands at No. 125 South Cameron Street.  The lot had been sold originally by 
Lord Fairfax to Colonel Hite in 1753.

The will of Helm was recorded in 1769.  It was witnessed by Frederick Conrad, 
Philip Bush, Robert Rutherford and Henry Denny.  The first two witnesses were 
prominent members of the Reformed Church.  It was assumed that Helm was likewise 
connected with that denomination, and that he was a “man of affairs” in 
Winchester in that day.

Thus, thanks to someone, whose identity has not been disclosed, the last resting 
place of one of the leading citizens of a by-gone age has been rescued from 
oblivion and appropriately marked.  A small corner of the new stone records that 
the original inscription was copied in 1837.


SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Tombstone Inscriptions

Visit by worker.

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	This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 
	by:  Joan Renfrow

	NOTICE:  I have no relationship or further information in 
	regards to this family.
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