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Thomas William Kem

Thomas William Kem

Linda Mean (View posts)
Posted: 17 Mar 2000 2:08PM GMT
Looking for info on William Kem born C1832 Wayne County, In. Married Lydia Davis in 1849 in Wayne County. Had son Sherman Terrance Kem born 7/22/1865 in Indiana who was my great grandfather. Also looking for a Thomas Kem who was William's father. Thomas's wifes name could be Malinda.

Thomas William Kem

Judy Kem (View posts)
Posted: 4 Jun 2000 8:29AM GMT
I found two marriage records for Thomas Kem. Thomas Kem married Mary Centz, daughter of Jacob Centz, on January 4, 1814, in Botetourt County, Virginia. The minister's name was John Helms. The same (?) Thomas Kem married Malinda Helms on February 27, 1825, in Botetourt County, Va. Again, a John Helms was there and testified that the bride was over 21. Thomas was apparently the son of George Elizabeth Kem. According to LDS, George Kem was born in England about 1754 and Elizabeth was born in Wales about 1758. I do not have proof of their birth place or date. However, I did find a record of George Kem having been condemned in Middlesex, England, for some unspecified crime (if you find out, I'd love to know) in 1772, and reprieved for transportation to Virginia in January 1773. George Kem (alias Butcher) was transported to Virginia on the ship Justitia with Finlay Gray, captain. He was apparently sentenced to 14-years as an indentured servant (don't know who "bought" him). Fourteen years later, he appears in an Augusta County Tax List (1787)-- the name is often spelled Kimm -- with one horse. He must have married about this time (often indentured servants were not allowed to marry until they had completed their service) since his sons Thomas Joseph were born around this time. [I am researching a William Kem who was born between 1783 1793 and moved to Tennessee about 1814, but I have not yet been able to prove that George was his father.] I have lots more stuff on the Virginia Kems.

Thomas Elizabeth Kem

Dorothy Miller (View posts)
Posted: 24 Jun 2000 11:13PM GMT
I am also researching the Kem/Helms
connections. Thomas Kem b. 1793 in Botetourt
Co., VA, son of George Elizabeth Kem of
England, was father of Elizabeth Kem who
married Strawder Helms in Wayne Co., IN in
1838. Court records in Wayne Co. also gave
Malinda as her mother, but from what you
have found, her mother must have been Mary
Centz. However, according to Wayne Co., IN
record of her death 10/6/1881, she wasn't
but 63 years of age (Malinda Kem). Thomas
Kem d. 55/3/1871 at the age of 88, 9 mo. and
10 days. They were both buried in Kennedy
Chapel Cemetery at Olive Hill, IN. I have
been corresponding with another Kem descen-
dant who is planning to visit the cemetery
and advise what he finds there. Strawder
Helms was the son of a John Helms and
Rebecca Drummond who m. 1818 in Botetourt Co.
VA, but he was not the same person as the
John Helms, Methodist minister, who d. 1821
in Botetourt Co., VA. While not yet proven,
I think John Helms b. 1795 (1850 census
said he was age 55) may have been the son of
Leonard Helms and Elizabeth Jackson and am
presently working on this premise. There
was a third John Helms, whose estate was
settled in Botetourt Co. in 1782, page 200 of
book #1 in Fincastle, VA, records. The
Augusta Co., VA, 1810 census lists a John
Helms with 2 boys under 10, 1 male 26-45,
1 female under 10, 1 female 16-26 and 1 male
45 and up. In 1820, there were 2 John Helms
listed in the census, the Rev. John Helms
and my John and Rebecca Helms who were in
the Catawba area that later became Craig Co.,
VA. I have been working on the Helms line
for 35 years as time permitted, and about
25 years ago made a trip to Richmond and
Anderson, Indiana, to check the immediate
Kem line, but at that time did not learn
what Malinda Kem's maiden name was. My
e-mail is damiller@inetone.net, and I would
like to correspond further with you, Judy,
as well as with Linda Means. Thanks.

Helms line.

Posted: 25 Jun 2000 6:45PM GMT
Edited: 1 Jan 2004 6:19PM GMT
I am a decendant of a John Helms b.1761 in Botetourt Co. married to a Anna Ockerman. Do you have any information on this person. I think his father may be a Jacob Helm, but I am not sure. Thanks

Helms/Kem VA IN

Dorothy Miller (View posts)
Posted: 25 Jun 2000 7:25PM GMT
From information I recently received, it
would seem that the John Helms b. 1761 was
the Rev. John Helms, Methodist Minister in
Botetourt Co., VA, who d. 1821. He was the
son of Thomas Helms, Sr. and Margaret
Lynaugh. This Thomas d. in Prince William
Co., VA about 1769. Rev. John Helms had a
son, Jacob P. Helms, as well as other
children, Thomas, William Spencer, and
Malinda who married a Harmon. This Jacob P.
was b. abt. 1788 in Botetourt Co. and died
abt. 1857 in Fannin Co., Texas, according to
the lady who shared this info with me. Hope
this will help you. For future contact,
feel free to contact me by e-mail at
damiller@inetone.net. If you are searching
the Kem surname, we must have some common
relatives, as my John Helms m. Rebecca
Drummond, and their son, Strawder Helms, m.
Elizabeth Jane Kem in 1838 in Wayne Co., IN.
Posted: 28 Jun 2000 5:36PM GMT
Edited: 1 Jan 2004 6:19PM GMT
Thank you for the information, but I think it must be a different John Helms. The one I am looking for was a blacksmith by trade. I will keep looking, good luck in your research.

Indiana Kems

Howard Kem (View posts)
Posted: 29 Oct 2000 7:37PM GMT
I am a descendant of George,Joesph, and George(B 1820)Kem. The youngest Geo moved to Grant Co IN about 1855. We have pretty decent records on my branch, but are really in doubt about the other branches. My records indicate that Geo Elizabeth kem had 4 children-Joesph, Thomas,James, and Nancy. Will share anything we have with others. Most of our info comes from my Grandmother and she has been gone for several years

Contact me at 765-981-4839or kemtutor@ctlnet.com

Kems family history

Posted: 28 Apr 2001 8:57PM GMT
Edited: 4 Apr 2002 11:17PM GMT
Do you have anything on a Wyles Kems who married one of my great aunts daughters.Their names were Jennie Harris Prosser of Kansas City and Jessie Harris Loes of Denver CO.I found the Name pubished on a card of thanks in the Lebo Enterprise on Nov.20,1924.The way that the names are listed leads you to believe that he married Jennie's Daughter.
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