The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-19
WAYNE COUNTY'S SLAVE FARM.
The Brutal Master Of the Only Slaves Ever
Held In That Region.

From he Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Through a recent business deal is recalled
something of William Helm. the master and
owner Of the first and only slave farm in Wayne
county. Helm was a native Of England. and
while there sambled 10 so great an extent that
he was forced to leave his country and Try and
regain his lost fortune. He set sail for America
and landed in Virginia. There he established
o slave farm, but il was not very profitable to
him, and he decided to move to the mouth OF
the Genesee River.
II was about the middle OF May, 1910, that
Helm set out from Prince William county. Va,
with a fine Pennsylvania team and an emf
grants wagon as a means OF conveyance for
himself and of food for the party, A bell was
hung on the rear axle as a guide to the walking
slaves.
He started north through Maryland and Penn.
sylyania. traversing a portion of New York
State until Great Sodus Bay was reached. The
team and slaves made about twenty miles a
day, camping out every night. Each morning
the overseer rang the bell, gathered the slaves
together. and called the roll. The slave who
did not answer TO his or her name was felled
10 the ground March was made by day and
at night the slaves slept In tents.
At a point on Great SOdus Bay where Sodus
Point il now situated Helm and his men found
one small tavern kept by a man named Sill.
Sill.
The bay is described in a book written by one
of the slaves as being ten miles in length, two
miles in breadth, and having excellent harbors,
The shores OF the bay were. in the year 1878, an
q few days AZ the Sill tavern he went up the east
shore of the bay. where Bonnicastle is now
located, and purchased a large tract OF land on
work clearing the land. There was little Ia
eat, corn helms very scarce. The region
lbounded in elh, deer, bears and Wild animals
l. lA..a- VAHA tV YllAV.AI -. l..aF al. Sal.
Their whole time being devoted To the clearing
OF the land
Helm was not only q sportsman. but "A game
ster. and in these days would be termed
q high roller. A. a specimen OF
his nerve it may hc recalled that on single
hand Of cards he bet s2.7m in cash, a horse
valued al si.BO, several horses OF less value, n
slave, his wlle'S gold watch, and a small golden
bell Bystanders declared that the money was
unfairly won, but Capt. Helm refused TO make
any kick, except for the bell. which he took
back. An appeal wns taken by a friend 10
Gen. George Washington, who after hearing
the evidence IN the case decided that Helm had
lost and that his adversary had won IN. prop
erty, which he at once took possession of and
transferred 10 his own plantation
The punishment OF slaves was Capt Helms
principal diversion when in a passion II
was no uncommon thing Tor a slave 10 be tied
10 a tree and have from thirty-fve to fifty
lashes applied 10 him, according 10 the nature
of the offence. Helm became 50 notorious
for cruelty that several plots we're laid TO TAX.
his life One Of these was put into execute m,
but with pistols the wouid-bc murdnrers were
killed or put to flght.
After Helm had got part Of his farm al the
east end of the bay under cultivation. he char.
tered a boat 10 20 TO the mouth Of the Gensset
River ~ buy corr. The boat left the bay under
favorable circumstances, but was dr. ven to
the Canadian side by "a storm. and II was with
much difficulty that Helm and his slaves were
rescued and brought back 10 Sodus Bay. II
was not unusual Tor a slave 10 get lost and
wander days AZ a time m the forest without
provisions except what could be- procured
from roots, on these occasions the bell re-.
ferred to above, which was fastened to a pole
about thirty feet high, was runs day and night
10 aid the lost ones In returning home.
After remaining several years and clearing
the land where BonnlcnStle now marks ths
spot, Helm sold his plantation and removed
with a part % his slaves TO Bath Amonl
the article, that went with the farm was I'M.
bell, which AZ the owners death was hundec
down from one generation To another, unit
IL was inall! sold To "A man m Altnn
4 short umo ago lheod0rr Barton. n wealth,
farmer living near Lyons, purchased the bel
and hung u IN his barn as n means OF com
munication between ms dwelling and his barns
This IL the only relic that nov remains o. tn,
nrst and only slave farm IN Way ne county.