PATRIOT James Devin

Notes:

In a list of Revolutionary War Pensioners for Lincoln
County, KY under the Act of March 18, 1818 and the Act of
June 7, 1832, there is one "Divin, James, Ensign, VA Line,
30 Jan 1833, $120, age 86". YOB is real close to the
assumed birth year of this James.

(Dessa Hofstetter; "The Devin Family"; page 1; From the
Pittsylvania County, Virginia Courthouse records are the
following items:
- James Devin, plaintiff in a law suit March 1774.
- William and James Devin exempted from working roads March
1773.
- James Devin sworn as ensign in militia 1789 . . . March
court)

James fought against England in the Revolutionary War
(Dessa Hofstetter; "The Devin Family"; page 2; ...William
and Sarah Devin's four oldest sons were in the
Revolutionary War...).

COURT RECORDS Book #10 Pittsylvania Co VA Feb 1803 says one
James Devin discontinued as an undersheriff (deputy
sheriff).

Pension # S-16365 (or16165) (affidavid dated 24.Sep.1832)
for James Divin of Lincoln County, Kentucky states he was a
resident of Pittsylvania County Virgina when he served as
an ensign in Captain Brewer's company of the Virginia
Militia. Age 84 when application was made.

James is the twin brother of John Devin

POB from Ancestral File

Birth date calculated from stated age of 84 when affidavit
was given and date of the ARW Pension affidavit dated
24.Sep.1832. If accurate, James could be born anywhere
between Sept. 1747 and Sept. 1748.

His birth circa 1748 would also agree with him being listed
on the 1767 List of Tithables for Pittsylvania County
Virginia. He would have been about 19 in 1767, and any male
over the age of 16 was listed.

!NAME:American Revolutionary War Pension #S-16365 (James
Divin), Divin, James: ARW Pension #S-16365,

Divin,
James
State of Kentucky Lincoln County

September
24, 1832, age 84 [est. b. 1748], the soldier applied for a
pension.
He states that he was an ensign in Captain
Brewer's Company of Virginia
Militia and was called
into service as a pensioner of that grade.

He was
commanded by General Green and thinks his Colonel's name
was Boyd and
served about 6 months, that he entered
service in Pittsylvania Va being at
that time a
resident of said county, thinks he was discharged in
Bedford Co.,
Va, at which time he was commanded by
Colonel Hoskins.

He entered service again as a
Militiaman from Pittsylvania County, Va, and
was in
service during the seige of 96, that he was an ensign and
called in
the service as such. States that he served
serveral campaigns against the
Indians during the
Revolutionary War. He was under Colonel Christie, the

other officers he does not recollect. He thinks in
all, he served 2 or 3
years.

, Pension Declaration

Birth:
Between Lancaster Co., PA and Pittsylvania Co., VA

Died:
Pension Date

James married 'Peggy' [Margaret] Thomas Abt Aug 1803. 'Peggy' (daughter of Jonathan Thomas) was born Abt 1750; died Yes, date unknown, likely Halifax Co., Virginia . [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
From Pittsylvania Co VA records

13.Aug.1803 Marriage Bond for James Devin and Peggy Thomas,
daughter of Johnathan Thomas. Surety William Biggers (Devin
file at Pedmont Genealogy Society, Danville VA Public
Library from research by Anna D. Evans 07.May.1985).

Notes:

William Devin, Senior is considered to be the Progenitor of the protestant Devin family in the United States of America. William Devin, Senior of Virginia was born in Dublin, Ireland and came to America in 1745 or 1746. In 1750, he married Sarah Smith and settled in what is now Pittsylvania County, Virginia. --The Devin Family, page 1.

William Davin along with son James Davin is listed in the
1767 list of Tithables for Pittsylvania County, Virginia
Colony. As did many landowners of the era and region, William Devin Senior owned slaves. His will states that he owned at least one male slave, named Alleck, which he bequeathed to his daughter Sarah Devin.

William Sr. served as Sergeant of Infantry, Virginia Continental Line. He "received a certificate for balance of full pay, according to act passed November session 1781". [more likely this was his son William Jr.] Children listed in will: James Devin, Mary Biggar, William Devin, Jr.
Robert Devin, Joseph Devin, heirs of Margaret Reynolds,
decd.
References:

(1) War Records No.4 Page 166
(2) Virginia. Will was signed 25 Nov 1800.
(3) 1787 Pittsylvania Co VA for William Devin, Sr.

1787 Pittsylvania Co VA for William Devin, Sr.
Personal Property Tax List: 2 white males 16-21
1 black over 16
0 blacks under 16
8 horses, mules, etc.
12 cattle

William married Sarah Smith 1750. Sarah (daughter of Peter of Yeocomico Smith and Mary Bailey) was born 20 Mar 1727, Pennsylvania Colony; died Bef 22 Nov 1800, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Smith surname assumed based on serveral grandchildren named
'Sarah Smith _____'. No documents have been found to
support her last name except for a manuscript by Dessa
Hoffstetter. However, its source is suspect.

Not named in will of her husband which was dated 25
November 1800.
Dessa's booklet mentions a letter to Alfred Harrison Devin
written by Rev. Robert Ira Devin son of James, son of
William Jr, son of William Sr. The letter is said to make
the following statements: "Records of the Parish of Camden:
'Sarah Devin born March 20, 1728.'"

!NAME:Ancestors of Thomas Clayton Hughes, Ancestors of
Thomas Clayton Hughes, Hughes, Thomas Clayton, Generation
No. 8 # 146

Notes:

Married:
Possibly married in Virginia Colony or Pennsylvania
Colony.(speculation)

After Sarah and William were married, they settled in the area now known as Pittsylvania County, Virginia. William and Sarah were members of the Presbyterian Church and accumulated some wealth. They had eleven children; some dying in childhood. Their four oldest sons fought in and survived the Revolutionary War. (Hofstetter, Dessa; The Devin Family; page 1)

The Devin property in Pittsylvania County, Virginia is shown by deeds and records to be near the Bannister River in the southwest corner of Pittsylvania County, northwest of Danville and east of Martinville, Virginia. In February 17, 1794, William Sr. deeded property to William Jr. as recorded in Pittsylvania County, Virginia Courthouse records. William Sr. bequeathed his house to his daughter, Sarah Devin.

Peter married Mary Bailey. Mary (daughter of Stephen Bailey and Mary Ann Jeffries/Jeffreys) was born Abt 1668, Westmoreland Co., Virginia Colony; died 1745, Virginia Colony. [Group Sheet]

Stephen married Mary Ann Jeffries/Jeffreys. Mary was born 1632, Newington, Surrey, England; died 1697, Westmoreland, Virginia Colony. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Name:
d/o William Jeffries and Mary Hodge Coggeshall