William Echols

Notes:

Census: 1850 Pittsylvania Co VA

Notes:

!MARRIAGE: Pittsylvania Co VA record

Census:
1850 Pittsylvania Co VA

!NAME:The Devin Family (manuscript), The Devin Family
(manuscript), Hofstetter, Dessa, circa 1962, 3

Obadiah married Louisa James Hurt 18 Aug 1837, Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A.. Louisa (daughter of William C. Hurt and Sarah Smith Devin) was born Abt 1823, Virginia U.S.A.; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

!MARRIAGE: Pittsylvania Co VA record

Census:
1850 Pittsylvania Co VA (possibly a twin to Elizabeth)

!NAME:The Devin Family (manuscript), The Devin Family
(manuscript), Hofstetter, Dessa, circa 1962, page 3

Notes:

Married:
Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940 via FamilySearch.org

Notes:

MARRIAGE: Pittsylvania Co VA record

!NAME:The Devin Family (manuscript), The Devin Family
(manuscript), Hofstetter, Dessa, circa 1962, page 3

William married Sarah Smith Devin 17 Sep 1810, Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A.. Sarah (daughter of Robert Devin and Nancy Parrish) was born Abt 1793, Pittsylvania County, Virginia; died Aft 1850. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

!MARRIAGE: Pittsylvania Co VA record

Census:
1850 Census Roll 968 Page 248 Pittsylvania Co VA: Sarah
Hurt age 57, Mary Hurt age 26 in same household as Nancy
Devin age 82.

!NAME:The Devin Family (manuscript), The Devin Family
(manuscript), Hofstetter, Dessa, circa 1962, page 3

!NAME:Court Records Book 44, Virginia. Pittsylvania County.
Court Records Book 44, County Clerk's Office, Pittsylvania
County, Virginia, page 507

Notes:

Married:
!MARRIAGE:Marriage Index #229, Marriage Index #229, Sec. V,
Ch. 91

Notes:

Robert 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...). Dessa's booklet also quotes, on
page 5, a letter from Robert Ira Devin to Alfred Harrison
Devin, saying "My grandfather William Devin, Jr. was born
in Pittsylvania County, Va. and was a soldier three years
in the War of the Revolution. Two of his brothers, John and
Robert, were with him in the army..."

*****
From "Virginians in the Revolution" page 221:
"Devin, Robert, (Diven) 1 and 10 CL, 2 VA Brigade, 10 CL.
Pittsylvania pens."
[same listing under Diven, Divin, and Davin]; 1 CL = First
Virginia Regiment, Continental Line; 10 CL = Tenth Virginia
Regiment, Continental Line; 2 VA Brigade = Second Virginia
Brigade)

*****
Pittsylvania Co VA Court Records Book #35, p 125 "The
declaration of Nancy
Devin widow of Robert Devin a Revolutionary Pensioner made
the 22nd day of
November 1838 before Wm. A/H. Fitzgerald a Justice of the
peace with the whole proceeding touching the application
for a pension was this day examined by the Court, approved
ordered to be certified."

Robert was a Commissioner of Revenue Taxes for Pittsylvania
County, Virginia in 1788, 1789 and from 1790 to 1794 (Court
Records Book #6 & #7). Court records (Pittsylvania Co VA
Book #8) also show he took oath as a Commissioner of
Revenue Taxes on 20 Apr 1795.

In 1797, 1798, and 1800, Robert represented Pittsylvania
County in the General Assembly of the Virginia Legislature
(1). Robert became a Justice of the Peace for Pittsylvania
County court in 1797 (2). He served as a presiding justice
(3) on 15 July 1799 during a resolution dealing with the
Alien and Sedition Act passed by Congress.

Robert and his wife, Nancy, deeded one acre for the
erection of a Methodist church (4) establish in 1823.


References

(1) History of Pittsylvania County; Clement, Maud; page 197.
(2) History of Pittsylvania County; Clement, Maud; page 287.
(3) History of Pittsylvania County; Clement, Maud; page 199.
(4) History of Pittsylvania County; Clement, Maud; page 199.

DOB, POB, & DOD from FHC #0928908 compiled by Ethel S.
Mattingley

DOM from Pittsylvania Co VA record & from IGI. Dessa's
booklet has DOM as 22 Jan 1791 (Hofstetter, Dessa; "The
Devin Family"; page 1; ...Robert m. Nancy Parrish January
22, 1791...; page 2; Robert Devin who married Nancy Parish,
January 22, 1791, ...)

Pittsylvania County, VA Will Book I, Page 265. Will dated
20 August 1825 and recorded 19 May 1834. (Hofstetter,
Dessa; "The Devin Family"; page 2; Robert Devin who married
Nancy Parish, January 22, 1791, made the following will,
See Will Book 1, page 265, Pittsylvania County, Va.
naming...)

The "1787 Census of Virginia" Volume 6; page 455, lists a
Robert Diven on the Personal Property Tax List visited by
Griffin Dickerson, Commisioner, in 20 April 1787. The entry
shows William Devin is charged with tax.


!NAME:The Devin Family (manuscript), The Devin Family
(manuscript), Hofstetter, Dessa, circa 1962, page 1-3

!NAME:Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension
Files, Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension
Files, Abstracted by Virgil D. White, page 958

!NAME:Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, Vol. 29,
Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, Vol. 29,
Dorman, John Frederick, Washington, D.C. 1978,

Excerpt -
Volume 29, page 49-50 (Robert Devin)
page 49

Devin, Robert (Nancy). W.3395; BLWt.13745-160-55.

12 Oct. 1832. Pittsylvania Co.; Va. Robert (X) Devin of
said county, aged near 73, declares he enlisted on 20 Jan.
1777 under Capt. Henry Conway at Smith's Store, then
Pittsylvania Court House, for three years and took up the
line of march from their rendezvous on 17 March following
with Capt. henry Conway, 1st Lt. Cyrus Roberts, 2nd Lt.
Drury Oliver and Ens. William Jenkins for headquarters at
Middlebrook, N.J., and was there attached to the 14th
Virginia Regiment. On the march they joined Maj. Abraham
Buford and Capt. Lambert at New London and Bedford Court
House, then went by Fredericksburg and Alexandria, and on
their way they were inoculated at Dumfries, Va., for the
small pos. In Alexandria they went through the operation of
the small pox and about 1 May all that were fit for duty
were marched for headquarters at Middlebrook, passing by
Baltimore and Philadelphia. On the march Col. Lewis, the
commandant of the regiment, joined them. From Middlebrook
they marched to the north and halted some days in the
highlands of New York where the American army was divided.
Gen. Gates took command of a part of the army and went on
to the north. Gen. Washington with the remainder returned
through Philadelphia to meet the British who landed at the
head of Elk, Md. In marching toward

page 50

head of Elk and after a number of skirmishes on previous
days, on 11 Sept. 1777 the alarm gun fired in their
batteries which were thrown up the night before at
Brandywine and the battle immediately commenced and
continued until about sunset when Gen. Greene's division,
including Weedon's brigade, retreated. He was in Weedon's
brigade. They marched a greater part of the night toward
Philadelphia. At this time Mud Island and Red Bank forts
ere closely besieged by the enemy. His regiment with a
number of other troops marched down the river with a view
to reinforce and support the forts. Having been informed
the forts were evacuated, they went back, recrossed the
river and went by Philadelphia and rejoined the army near
German town. On 4 October the battle of Germantown was
fought. He was not in that battle. When it was about to
commence he, being on the sick list, was sent off with the
baggage. After that the 14th Virginia Regiment was reduced
to the 10th. About Christmas they were marched to winter
quarters on the Schuylkill at Valley Forge.

On the opening of the campaign the next spring nothing of
importance occurred until the British army evacuated
Philadelphia on 12 June 1778. They went toward Sandy Hook.
At Somerset Court House a detached party was called for out
of the troops, which was to be commanded by Gen. Lafayette
and to march that night. Washington moved off the next
morning toward Monmouth Court house with the main body of
the army, where it was understood Lafayette was to make a
stand provided he overtook and attacked the rear of the
enemy and could draw them to Monmouth Court House. Next
morning they heard the firing. He was with Washington. They
went on to support the troops that were engaged. The
Virginia troops were in the rear. The battle grew very
warm. Capt. Fantleroy among others was killed. In a short
time Gen. Lee, who was commander of the left wing of the
army, rode up and asked who commanded these troops. Lt.
Col. Buford answered, I do, sir. Gen. Lee ordered him to
put his troops in order to march that he would show them
where to go. They then retraced their ground four or five
miles and halted until information came that Washington and
Lafayette had drawn the enemy. From there they marched to
Somerset Court House, crossed the Hudson River at King's
Ferry and went on to the White Plains where they camped and
stayed for some time. There he had a severe spell of
sickness. On recovering a little he and others were marched
to Quibbletown on the Hudson. There they got on board a
shallop and were carried up the river above West Point and
from there t a recruiting hospital where they stayed a
considerable time. When he got fit for duty he was removed
and joined his same regiment in the fall of the year at
Robertson' Plains, opposite West Point, where they remained
a good while and worked in the fort until they moved to
winter quarters at Middlebrook in Jersey. This ended the
second campaign.

In commencing the campaign of 1789 [1779] nothing worthy of
notice occurred until 16 July. Brig. Gen. Muhlenburg with
his brigade being stationed on the mountains near Hudson
River as a guard between Stony Point, occupied by the
British, and

page 51

West Point by our troops, the troops were notified that
Gen. Washington would review them. The troops were put in
motion, marched down through the mountains and got into a
valley thickly settled. Guards were placed at every house
to prevent any person passing. The brigade formed in a
line; white paper was distributed to all the soldiers to
put in their hats. They lay in line until late in the night
and received orders to march as private as possible toward
the fort and in as good order as possible as it was through
the woods and dark. He was near enough to hear the British
sentinels hail a column of light infantry that was
advancing on the fort. The Americans made no answer but
rushed on. The British guard fired and it was said killed
three or four of our men. The infantry proceeded and the
guard and part of our infantry entered the gate together.
It was said the attack commenced between 12 and 1 at night.
Our troops were ordered not to fire again but rush into
their lodgings and use the bayonet. Our watch word was the
forts our own and if not answered on or the other must die
by the bayonet. The confusion and noise in the fort cannot
be described. It was said that it lasted about 21 minutes
but in a short time ceased. He was in Muhlenburg's brigade,
still formed in the line as a reserve outside of the fort,
which position they continued in until day. They continued
in the fort three days and nights, engaged in demolishing
the fort and removing ammunition and other plunder, putting
them on shallops to send up to West Point. After this was
done they evacuated the fort and went to their different
positions. After this nothing of importance occurred. They
were kept moving hither and yon until fall. In December the
Virginia troops were divided in lots according to the time
of their enlistment, after which they took up the line of
march for Virginia to be discharged. They were much
retarded in their march and they marched to Philadelphia
and quartered in the old barracks, called Braddock's. There
they suffered a good deal and being informed that Col.
Christian Febiger was authorized to discharge them, he
applied to him for himself, his brother and a few more.
They were discharged 4 Feb. 1780.

After being home some time he was informed the discharges
were required to be sent to Richmond for the purpose of
receiving land warrants and a 6 per cent certificate.

He was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., 6 April 1759. he has
lived in Pittsylvania Co., Va., since the war.

22 Nov. 1838. Pittsylvania Co., Va. Nancy (X) Devin of said
county, aged 75, applies for continuance of pension.

30 Nov. 1848. Pittsylvania Co., Va. Nancy (X) Devin of said
county, aged 80, applies for continuance of pension.

10 April 1855. Pittsylvania Co., Va. Nancy (X) Devin of
said county, aged 87, applies for bounty land. She was
married to Robert Devin in Pittsylvania County 25 Jan. 1791
and

page 52

her name was Nancy Parrish. Her husband died at his
residence 10 April 1834.

Robert Devin of Pittsylvania Co., Va., private in the
company of Capt. Conway in the regiment of Col. Lewis in
the Virginia line for two years, was placed on the Virginia
pension roll at $80 per annum under the Act of 1832.
Certificate 6452 was issued 2 March 1833.

Nancy Devin of Pittsylvania Co., Va., widow of Robert Devin
who died in 1834, private in the company of Capt. Conway in
the regiment of Col. Lewis in the Virginia line for two
years, was placed on the Richmond, Va., pension roll at $80
per annum. Certificate 4180 under the Act of 1838 was
issued 12 Sept. 1829, 4582 under the Act of 1843 was issued
22 Jan. 1844 and 3556 under the Act of 1848 was issued 31
Jan. 1849. Bounty land warrant 13745 for 160 acres was
issued 9 Jan. 1856

She died 11 April 1858.

, Volume 29 page 51-52

!NAME:American Revolutionary War Pension No. W-3395 (Robert
Devin), Devin, Robert : ARW Pension #W-3395, Nancy Devin
bounty land application

!NAME:Virginia. Pittsylvania County. Will Book 01,
Virginia. Pittsylvania County. Will Book 01, County Clerk's
Office, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, page 265

Robert married Nancy Parrish 25 Jan 1791, Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Nancy (daughter of Abraham 'Abram' Parrish and Susannah Riddle) was born Abt 1768, Saint Peter's Parish, New Kent, Virginia; died 11 Apr 1858, Pittsylvania County, Virginia . [Group Sheet]

Notes:

!MARRIAGE: Pittsylvania Co VA record & from IGI

Pittsylvania County, VA Will Book 2, Page 272 signed 8 Jy
1848, recorded
17 May 1858.

DOD from Pittsylvania Co VA Court Records Book #44, p 507
"Satisfactory
evidence was this day exhibited to the Court that Nancy
Devin was a Pensioner
of the United States at the rate of eighty dollars per
annum, was a resident of
this county and died in this county on the 11th day of
April 1858 leaving only
one child whose name is Sarah S. Hurt."

Census:
1850 Census Roll 968 Page 248 Pittsylvania Co VA: Sarah
Hurt age 57, Mary Hurt age 26 in same household as Nancy
Devin age 82.

!NAME:The Devin Family (manuscript), The Devin Family
(manuscript), Hofstetter, Dessa, circa 1962, page 1-3

!NAME:Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension
Files, Genealogical Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension
Files, Abstracted by Virgil D. White, page 958

!NAME:Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, Vol. 29,
Virginia Revolutionary Pension Applications, Vol. 29,
Dorman, John Frederick, Washington, D.C. 1978,

Excerpt -
Volume 29, page 49-50 (Robert Devin)
page 49

Devin, Robert (Nancy). W.3395; BLWt.13745-160-55.

12 Oct. 1832. Pittsylvania Co.; Va. Robert (X) Devin of
said county, aged near 73, declares he enlisted on 20 Jan.
1777 under Capt. Henry Conway at Smith's Store, then
Pittsylvania Court House, for three years and took up the
line of march from their rendezvous on 17 March following
with Capt. henry Conway, 1st Lt. Cyrus Roberts, 2nd Lt.
Drury Oliver and Ens. William Jenkins for headquarters at
Middlebrook, N.J., and was there attached to the 14th
Virginia Regiment. On the march they joined Maj. Abraham
Buford and Capt. Lambert at New London and Bedford Court
House, then went by Fredericksburg and Alexandria, and on
their way they were inoculated at Dumfries, Va., for the
small pos. In Alexandria they went through the operation of
the small pox and about 1 May all that were fit for duty
were marched for headquarters at Middlebrook, passing by
Baltimore and Philadelphia. On the march Col. Lewis, the
commandant of the regiment, joined them. From Middlebrook
they marched to the north and halted some days in the
highlands of New York where the American army was divided.
Gen. Gates took command of a part of the army and went on
to the north. Gen. Washington with the remainder returned
through Philadelphia to meet the British who landed at the
head of Elk, Md. In marching toward

page 50

head of Elk and after a number of skirmishes on previous
days, on 11 Sept. 1777 the alarm gun fired in their
batteries which were thrown up the night before at
Brandywine and the battle immediately commenced and
continued until about sunset when Gen. Greene's division,
including Weedon's brigade, retreated. He was in Weedon's
brigade. They marched a greater part of the night toward
Philadelphia. At this time Mud Island and Red Bank forts
ere closely besieged by the enemy. His regiment with a
number of other troops marched down the river with a view
to reinforce and support the forts. Having been informed
the forts were evacuated, they went back, recrossed the
river and went by Philadelphia and rejoined the army near
German town. On 4 October the battle of Germantown was
fought. He was not in that battle. When it was about to
commence he, being on the sick list, was sent off with the
baggage. After that the 14th Virginia Regiment was reduced
to the 10th. About Christmas they were marched to winter
quarters on the Schuylkill at Valley Forge.

On the opening of the campaign the next spring nothing of
importance occurred until the British army evacuated
Philadelphia on 12 June 1778. They went toward Sandy Hook.
At Somerset Court House a detached party was called for out
of the troops, which was to be commanded by Gen. Lafayette
and to march that night. Washington moved off the next
morning toward Monmouth Court house with the main body of
the army, where it was understood Lafayette was to make a
stand provided he overtook and attacked the rear of the
enemy and could draw them to Monmouth Court House. Next
morning they heard the firing. He was with Washington. They
went on to support the troops that were engaged. The
Virginia troops were in the rear. The battle grew very
warm. Capt. Fantleroy among others was killed. In a short
time Gen. Lee, who was commander of the left wing of the
army, rode up and asked who commanded these troops. Lt.
Col. Buford answered, I do, sir. Gen. Lee ordered him to
put his troops in order to march that he would show them
where to go. They then retraced their ground four or five
miles and halted until information came that Washington and
Lafayette had drawn the enemy. From there they marched to
Somerset Court House, crossed the Hudson River at King's
Ferry and went on to the White Plains where they camped and
stayed for some time. There he had a severe spell of
sickness. On recovering a little he and others were marched
to Quibbletown on the Hudson. There they got on board a
shallop and were carried up the river above West Point and
from there t a recruiting hospital where they stayed a
considerable time. When he got fit for duty he was removed
and joined his same regiment in the fall of the year at
Robertson' Plains, opposite West Point, where they remained
a good while and worked in the fort until they moved to
winter quarters at Middlebrook in Jersey. This ended the
second campaign.

In commencing the campaign of 1789 [1779] nothing worthy of
notice occurred until 16 July. Brig. Gen. Muhlenburg with
his brigade being stationed on the mountains near Hudson
River as a guard between Stony Point, occupied by the
British, and

page 51

West Point by our troops, the troops were notified that
Gen. Washington would review them. The troops were put in
motion, marched down through the mountains and got into a
valley thickly settled. Guards were placed at every house
to prevent any person passing. The brigade formed in a
line; white paper was distributed to all the soldiers to
put in their hats. They lay in line until late in the night
and received orders to march as private as possible toward
the fort and in as good order as possible as it was through
the woods and dark. He was near enough to hear the British
sentinels hail a column of light infantry that was
advancing on the fort. The Americans made no answer but
rushed on. The British guard fired and it was said killed
three or four of our men. The infantry proceeded and the
guard and part of our infantry entered the gate together.
It was said the attack commenced between 12 and 1 at night.
Our troops were ordered not to fire again but rush into
their lodgings and use the bayonet. Our watch word was the
forts our own and if not answered on or the other must die
by the bayonet. The confusion and noise in the fort cannot
be described. It was said that it lasted about 21 minutes
but in a short time ceased. He was in Muhlenburg's brigade,
still formed in the line as a reserve outside of the fort,
which position they continued in until day. They continued
in the fort three days and nights, engaged in demolishing
the fort and removing ammunition and other plunder, putting
them on shallops to send up to West Point. After this was
done they evacuated the fort and went to their different
positions. After this nothing of importance occurred. They
were kept moving hither and yon until fall. In December the
Virginia troops were divided in lots according to the time
of their enlistment, after which they took up the line of
march for Virginia to be discharged. They were much
retarded in their march and they marched to Philadelphia
and quartered in the old barracks, called Braddock's. There
they suffered a good deal and being informed that Col.
Christian Febiger was authorized to discharge them, he
applied to him for himself, his brother and a few more.
They were discharged 4 Feb. 1780.

After being home some time he was informed the discharges
were required to be sent to Richmond for the purpose of
receiving land warrants and a 6 per cent certificate.

He was born in Lancaster Co., Pa., 6 April 1759. he has
lived in Pittsylvania Co., Va., since the war.

22 Nov. 1838. Pittsylvania Co., Va. Nancy (X) Devin of said
county, aged 75, applies for continuance of pension.

30 Nov. 1848. Pittsylvania Co., Va. Nancy (X) Devin of said
county, aged 80, applies for continuance of pension.

10 April 1855. Pittsylvania Co., Va. Nancy (X) Devin of
said county, aged 87, applies for bounty land. She was
married to Robert Devin in Pittsylvania County 25 Jan. 1791
and

page 52

her name was Nancy Parrish. Her husband died at his
residence 10 April 1834.

Robert Devin of Pittsylvania Co., Va., private in the
company of Capt. Conway in the regiment of Col. Lewis in
the Virginia line for two years, was placed on the Virginia
pension roll at $80 per annum under the Act of 1832.
Certificate 6452 was issued 2 March 1833.

Nancy Devin of Pittsylvania Co., Va., widow of Robert Devin
who died in 1834, private in the company of Capt. Conway in
the regiment of Col. Lewis in the Virginia line for two
years, was placed on the Richmond, Va., pension roll at $80
per annum. Certificate 4180 under the Act of 1838 was
issued 12 Sept. 1829, 4582 under the Act of 1843 was issued
22 Jan. 1844 and 3556 under the Act of 1848 was issued 31
Jan. 1849. Bounty land warrant 13745 for 160 acres was
issued 9 Jan. 1856

She died 11 April 1858.

, Volume 29 page 51-52

!NAME:Marriage Bonds Book 01, Virginia-Pittsylvania County.
Marriage Bonds Book 01, County Clerk's Office,
Virginia-Pittsylvania County., page 14

!NAME:American Revolutionary War Pension No. W-3395 (Robert
Devin), Devin, Robert : ARW Pension #W-3395, Nancy Devin's
application for bounty land

!NAME:Court Records Book 44, Virginia. Pittsylvania County.
Court Records Book 44, County Clerk's Office, Pittsylvania
County, Virginia, Book 44 page 507

Notes:

Married:
"The Devin Family" has DOM as 22 January 1791. This is the
date of the marriagae bond.

22.Jan.1791 Marriage Bond Robert Devin & Nancy Parrish
daughter of Joseph Parrish Surety Joseph Akin Rich. Elliot
(Devin file at Pedmont Genealogy Society, Danville VA
Public Library from research by Anna D. Evans 07.May.1985)