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PATRIOT William Devin

Male Abt 1752 - 1810  (~ 58 years)


Personal Information    |    Media    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name William Devin 
    Title PATRIOT 
    Born Abt 1752  Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 28 Apr 1810  Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I38  My Reynolds Line | Descendants of James Mitchell
    Last Modified 27 Sep 2017 

    Father William Devin, Sr.,   b. 1724,   d. Bef 19 Apr 1802, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years) 
    Mother Sarah Smith,   b. 20 Mar 1727, Pennsylvania Colony Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 22 Nov 1800, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years) 
    Married 1750 
    • 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. [1]
    Family ID F6  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Martha Mitchell,   b. 1762, Colonial Maryland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1830  (Age 68 years) 
    Married 7 Sep 1780  Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location 
    • Ancestors of Thomas Clayton Hughes, Ancestors of Thomas Clayton Hughes, Hughes, Thomas Clayton, Generation
      No. 7/73

      There is a large family of Mitchell's who lived in Pittsylvania Co. at this time. This researcher believes she may be identified as a daughter of James Mitchell, who is found doing business with these residents.
    Children 
     1. James Devin,   b. 15 May 1781, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 11 Aug 1854, Henry County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
     2. Jane Devin,   b. 15 May 1781, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     3. John Devin,   b. 1783, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     4. Sarah Devin,   b. 1785,   d. Bef 16 Oct 1848, Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years)
     5. Mary Devin,   b. 1788, Pittsylvania County, Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     6. Clayton Devin,   b. 11 Jul 1793, Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Nov 1868, Polk County, Missouri U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years)
     7. Bethsheba Devin,   b. 1797, Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     8. Elizabeth Devin,   b. 1792, Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
     9. William Robert Devin,   b. Aug 1800, Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1876, Polk County, Missouri U.S.A. Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 75 years)
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2016 
    Family ID F5  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Documents
    1800 Tax List Pittsylvania Co., Virginia 
William Devin, Sr.
    1800 Tax List Pittsylvania Co., Virginia William Devin, Sr.
    1800TaxWilliamDevinSr.jpg
    1785 Virginia Census Prince Edward County and Pittsylvania Co., Virginia
    1785 Virginia Census Prince Edward County and Pittsylvania Co., Virginia
    1785Cenpec-pitts.pdf
    Deeds - Pittsylvania Co., Virginia 1783-1790
    Deeds - Pittsylvania Co., Virginia 1783-1790
    Scannpittsylvania covadeed1783abtsbyaustin.pdf
    William Devin Service Records
    William Devin Service Records
    38William Devin Compiled_Service_Records_of_Soldiers_Who_Served_in_the_American_Army_During_the_Revolutionary_War.pdf
    Colonial Virginia Soldiers of the Revolution
Robert Devin
William Devin
    Colonial Virginia Soldiers of the Revolution Robert Devin William Devin
    William and Robert Devin 10th Regiment Revolutionary_War_Rolls_17751783.pdf
    1785 US Census Pittsylvania Co., Virginia
    1785 US Census Pittsylvania Co., Virginia
    1785 Census Blair-Aaron-Fuller.jpg

  • Notes 
    • The following chain of evidence shows the relationship of William Devin, Jr. to his father, William Devin, Sr., both of Pittsylvania County Virginia:
      i. William Devin, Sr.'s will dated 25.Nov.1800 recorded in Pittsylvania County VA Deed & Will Book 11 pages 243-244 on 19 Apr.1802 specifically names "William Devin Junr" as one of his children. "Deed book 9/498/499 This tract of land is "...the Land ajoining thereto and bounded as followeth, by William Devin Jr lines on the South,..." in William Devin, Sr.'s will."

      William, Jr. 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..."

      William Jr. participated in the battles of Monmouth, Brandywine, Germantown and others. While in the army, he had small-pox and almost lost his life. His face was left badly marked with pits.

      He and his wife, Martha, may have moved to Kentucky in 1785, but returned to Virginia in 1789. William Jr. was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. His wife described him to be medium size, compactly built about 5 feet 10 or 11 inch, blue eyes, light hair, and weighed about 160 pounds. He had a florid complexion. William Jr. died of cancer 28 April 1810.

      1787 Pittsylvania County, Virgina for William Devin, Jr.
      Personal Property Tax List: 0 white males 16-21
      0 blacks over 16
      0 blacks under 16
      2 horses, mules, etc.
      8 cattle

      Note: Either the above list is not complete or the previous paragraph is wrong about the family being in Kentucky between 1785 and 1789.

      !ALT NAME:Callaway From Devin Deed, Devin, William: Deed to
      Callaway (28 Feb.1805), Virginia. Pittsylvania County; County Clerk's Office., p.273 "Callaway " from Devin "This Indenture made this twenty eightth day of February" one thousand eight Hundred & five Between Will Devin of the County of Pittsylvania of the one part and Henry G Callaway of the County aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said William Devin for and inconsideration of the sum of Two hundred pounds lawfull money of Virginia to him in hand paid & satisfied by the said "Henry G. Callaway" the recet whereof him the said Will Devin" doth herby acknowledge hath bargain'd sold enfecofed and and confirm'd and by these presence doth absolutely give grant bargain sell enfocof & Confirm unto the said Henry G Callaway acertain Tract or parcel of Land lying and being in said County on both sides of Wet Sleve Creek containing Two Hundred acres "be the same more or less it being the Land where the said "Will Devin now lives deeded unto him by his Father Will Devin "Sen"r by Indenture bearing date the seventeenth Day of Feby, 1794 as appears of Record & Bounded as followeth to Wit -- "Beginning at said Devins & Bleakleys Corner in Chamberlyn's old line thence the said Line Crossing Wet Sleve Creek to New marked pointers thence New Lines nearly West to a Corner red oak thence New lines ^Nerely^ North to a red oak in the said Devin line Nere the Turkey Branch thence the said line to a red oak & new Corner in the head of a Bottom near Isaac's Wood Cutting thence down the Bottom or Drane as it meanders to the Deviding line Between the said Devin Senr & Bleakley thence
      said Line to the Beginning and the rights of him the said Will Devin for himself & his heirs the above granted >land unto the said Henry G Callaway his heirs and assigns will forever Warrant and Defend from the Just Claim of any person or person Whatsoever In Witness whereof the said Will Devin hath hereunto set his hand and "affixed his seal the Day and year above Written William Devin {seal} Sign'd seal'd & Deliv'd in presence of "Hartiwell Allin" James Devin, Calland Sam Calland Senr names ^his mark^ X Baredan Richard Pearson. The Commonwealth of Virginia to Samuel Calland & Robert Devin, Gentleman Justices of Pittsylvania County William Devin and Martha his wife by their unreadable copy at end of page i. page 274. Bargain and sale bearing date the Day of 28 Day of February 1805 have sold and conveyed unto Henry G Callaway Two Hundred acres of Land lying and being in the County of Pittsylvania and whereas the said Martha cannot Conveniantly Travel to our Court of our said County of Pittsylvania to make acknowledgement of the said Conveyance therefore we do give unto [you] or any two [who] know of you power to Receive the
      acknowledgment which the said Martha shall be willing to make before you of the Conveyance aforesaid, Contained in the said Indenture which is hereto annexed and we do herefore Command you that you do personnally go to the said Martha and Receive her acknowledgment of the same and examine her privately and apart from the said William Devin her Husband whether She doth the same freely and Voluntarily without his persuasion or threats and whether she is Willing that the same be Recorded in our County Court of Pittsylvania aforesaid and when you Received her acknowledgement and Examined her as aforesaid that you destinctly and openly Certify in thereof in our said Court under your seals [and] then show the said Indenture and this [Which] Witness Will Tunstall Clerk of our said Court the 23rd Day of March 1805 in the 27th year of the Commonwealth Will Tunstall Delivered to Abramr the 22nd ?Decr 1853 the present owner of this land.Pittsylvania County [sold] Pursuant to the Within Commission to us directed we have Personally Examined the within named Martha
      seperately & apart from her Husband & the said Martha freely and Voluntarily relinquished her rights of Dower
      to the Within mentioned Land declaring it was done by
      her freely and not by the persuasion or threats of her Husband, Given under our Hands and seals the 23rd Day of March 1805 Rob. Devin {seal} Saml Calland {seal} At a Court held for Pittsylvania County the 17th Day of June 1805 This Indenture from William Divin to Henry G Callaway was presented in Court and proved by the oath of Three
      faded and unreadable"] of
      the subscribing Witnesses thereto to be the act and Deed of the [said] Willaim Devin Ordered that the same together with a [commission] hereto [answered] for [taking] the acknowledgment and [privacy] Examination of Martha Wife of the said Will Divan with a [and furth] of the [Executors] thereof be Recorded Will Tunstall Clk, page 27
      The Devin Family (manuscript), The Devin Family
      (manuscript), Hofstetter, Dessa, circa 1962, pages 2-4

  • Sources 
    1. [S83] DevinTimber-David Devin.