Clayton Devin

Notes:

Census:
1830 Lincoln Co TN: Males: 0-2-0-0-0-1; Females: 3-1-0-0-1
1840 Polk Co MO: Males: 2-1-1-1-0-0-1; Females: 1-1-2-1-0-1
1850 Polk Co MO book p 47
1860 Polk Co MO book p 14......

Cem. Dir. of Polk Co MO - Buried Heydon Cemetery;

During the War of 1812, Clayton Devin served as a Private in Captain Calland's company of Col. Linsley's regiment, Virginia militia from 31 Mar 1813 to 14 Oct 1813 when the company was dissolved.

At the close of the war he was granted 80 acres near Springfield, Missouri as payment for his services in this war. 2 BLW of 80A each in Polk County, Missouri. This parchment signed by Millard Fillmore, President, is now in the hands of Loyd Devin; who also has the family Bible. The old farmstead lies near Bolivar, Missouri and in 1937 much of the original house was still standing although the land had passed from the Devin family.

His wife, Margaret, in making application for her Widow's War Pension,
describes her husband: "about 5'8" tall, fair complexion, red hair, blue eyes."
He lived in Pittsylvania County, Virgina U.S.A., Lincoln County, Tennessee U.S.A., Pike County, Missouri U.S.A. (for almost 1 year), and Polk County, Missouri U.S.A.

James West lived next door to Clayton Devin in 1830.

Clayton married Margaret West on 17 Mar 1820 in Fayettesville, Lincoln, Tennessee U.S.A.. Margaret (daughter of James West and Anna Sanders) was born on 24 Nov 1803 in North Carolina U.S.A.; died on 05 Jun 1888 in Dunnegan, Polk, Missouri U.S.A.; was buried in Heydon Cemetery, Polk County, Missouri U.S.A.. [Group Sheet]

1. Martha Ann Mitchell Devin was born on 12 Mar 1822 in Lincoln County, Tennessee U.S.A.; died on 02 Aug 1883 in Polk County, Missouri U.S.A..
2. William Marion Devin was born on 26 Feb 1823 in Tennessee U.S.A.; died after 1870.
3. James Devin was born on 26 Feb 1823 in Tennessee U.S.A.; died on 26 Feb 1823 in Tennessee U.S.A..
4. Clayton Smith Devin was born on 22 Dec 1825 in Lincoln County, Tennessee U.S.A.; died on 6 Oct 1887 in Bolivar, Polk County, Missouri, U.S.A..
5. Anna Sanders Devin was born on 22 Jan 1827 in Obion, Tennessee U.S.A.; died on 17 Jan 1916 in Bolivar, Polk County, Missouri, U.S.A.; was buried in Greenwook Cemetery, Bolivar, Polk, Missouri U.S.A..
6. Sarah Jane Devin was born on 14 Oct 1829 in Tennessee U.S.A.; died after 1880.
7. Mary Elizabeth Devin was born on 23 Apr 1832 in Tennessee U.S.A.; died on 18 Sep 1909.
8. Joseph Benton Devin was born on 27 Aug 1835 in Lincoln County, Tennessee U.S.A.; died on 14 Jun 1886 in Morrow County, Oregon U.S.A.; was buried in Heppner Masonic Cemetery, Heppner, Morrow, Oregon U.S.A..
9. Margaret Adaline Devin was born on 17 Mar 1837 in Missouri U.S.A..
10. Patton Mack Devin was born on 10 Feb 1839 in Missouri U.S.A..
11. Alfred Harrison Devin was born on 30 Sep 1840 in Polk County, Missouri U.S.A.; died on 27 Jan 1914.
12. Massa Louisa Devin was born on 23 Feb 1844 in Bolivar, Polk County, Missouri, U.S.A.; died on 28 Aug 1925 in Riverside, Riverside, California U.S.A.; was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Riverside, California U.S.A..
13. Parthenia Tennessee Devin was born on 07 Mar 1845 in Missouri U.S.A.; died on 05 Dec 1901 in Fossil, Wheeler, Oregon U.S.A..

Notes:

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 U.S.A. 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.

The following chain of evidence shows the relationship of William Devin, Jr. to his father, William Devin, Sr., both of Pittsylvania County Virginia:

1. 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.


2. Deed book 9 page 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 married Martha Mitchell on 07 Sep 1780 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A.. Martha (daughter of James Mitchell and Jane) was born in 1762; died in abt.1830. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

LDS records show approximate date of death.
Martha was the younger daughter of James and Jane Mitchell. She was said to be a very fine singer and a woman of education and refinement.

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.

CJR says William Devin (father of William Jr. and Alexander) came from Alsace Lorraine, France. --Email 25 February 1998.

A William Davin along with son James Davin is listed in the 1767 list of Tithables for Pittsylvania County, Virginia Colony.

Like 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.
-The Devin Family, page 2.

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.]
-The Devin Family, page 3.

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) Will of William Devin Senior recorded April 19, 1802 in deed and Will Book 11, page 243, of Pittsylvania County, 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
Comments:

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: 'William Devin born 1724.'"

These statements may be accurate, but Dessa's booklet, as written, seems to relate that these records have Irish origins. There is a Camden Parish in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. If the referenced records are from the Virginia parish, why do they mention the marriage of William and Martha Devin? Is the Sarah Devin mentioned in the records actually William Sr.'s spouse rather than his sister? Another theory is that the William and Martha Devin mentioned in the parish of Camden records is William Devin and Martha Mitchell and the 2 in 1720 is actually an eight.

William married Sarah Smith in 1750. Sarah (daughter of Thomas Smith) was born on 20 Mar 1727/28; died before 22 Nov 1800. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

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.'"

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.

Notes:

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; page1)

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.

James married Jane. [Group Sheet]