James Alexander Devin, Sr.

Notes:

BIRTH: Pittsylvania Co VA record

James married Minnie C Cousins about 1892 in , , Virginia, USA. Minnie was born in 22 Jun1867 in , , Virginia, USA; died on 13 Jan 1955 in , , Virginia, USA; was buried in Swansonville Methodist Church Cemetery, Pittsylvania Co VA. [Group Sheet]

1. Waverly Cousins Devin was born on 15 Jun 1893 in Sandy River, Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA; died on 5 Apr 1985 in , Sarasota, Florida, USA.
2. Lucile Devin was born about 1900 in , , Virginia, USA.
3. James Alexander Devin, Jr. was born in 1905 in , , Virginia, USA; died in Nov 1983 in Millsboro, Sussex, Delaware, USA; was buried in Union Cemetery, Sussex County, Delaware.

Notes:

Census:
1860 Pittsylvania Co VA: North District, p. 203 19 July 1860

!MARRIAGE: Pittsylvania Co VA record (Married by J. H. Eanes)

Twin of Sarah G. Devin

James married Frances A. Hundley on 01 Oct 1859 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A.. Frances was born on 22 Sep 1839/1840 in Virginia U.S.A.; died on 4 Jul 1921 in , Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

MARRIAGE: Pittsylvania Co VA record (Married by J. H. Eanes)

Census: 1860 Pittsylvania Co VA: North District, p. 203 19 July 1860

She married a second time to William L. Paul, before 1900, possibly in the area of Pittsylvania or Henry Counties, VA.

Notes:

!Questions: Place of Birth Henry County or Pittsylvania County Virginia

!MARRIAGE: Pittsylvania Co VA record

James Devin, first child and 1st son of Wm. Devin Jr. and Martha Devin, was born May 15, 1781. In 1811, he married Temperance Cox, the daughter of James and Julia Handkins Cox. Soon after this marriage, James and Temperance Devin settled in the lower part of Henry County very near the Pittsylvania line. James was a man who possessed much mathematical genius. He followed the trade of house carpenter as well as cabinet maker for a number of years. He was a man of some literary taste and acquirement, and yielding to the wishes of the community in which he lived, he engaged a good deal of his time in teaching school. He was a successful teacher, and a large part of his later life was devoted to that profession. He died August 11, 1854. His wife died in 1867. Both were members of the Baptist church.
To James and Temperance Devin were born six children: Elizabeth J. born 1814; William born 1812, d. 1819; James A. And Sarah G. (twins) born 1817; Robert I. born 1822 and John C. born 1831. In 1881 . . . quoting Robert Ira Devin's letter: "All are dead except Elizabeth, Robert and John". Last address given by Robert I. who was a Baptist Minister was Youngs Road, Grandville County, North Carolina. (The Devin Family; Hoffstetter, Dessa; page 4.)

05.Aug.1813 James Devin buyer at estate sale of Martha Waller (Henry County wills abstracts page 53).
James Devin was witness to Will of Martha Waller (Devin file at Pedmont Genealogical Society, Danville VA Public Library from research done by Anna D. Evans 07.May.1985).

James married Temperance Cox in 19.Feb.1811 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A.. Temperance (daughter of James S. Cox and Elizabeth Julia Hankins) was born on 22 Sep 1791; died on 16 Aug 1866. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

MARRIAGE: Pittsylvania Co VA record

Notes:

Marriage Bond 16.Feb.1811 Jame Devin and Temperance Cox daughter of James S. Cox. Surety John Devin married 19.Feb.1811 by Rev. Thomas Boaz. (Devin file at Pedmont Genealogy Society, Danville VA Public Library from research by Anna D. Evans 07.May.1985)

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.

James married Elizabeth Julia Hankins on 04 Oct 1790 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia U.S.A.. Elizabeth (daughter of William J. Hankins and Elizabeth Davis) was born in 1773; died on 14 Mar 1859 in Sandy River, Pittsylvania, Virginia U.S.A.. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Possibly related to Polley Hankins, wife of John Devin.

--Marriage Register of Henry County, Virginia Vol. 1 1853-1878; Old Mill Printers.
--1850 Census for Pittsylvania County, Virginia, Oct 29, 1850, #1055: Elizabeth J. Cox, age 77, born in Virginia, and property valued at $1,398. She was living alone.
-- 1859 Pittsylvania County Virginia Death Register, Elizabeth Cox died of old age on March 14, 1859; her death was reported by her daughter, Mary Allen.

Notes:

Joseph Akin provided the surety bond for the marriage.