Bible of William Devin

*** Speculation ***

updated 2015-06-19

A visitor to Devin Timber reported that Irbin Finley Devin (b:1806 in Lincoln County Tennessee) is the youngest son of William Devin (d:1810) and Martha MITCHELL Devin. The relationship is being published in several of the Rootsweb WorldConnect family tree projects. Several years ago, the answer was yes, he was their son, but we are still looking for the document to support it. Then, the answer was, "we are not sure, because we cannot find supporting documents and the family stories did not match known evidence. Then in 2007, the answer was 'No," DNA samples from one of his lines and one from Clayton Devin's line showed that the two samples were not related within genealogical history. Finally, in 2014, the answer is back to "it is possible."

Why are we back to "possibly?"

Images of the family information pages from William Devin's (a1752-1810) Bible have been distributed. In the Bible are the names of ten children; not the nine commonly known and documented. The tenth name looks like 'Irbin' born in 1806. Some people read the name as 'John', but that then means William and Martha would have had two sons named John living at the same time. The owner of the Bible, at the time the photographs were taken, interprets the name as 'Irbin.' A middle name is not stated in the Bible entry, and the birth date is March 11, 1806, not February 6, 1806 (as said in IFD family stories). So, even if you think the name in the Bible is 'Irbin,' we cannot be certain this child is the Irbin Finley Devin.

Other than what the Bible entry may suggest, I have not seen any paper evidence to prove or disprove that Irbin Finley Devin is a son of Wiliam & Martha. His family story and the DNA samples are certainly evidence that IFD is not their son. Irbin is not mentioned in any of the classical manuscripts about the Pittsylvania County Devin clan. However, Irbin is an uncommon name. The family story about Irbin F. Devin does say his parents were William and Martha Devin and both the Bible and family story says an Irbin was born in 1806. Irbin, William Robert, and Clayton Devin were all in the same area of Lincoln County Tennessee about the same time and left the county at about the same time.

Was Irbin Finley Devin (IFD) Really Born in Lincoln County Tennessee?

I have not seen any evidence that William and Martha Devin ever went to Lincoln County Tennessee. In fact, Pittsylvania County VA deed and tax records suggest William and Martha stayed in Pittsylvania County during the first decade of the 1800s. At least, two of their sons (Clayton and Wiliam Robert) went to Lincoln County after the War of 1812, but that was long after Irbin was born.

So, the IFD family stories say Irbin was born in Tennessee, but there is no period, primary document supporting that, yet. Just as there is no document showing a birth date specifically mentioning the name Irbin Finley Devin. What if IFD was not born in Tennessee and not on the date mentioned by the family stories? If that is the case, the fact that William and Martha not ever being in Tennessee changes the perception of a possible relationship with IFD.

What About the DNA Samples that Do Not Match?

The single DNA samples that are known from a Irbin Finley Devin line and the Clayton Devin line are evidence that the samples do not share a common ancestor in more than one thousand years. All that is really saying is that the IFD sample and C. Devin sample are not genetically related. It does not necessarily mean that IFD is not related to Clayton Devin. There is a possibility that an adoption or non-marital pregnancy has occurred in that specific IFD line. There are now two samples from different lines from the children of William and [Sarah] that are exact matches. Assuming the paper research for those two lines is correct, the exact matches indicate the markers for William Devin (a1724-1802).

If other male lines descended from Irbin Finley Devin have DNA which match the markers for William Devin, then the Irbin in the Bible is probably Irbin Finley Devin. If all samples from multiple male lines of Irbin Finley Devin match the one known sample in his descendants, then IFD is not the Irbin in William Devin's Bible.

Is Irbin Finley Devin the Brother of Clayton Devin?

At one time, I said the DNA evidence and no paper evidence were strong indicators that Irbin Finley Devin and Clayton Devin were not brothers. Now, we have a period, primary document showing that William and Martha Devin had a son, named Irbin, which suggests that the possibility that a relationship exists. What we need is for several males in all known male descendant lines of Irbin to submit DNA samples. Only then, can we make a determination if Irbin Finley Devin is a son of William Devin (a1752-1810). 

Without another document specifically saying Irbin Finley Devin is a son of William & Martha and without more DNA samples, I have to conclude that there is not enough evidence for a genealogical proof that this specific relationship exists. The current family stories for IFD and known information about William & Martha do not match up, even though we have a Bible entry that says they had a son, named "Irbin." Any published line showing otherwise is wishful thinking.

If anyone has a primary document that shows Irbin Finley Devin is related to Wiliam and Martha Devin, please forward it to me as soon as possible. I will publish the document on Devin Timber. Many hundreds of hours have been spent trying to find a document showing the connection between the Irbin Finley Devin clan and the other Devin families in Lincoln County Tennessee; be the first to produce it.

I urge all males in the male descendants lines of Irbin Finley Devin to submit DNA samples. Only by comparing those results with the currently known samples can we make a more conclusive argument either way.