The Progenitor
A Presentation to the
Devane Family Reunion
By Pat Barron
October 17, 2015
Thomas
Devane
David
Lee
John
Gardner
Squier
Where Did Thomas Live?
Severn (Pantego) Creek; Hyde
Precinct, Old Bath (Beaufort) County:
1718-1727
Smith Creek; New Hanover Precinct,
Old Bath (New Hanover) County:
1727-1739
Riley’s Creek off Long Creek, Old
New Hanover (Pender) County:
1739-1752
Upper Black River, Old New Hanover
(Sampson) County: 1752-1774
Name Spellings
Spelling
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Devaune
Devaughan
Duvain
Devan
Devaughn
Devaun
Devane
Document Source
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Beaufort County Deed Book 1, pg. 356
Beaufort County Deed Book 1, pg. 393
C&SR* of North Carolina, Vol. 25, pg. 190
C&SR* of North Carolina, Vol. 4, pg. 217
Sampson-Duplin Deeds, Book 7, pg. 468
New Hanover County Deed Book C, pg. 83
First use of this spelling around 1750
though previous spelling were used until
the 1770’s.
* Colonial & State Records of North Carolina
Deed from David and Mary Lee
North Carolina, Bath County. To all to whom these presents shall come we David Lee of
Beaufort Precinct in the County and province aforesaid, planter, and Mary his wife Daughter
of Darby Sullivan deceased send greeting etc.
Know Ye that we the said David Lee and Mary Lee his wife for the great affection and
brotherly love, that we bear & owe to our Brother in law Thomas Devaughan the receipt
whereof we do hereby acknowledge and confess ourselves therein fully satisfied contented
and paid Have given granted bargained sold…unto the said Thomas Devaughan and to his
heirs and assigns all the one moiety, half part or full share of one certain plantation, tract or
parcel of land in the precinct of Hyde at Severn at Pongetuck Creek, the whole containing
two hundred and forty four acres by the same more or less, as it is bounded in a patent
granted to Darby Sullivan late of Hyde Precinct deceased whose date is the twenty fourth day
of November one thousand seven hundred and fifteen, and being all that undivided …part of
the whole parcel of land mentioned and contained in the aforesaid patent and which fell to
the aforesaid Mary Lee party to these presents as one of the daughters of the above said
Darby Sullivan and coheir with Margaret Devaughan and wife of the aforesaid Thomas
Devaughan one other of the daughters of Darby Sullivan deceased…To have to hold
the…said plantation, tract or parcel of land aforesaid, together with all & singular the houses
orchards gardens fields fences woods underwoods timber timbertrees yards savannahs
meadows and marshes and also all privileges of hunting hawking fishing and fowling,
together with all other…privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise
appertaining unto him the said Thomas Devaughan his heirs and assigns…In witness whereof
we…have hereunto set our hands and affixed our Seals this third day of January anno Dom.
1720/21.
North Side of the Pamlico
Original Lord
Proprietor patent to
Darby Sullivan on 24Nov-1715 for 244 acres.
A moiety (one-half)
conveyed to Thomas
Devane through his
wife Margaret by
David and Mary Lee
03-Jan-1721.
Thomas Devane applied for a
a warrant on 108 acres located
in this area of Hyde Precinct
c. 1725. The land grant was
eventually take up by Henry
Eborn in 1726.
Thomas Devane’s Land on Smith Creek
Ness
poles
20-Feb-1736
Thomas Devane's first land
grant – 400 acres
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0 1000'
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130 W
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5000'
Thomas Devane’s
Original Land on
Smith Creek
Royal Land Grant
400 acres
20-Feb-1735/36
Main road out of
Wilmington crossed
his land
Sold to Robert Halton
14-Dec-1739
NHC AB-399
John Gardner Squier
Wilmington c.1769
Lower Long Creek – c.1750
Thomas Devane’s First Lands on Black River
Thomas Devane’s Will
(Original)
Written 20-May-1765
Probate July, 1774
Copied into New Hanover
County Will Book C, pg. 67
by order of the County
September Term, 1843
? Questions ?
Thomas Devane’s Estate
Filed by Thomas Devane, Jr.
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2 Negrow Men
3 Negrow Wenches
2 Negrow Boys
1 Negrow Girl
17 Cows and Calfs
9 Yearolds
4 Stears
3 Oxen
3 Haffors
1 Bull
1 Mare
7 head of hogs
Earthen ware
1 Peare of fire tongs
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1 Candlestick
3 Dished
12 Plats
2 Basens
4 Feather beds and furniture
2 Bedsteads
4 Tables
8 Chars
2 Chasts
2 Trunk
3 Looking glass
1 Set of Silver tea Spoons
1 Tea Cittel
2 Poots one Scelet
Margaret Devane (c. 1723 – 1791)
Executrix of John Gardner Squiers’ will dated 1744
Married James Poitevint after 1744
Shown on New Hanover County tax roles in 1762
Married William Jones, Jr. c. 1762
Married David Jones c. 1782
John Devane (c.1725 – c.1805)
 Married Ann Larkins c. 1753
 Acquired first property 1754
 New Hanover Co. Committee of Safety 1775
 Lt. Col. in New Hanover County Militia 1776
 Resigned to form Minuteman Company
 Fought at Moore’s Creek 27-Feb-1776
 Operated gun factory on Black River
 Served in state legislature
 Lived in Bladen County in his later years
 Died c. 1805
 Ann was still alive in 1812 [NHC DB O-356]
Thomas Devane II (c. 1726 – 1817)
 Earliest record is deed of gift from father dated 1757.
 Married Mary Larkins c.1757
 Only had two known children
 New Hanover Co. Committee of Safety 1775
 Served as company captain in New Hanover Co.
militia
 Served in state legislature
 Member of Black River Presbyterian Church
 He and his wife moved to Sampson Co. c.1800
Mary Devane (c.1730 – 1795)
Married Thomas Corbett c.1748
Six known children
Named in husbands will dated 1792