Thomas Bell DeVane, Sr.

The de Vanes were Heugonots and emigrated to Scotland from France after the revocation of the "Edict of Nantes".

The de Vanes left Scotland and moved to the Barbadoes, British West Indes, and from there to North Carolina.

He petioned for 1840 acres of land between 1735 and 1745. This was from North Carolina Colonial Records, Vol. IV, pages 217, 218, 649, 650, 801, 1248.

Last Will of Thomas DeVane

In the name of God Amen. The Twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and sixty five. I Thomas Devane of Black River, in the Provence of North Carolina, gent, being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God therefor, calling to mind the mortality of the body and knowing that it appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament, that is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hand of God that gave it; for my body, I recommend it to the earth, to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting, but, at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God; and as touching such wordly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life with, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

Impremis. It is my will and I do order, that in the first place all of my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied

Item: It is my will, that my dearly beloved wife Margaret enjoy the use of all my estate during her widowhood, except my land on Long Creek, which I give to my well beloved son John Devane.

Item: I give to my well beloved son Thomas Devane, the plantation on Black River, whereon I now live, after the marriage of my wife Margaret.

Item: It is my will that at the decease or marriage of my wife Margaret the remainder of my estate, except one shilling sterling money of Great Brittain, which I give to my well beloved daughter, Margaret Jones, and no more, be valued and divided equally in five parts; to my son John Devane one part; and to my son Thomas Devane one part; and to my daughter, Mary Corbett one part; and to James Portevents dec. children one part in money, to be raised and levied out of my estate, and to be equally divided among them.

Item: I likewise constitute, make and ordain my well beloved sons John Devane and Thomas Devane and Thomas Corbett my Executors of this my last will and Testament, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannull all and every other former testament, wills, legacies and executors by me, in any ways before this time, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day andyear above written.

Thomas Devane (Seal) mark

Signed, sealed, published pronounced and declared, by the said Thomas Devane as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers etc.

Richard Herring

George Robinson

Nicholas Fannell (Seal) mark

Will of Thomas Devane, May 20, 1765, probated 1779 New Hanover County, North Carolina

According to the DeVane Family pamphlet I received from Don Inman, Thomas was a Nobleman. The surname DeVane was first recorded in 910 A.D.

The original family left France at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and went first to Scotland then to the Barbados in 1685. Thomas and william, the only ones to this name known to migrate to America settled in New Hanover County, North Carolina, about 1700. Both received large land grants from King George of England.

    Thomas settled on the Cape Fear River in upper New Hanover County where his descendants were prominent in Colonial, Revolutionary, and Early American affairs. All of military age were soldiers and officers in the American Army of the Revolution. Thomas II was Ambassador to the Court of St. James in London, England. John, son of Thomas I, was a member of the Colonial Congress at Halifax and one of the first members of the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina. He was also a Captain in the Revolutionary War as was his brother Thomas II.

Will of Thomas DeVane I made M
ay 20,1765,(Will Book B, page 69, New Hanover County, North Carolina).

Thomas Devane, Sr Memorial Photos Flowers Edit Share Learn about sponsoring this memorial... Birth: 1663 Death: 1773 New Hanover County North Carolina, USA

There are two handwritten copies of Thomas Devane's will. One in NC Archives, most likely copied from the one in Will Book C pg. 67-68 New Hanover Co.NC. It was written 20 May 1765, stating that Thomas lived on Black River in New Hanover Co., NC. The Will was probated in July Court, 1774. The NC Historical Review Vol VII Num 1-4 Jan-Oct 1930 pg. 153, quoting from the Hall's Wilmington Gazette, Thurs. Mar.29,1798 vol.II "...Died on the 1st inst at his plantation on South River, Mr. Matthew Pridgeon, aged 105 years. Some time ago, Mr. John Sykes, aged 95; and Mr. Thomas Devane, aged 110. There are several persons now living on said River upwards of 100 years of age, and many from 70 to 90. {Note: His Will stated Black River which was probably correct]. Thomas Devane's Will names wife, Margarett and 2 sons: (1.) Thomas Devane, Jr.(1725-1816) who married Mary Larkin(s) had 2 children Margaret & Thomas,III and (2.) John Devane, Sr.(1730-1805) who married Ann Larkin. They had 9 children:John, Jr.,(1755-1802),James, Sr.(1757-1840), Thomas(1758-1805,William, George, Tobitha (1764-1815 married Francis Davis, Ann, Margaret & Rebecca . Both Thomas and John Devane served in the Revolutionary War. The Will also names 2 daughters: Mary Devane who married Thomas Corbett. They had 6 children, and Margaret Devane who married James Portivent and had 7 children. After his untimely death, Margaret married William Jones. Thomas, Jr.(1725-1816) inherited the plantation on Black River, John (1730-1805) inherited the land on Long Creek. At some point , the spelling of Devane was changed to DeVane. Originally, the spelling appears to have been Devaughan. The pronunciation is nearly the same only the spelling is changed.

Family links:

Spouse:

 Margaret Devane (____ - 1786)*

Children:

 Thomas Devane (1725 - 1817)*

 John Devane (1730 - 1805)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Devane New Hanover County North Carolina, USA Plot: Black River

Created by: Linda DeVane Boyd Record added: Jan 30, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 84239305 Thomas Devane, Sr Added by: Linda DeVane Boyd

Photos may be scaled. Click on image for full size.

- Hope MELSON Larson

Added: Nov. 9, 2014

- Hope MELSON Larson

Added: Jun. 28, 2014

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North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9061::0

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Probate Records, 1746-1858; Author: North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (New Hanover County); Probate Place: New Hanover, North Carolina 1,9061::827187

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North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9061::0

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Probate Records, 1746-1858; Author: North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (New Hanover County); Probate Place: New Hanover, North Carolina 1,9061::827187

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North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc North Carolina Census, 1790-1890 1,3566::0

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North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations Inc North Carolina Census, 1790-1890 1,3566::0

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North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,9061::0

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Probate Records, 1746-1858; Author: North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (New Hanover County); Probate Place: New Hanover, North Carolina 1,9061::827187

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