Author: Jim Rodgers Armitage
Major John DeVane,Sr. is my 6th Great Grandfather, he was born in 1734 in North Carolina and died in 1806 at Wilmington,NC and is buried under St. James Episcopal Church .Following the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by King Louis XIV, thousands fled France to escape persecution and in search of religious freedom, John’s parents were two of those French Huguenots;Thomas DeVane and Margret Conde, who fled France in 1720 .They came to Wilmington,NC and in 1729 they were declared citizens. Margret was of royal blood ,being a descendant of the Conde and Bourbon family which goes back to Phillip I King of France.Thomas and Margret’s youngest son, Major John DeVane was married to Ann Robinson, the daughter of James Robinson, who along with Daniel Blount and John Seiver were pioneers in the early state of Franklin, later Tennessee. President Andrew Jackson, in his memoirs, stated James Robinson was the father of Nashville, Tennessee. John and Ann had the following children: John,Jr., Thomas,III, James, Tabitha, William, George, Ann, Margret, and Rebecca. John.Sr. was a member of the Committee of safety, member of the Provincial Congress, elected as a representative to the 2nd assembly of the House of Commons in 1778, State Senator, 2nd Brigade Major in the 1st North Carolina Militia in the Revolutionary War, co-owner with Richard Herring of a munitions factory on Black River in what is now Sampson County,NC. Which manufactured guns and gun powder. They hired the best gunsmiths and other workers to overhaul and repair old guns and muskets. All the products from this factory were used by the North Carolina Troops. Tories destroyed the factory in 1778. A North Carolina historical marker today marks the site where the munitions factory stood. John owned two plantations and a number of slaves who were employed in the manufacture of naval stores, cotton production and grain products. John’s plantations were along the Black River and Cape Fear later incorporated into Bladen, Duplin and Sampson Counties. John fought in the Battle of Moore’s Creek and the Battle of Cow Pens, NC. All three of John’s sons, and two nephews served in the 1st NC Militia in the Revolutionary War. The oldest son; Captain John Devane,Jr. , who is my 5th Great Grandfather was wounded and taken prisoner by the British at Fort Johnson,NC. John, Jr. had the cockade taken from his hat and the Captain insignia taken from the epaulets of his uniform coat, his commission certificate taken away from him and he was put in the hold of the ship, where he contracted smallpox. He was offered parole if he would not fight against the British. He was sent to Oak island at the Halfway Bluff on Long Creek and turned over to American forces. His father Major John DeVane,Sr. was advised and he sent his Negro slave Frank, to nurse him and cook for him. He recovered and returned to his home. He reenlisted and continued to serve. John Jr. married Ann Julian Davis Evans, ( daughter of James Davis RS) a widow and they had 5 sons.