The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Photo used with permission of Compatriot Mitchell Anderson, 229001, KYSSAR
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
Photo: 1 of 1
Author: Drake Rinesmith
James Devlin born 10 July 1750 in Ulster, Ireland [1], immigrated to South Carolina in 1767 as a result of legislation passed by the South Carolina legislature to attract poor Protestants to their colony.
Colonial South Carolina realized early on that it needed to attract new settlers to keep the colony afloat. In July of 1761, the South Carolina General Assembly passed the General Duty Act to entice Protestants from Europe to settle in the colony. [2] This 1761 Act paid ship owners a bounty of four pounds sterling for every poor protestant that they brought to South Carolina from Europe.
As a result of this legislation, merchants recruited Protestants from Europe to collect the bounty. Captain Samuel Hannah, and William Ray, one of the owners of an 80-ton merchant ship called the Nancy, traveled all over Northern Europe to find prospective passengers in order to collect the bounty. A ship the size of the Nancy could have comfortably carried 80 adult passengers. The owners misrepresented the size of the ship, and James Devlin was among 290 passengers crammed into the vessel for the nearly two-month-long voyage from Belfast, Ireland to Charleston, South Carolina. When the Nancy arrived in port on 5 June 1767, many of the passengers were sick and dying. [3]
After James arrived in Charleston, James and the other healthy [4] passengers traveled nearly 200 miles to the township of Boonesborough,[5] so the merchants could claim their bounty.[6] James had to produce a certificate showing that he was a member of a protestant congregation and had arrived on the encouragement of a bounty. In return, he was given 100 acres along Long Cane Creek.[7]
After settling in Boonesborough James married Margaret Ann Gray. Margaret was also an immigrant from Ireland. She came to South Carolina aboard the Earl of Hillsborough a few months before James.
Military Service
James had lived in the colony of South Carolina for nearly eight years when the battles of Lexington and Concord commenced on 19 April 1775. Many Scotch-Irish in South Carolina who arrived shortly before the start of the Revolution remained loyal to the crown.[8] There was no question about James’ allegiance to colonial America. Three months after the first shots were fired, James dutifully enlisted as a private in the 3rd Regiment of the Continental Army. He served in Captain Felix Warley’s company, which was commanded by Colonel William Moultrie.[9]
Under the command of Colonel William Moultrie, James Devlin fought at the Battle of Sullivan’s Island. It was during this battle that the enemy shot down the fort’s flag. James witnessed Sergeant William Jasper heroically restore the flag under enemy fire. [10]
After serving three years, James was discharged from the Continental Army on August 14, 1778, at Charleston, SC. Three months later, in November of 1778, he joined the militia under the command of General Pickens.
Bounty Land Warrant and Pension
On 26 August 1818, James applied for a pension under the pension act which was passed by congress on 18 March 1818. He was awarded $8 a month for a sum of $96 per year.[11]
James received a bounty land warrant of 200 acres for his service in the Revolutionary war. However, the bounty that was given to him was for land that was previously granted. After a lengthy and costly legal process, the bounty was revoked.[12]
Death and Burial
James died on 26 November 1825 at the age of 75 years old. His estate was settled at the Abbeville Courthouse in January of 1826. James Devlin, John Devlin, and Jannet Devlin (window of Charles Devlin) were named in the court proceedings.[13] Descendants from all three of these have joined the SAR or DAR.
James was buried in the church graveyard at Cedar Springs. His son, Col James J. Devlin erected a headstone, which reads as follows:
Sacred to the memory of James Devlin, who died in 1825. He was a patriot of the Revolution and fought under Col. Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island and the defeat of Peter Parker and saw Jasper replace the flag amidst the thunders of British guns. He was among the first in the erection of Cedar Springs Church, where his dust now lies. [14]
References
References
↑1
Most DAR and SAR applications (including my own application) show James Devlin as being born in South Carolina. This biography cites township records that show he emigrated from Northern Ireland.
The South Carolina Council Journals only record the names of 112 passengers that arrived on the Nancy.
↑5
Boonesborough was located in present-day Greenwood County; “Boonesborough Township, South Carolina”, Carolina – One unique vision! Two very different results !!, ( https://www.carolana.com/SC/Towns/Boonesborough_Township_SC.html :accessed 11 March 2022.
↑6
J.A. Revill, Compilation of the original lists of the Protestant immigrants to South Carolina, 1763-1773. (Columbia, S.C.: The State company,1939 );
↑7
[1] South Carolina Department of Archives and History, “Foster, Samuel, Plat for 100 acres on Long Cane Creek”, Series S213184, Volume 15, Page 197, Item 3. (https://archivesindex.sc.gov : accessed 12 March 2022) ; Brent Holcomb, Petitions For Land From The South Carolina Journals, VolumeVI:1766-1770 (SCMAR, 1999), pages 86-93, 166-167
↑8
Peter N. Moore , “The Local Origins of Allegiance in Revolutionary South Carolina: The Waxhaws as a Case Study”, South Carolina Historical Magazine ,vol 107, no 1, (Jan 2006): 26–41
↑9
Bobby Gilmer Moss, Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution, vol. 1 (Genealogical Publishing, 2006).
The Pension Roll of 1835, Indexed edition, vol. 3: The Southern States (Clearfield, 1992).
↑12
South Carolina Archives,” Devlin, James, Account Audited (File No. 1900C) Of Claims Growing Out Of The American Revolution. Date: 1776 C. or later”,Series S108092 , Reel 33 Frame 588.
↑13
Miscellaneous Estate Papers (Abbeville County, South Carolina), 1782-1958; Author: South Carolina. Probate Court (Abbeville County); Probate Place: Abbeville, South Carolina
↑14
Find A Grave, database with images (http://www.findagrave.com: accessed 12 March 2022), memorial 43161230, James Devlin, (1750-1825), gravestone photographed by D.A.R., member 47391530.
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