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DeVary and Daniel Families

(posted on the previous Clark County site, submitter not listed)

Joseph DeVary was my ggg-grandfather. His obituary in Kentucky Obituaries 1787 -1854 reads: "Joseph de BARE, commonly called Jesse DeVary of Clark County Ky. He was a native of Havana, and a Spanish soldier in New Orleans when Louisiana belonged to Spain. He died July, 1846, aged about 104 years. (June M. England) His will follows:

"I, Joseph Devary, of Clark County, Kentucky, being old and infirm but of sound and disposing mind, do make the following as my last will and testament: First, that all my personal property be sold to the highest bidder, and with the proceeds thereof that my just debts be paid. I will that thirty dollars be paid to the Roman Catholic Priest at Lexington for the purchase of thirty masses. After the payment of my debts and the thirty dollars above-mentioned, I will that the remainder of the proceeds of the sale of my personal property and all my real estate be equally divided among my children - - Terebo Devary, Marcus Devary, Polly Hainline (now in the state of Ohio], and my grandson, Benjamin Devary, provided he shall live with me during my lifetime or until he becomes twenty-one years old, unless he shall go to a trade with my consent. I will to my daughter, Sally Johnson, five dollars out of the above-mentioned property or the proceeds of the sale thereof. In witness of which, I hereto set my hand and seal this 20th day of April, 1844, signed, sealed and acknowledged, in the presence of: Allen H. Con. William B. Keas.; Clark County, Kentucky; Will Book 11;Page 110 Probated April 27, 1846." Transcription of the Last Will and Testament of Joseph Devary, dated April 20, 1844:

Notes taken from messages found on the Internet:
Around 1780, France and England settled a long war between the countries. In settlement, France gave back to England, land it had claimed in Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. During the 1600's and 1700's thousands of French "Arcadian" lived in northeastern Canada on these lands When France returned the he land to England, it "exiled" these French "Acadians", back to France. Acadian families, without any notice lost their homes, were boarded upon ships and returned to France, having nothing there for them to return to. The Acadians, being generations of farmers, were lost and unwelcome back in their homeland of France. In 1785, France made arrangements with Spain and commissioned 7 Spanish ships to transport these French "Acadians" to a new land, New Orleans, to start their lives all over again. Among the 7 ships in 1785, was a ship named "L'Amitie", and on the passenger list of this vessel, is a single male Frenchman, named Jacques Davoir. This name and the timing of arrival in New Orleans is consistent with known records of "Joseph Jesse Devary." It would be easy to assume that Joseph Jesse Devary was a "Spanish Soldier," having reached America on a Spanish Ship. The passengers on these ships were, however, exiled French Acadians, who had lived for generations in Canada. Researchers are now looking into surname variations of Devary, that include: DeBara, Davoir, Deverrieux. No factual confirmation has been found as yet to confirm whether Joseph Jesse Devary was truly a "Spanish soldier" or a French Acadian aboard a Spanish ship.

Elaine, All that I can tell you is that Jose was rumored to be involved in a scandal concerning Prince Philip of Spain's Wife or Daughter. He was in the Spanish army and was garrisoned in New Orleans while it still belonged to Spain. Before arriving there he was in Cuba. You probably know more than I do on all this but who knows. I am a descendant of Marcus and if you could provide me with any information it would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Elaine Devary Willman's research 10/10/99

Interview of Pamela De Bera who was the only child whose father was Captain De Bera in the Spanish Army in the mid-late 1700's. Footnote of this interview:

Many Spanish citizens - at least 12000 families - who were sympathetic to King Joseph Bonaparte during the French occupation of Spain, the so-called Afrancesados, sought refuge in France in 1813, when the occupation ended. However, the occupation began in 1808, so that, if Captain de Bera was initially held in France as a prisoner, this may have been at any time in the period from 1808-1913. (Note Captain De Bera, as well as his wife, died in exile, when their daughter, Pamela was quite young.)

The referenced Captain de Bera could not possibly be our Jose/Joseph, but there is a possibility that he is a sibling or kin of some kind. At least such a surname existed in the time/record. In any event, the transitory relationships between French and Spanish in those years, and the fact that Pamela De Bera's name was changed to a French derivative, De Bere, - all leads me to believe that this period of time in history, and these events may hold our keys to locating the family of our root ancestor.

The frequency of French "given" names, i.e. Marcus De Lafayette Devary, Napoleon Bonaparte Devary, Reuben Batson Devary, and numerous Devary women with French given names (these names, along with my family's informing me all of my life that I'm of French and Cherokee Indian ancestry ) cause me to consider possible confusions in our line. The period in history in which our Joseph/Jesse lived was also a period in time when allegiance to French and Spanish governments was in flux.

The travels of Joseph Devary (Canary Islands, Havana, Louisiana) are also compatible with Spanish settling of Louisiana ) are also compatible with Spanish settling of Louisiana and another major historical event, that of relocated French Acadians exiled back to France and then on to the settling of Louisiana.

Elaine Devary Willman ends her research with the following:

"For my money ...I'm staying open to Spanish, Basque, French origins and encourage all exploration that may lead us to the breakthrough in our "Brick Wall" - that of Joseph/Jose's ancestors."

Author: Marion Chism Date: 6 Sep 2001 2:00 AM GMT Classification: Query

Shari, don't know if helps or not, but on the 1850 Clark County, Ky Census, there is a Treobe Debara, age 48, listed. Also, his wife, Lucinda, and nine children. One of the children is Marcum D., age 14. I remember seeing an old book, at the Clark County Library, quite a few years ago, that stated that the earliest Devary in Clark County, was a Jose Debara, (known in Clark County as John Devary). It stated that he was a Spanish soldier from Cuba, who was stationed in New Orleans when it was controlled by Spain. When the French took over, he remained in New Orleans. Later, when the U.S. bought the Louisiana Purchase, he somehow ended up in Ky. I don't even remember what the book was, just that I knew several Devary's in Clark County and thought it was interesting. I hope this is a little help.

THE DANIEL FAMILY
(Nancy Daniel was the mother of Evaline Rankins DeVary) Hayden's Genealogies of Virginia Families gives some historical information about the Daniel family before its migration to America::

No family silver, bearing arms that might indicate their English origin, is preserved among the Va. Daniels, nor any tradition excepting that which was published in the Richmond Enquirer in the notice of the death of Travers Daniel, 1824, viz:
"Died June 28, 1824, ae 83, Travers Daniel, Sr. descended from an ancestor who was a captain in the Royal Army in the Civil war and came to Virginia."This statement related to one born in Va., 1741, with the continuance, in the Va. line, of the name Peter Daniel from 1706, justifies presenting the foregoing chart of the Lancaster Co., Eng., for the purpose of aiding future researches into the English connexion (sic). Some years ago I procured these charts for Mr. Conway who sent them to some relative as purely tentative. Several Daniel charts have since been sent to me by members of the family in Va., giving this Lancaster chart as the true line of the Virginia family, for which there is no evidence.

The first person of the Daniel family to be found in Virginia records was "Daniell Daniell aged 18" who came to Va. in the "Bonaventure," Jany. 2, 1634, with Robert Payton, John wise and others. (PEYTON.)

Henry Daniel received, Nov. 13, 1635, a patent for 200 a. land, James City Co., adjoining land of Alexander Stores, for four persons, viz: Henry Daniel, Elizabeth his wife, Elizabeth Hudson, and Catherine sanders. (L. Bk., 306.)

Walter Daniel received 100 a. in the same Co., Aug. 12, 1639. (I., 633.)

Edward Daniell was head right to Edwin Conway's patent, Northampton Co., Oct. 8, 1644. (CONWAY, p. 226.)
William Daniel received land in Midd'x Co., Va., 1669. He rec'd 150 a.in Lanc'r Co., Oct. 5, 1672, for three head rights, viz: John Russell, Wm. Cooke, and Joane Younge. (VI., 415.) No one of the name of Daniel appears in Midd'x Church records prior to 1684. In 1663 the Vestry of that Church were Cuthbert Potter, Abraham Weekes, Thomas Willis, Robert Chewning,. John Vause, Henry Corbin and Richard Perrott.

June 2, 1684, Mr. William Daniel and Mr. Wm. Churchill were made vestrymen, and Jan.5, 1685, Mr. Wm. Daniel was made Church Warden of the Great Church.

"It is ordered by this vestry that Mr. Wm. Daniel present Church Warden for the Middlesex Par. for the ensuing year, do immediately take unto his possession the 100 acres of land left by the last Will and Testament of Wm. Gordon," etc., etc.

During this year, 1685, Mr. D. was paid 1400 lb. of Tobacco for "railing in the Communion Table." The next year Mr. Oswald Carey was appointed Church Warden in Daniel" heads the list in 1690. In 1691 he was appointed to view the plantation and housing of the glebe to see what repairs were needed. He disappears from the vestry 1692. He died 1698. The Daniel "disjecta membra," given from the church records, at the end of this Daniel line, will show the difficulty of constructing a legitimate pedigree from any one of the early settlers of the name.

Mr. Conway wisely began his chart with James and Margaret (Vivian) Daniel of Middlesex Co., 1704. Through Mr. Stanard I have lately secured the will of Captain William Daniel, 263, which names his son James, whose birth is not given in the M. Register. It appears very probable that James Daniel, who heads the following pedigree, was his son, but it is not proven...

There are several articles to be found on the Daniel Family of Middlesex, but this writer has chosen to use excerpts from an article in GENEALOGIES OF VIRGINIA FAMILIES entitled "Captain William Daniel, of Middlesex" by W. B. Newman, Washington, D.C.
Much has been written about the Daniel families of Virginia. Probably no others have so suffered at the hands of genealogists, professional and amateur. The descendants of Hugh, William and John Daniel, who settled in Virginia prior to 1660, had a habit of migrating to the same communities and naming their sons William James and John. Hayden, in his Virginia Genealogies, undertook to show that the Daniels of Cumberland were of Middlesex origin, and the wide acceptance of his theory has added to the confusion. The records of Middlesex, available to Hayden, afford a singularly complete list of the Daniels of that county to the time of the Revolution. In the following sketch it is believed that the Cumberland Daniels are shown to have been of no ascertainable connection with the Middlesex family. James, sometime Sheriff of Goochland, is distinguishable from James, Sheriff of Albermarle, a Middlesex Daniel, from James of York, and from James, son of James Daniel and Margaret Vivion.

William Daniel, referred to in the early records as "Captain," was a vestryman of Christ Church, Justice for Middlesex, leading citizen in that haven of royalist gentry, and the ancestor of the Middlesex Daniels. From the date of his arrival in Virginia and the fact that he had sons who were married in 1686 and 1687, it is probable that he was born about 1630 and married before 1665. The first reference to him in the Virginia records is in a patent of 1653 to Thomas Hawkins of Northumberland. That was the year of the arrival of Alexander Smith in the train of John Robinson, and two years after John, brother of Alexander, came over with Cuthbert Potter, Robert Chewning and thirteen others for whom a certificate was issued (Lancaster records) TO SIR Henry "Chiesley." Alexander and John Smith and William Daniel settled in the extreme northwestern part of Middlesex County on adjoining plantations, where they died years later. One of Daniel's farms was called "Jemaco," which may explain the name Jamaica, of a post-office in that locality. 1653 was the date of the arrival in Virginia of John Daniel of York and approximately the time when Hugh Daniel settled in what is now Richmond County.

From the records at Lancaster it appears that William Daniel left Virginia and returned with thirty-five whites and eight negroes, for whom Major General Robert Smith, not related to Alexander and John, so far as is known, was granted a certificate by the Lancaster court on March 12, 1661.

It is evident from Captain Daniel's will, infra, that he was twice married and that his wife Jochebed was the mother of his children except William and Robert. The records do not suggest the given or family name of his first wife. As to Jochebed's family clue (if it be such afforded is in the names of the overseers of her husband's will. It is believed that after making provision for William and Robert, the testator's concern was for his wife and their children, and that the overseers named to assist her were her relatives, by blood or marriage. John Smith, Sr. (so called to distinguish him from his cousin John), was the sole surviving son of Alexander Smith. He had married Jane, widow of Rice Jones and daughter of Nicholas Cocke, who before May 8, 1661, married Jane "relict of Bartholomew Curtys." Maurice Cocke, the other overseer, was the brother of Jane Smith. This John Smith was an executor and Maurice Cocke was an overseer of Alexander Smith's will (1696). Perhaps the most consistent explanation of known facts is the suggestion of Mr. Philip W. Hiden, of Newport News, that both Alexander Smith and William Daniel were related by marriage to their neighbors, the Robinsons.

By his first wife, Captain William Daniel had:

[1] William, born 1664, or earlier...
[2] Robert, born 1666, or earlier...

By his second wife, Jochebed:

[3] Mary...
[4] Richard ...
[5] James (The Clark County Daniel's ancestor)
[6] John ...
[7] Agatha ...
[8] Katherine ...
[9] Elizabeth ...
[10] Ann...
(There are twelve pages of material that detail the other branches of this family.)

[5] James, youngest son of Captain William Daniel, married Margaret Vivion, January 27, 1704. In his will, dated September 18, 1747, proved October 4, 1748, witnessed by Thomas Loughlin and Joseph Eggleston, who had married Jane, a daughter of Oliver Seagar and (56) Jane Daniel, he named the following children:
[149] Rachel, Born October 14, 1704, married Thomas Amess, Gent., November 14, 1722.
[150] Peter, baptized September 29, 1706.
[151] Charles, baptized March 6,1709.
[152] Margaret, married John Towles, October 9, 1735.
[153] Susanna, married Henry Mickelborough, February 17, 1737.
[154] James, born February 17, 1716.
[155] John, born January 19, 1721.
[156] Phebe, born March 12, 1724.
[157] Vivion, born July 1, 1726.

After sundry small bequests to these children and to his grandchildren, Charles Daniel and James and Margaret Meckelborough, he gave his entire estate to his wife, "to be disposed as she shall think fitt (sic)." She was made sole executrix, without bond or appraisement. In her will, made August 27, 1750, witnessed by her sons Charles and John and be Charles' wife, Jane, Margaret Daniel gave the entire estate, save a small bequest to her son James, to her youngest son, Vivion, who was made executor. The last entry upon the Middlesex records showing the presence there of Vivion was his attestation of a deed in December, 1750. At Orange is a deed, dated May 25, 1749, from Peter Daniel, of Stafford, Gent., attested by (154) James. The land office records at Richmond show the issuance of the following patents, all on September 20, 1751:

To Peter Daniel, 800 acres in Louisa County, on both sides of Rogers' branch, beginning at James Daniel's corner.
To Peter Daniel, 390 acres in Orange County, on the branches of Pamunkey river.
To Vivion Daniel, 786 acres in Louisa County, on Negro run.
To James Daniel, 600 acres in Louisa County, on the small branches of Hickory creek and the head branches of Rogers' branch.
Subsequently James received a patent for 832 acres "beginning at the said James Daniel's corner."

James and Vivion did not long retain the land thus acquired. That in Orange patented to Peter appears to have been the tract on which Vivion lived for many years. The 786 acres on Negro run, east of Gordonsville, was near if it did not include John's plantation, upon which he died in 1785; and Charles seems to have succeeded to the holdings of James, who likewise moved to Orange...

151 Charles married Jane Mickelborough, September 20, 1732, and had the following children:
[161] Jane, born August 18,1733.
[162] Peter, born January , 1735, died in early life.
[163] Charles, born March 2,1737.
[164] James, born June 15, 1739.
[165] Thomas, born December 11, 1740.
[151] Charles executed a deed in Louisa in 1796 and lived to 1799. His son [164] James moved to Kentucky with his uncle [157] Vivion, and was living in Clark County, Kentucky, in 1810. [164] James' so Beverley was a revolutionary soldier, and one of the latter's witnesses to his pension application was John M. Daniel, a grandson of [154] James.

On June 13, 1781, [151] Charles was allowed 3 pence per pound for 350 lbs of beef supplied to John Jouett, commissary. (Va. State Archives)...

James Daniel was the father of Nancy Daniel who married John Rankins. He married Elizabeth, daughter of William Montague, b. 5-24-1739; d. Jan. 17, 1826, ae 83; had - Peter Mickleborough, Sep. 22, 1764; Jesse, Feb. 14, 1766; Beverley, 1768; James, 1770; Jane, 1772, d.s. May 12, 1853; Nancy b. Mar. 10, 1783; Elizabeth; Anthoret m. Charles Gilkey Dec. 19,1808; Charles, d. 1805;Henry, Mar 15, 1786.

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