Devereaux of South Carolina: HELP!

Question

I have a brickwall, Elizabeth Devareaux (also, Devareau, Debareau, more likely spelling: Devereaux) who was born in South Carolina about 1815 according to several census records. I cannot connect her to any Devereaux family there.

Elizabeth first appears in the 1850 census in Spartanburg, South Carolina but no Devereauxes living nearby (or for that, neither any of her husband's Bowling family).

There is an Abraham Devereaux in the 1820 census for Charleston, South Carolina. He is the only one that would be far enough back to be a relative. The general search for just Devereaux (no first name) and a spread of 1770-1805 gives a few more, but none so far back.

Apparently there was a later Devereaux family coming to South Carolina according to the quote and source on this F-A-G page, maybe connected, but maybe not:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49563148

There are also (on FS) a John H. and an N(icholas?) Devereaux who both as civilians assisted in the Confederate cause (maybe Abraham's descendants) and a death record for a daughter of John.

I'm stuck and don't know how to proceed. This is one of only a very few families that I cannot get back beyond 1800. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

Mary Devery

 in the 1860 United States Federal Census

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Name:	Mary Devery
Age:	70
Birth Year:	abt 1790
Gender:	Female
Birth Place:	South Carolina
Home in 1860:	Honey Creek, Vigo, Indiana
Post Office:	Terre Haute
Dwelling Number:	543
Family Number:	524
Household Members:	Name Age Mordica Devery 60 Mary Devery 70 Ellen Erwine 14

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Mrs. Mary W. Deavours

 in the Southern Christian Advocate Obituaries, 1867-1878

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Name:	Mrs. Mary W. Deavours
Gender:	Female
Birth Date:	1791
Birth Place:	Spartanburg District, SC
Death Date:	Nov 1875

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Ooooo, Betty! These might be the trick! I forgot to think about how Southern census takers could butcher a surname. Thanks!!! 

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I couldn't find anything else about Mary Devours or what she devours but I hope you have luck with it.

My Scheurer ancestors were spelled Shirer, Shirah, Shira, Shire, Shirey, and probably lots more I haven't found yet.

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Thanks for all your looking into it for me, Betty. Much appreciated!

Answer 1

Hello,

My GG Grandmother was Catherine Devereaux. The spelling as per her death certificate.

She was born in Wexford County Ireland in 1850. I have no further info.

Wishing you great discoveries!

Janeen Foy

Answer 2

Her married name is Bolin it appears. I was born and raised in Spartanburg, not far from the NC line. It’s unlikely the Charleston family is related. I know that church where she is buried. One thing is for sure, you can count on the census takers to misspell both names!

Comments

You can typically count on the names in obituaries and on grave markers to be precise in this geographical area. It is possible that the church may have records. The history of that area (around Toxaway Lake) doesn’t start until later but for Brevard which had an early Cradle of Forestry. The Revolutionary War was quite active in the back country of the Carolinas and many families got there through grants for service or returned due the amazing beauty of the place. You are more likely going to make discoveries tracing area histories listing early settlers which can then point you to records.  Records in that area during that time were stored in Raleigh, NC due to changing county lines. I would not be surprised if they surfaced further up the Great Wagon Trail since they seemed to have continued to migrate south to my little piece of heaven on Lake Bowen, Spartanburg, South Carolina.