OF THE
DE VEAUX FAMILY.
INTRODUCING THE
NUMEROUS FORMS OF SPELLING THE NAME
BY
VARIOUS BRANCHES AND GENERATIONS IN THE
PAST ELEVEN HUNDRED YEARS.
BY
THOS. F. DE VOE,
MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ETC., ETC.
1885.
[Thos. F. De Voe was author of “The Market Book,” 1862, and “The Market Assistant.” Identifying numbers for some individuals are printed as leading superscripts as in the book.]
PREFACE.
Some fifty years ago the author’s attention became much interested while glancing over some of our early city records, in which he found a great deal of remarkable and curious information pertaining to the past, especially that relating to the City of New York. This led to the examination of old newspapers, books, documents of various kinds, as well as traditionary accounts, all of which were most acceptable food for the mind of the hungry gatherer; but he must here admit that they were not satisfying, or only for the moment, as the want still continued for this species of ancient lore.
Among these gatherings the family name and positions appeared rather attractive, and, of course, received considerable attention, but with no other thought at the time than the author’s gratification. However, some few years ago, certain inquiries were made in relation to the de Veaux family, which rather stimulated the author to draw together all which related to the subject then in his possession. The quantity rather surprised him, but the quality was found so mixed, and the name so variously spelled, that it appeared rather formidable to attempt its compilation; but he believing it would be a record of interest to the descendants of the family generally, this, with a hope of assistance from some of the various branches connected, induced him with the attempt to place it into book form.
Although his researches since have been attended with many difficulties--especially and in consequence of his numerous letters of inquiry were either not answered or done in such a manner as to be almost worthless--yet there were some of the family who became much interested, and gave him all the information they possessed or could gather of their respective branches; and he admits that without their assistance the work would not have appeared in its present, but very unsatisfactory, form to represent a proper family genealogy.
It is not expected, however, that the public generally will take much interest in the following pages, except where some prominent fact is presented relative to general history, as the subject was written and intended primarily for the use of the descendants of the de Veaux or De Voe family and their connecting branches, who, from their intimate knowledge of the no doubt various mistakes made by the compiler in recording the past generations, especially those connected with their immediate families; they, however, will have an opportunity to assist him or themselves in perfecting the same, and also of continuing on their several branches of the present and the future generations of an interesting and hitherto a respectable family.
THOS. F. DE VOE.
No. 104 West Thirteenth Street, New York.
EARLY INTRODUCTION OF THE NAME.
In glancing over a large number of old records, genealogies, and late directories of French noble families, we find the name now generally known as De Voe, De Veau, de Veaux, de Vaux, etc., appears to have been originally known in France as Vaux, Veaux, etc., and was found to be prominent among the government officers at a very early period.
In a very elaborate genealogy we find: “The family of Vaux derived its surname from a district in Normandy, where it was originally seated. So early as the year 749 of the Christian era a branch of the Vaux Family is found in Provence, who was found to be allied by marriage to several of the Sovereign Princes of Europe.”
Another early branch is noticed by “Bouvier,” who says: “Eloi, Sire of Verchmont, had been appointed, in an Edict of Charles the Bald in the year 857, Vidame and Lord of Vaux, Count of Verchmont.”
At a later period “Eloi-Michel De Vaux is called Sire & Count of Verchmont, Sire & Baron of Gaillon, great baillif of the sword (grand balli d’epee) of the Dutchy of Nantes, Prince of the holy Roman Empire, and Commander of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Malta. Another of the Verchmont branch was found in a rescript of Charles de Gonzague, when he made Charleville out of the small Town of Arches in 1698.”
The name is further mentioned in the records of that and subsequent periods by the patronymic of Beaux, Baux, or Vaux (B and V being used indiscriminately in the south of France), and the ancient possessions of the Princes of Baux in that country are still called “Les Terres Baussengues,” comprising Aix, Marseilles, etc.
In the year 1140 the Vauxes disputed the sovereignty of Provence with the house of Barcelona, and in 1173 they acquired the principality of Orange by marriage with Tiburge, heiress of Orange.
“Bertram de Vaux was Count of Montescaziosi, and married Beatrix, daughter of Charles II., King of Naples and Sicily.
“His son, Francis de Vaux, espoused Margaret of Anjou, widow of Edward Baloil, King of Scotland, etc. Upon this marriage, Francis de Vaux was created Duke of Andrea in the Kingdom of Naples, &c., and his descendants enjoyed the highest offices, as the following inscription, translated from a monument erected in the year 1615 in the Church of St. Clair, at Naples, fully attests. This monument is dedicated to the most illustrious family of Vaux, a potent race, decorated with the royal insignia in the kingdom of Vienne and Arles, Princes of Orange, Counts of Geneva, and great rulers within the sovereignty of Provence, which they frequently subjugated to their dominion by force of arms.” “Hyeronymus de Vaux has here deposited the bones of as many of his name and lineage as he has been able to collect, and out of piety to them has erected this monument to their memory:
“Videlicet, to the memories of
“Antonia de Vaux, Queen of Sicily.
Isabella de Vaux, Queen of Naples.
Cecilla de Vaux, Countess of Savoy.
Sibella de Vaux, Princess of Piedmont.
Maria de Vaux, Dauphiness of Vienne.
Isabella de Vaux, Despotisses of Servia.”
. . .In the next earliest French records we find “Jean de Veau, gallant (son of a chevalier), who assisted, with several other noblemen, in 1302 at the assizes of the Seneschal of Beauraime.” Then appears:
Raimond de Veau, gallant son of Feu Pierre Garin de Vaux; and
Pierre Rigaud de Vaux who pledged fidelity and duty to the Countess Elinore de Cominges in 1343.”
SUFFERING HUGUENOTS.
The Forefathers of the De Voe Family in America were found to be French Protestants, who with the many thousands early became known as Huguenots, all of whom were particularly obnoxious to the Roman Catholic authorities in France, especially the infamous Catherine of Medicis, who persuaded her son, King Charles IX. of France, to massacre all the Protestants in the kingdom; and that detestable prince sent orders to the governors of the different provinces to put all the Huguenots to death in their respective districts. . .
Among the suffering Protestants the de Veaux family, or portions of them, had prepared themselves for flight; and when a favorable opportunity appeared they left their country and their home for ever.
FIRST SETTLERS IN AMERICA.
The first member of the de Veaux or De Vos family who emigrated to America was found in New Amsterdam (New York), as early as the year 1653, named Matheus De Vos (as it was then spelled) and his wife. . .
These early settlers, when pronouncing their original name--if it was de Veaux--no doubt called and wrote it De Vos; afterwards the name was found spelled both in the records and the press. There appeared to be some persons among them who had, and others yet still continue to have, different ideas in relation to the pronunciation and spelling of the name, which they and their generations generally continue to use.
This change has been most remarkable within the past, as also in the present century, especially in the United States, where the name is found recorded in Bibles, church records, wills, letters, bills, and even on head-stones of the dead, which shows the great variety of change in almost every conceivable form of spelling it. In fact there will appear in this work above fifty different ways of forming the name.
NICHOLAS AND DANIEL.
The next arrival of the de Veaux family here was two of our [Thos. De Voe’s] forefather’s brothers, the eldest named 184Nicholas and a younger one named Daniel. They came in company with several other French refugee families, many of whom had, at an early period, fled to Manheim, in Germany. This place afterwards was invaded by Louis XIV., when the family of Nicholas and others escaped to England; and in 1674 they accompanied Sir Edmund Andros across the ocean when he became the second Governor of New York.
The family of 184Nicholas de Vaux consisted of his wife with one child and his young brother, Daniel, when he settled at Harlem. The next year (1675) Nicholas was found in the “Night Watch,” at that place, having been called upon by the Governor to assist in protecting the inhabitants against an attack from the Indians; and two years after he was again enrolled by the Governor to assist in cutting 5,000 trees to erect a “Palisade Wall,” on the line of the present “Wall Street” (New York), to guard against an expected attack of the Indians. This fact gave this prominent business street its name.
Nicholas had previously obtained some land at Harlem, as we find him taxed for property there in 1677. He remained here, however, but a few years, when he removed to New Jersey, where he and his wife joined the church at Bergen, in 1679. It appeared afterwards that several of his wife’s relatives had moved to Hackensack, which induced him to change his residence to that place. Here they erected “The French Church,” near where still remains “The Old French burying-ground,” in which he and his first wife were buried; his second marriage was with Margaret Jans, in 1706, when he was about sixty-four years old. By his first wife he had children, 186Abraham, b. 1667; John, b. 1669; Hester, b. 1671; Susannah, b. 1673; and Marytie, b. 1675.
186Abraham married Mynno (Menno or Minnie) de Maree in 1688, and joined the “First Reformed Dutch Church” in Hackensack, the records of which show the name of Abraham De Vouw, registered in 1694; afterwards the name appears de Vouw and De Vouw, with nearly all of this branch many years after. He had six children born at Hackensack, and about the year 1705 for some cause he removed to Tarrytown, N.Y., where he became a member of the Reformed (Dutch) Church of the Manor of Philipsburgh, at “Sleepy Hollow,” and served in the offices of deacon (in 1708) and elder off and on for about twenty years.
An old book of records shows on the 16th August, 1710, “At a meeting of the Consistory, Abraham de Vouw was honorably discharged from his official service as Deacon, after serving two years; his accounts were approved, and were as follows: Paid from receipts to Dominie Bartholf, 29-10 (perhaps Guilders); paid for Communion bread, 100; whole amount, 39-10.”
The children of Abraham were, Nicholas [b. 1689, as given later in the book], Maria [b. 1691], Elsie [b. 1693], Rachel b. 1695], 195John, and Christina, b. 1699.
195John, b. 1697; m. Hester See in 1723, and became a prominent member in the “Old Sleepy Hollow Church.” He had children, 216Abraham, Jacob [b. 1727], John [b. 1729], Catharine, Nicholas [b. 1734], Daniel, b. 1737; Minnie, b. 1739; Mary [b. 1741; in 1761 married Abraham Williams, residing near Tarrytown - he was one of the seven men who apprehended the British spy Major Andre in September 1780], Isaac [b. 1744], and David [b. 1748].
216Abraham, b. 1725, at Mount Pleasant, W.C.C., N.Y. The records show Abm. de Voe’s marriage with Lea Storms in 1753, by whom he had children, Anna [or Aanetje, b. 1754], Esther (or Hester) [b. 1737 according to book - probably a misprint for 1757], and Abraham [b. 1759], when his wife died. In 1765 Abraham married a second wife, named Mary Davis, by whom he had 229John, Isaac, Jacob [b. 1786], and Lena, and others who died young. From the descendants the author has gathered the following:
In early life 216Abraham (father) was unfortunate in having one of his legs broken near the thigh, which rendered him lame for life; he was, however, able to do some kinds of farm work until quite an old man.
During the Revolution he and his wife became well acquainted with General Washington, who usually stopped at his house when passing that way; in fact Washington knew all the friendly families between the lines, through his “Life Guards,” several of which, previous to the war, were residents of Westchester County.
At Abraham De Voe’s he was sometimes an unexpected but always a welcome guest, he being erfectly satisfied with such accommodations and food as this family could give him, which in the latter years of the war was of a very plain character. At times provisions of all kinds were so scarce that Mr. De Voe was without seed or animals to work the ground, and thus but little food could be raised, or only what could be attended to by himself and children.
Then much of their Indian corn was pounded or broken up, and in this coarse state was cooked into a dish called samp. This with the milk of one cow, which had to be housed every night, and a few potatoes and fruit, was their principal living for years. Occasionally a little rye flour and Indian meal and a few pounds of pork were procured from friends in the upper counties, through the assistance of Washington on his orders; and thus many families in Westchester County lived during the dark days of the Revolution.
On Washington’s arrival at the house of Abraham De Voe, the usual salute from him was “How do you do, Uncle Brom? And how is Aunt Molly to-day?” After shaking hands with them he turned to their children, and perhaps left a kiss for the girls and some token for the boys; he would usually ask: “Aunt Molly, have you any suppan and milk for me?” “Yes, General,” was her usual reply. “As poor as we are we have always something for you, General.” If she had no suppan or samp, he would say, “Aunt Molly, a little bread and milk will answer just as well.” Then the round rye loaf and a good-sized pewter bowl, half filled with milk, was set before him, into which he broke up his bread, and eat of this dish with a good relish; then followed a few friendly words, when he mounted his charger, and with a few Life Guards, who had been waiting for him, disappeared from the sight of his clever host and hostess, who afterwards often related these interesting incidents of the Revolution to their generations, who have faithfully preserved them.
229John, b. 1780; m. Elizabeth Landrine; had Abraham [b. 1807],252Isaac, Mary (b. 1811, d. 1842), Catharine [b. 1813], Susannah [b. 1816], Jacob [b. 1818], Hester (b. 1820), and Elizabeth (b. 1822).
252Isaac, b. 1809; m. lst, Susan Fox (she died); 2nd wife, Cordelia Oakley, daughter of William Oakley, of Lower Yonkers, N.Y. They now reside at Tarrytown (1876). Had William Landrine, b. 1860, d. 1864; Anna Ella, b. 1861; Ida Mannetta, b. 1863; John Herbert, b. 1865; Edward, b. 1866; William Henry, b. 1868; Elizabeth, b. 1869; Bertha Emily, b. 1871; then twins--279Frank Quinlan and Frederick B., b. 1875; and Arthur, b. 1877.
FREDERICK.
405Frederick de Veaux (our [Thos. De Voe’s] Forefather) was born about the year 1645 in the province of Annis (said to be near Rochelle), in France. When a boy of 12 or 14 years of age he, with his parents and two brothers, at least, set out from their home to escape the various inflictions put upon them by the authorities, and, after much difficulty and suffering, they arrived at Manheim, in Germany.
Their absence from their home soon became known to the king’s murderous troopers, who trailed them over the country, and were so close on these Huguenot refugees that it was only by the friendship of a woman that they escaped; after which they dared only to travel at night and hide in the day, and this with almost starvation among them, as they were not provided for such an emergency.
The incident of their narrow escape has been handed down through the several generations of those who settled near New York, which appeared as follows: When the small party left their home they made a rapid flight for several days and nights, and supposed they had a good start unknown to the authorities; then, by travelling through the forests as opportunity offered in the daytime, and the fields and bypaths at night, they had great hopes of having eluded any troops which might have been sent after them. On one occasion, however, they had become short of food and were almost starving, but on arriving near a friendly-looking farm-house early one morning one of the party cautiously advanced toward the house, when he saw a woman come out, who became very much alarmed when she discovered him. She, however, knew by his haggard looks who and what he was, and what he wanted. She then motioned him to hide behind one of the small out-buildings in which swine were kept, when she turned back into the house and in a few minutes brought out a pan of milk and made towards the pen as if to feed her hogs, but conveyed it around to him, at the same time informing him that there were a number of the king’s troopers then lying asleep on the floor of her house who, no doubt, had been on their trail.
The Huguenot took the pan of milk and carried it to the others who were hid, when it was soon emptied by them. In the meantime the woman had returned with other food, gave it to them, and hurried them off in a new direction, and they safely arrived in the town of Manheim, Germany, where they found some of the earlier fugitives of the family who had escaped at various periods before.
Here 405Frederick de Veaux grew up to manhood and became enabled to enter into trade in the town, where he married about the year 1673. His wife, however, was not long his companion; death claimed her soon after. Being without children, and having received favorable accounts from America, he made up his mind to close his business and follow his brothers and other relatives, who had been several years in this new country, and whose continued glowing accounts had also induced other relatives and friends to emigrate at various periods to this land of peace and plenty.
After having obtained the necessary passport
[Footnote: Passport, translated into English, reads: "We, President, Mayor, Burgomaster and Council of the Electorial Pfalztown Manheim--Do make known and proclaim herewith, that the bearer of this, 405Frederick de Veaux, has been a citizen of this Town, and intends now to travel in Holland and then further to England: therefore We request, according to custom, to let the said Frederick de Veaux pass, free, safe and unmolested at all places, and also to insure him all good Will and help. We shall do the same in return, according to his rank, to all persons.
"In Witness hereof we have put Our customary Seal. Done Manheim, this 23rd February Syl. Vet. Anno, One thousand six hundred and seventy-five. (Signed.)"]
from the magistrates of Manheim, in 1675, he took passage for England, and from there came to New York, and soon after settled at Harlem, where on the 24th of June, 1677 (old style), appears in the Dutch Church records the marriage of 405Fredrik du Voix, widower, to "Hester Terneur, daughter of Daniel Tourneur," of Harlem.
By this marriage he came into possession of a tract of land, known afterwards as the "Cromwell Farm," located on the eastern shore of the cove into which "Cromwell Creek" connects with the Harlem River, near the "Central Bridge."
In 1694 405Frederick purchased the neck of land (afterwards known as "Devoe's Point," which connected McComb's Dam--now Central Bridge) on the east end across the Harlem River, from William Bickley, Senr., who held a patent for it, which contained 184 acres . .
In 1705 he purchased a tract of land from Col. Lewis Morris, in Morrisania, and in 1715 he took the oath of allegiance; three years after (1718) he purchased 200 acres of land in New Rochelle from his daughter, Leah Gendron, who was left a widow by the death of her husband, Peter Gendron, for which he paid £213 through Andrew Naudain, another son-in-law. The next year (1719), Frederick bought the farm adjoining the last purchased in New Rochelle from Susannah Couton, "containing one hundred acres," for which he paid £150, and in the transfer deed his name is written Ffreadrick De Vose (long s). In the same year a receipt is found for the payment of one pound at "Mile Square"; he signs his name Frederick de Voue.
In 1721, having lost his wife by death, 405Frederick Devoese, Sen., deeds to his son, 424Frederick Devoose, Jun., the farm or "certain lands and meadows"--he "was invested by his intermarriage with his wife Easter Devoose, daughter of Daniel Turneir," on condition that after his death his son shall pay, within three years, the sum of five pounds to each of his daughters, named, and also the names of their husbands. His will, made twenty years after, shows a considerable change in his children's families, caused by death and remarriage.
The two farms which Frederick, Sen., had purchased in the years 1718-19, of about 300 acres at New Rochelle, became occupied by his son Abel, where his father soon after moved, having all his children married except his youngest daughter Abigail, who perhaps resided with one of her sisters until her death, which took place before the death of her father, as her name is not noticed in his will. . .
. . . [In 1730] he is found boarding with his son-in-law, Andrew Naudain, at New Rochelle, with whom he resided until a few months before his death, which occurred in the month of November, 1743, at the house of his son Daniel, at Morrisania, or town of Westchester.
ABEL.
412ABEL was born about the year 1688 at Morrisania, where he grew up and became a practical farmer by assisting to cultivate the many acres which his father had become possessed of both by purchase and by his wife.
Here Abel worked several years after becoming of age, but about the year 1717 he became engaged to and married Magdalena Hunt. The next year (1718) his father purchased some 200 acres of land in New Rochelle from his daughter Leah, who had become a widow by the death of her husband Peter Gendron, and an additional farm of 100 acres was purchased there the next year by his father, on which his son removed and became a prominent citizen of that place.
At an election for town officers in 1723 he was chosen Collector, and his name appears written in the records Abel Devereux. . .
In 1728, Abel's father being quite aged and living at New Rochelle with his daughter, Susannah Naudain, with plenty of this world's goods, he appears to have retired from an active life. For some cause he was induced to dispose of the farm of 200 acres to his son Abel, and after the deed was recorded he changed his mind, and on the same day it was reconveyed back to his father, and he then signs the conveyance 412Abel daux. Abel continued to cultivate the land and to pay the taxes until after his father's death . . .
The records show that Abel Devaux in 1738 was chosen Overseer of the Highway, and in the years 1747-48 and '49 he was one of the Assessors with Peter Bertine. In the meantime his father died (1742), [should be 1743] bequeathing to Abel the farm of 100 acres, after paying certain moneys to his brother Joseph and to his grandson, John Devoose, who was Abel's second son.
Abel died in 1774 . . In the old family Bible (printed in French), by Jean Diodati, Imprimier Aggrieve, 1644, his children's births are thus recorded and witnesses by persons present: . . .
682Abel, Jr., b. 1719; m. Mary (or Maria) Soulice in 1740. He afterwards became possessed of land left by his father, which was much increased by him. In 1755 he was chosen one of the Assessors, and continued several years, and in 1764 he was elected a Constable, but refused to serve, and was obliged to pay a fine for so refusing. In 1767 he was chosen one of the Overseers of the "Upper Quarter Highway," where he served for two years; he then resided in that part of the town, his farm laying some two or three miles on the easterly side of the North Road leading to White Plains, taking in the highest elevation in that region.
He died about one year after his father's death, as we find recorded in 1775 the will of 682Abell Deove, in which he bequeaths "to my wife, Mary Devove," all proceeds from his estate; ". . . other property to be divided equally between my children . . . my daughter 688Mary Landrine . . " He directs his body, after death, to be buried in the "Burying-ground that I have reserved for my family, or any of the Devoues of my relations, and the free liberty of a road from the highway of the said burying-ground now in my possession, containing north and south 30 feet, east and west 28 feet, which I reserve for a burying-place for ever, as aforesaid." . . .
With a descendant of the family, Mr. Darius A. Seacor, in the month of August, 1878, the author visited the above old burying-ground, where we found many of the old flat and rough head and foot stones removed, some of which had been placed on the stone wall adjoining on one side and others thrown against the wall on the other side of the angle, and but few were found remaining in the ground in sight, or perhaps had been covered by the plough of the owner adjoining this plot, who has wrongly taken possession of this reserved and sacred spot.
It was supposed that there had been buried in this plot above 50 persons, beginning with his father, whose death is previously noticed, and all of the descendants of his brothers, sisters, &c., up to and after the Revolution, who had resided in the neighborhood and other parts of the State. The site is a beautiful one, which lies some 300 or 400 paces from St. John's Church, near Cooper's Corners. Here on the highest elevation in the eastern angle of a heavy stone wall, partly shaded by friendly limbs of a large old apple-tree, will yet be found this old burial-place of this branch of the de Veaux family, almost obliterated.
688Mary, b. 1745 (her surname both in the Bible and head-stone is marked Devaue) in New Rochelle; married William F. Landrine in 1775; had children, John, b. 1775; Mary, b. 1776; William F., Jr., and Eliza, b. 1788. 688Mary died in 1826, and her husband (William F., Sen.) in 1825; both lie buried in the old Dutch Reformed Church at "Sleepy Hollow," Tarrytown, New York.
[The author of the book, Thomas Farrington De Voe, was a descendant of this branch. He was born 1811; in an obituary notice for his second daughter, reproduced in the book, he is referred to as Colonel Thomas F. De Voe. Frederick W. Devoe, of Devoe and Raynolds Co., was the author’s brother. The book gives “b. 1828 ...is largely engaged in the manufacture of paints, brushes, etc., which are disposed of at his stores corner Fulton and William Streets, N. Y. City.”]
JACOB, FIRST.
Jacob de Veaux, probably the youngest brother of 184Nicholas and 405Frederick, was born about 1664, and but a child at the time of the escape from France to Manheim. . .
Jacob remained with his parents at Manheim after his brothers had left that place in 1675, and probably became employed in business as soon as he was old enough. His parents preferred to remain there, as they no doubt had some hope that a change of the Government of France would take place before their death, and then they would return and again take possession of their property and home. These hopes, however, were destroyed when the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in 1685, took place, which was followed by their death.
Jacob remained in Manheim no longer than to settle up his parents’ affairs, as no doubt the favorable accounts of the New World given him by his brothers led him to quit Manheim, and soon after he was found at Harlem, New York, and in 1705 he was living in the town of Westchester, a few miles from his brother Frederick’s plantations.
Jacob, however, made but a short residence here, as he found the climate too cold, as did several other Refugees who had settled in the neighborhood; so they concluded to go South, where great encouragement and kind treatment was promised to all French Refugees by the Governor of South Carolina. . .
