Transcription of copy of typewritten letter in the DeVoe genealogy folder, Westchester Historical Society, Elmsford, New York (photocopy of the copy in the folder made 27 April 2004)

55 Grandview Ave.
Pleasantville, New York
January 15, 1963

National Registrar, D. A. R.
1776 D Street, N. W.
Washington 6, D. C.

Dear Madam:

The enclosed papers, those of Mrs. James Paynter, follow the same line as that of Mrs. William H. Martin (nee Myra DeVoe), Nat. No. 293392.

However you will note that the name of the ancestor and his Revolutionary service are different than those on Mrs. Martin's papers. In verifying some of the early dates and places, I discoved [sic] that Mr. Thomas F. DeVoe who published the DeVeaux genealogy in 1885 had made some errors. For one thing, he had taken two men, Jacob and Jacobus, both sons of Johanis and Ester (See) DeVoe (deVouw) and made one man of them.

Jacobus (James) DeVoe was born in 1727, and his brother Jacob was born in 1745. At least Jacob was baptised Oct. 31, 1745. (See Cole's Sleepy Hollow baptisms, p. 82, #1182. Jacob married Elizabeth Williams on April 28, 1765. (Cole marriages, p. 173, #353.)

Perhaps Mr. Thomas F. DeVoe did not know that "Jacobus" is the Dutch name for James. However it happened, this genealogy has Elizabeth Williams as the second wife of Jacob DeVoe. She was his first, and so far as I know, his only wife. The same is true for his brother Jacobus and wife Catrina Storm. (See enclosed sheet.)

Jacob DeVoe migrated first to Orange Co., N. Y. He signed the Association Test there in 1775. Or he may have lived before that in Ulster Co. (Fernow Calendar of Wills, p. 148, #633, Jacob Devo witness to will of David Fulton of New Windsor Prect., Ulster Co., June 13, Nov. 9, 1770.) He migrated to Albany Co. (now Saratoga), and may be the Jacob DeVoe who was in Col. John McCrea's Albany Co. Militia. In the 1790 census for N. Y. p 52, he is in Stillwater Town, Albany Co., with a h. h. [household?] of 2 males 16 and up, 2 males under 16, and 2 females.

Jacobus DeVoe's widow is in the 1790 census for Greenburgh Town, Westchester Co., N. Y., p. 199, "Devoe, Catharine", a h. h. of 1 female and 1 male over 16. I assume Jacobus died right here in Westchester County before 1790.

Yours sincerely,

Roberta N. Ferree, Reg., Mt. Pleasant Ch. [typed]