Descendents of John Devericks of Eastern Shore Virginia

Generation 1: John Devericks

     John Devericks was born probably in England around 1635.  He was transported to Virginia as an indentured servant about 1653, and in 1654 his headrights were claimed by Alexander Maddocks and James Jones in Northampton County.
     The majority of indentured servants at this time were shipped from Bristol England.  Studies suggest that most indentured servants came from within 60 miles of their point of embarkation.  This would suggest that John Devericks came from the region of South Wales where the Devereux name is common.  Indentured servants ranged in age from 15 to 24 years old, and hence John Devericks birth was estimated about 1635.  Their period of indenture was generally 4 to 5 years, but John‘s appears to have been longer as discussed in the next paragraph.
     He was still under indenture in June of 1659 when the Northampton County Courts dealt with the issue of his long absence from his Master’s service.  He had been living among the local Indians and a messenger had to be dispatched to bring him back into that county for the Court .  A Major William Waters transferred his service for 2 years from March 1st of that year to a William Starling at that time for the payment of 1000 lbs of good tobacco and cask, and the cost of providing for him.  The Court upheld this transaction.
     In November of 1661 John had completed his indenture, and was now contracted by Court in Northampton County to work as an Indian interpreter from March 1661/2 to March 1662/3 for Colonel Scarburgh and Major John Tilney.  These officers had been tasked to investigate complaints by the Nantiqoke, Mannanokin, Wirracomoco, Traskokin, and Annamessick Indians that presents they had brought for the Virginia Government to the Anancock and Occahannock Indians had not been delivered.  He was to receive 1500 pounds of tobacco for this service, but in the Accomack County Court of November 16, 1664 he was reported to have been dismissed because he behave, “treacherously amongst the Indians to the abuse of His Majesty’s subjects and the dishonor of our nation.”  Furthermore he was banned from further contact with the Indians.
     A few months later at the March 14, 1664/5 Accomack County, Virginia Court Robert Brace made complaints that several items he had lost were discovered in the possession of John Devericks.  John claimed that he had found these things, but could not prove this, and he did not make publication of the fact as required by law.  As Devericks was suspected to be guilty of small theft, it was ordered that the sheriff return the items to Brace, and administer 30 lashes upon John’s naked shoulders.  Furthermore Devericks was to pay court costs, and when thought able to make satisfaction for the loss and damage sustained by Brace, who was to bring an accounting to the next court.  Colonel Edmund Scarburgh disbursed 50 arms length of white shell bead wampum called Roanoke, two matchcoats (fur mantles) and 250 lbs. Tobacco for the use of the county while bringing in John Devoricks, and he was to be paid back out of next year’s levies and if Devericks was ever able to repay the county.  Evidently, though, John was not located in a timely manner, and the sentence never carried out.  The Accomack County Court records from January 16, 1666/7 indicate that Robert Brace had accused John Devericks of stealing, but because of lack of evidence the case was dismissed.
     When the James City Court met on April 23, 1670 John Devericks was again being hired as an Indian interpreter for Colonel Scarburgh.  Within a year, though, he appears to have settled in Somerset County, Maryland where he is mentioned in several Court records in disputes over debt, and as a witness for a case of trespass.  He had acquired rights to some land, and reference was made to a Land Patent of October 24, 1679 where John Richards executed a warrant for 200 acres at “Bett’s Choice” on the south side of the Rockamain River in lieu of the same quantity assigned to “John Deverix.”
     There is record of a wife, Elizabeth Devericks, who was his 'relic' by 1679. Two individuals appear in the records of this region of Maryland that I attribute to him as sons:  John Devericks (birth probably about 1674) of Somerset County who left a Will in 1722, and Thomas Devericks (birth about 1678) who appears in the records of Kent County, Maryland around 1700.  Thomas Devericks is dealt with on a separate page.  There is a gap in the court records of Somerset County where John Devericks is not mentioned during the 1680’s which is consistent with a transition in generations.

Generation 2: John Devericks Junior

      John Devericks Junior was born about 1674 in Somerset County, Maryland.  Records indicate his father probably died while he was a child, but by the 1790‘s he was an adult with landholdings in Somerset County.
      He married a woman named Ann in the early 1700‘s, and they had five children together: Samuel, John III, James, Cornelius, and Comfort.  The Will of John Purnell makes the first reference to the Devericks landholdings at ‘Rochester’ in Broadneck.  This would remain in the family for the next 100 years.
      John Devericks Junior died in 1722, and his Will was entered in Somerset County identifying his children, and wife.  His executors were his eldest son, Samuel, and his wife, Ann.

Generation 3:  John Devericks III

      John Devericks III was born about 1700 in Somerset County.  He married Mary Bishop (born about 1707), daughter of William Bishop Senior and Saborough (Sabra) Jones, and had 5 children: Esther (also known as Hester), Sarah, Mary, John, and Nane (possibly also known as Bettey).
      He was a planter in Worcester County, Maryland.  He was mentioned in his father-in-law’s (William Bishop Senior) Will that was proven on February 18, 1757 in which John Deverix’s daughters were identified as Bettey (bequeathed a slave boy, Abner) and Esther (given a bed).  His wife, Mary was to divide part of the estate with her siblings.
      He wrote his will on October 22, 1757 that was proven on December 30, 1757.  In his will he gave to his son, John, 30 pounds.   His daughter Esther received a slave, Sarah, and Mary was to receive the first child of his slave, Nancy.  Nane would receive the second child of the slave, Nancy.  If the slave, Nancy, had no children then they would receive 10 pounds each.  His wife, Mary, would then be given her part, and the children to divide the rest.
John Devericks’ Accounts were entered in Worcester County, Maryland in 1764/5.
      John Devericks’ Balances of Final Distribution were entered in Worcester County, Maryland in 1765.  It also indicates his widow, Mary, married Micajah (William) Sturgis, but had died about 1763.  Payments were made to Daniel Sturgis who was Micajah’s administrator.  As Mary had been his administrator, his brother Cornelius was appointed to replace her in the distribution of his assets.
      Micajah (aka William) Sturgis was born 1728 and died in 1762 in Worcester Co., MD.  He married Mary Bishop about 1758.  He gave a deposition in 1756, and died intestate with his estate probated by his brother, Daniel.

Generation 4:  John Devericks IV

      John Devericks IV was born in Somerset County about 1733.  He married a woman named Ann around 1754 probably in the newly formed Worcester County, Maryland.
      He probably died about 1764.  His wife, Ann died shortly after this and his Accounts were entered in Worcester County, Maryland on March 16, 1765 and identified her estate going to the representatives of the infants of “John Devorix” and infants of “Peter Lindal.”  The administrator was Cornelius Devericks, the uncle of John Devericks IV. His children are believed to be: John, William, and Samuel.

Generation 5:   John Devericks V

      John Devericks V was born about 1756 in Worcester County, Maryland.  He took the Oath of Allegiance in Boquetenorton Hundred in Worcester County, Maryland in 1778, and served as a Private in the Worcester Militia, Sinepuxent Battalion of Captain William Purnell’s Company, 4th Class from 1779 to 1780.
      He was listed on the 1783 Tax Assessment for Worcester County, Maryland as holding 198 acres at ‘Rochester’ in Boquetenorton Hundred.  This was the same land described under John Devericks Junior above.
      He was listed on the United States Census for Worcester County, Maryland in 1790 with 2 white males over the age of 16, one white male under 16, and two white females.
      He was listed on the United States Census for Boquetenorton Hundred in Worcester County, Maryland in 1800 as a white male between 26-44 years old with two white males 10-16 years, one white male <10 years, 3 white females 26-44, 2 white females 10-16, and 2 white females <10.
      The estate of John Deverix was settled in Worcester County, Maryland in 1811 by report, but I have not found the record as yet.