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m. 18 May 1819 - Capt. James H. Dever1823 - 1860
Facts and Events
James H. Dever was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia
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Notes
- From "True Virginian", Saturday morning, April 21,1860:
- "A wedding and a murder -- a most shocking, on provoked and horrible murder occurred at the residence of Mr. Hugh Devier, near North River, in this county, Rockingham on Thursday night of last week. On the Thursday evening, Mr. William Price Sites and Miss Maria Agnes Devier were married, a large and pleasant company being in attendance at the celebration of the nuptials. At a late hour in the night, between 11 and 12:00, a party of men from the neighborhood, who had not been invited to the wedding, and who had probably taken offense thereat, stimulated by strong drink, determined to annoy the wedding guest and the family, by blowing horns, firing guns, ringing bells, and other noisy demonstrations, near Mr. Devier's residence. Not wishing to suffer the annoyance, Captain James H. Devier, son of Hugh Devier, Mr. John H. Devier, his brother, and Mr. George C. Patterson, went out to expostulate with the disturbers of the peace and ask them to retire. As the Messrs. Devier and Patterson came out of the door the noise making party retreated into one of Mr. Blakemore's fields nearby, and supposing they would retire altogether, Messrs. James H. Devier and Patterson continued to follow one party and Mr. John H. Devier another, without, however, using any threatening, offensive, or menacing language and, of course, anticipating no harm. They had followed but a short distance, when one of the party, by the name of Smallwood, stop suddenly, turned around, and discharged a gun, loaded with buckshot, at Captain Devier, killing him almost instantly! Several of the shot intered his fourhead, face and neck and he fell quivering in his tracks, without uttering a word. Mr. Patterson was about five feet from him when he fell, but received no injury.
- "The dreadful tragedy created the greatest excitement possible, in the neighborhood, as Captain Devier was universally esteemed for his many noble qualities. He leaves a widow and two children to bewail their sudden and unexpected bereavement.
- "The murderer fled immediately after discharging his gun, and up to this time, Thursday morning, not quite a week since the occurrence, nothing has been heard of him. He dropped his hat and gun in his flight. He had resided on Capt. Devier's land up to the evening of the tragedy and had received nothing but kindness at the hands of his victim. What prompted him to slay his benefactor, it is a mystery known only to the searcher of hearts. The murderer is also a married man, and has a wife and two children, who have now to mourn over an act which has more than widowed and orphaned them"
Citations
- http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/e/v/Charles-V-DeVier/BOOK-0001/0004-0017.html
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