We have been looking for Jacob Devault's ancestry for twenty-five years and have yet to find anything substantial. We do, however, have a lot of information about him once he arrived at Kelso Ridge near Smithtown and Opekiska, VA (later WV). Several researchers have contributed this information. We have copied all the notes we have about Jacob Devault on our Family Tree Maker Program and have posted them below. Hope this helps. Sally and Neal


The DeVault's of Kelso Ridge 1793-1875 (written by David DeVault in 1992; we received it from Mary Jane McAllister Devault, who may have found it in the Fairmont, WV library, )

"In or about 1793, Jacob, Mary, and child made their journey west to a place referred to as Kelso Ridge, Virginia. This area is located at (near) Smithtown, West Virginia. Kelso Ridge is located close to the mouth of White Day Creek.

"Jacob DeVault was a pioneer farmer at Kelso Ridge. In 1793 when he arrived, this area was considered the frontier and was sparsely populated. Many of the people who came to this region during this time took the Morgan Trail. This migration route originated in Eastern Virginia."

Jacob and Mary "are buried together at the DeVault Cemetery (which was on Jacob's land at Kelso Ridge)."
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From Melba Zinn's notes: The Monongalia County Story by Earl L. Core, Vol. II, pp. 339-340: Jacob Devault born October 14, 1759, married Mary Steele* [should be Mary Michael] born October 3, 1758. Came to White Day before 1800. Two children: Abraham and Pheobe.

* The book gives Jacob's wife's name as Mary Steele. However, this information is in error. Mary Steele married Jacob's son, Abraham.

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Also from Melba's notes: Steele History: Mary Steele (1797-1889) daughter of John Steele (1766-1821) married Abraham Devault.

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Melba Zinn's notes state that

Jacob Devault was born in Eastern Virginia. He settled about the close of the 18th century at White Day Creek in Monongalia County, VA/WV, probably around 1794.

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July, 1996, conversation with Donna (Faulkner) Fisher in Morgantown, WV:

Donna had heard that Jacob Devault's name originally was Jacob Tewalt. She also heard that he was a French fur trader. Donna heard this years ago from Allen Kramer. Allen was the father-in-law of Donna's sister Beverly, who married Samuel Kramer. Allen Kramer was also related to Dr. S. E. B. Kramer, perhaps his son(?) .

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July, 1996, conversation with Virginia (Heston) Dunham near Smithtown, Monongalia Co, WV:

Virginia had always heard that Jacob had married an Indian girl who had wandered out of the woods. This girl took the name of "Mary Michaels." She wondered if this girl also "picked" her own birthday, since the Indians may have had a different way of recording time.

Virginia did not know for certain where Jacob had lived before he came to Monongalia Co. She always heard that he came there by wagon train from Eastern Virgina or Old Dominion. She thought he might have come from Prince William County, VA or some other county starting with Prince. She does not know what country his family came from originally.

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Typed notes from Bob Moyer (from hand-written notes of an unidentified individual) state that "Jacob Devault, grandfather, was a native Eastern Virginia born October 14, 1759 and Mary his wife born October 3, 1758."

(Other references only state that he came from eastern Virginia or Old Dominion.)

This same paper states that "Jacob Devault and his wife and children settled about the close 18 century at Mouth of White Day Creek Monongalia County of Virginia now West Virginia where he became a pioneer farmer and where he died."

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Per Wiley's History of Monongalia Co, 1883:

"Jacob Devault came from Virginia about 90 years ago [which would have been about 1793] and settled in the Clinton District. He had two children -- Abraham and Phebe (Phoebe). Abraham was in the War of 1812. He married Mary Steele after the close of that war. Nine children was (were) the result of this union -- Sarah, Oliver, Eliza, Edgar, Ashford (Ashbel), Margaret, Theophilus, C.P. and Thornton."

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Monongalia Record of the District Superior and County Courts (Vol 6, 1805-1808):

(page 262) 151-1807, Monongalia County Court. "Whereas a number of us labor under a great disadvantage for want of a mill road and for other purposes, We, the under named subscribers pray for a road from the River Road near Philip Shuttleworth's to Henry Corother's Mill on Booths Creek." Signed by Jacob Devault, James Steel, Jr. and James Steel, Sr.---among others.

September, 1996, note from Sally Eaton: A man named Jacob Tewalt is listed twice in the Monogalia Co. Court records in 1805, once in 1809 and once in 1813. We are convinced that Jacob Devault and Jacob Tewalt are the same person. Jacob signed documents using and "X" and therefore he would not have known how to spell his name. Anyone writing it down, wrote it the way they heard it.

In July, 1996, Neal and I were at the WV State Archives in Charleston and read the land tax records for Monongalia County. The first entry for Jacob is in 1811. He is shown as Jacob Tewalt and owns 100 acres of land. We didn't find entries for 1812-1814. From 1815-1823 Jacob's name appears with various spellings: Tewalt, Tevalt, Tevault,and Devault --- always with 100 acres of land at White Day (creek or P.O.?) in Monongalia County.

In 1819, Abraham Tevault is shown, owning 66 acres. In 1820 both Jacob and Abraham are shown as Devault, and their name continues to be spelled that way after that.

The land tax record book (#3) we were looking at ended with 1823, and we did not have time to go on to the next book.
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Notes from Mary Lou Eaton Berg:

Jacob DeVault and his wife and children settled about the close of the 18th century at the mouth of White Day Creek, Monongalia Co, Virginia (now West Virginia) where he became a pioneer farmer and where he died. This area is near Smithtown or Opekiska, WV.

Mary Lou Eaton Berg notes that she found no record of a Jacob Devault of Virginia serving in the Revolutionary War. She found no record of him in the rejected or suspended Revolutionary pensions and no pension record for him for active duty.

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Per the Heads of Families at the First census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790, Records of the State Enumerations : 1782 to 1785 Virginia

There is no Devault family listed for Monongalia Co. Also there is no listing at all for Washington Co, so we don't know if Abraham and/or Jacob Devault are there.

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Per the Index to the 1810 Census of Virginia, compiled by Elizabeth Petty Bentley, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing So, Inc. 1980:

There is no Abraham Devault listed. There is a Jacob Devall listed for Washington Co (Roll #71, page 757). There is also an Isaac Devall in Brooke Co (Roll #66, page 683) and a Lewis Devall in Harrison Co (Roll # 69, page 930).

There is, however, a Jacob Tewalt listed in the 1810 census for Monongalia County. (Jacob Devault marked his will with an X. Since he was not able to sign his name, it is possible that the census taker spelled it the way it sounded to him. Devault has always sounded like a French name, but Tewalt has a much more German ring to it.)

The problem with the Jacob Tewalt listing in the 1810 census actually being Jacob Devault is that the ages of all of the family members are off by one column from what we would expect them to be. This is one of those censuses where the census taker listed the names alphabetically. It is possible that the information was gathered and that later the names were recopied under the appropriate letter of the alphabet and that the columns were marked incorrectly when they were recopied. We will never know. The other problem with Jacob Tewalt being Jacob Devault is that there is an extra girl in the family. To our knowledge, Jacob had only two children: Abraham and Phebe. Perhaps there was a daughter who died young.

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There are Tewalt's (of various spellings) listed in several Virginia sources. The most likely area to concentrate our search for the parents of Jacob Devault/Tewalt is in Hardy, Frederick, Shenandoah and Hampshire Counties. Jacob Devault is supposed to have come from eastern Virginia. These four counties had Tewalt's living in them and are on or near the Old Northwestern Turnpike which ran from Alexandria, VA through the northern part of VA, part of MD and into WV, near the southern tip of Monongalia County.

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Per 1820 Federal Census Monongalia Co, VA (M33 #142):

Jacob is shown in the 45 and over age range on this census. There were two boys 10-16 and one under 10. Jacob's wife ? is listed in the 45 and over range. There is one girl in the 16-26 range. Two people are shown as involved in agriculture.

The only two children ever listed in our records for Jacob and Mary DeVault are Abraham and Phoebe. Both of them were married by 1820. We do not know whose children are now living in Jacob's home. Perhaps they are some of his grandchildren. Their daughter Phoebe was married to David Hayhurst, about February 1817 and they had three boys by May of 1820, but their ages don't square with the census .

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Per the book "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Monongalia, Marion and Taylor Counties, West Virginia" published in 1895 by Rush, West & Company, Philadelphia, PA.:

"Thornton H. Devault is a highly prosperous business man, and a representative citizen of Monongalia County. He resides at Smithtown, in Clinton District; is a son of Abraham and Mary (Steele) DeVault and was born September 18, 1839 on the old DeVault homestead. Jacob DeVault, grandfather, was a native of eastern Virginia; born October 14, 1759 and Mary his wife was born October 3, 1758. Jacob DeVault, his wife and children, settled about the close of the 18th century at the mouth of White Day Creek, Monongalia County, Virginia, now West Virginia, where he became a pioneer farmer and where he died. The progeny of his marriage was (were) two children, Abraham, father, and Phoebe who became the wife of David Hayhurst and reared a large and interesting family.

"Abraham DeVault was born April 14, 1791 and died April 29, 1863 at the mouth of White Day Creek, having come there with his parents and having resided there all his life. He was a carpenter by trade, but followed farming, which was his essential business. He farmed extensively, for that day; was an old time whig, favoring high protection; and road constable for thirty years. Liberal in his support of worthy enterprises, generous and accommodating as a neighbor, he possessed, in a high degree, the admiration of all who were thrown into either business or social relations with him. On March 4, 1819, he married Mary Steel, who was born April 17, 1795 and who died June 2, 1889. She was a daughter of John Steel, a lifelong resident of Monongalia County, and who was engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. Mr. and Mrs. DeVault's marriage was productive in the birth of eleven children. Two died in infancy. The others were Sarah A., married Alpheus Holland, who is deceased; she was born May 13, 1820, was married November 30, 1843, and now resides in Clinton District; Anna E., the wife of William Wilson, deceased, was born June 25, 1822, married April 26, 1843 and died August 24, 1851; Margaret, who was born April 22, 1824, married Barnett Stewart August 31, 1848, and died August 22, 1851; Oliver P., who was born February 22, 1826, married Mary Powell December 27, 1849, and died November 19, 1875; Edgar J., who was born March 10, 1829, married Helen Haun November 4, 1852, and died August 5, 1890; Ashbel G., who was born June 22, 1832, and who resides in Marion County, this state; was twice married; first on October 18, 1854 to Margaret Johnson and second and last to his present wife Mrs. Howell; Theophilus who was born May 24, 1834, married May Farrell, September 3, 1857, and died May 26, 1890; Charles P. was born August 12, 1836, married Louisa Fast December 18, 1856 and now resides in Clinton District; and Thornton H., the subject of this sketch.

Thornton H. DeVault was reared upon the old homestead, educated in the subscription schools and learned the shoemaker's trade which he followed for three years, after finishing the trade. In 1863 he engaged in farming near Opekiska, in Clinton District, and has since been largely interested in agricultural pursuits, principally in grazing and stock raising. In addition to this line of business, he, in 1878, engaged in merchandizing at Smithtown, and continued three years. Subsequently, in 1889, he again embarked in mercantile business, a member of the firm of F. F. Prickett and Company, general merchants of Rivesville, Marion County. Prior to 1856, he was a democrat of the Douglas type, but since that date has been identified with the republican party, in whose fortunes he takes an intelligent and lively interest. He is an official member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is now serving in the capacity of steward. On February 28, 1861, he married Malissa J. Satterfield, who was born March 13, 1844, and who died October 10, 1864. His second and last marriage was with Nancy A. Prickett, a daughter of Nathan Prickett of Marion County. They were married February 22, 1866, and are the parents of three children: Rosetta J., born November 29, 1866; Lemuel C., born July 19, 1875; and Ira G., born February 27, 1878."

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From Robert Moyer's(?) typed notes of a letter (date unknown) from Ira DeVault to "Aunt Alice Moon": Ira mentions the Wiley History of Monongalia County (1883) and also refers to a book called The Iowa DeVaults.

Jacob DeVault came from Virginia before the beginning of the Revolutionary War. [Everything else we have read states that Jacob's son Abraham was born in 1891 in Old Dominion or eastern Virginia and that he came with his parents to western Virginia about 1893, which would be after the Revolutionary War.]

Jacob settled in the Clinton District in Monongalia County, West Virginia, which at the time was August County, Virginia. He had two children: Abraham and Phebe (Phoebe). Abraham served in the War of 1812. After the close of that war, he returned and married Mary Steele. They had nine children. (See below.)

Jacob Devault, born Oct. 14, 1759 -- died Aug. 20, 1827, came from Old Virginia.

Mary Michael Devault, born Oct. 3, 1758 - died March 17, 1849. Jacob Devault married Mary Michael _____ and to this union were born two children Abraham and Phoebe.

Abraham Devault was born in Old Virginia April 14, 1791 -- died April 29, 1863. He married Mary Steele March 14, 1819. She was born April 27, 1797 -- died Jan. 2, 1889.

To this union were born nine children:
Sarah Ann b. May 13, 1820 d. Feb. 20, 1905
Analiza b. Jan. 25, 1822 d. Aug. 24, 1851
Margaret Ann b. Mar. 22, 1824 d. Aug. 29, 1851
Oliver Perry b. Feb. 22, 1826 d. Nov. 19, 1875
Edgar Jackson b. Mar. 18, 1829 d. Aug. 5, 1890
(L. A. Heston's grandfather)
Ashbel Green b. Jan. 22, 1832 d. Nov. 16, 1900
Theophelus b. May 24, 1834 d. May 26, 1890
Chas. Pinkney b. Aug. 12, 1836 d. Mar. 5, 1905
Thornton H. b. Sep. 19, 1839 d. Jan. 8, 1912

Sarah Ann Devault and Alpheurs Holland were married Nov. 30, 1843 and to this union were born seven children: Issac, James, Elmus (Neal Holland's father), Samantha, Mollie, John George and Sherman.

Analiza Devault and W. M. Wilson were married April 6, 1843 and to this union was born one child, William Columbus Quitman (Devault).

Margaret Ann Devault and Barnet Stuard or Stewart were married August 31, 1848 and to this union was born one child Mary. (Aunt Mary and Ella)

Oliver Perry Devault and Mary Powell were married Dec. 27, 1849 and to this union were born ten children: Wm Edgar, Nancy Helen, Silas D., Issac W., James, George, Lucinda, Olive, Ella, Thomas and Liza Jane.

Edgar J. Devault and Helen Haun (grandmother) were married Nov. 4, 1852 and to this union were born ten children: Mary Catherine (Grandma), Charles Pinkney, Eliza Jane (Aunt Lide), Edgar Elsworth, William Henry Lee (?), Levi Leroy, Alice Florence, Brice Lovella, Minnie Maud and Edith Rosamund.

Ashbel G. Devault and Margaret Johnson were married Oct. 19, 1854 and to this union were born seven children: Nelson, Mary Helen, Miranda, Harvey, Charley, Elmus, and James Thornton.

Charles Pinkney Devault and Louisa Fast were married Dec. 18, 1856 and to this union were born twelve children: Edgar, Sarah Ann, Warren G., Joshua, Laura, Mary, James, Lovella, Nora, Neil (Pearl Malone's father), Vallie and Lovarie.

Theophelus Devault and Helen Ferrell were married Sept. 3, 1857 (Cecil Summer? mother) and to this union were born twelve children: Columbus, Ollie, Lucy, Ida, Lee, Cora, Blake, Howard, Claude, Phoebe, Mary and Blanche.

Thornton H. Devault married Melissa Satterfield Feb. 24, 1861. One child, Melissa lived only six months.

Thornton H. Devault married Nancy Prickett (Aunt Nancy) Feb. 22, 1866 and to this union were born three children: Rosetta J., Ira G. and Lemuel C.

Thornton Devault died March 10, 1934. (Note from Sally Eaton: This date is completely inconsistent with all other information we have on Thornton Devault.)


David Hayhurst b. Sep. 23, 1794 d. July 1, 1865
Phoebe Devault Hayhurst b. Mar. 11, 1797 d. Aug. 20, 1877

David Hayhurst and Phoebe Devault were married _____ and to this union were born 14 children: Michael, Benjamin, Jacob, Mary Ann, James, Sally, Phoebe Ann, David Perry, Elizabeth, Alsinda, William Eli, Louisa and Martha.

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Notes from Robert C. Moyer, 1971:
(Remarks in parentheses are by Neal and Sally Eaton, November, 1995.)

Old DeVault Cemetery:

The cemetery was up the hollow back of Uncle Les Heston's farm (along White Day Creek, between Opekiska and Smithtown, Monongalia Co, WV).

1. Son of G.P. and L.H. (not yet identified)


2. Joshua A. Devault, born September 8, 1862, died February 6, 1884.
Twas hard indeed to part with thee
But Christ's strong arm supported me.
(son of Charles Pinkney DeVault and Louisa Fast DeVault)


One tall stone with #3 on one side and #4 on the other side:

3. William S. Wilson, died January 30, 1856 (probably was 1850)
(husband of Ann Eliza or Analiza DeVault)
Ann Eliza, wife of, died 1851
(daughter of Abraham and Mary DeVault)
Barnett Stewart, died August 24, 1851 and
(husband of Margaret Ann DeVault)
Margaret A., wife of, (no date)
(daughter of Abraham and Mary DeVault, may have died August 29, 1851, five days after her husband)

4. Abraham Devault, died April 29, 1869 (should be 1863), aged 72 years
Mary, wife of A. Devault, died January 2, 1889, aged 92 years (should be 91)

5. Two infant children of A. & M. (Abraham and Mary) Devault

6. Oliver P. Devault, died November 19, 1875, aged 49
He is not dead but sleepeth.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow
For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth
For death is everywhere.

7. E. A. W. 1851 (not yet identified)

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Lawrence Brown wrote to us that there is a Clinton District, Monongalia County booklet listing cemeteries throughout Clinton District. Abraham Devault "1791 4-29-1863 age 72" is buried in the Devault Cemetery, which is located "Smithtown, one mile west on Route 36; thence one mile south to Sanford Ferrell Farm. Not fenced; condition poor; no burial records; no longer in use. Eight or more unmarked graves."

6 October 1939, the latter date when the on site survey was made

In addition to Abraham, Mary, his wife and two infants are buried there, as well as Jacob Devault and wife Mary, Oliver P.;" Joshua, 9-8-1862 2-5-1884 s(on) C. P. & L. B. " are likewise buried there.

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LDS film #0840893 Index to Wills, Fiduciary and Estate Records Monongalia Co. VA / WV 1810-1970, (Devault's listed on pp.63-64)

See file in MSWorks: ene/momsfaml/jacob

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LDS film #0840755, Monongalia County VA / WV Will Book, Vol. 1, p. 33:

Jacob Devault's will dated 21 March 1822

See file in MSWorks: ene/momsfaml/jacob

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LDS film #0163902, Wills Monongalia County West Virginia Book A and Book 1


Testator DEVAULT, (X) Jacob

Date of Instrument March 21, 1822
Probate September, 1827

Devisees Mary Devault, wife
Abraham Devault, son
Phebe Hayhust , dau
(should be Phoebe Hayhurst)

Witnesses Thos. Ewell
Caleb Dorsey
William Holland
Exr. Abraham Devault

Book No. 1
Page No. 33

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Book: Monongalia County, West Virginia 1776-1810 compiled and indexed by Mary Davis Atkinson (975.452 D22a)

Section titled: "Monongalia County Estate Settlements -- References to Those Persons Known to Have Lived (or had descendants) in the County Before 1810"

"Note: The source used for this particular compilation should be considered of value only on the basis of clues for further examination of actual records. While, in some cases, the reference is completely correct, there are instances in which a comparison with the original has revealed errors and omissions. Not all records or references have been checked and, so, if a possible family connection is discovered, it would be advisable to order a copy of the document from the county clerk at Morgantown, West Virginia."

"DEVAULT, Jacob ---- will, 9-1827. Dev: Mary, wife; Abraham, son; Phebe Hayhurst, dau."

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Archives & Manuscripts Section
West Virginia Collection
WV University Library
Morgantown, WV

From research by Louise Morris, 712 McLane Ave., Morgantown, WV
Monongalia Co Court House, Morgantown, WV

Devault, Jacob--Will
Will Book 1, p. 33, dated 3-1-1822
Mentioned in will: wife, Mary
son, Abraham, who married Mary Steele (Vol. A, p. 26)
on March 4, 1819
daughter, Phebe, who married David Hayhurst (Vol A, p. 24)
on 2-20-1817 by Rev. Joshua Hickman
Ex. of will: Abraham Devault (son)

Recorded at court on September, 1827

Witnesses: Thomas E. Well
Caleb Dorsey
William Holland

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DEVAULT CEMETERY, Smithtown (WV), 1 mi. ?w? on Rt. 36, thence 1 mi. S. to Sanford Ferrell farm. Established about 1825 as a private burial ground; extent, 1/16 acre; no restrictions as to type and placing of markers; not fenced; not landscaped; condition, poor. Lots not marked; graves marked by monuments and field stones; lots not for sale; no burial records kept; no longer in use as a burial ground. Earliest stone dated 1825. Marked graves, 11; unmarked graves, 8 or more.
October 6, 1939


(The above description came from a list of cemeteries in the Clinton District of Monongalia County, WV, which Melba Zinn had in her records. Lawrence Brown sent us information earlier about this listing: There is a booklet called "Clinton District Cemeteries, Monongalia Co., WV" published by the Marion county Genealogical Club, Inc., Fairmont, WV, and compiled by Eleanor Youst Carter and Kathleen Mahaffey Bogdan, but without a publishing date, which contains identification of 38 cemeteries in the Clinton District. An explanatory paragraph in the booklet states, "The cemeteries were read by the WPA from 1937 to 1940. This volume contains these readings, and the directions to each were described by them, with the exception of the Mount Pisgah Cemetery, which has been updated.")

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DEVAULT FAMILY CEMETERY

One tall stone monument includes the names of

Jacob Devault, died Aug. 15, 1825, aged 67 years
Mary, wife of Jacob Devault, died May 16, 1849, aged 93 years

Abraham Devault, died Apr 29, 1863 aged 72 years
Mary, wife of A. Devault, died Jan. 2, 1889, aged 92 years

William S. Wilson, died Jan. 30, 1858 (or 1850),
37 (or 27) yrs., 3 mos., 26 (or 28) days
Ann Eliza Wilson, died Aug. 24, 1851,
aged 29 yrs., 6 mos. 23 days, wife of William

Margaret A. Stewart, died August 29, 1851,
aged 27 yrs., 5, mos., 7 days, wife of Barnett Stewart

Two infants---children of A & M Devault

Other Stones:

Oliver P. Devault, died Nov. 19, 1875, aged 49 yrs., 8 mos., 27 days
He is not dead but sleepeth,
Boast not they self of tomorrow for thou
knowest not what a day may bring forth
for death is everywhere.
Wells & Watts

E. A. W. 1851 (homemade stone)
Joshua A. Devault, born Sept. 8, 1862, died Feb. 5, 1884
H. D. (homemade stone)
M. S. (homemade stone)


The information listed above came from two sources:

1. On Sunday, July 14, 1996, Wesley "Junior" Malone and his helper Marty Shuttlesworth took
Jim, Neal, Don, Mary Lou and Sally Eaton in a 4-wheel drive pickup truck up to the Old Devault cemetery behind what used to be Uncle Les Heston's farm. Junior Malone now farms this land. When we got there, we had to climb over a wooden and barbed wire fence to get into the cemetery. We recorded whatever data we could observe.

2. Anything in italics is additional information which came from a reading taken on May 24, 1981, by Roy and Roberta Mahaffey, Karen Boore, Nellie Brown and Debbie Van Gilder. Their list appeared in the Marion County Genealogical Society publication, "Genealogy Gleanings," Vol. VII, No. 1, a copy of which we received from Melba Pender Zinn. They describe the Devault Cemetery as being on Bunner's Run, in Monongalia Co., just across the Marion Co. line near Smithtown.

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