124. Benjamin Franklin Devol was born 1809 in Point Harmar, Washington Co. OH. He died after 1870 in Prairie Creek Twp., Vigo Co. IN. Benjamin married Nancy Ann Turnham 21 Mar 1833 (bond dated 18 Mar 1833). For the marriage bond, required consent was given by John S Gray (Nancy's Guardian), because Nancy’s father George Turnham died in 1829. John S Gray married Nancy’s older sister Elizabeth in 1824. Benjamin's parents were Gilbert Devol Jr. and Rachel Peck.
Benjamin and Nancy received one seventh of the estate of George Turnham, Nancy’s father, when her mother died in 1834. George Turnham’s will (Page One and Two) was written 30 Jun 1829 and proven 14 Sep 1829 in Spencer County KY. The will provided for equal distribution among his seven heirs after the death of George’s wife Nancy Turnham (wife of George and mother-in-law of Benjamin). This Nancy Turnham is presumed to have died before the administration of the distribution of George Turnham’s will was recorded on 03 Mar 1834 (Page One and Two). This distribution also mentions Gideon Duvol (Devol), cousin of Benjamin F. Devol, who was acting as Guardian of Nancy’s younger sister Sally (Sarah) Turnham, whom Benjamin later married after he and Gideon moved to Vigo County IN.
Benjamin also married Sally (Sarah) Turnham on 10 Dec 1841 in Vigo County, IN. The only child of Benjamin is John, whose death certificate back identifies “Sarah Turner” (Sally Turnham) as his mother. This would have made Sarah only 13 years old when John was born in 1836 and remaining unmarried to Benjamin for five more years.
Dispite the death record of John, he was more likely the child of Benjamin and Nancy. Benjamin’s subsequent marriage to Sally in Vigo Co. IN on 10 Dec 1841 (presumably after Nancy’s death) caused Sarah’s misidentification on John’s death certificate as “Mother”. Sarah, then, was assumed to be biological, when actually she “adopted” her sister’s (and her new husband’s) son.
Note: On my first request in 2004 of the Clerk of Spencer Co., Taylorsville KY, I was provided with the purported “marriage record” of Nancy Turnham marrying Henry Spalding in Spencer Co., KY on 19 Jul 1827. The Spencer Co., KY Clerk reported no marriage record of Nancy Turnham marrying any Devol. This was confusing to me until I found an Internet source that shows Lucy Ann Turnham marrying Henry Plunket Spalding in Spencer Co., KY on 19 Jul 1827. Henry and Lucy can be traced to Washington County KY for 1850 and 1860, Lucy in 1870. This fits much better with the probate records of George Turnham. This allows for Nancy to be the mother of John W Devol, consistent with her marriage intent on the bond dated 18 Mar 1833.
Note: The Devol Book ignores the marriage of Benjamin to Nancy Turnham and assigns John’s parentage to this Benjamin Franklin Devol through a marriage to Lucy Ann Butler. The additional marriage was reportedly on 23 Feb 1836 to Lucy Ann Butler in Elkton, Todd Co., KY. According to the record of the minister, which is difficult to read, and the actual marriage record, the groom is clearly Benjamin Duvall. In my opinion, Benjamin Duvall and Benjamin Franklin Devol are not the same person. According to Mary Latham, mary@lathamfamily.com, “the Benjamin Duvall who married Lucy Butler was the son of Lewis Duvall & Margaret Butler. Lewis Duvall was the son of Benjamin Skinner Duvall & Elizabeth Howard. This family was from Prince George Maryland and settled in Muhlenberg Co., KY. This line descends from Mareen Duvall & Sarah Griffith.” #00121-Keziah Walker, paternal grandmother of James Buchanan Watson, also descended from this Duvall line. Her paternal grandmother was Priscilla Duvall.
It is possible (but I believe unlikely) that the death record of John correctly identifies his biological mother as Sarah. Regarding her youth, she might not have been considered “too young” in 1836, when John was born. I assume Nancy was already dead in 1841, when Benjamin married Sally, although Nancy’s marriage to Benjamin could have ended in a divorce due to unfaithfulness with her younger, 13-year-old sister Sally. Also, the marriage of Benjamin and Sarah occurring when Sarah was 18 years old could have been intentionally delayed until she was “of age”. Still I believe Nancy Turnham was the biological mother of John and Sally became his “mother” when she also married Benjamin, John’s father.
Benjamin had a warranty deed dated 07 Feb 1838 recorded 13 Feb 1838 for purchase of property from William Shattuck in Middletown (Prairie Creek). The property cost $150 and is recorded in Book 7, Page 78. Another warrantee deed dated 24 Sep 1838 was recorded 28 Apr 1840 in Book 8, Page 194, for the purchase of property in Middletown.
18570203 Benjamin Devol permission for minor son John to marry
1850 Census IN Vigo Prairie Creek - Benjamin Devol with second wife and son John
1860 Census IN Vigo Prairie Creek - Benjamin Devol with second wife Sarah (Sally)
1870 Census IN Vigo Prairie Creek - Devol Benjamin F
125. Nancy Ann Turnham was born about 1815 in Spencer Co. KY. Nancy’s sister, Sarah (Turnham) Devol raised her son John W Devol after marrying Benjamin in 1841. Sarah was admitted to the Prairie Creek Church of Christ on 15 Oct 1853 and dismissed from the church 13 Nov 1858. Sarah died after 1860 and before 1870. Nancy's parents were George Turnham and Nancy Cump.
1. Benjamin Franklin DEVOL (b.1809-Point Harmar,Washington Co. OH d.Aft 1870-Prairie Creek Twp.,Vigo Co. IN)
sp: Nancy Ann TURNHAM (b.Abt 1815-Spencer Co. KY m.21 Mar 1833 d.Bef 1841-Spencer Co.,KY Or Vigo Co IN)
-2. John Wesley DEVOL (b.28 Jun 1836-Elkton,Todd Co. KY d.12 Jul 1911-Prairie Creek Twp.,Vigo Co. IN)
sp: Frances Harriet HEAP (b.11 Jan 1837-OH m.5 Feb 1857 d.28 Nov 1890-Prairie Creek Twp.,Vigo Co. IN)
-3. George F. DEVOL (b.11 Aug 1858-IN (1870 Census) vs. IL (1860 Census) d.Aft 1870-In 1870 IN Census Vigo Prairie Creek)
-3. Charles F. DEVOL (b.3 Jun 1860-Illinois d.1914-Prairie Creek Cemetery,Vigo Co.,IN)
-3. Clara E. DEVOL (b.17 Aug 1862-Prairie Creek Twp.,Vigo Co. IN d.13 May 1932-Prairie Creek Twp.,Vigo Co. IN)
sp: James Buchanan WATSON (b.15 Oct 1856-IN m.24 Dec 1879 d.29 Apr 1938-Vigo Co.,Indiana)
-4. Effie Mae WATSON (b.26 Feb 1881-IN)
-4. Ora Frances WATSON (b.26 Jun 1882-Vigo Co.,Indiana d.14 Jan 1935-Drummond,Bayfield Co.,WI)
sp: Zadoc John PIETY (b.2 Feb 1882-Vigo Co.,Indiana m.4 Sep 1901 d.18 Feb 1961-Orlando,FL)
-4. Elmer WATSON (b.11 Apr 1884-IN)
-4. Ella Melvina WATSON (b.11 Apr 1884-IN d.1960)
sp: Albert Morton REED (b.9 Aug 1882 m.4 Mar 1903 d.30 Jan 1969)
-4. Josephine WATSON (b.Nov 1889-IN)
sp: MATTICK
+-4. James Ralph WATSON (b.1901/1902)
-3. Josephine DEVOL (b.22 Aug 1864-Prairie Creek Twp.,Vigo Co. IN d.Aft 1870-In 1870 IN Census Vigo Prairie Creek)
-3. John Gilbert DEVOL (b.11 Dec 1866-Prairie Creek,IN d.13 Jun 1940-Terre Haute IN)
sp: Flora B. UNCELL (b.Dec 1871 m.26 Sep 1889 d.1911-Terre Haute IN)
sp: Josephine (d.Aft 1940)
-3. Arthur G. DEVOL (b.9 Aug 1869 Or July 1868-Prairie Creek,Vigo Co.,IN d.Aft 1870-Terre Haute IN)
sp: Ella D. STRAHAN (b.Apr 1868-IN d.1959)
-3. Francis H. DEVOL (b.14 Oct 1873-Prairie Creek Twp.,Vigo Co. IN d.21 Apr 1932-New Bedford,Bureau Co.,IL)
sp: Diantha THOMAS (b.Onawa,Monona Co.,IA m.10 Jun 1902 d.24 Apr 1954-Los Angeles,California)
-3. Clarance DEVOL (b.5 Jun 1878-IN d.1901-IL)
-3. Edith DEVOL
-3. Ethel DEVOL
sp: Martha TRUEBLOOD HUNT (b.Nov 1855-IN m.9 Jul 1892 d.Aft 1910)
sp: Sarah C. TURNHAM (b.1823-Spencer Co. KY m.16 Dec 1841 d.1865/1868-Vigo Co.,Indiana)