Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Newspapers.....Fire, 1938 

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"Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Vol. 34, No. 3, Fri., Oct. 21, 1938, p. 1 

HISTORIC HOME RAZED BY FLAMES YESTERDAY 

  One of the oldest homes in Southampton County, known as the "Old Devaney 
[sic; Devany*] Place," on the Franklin-Courtland highway about a mile and a 
half east of Courtland, was burned to the ground Thursday afternoon by fire 
whose origin has not been exactly determined. 

  The flames were thought to have broken out above the kitchen or dining room 
at around 2:30 o'clock, and quickly spread over the building.  The Courtland 
Fire Department answered the call but were unable to save the dwelling.  A 
barn and other outbuildings were saved.  The loss is estimated at around 
$5,000, with a fairly good insurance coverage. 

  The home, property of the estate of C.B. [sic; C.D.] Overby, was occupied 
by George C. Overby and family.  When the fire broke out, Mr. Overby was in 
the barn, other members of the family being in the house.  None were injured 
by the fire, it was reported. 

  The home, which stands well back from the highway at the end of a grove of 
trees near the intersection of the Cypress Bridge road, was built in 1812 by 
a member of the Calvert family of Jackson, N.C., a lawyer who moved to this 
county.  The Calverts, originally a Maryland family, were connected with the 
famous Carroll family of that State, and the Carroll coat of arms was 
emblazoned on the pediment of the house.  The home was the residence of Judge 
Devaney about 1850, and has since been known as the "Old Devaney Place." 


Additional information: 

Rev. Benjamin DEVANY (ca. 1788 - 1876) was Methodist minister; he also served 
   as Southampton Co. Justice, Sheriff, school & election commissioner, road 
   surveyor, &c.  His surname usually appears as DEVANY, though DEVANEY is 
   not uncommon. 

He is listed in the DEVANY-YATES family cemetery, described as .7 mile east of 
   Courtland, about 200 yards behind Jerry Rose's shop on US 58 Business. 
   Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, 
   Miscellaneous Cemeteries, Vol. 8 (MV-VIII-61): 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/miscvol8.txt 

His obits ("[Richmond] Daily Dispatch," May 17 & Nov. 22, 1876) are posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/d150b1ob.txt 

Charlie Davis OVERBY (1871 - 1936), his wife Mary Jane (PARKER) OVERBY, and 
   several of their children are buried in Riverside Cemetery, Courtland - 
   Episcopal Section, Plot 31.  Their son George Clinton OVERBY (1905 - 1978) 
   & his wife "Vina" (BLYTHE) OVERBY is buried in Section I, Plot 60B. 
   SCHS Cemetery Project, Riverside list: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/riverside.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
File Manager Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/news/19381021tn.txt