People vs. Andrew Devoue of New Rochelle, yeoman, and Daniel Devoue, of Eastchester, cordwainer, indictment for adhering to the enemies of this state
— Westchester County Court of Oyer and Terminer, 1783
Westchester County was contested ground during most of the Revolutionary War. The British army occupied and governed New York City and Long Island, while Continental forces protected the strategic Hudson Highlands. Frequent raiding parties from both sides terrorized the county. Many of the French Huguenots of New Rochelle were Loyalists. Andrew Devoue, a farmer of New Rochelle, and Daniel Devoue of Eastchester (now in the Bronx), a shoemaker, were of Huguenot descent (a published genealogy says their surname was originally De Vaux) They went to live on “Nassau Island” (the old name of Long Island) in February 1777. Benjamin Devoe of New Rochelle, maybe a relative, informed a Westchester County grand jury in August 1783 that Daniel was still on Long Island, and Andrew had died there. Both were indicted for “adhering to the enemies of this state.”
People vs. Andrew Devoue and Daniel Devoue
