Their son, Guillaume François Rolland, Sieur des Vaux or Devaux, went to the French West Indies between 1671 and 1677. Doubtless his second christian name François came from his mother. For a time he was a Capitain in the Militia in Martinique where he married Ann Jaham de Verpré. The following is a translation of their marriage certificate:

« On the sixth day of February sixtenn hundred and seventy nine, I the undersigned Apostolic Missionary of order of « Frères Prêcheurs » (Dominican, OP) didjoin in holy matrimony, after the usual 3 publcations, Guillaume François Rollans Sieur Desveaux son of Guillaume Rolland, Sieur Desveaux and of Françoise du Chevreuil, born at Flamanville, Diocese of Coutance in Normandy, and Anne Jaham daugther of Jean Jaham de Verpré, the senior Captain of Infantry of the Island, and of Françoise Masse, in the presence of the undersigned witnesses... »

This Guillaume François Rolland Sieur Desvaux is mentioned with his wife in the census Reports of the time where it is stated that his household at St. Pierre in Martinique, which seems to have been one of the largest in the district, included in 1680, 38 persons including his Manager of Slaves (whose name was Gilles Bourdois). The company of Militia which he then commanded had 211 person including men, womwn and children. His name occurs in various interesting documents of the period. For a time he was stationed in the Island of Marie Galante as Lieutenant du Roy on the death of the Marquis de Ferolles d’Avoir. He was also for a time « Commandant de l’île Grandeterre » and Major of Guadeloupe and lived at Fort Louis. He died in Guadeloupe in 1694 and it is recorded that he was buried « in the Chapel of Saint Roch near Fort Louis ».

His aldest son was born in 1682, was baptised on the 29th november 1682 at Marigot in Martinique and was given the same name as his father. This son is doubtless the « Sieur des Vaux », captain of militia, mentioned twicw by Labat in his well-know « Voyages aux Isles de l’Amérique » written over two centuries ago. Even Labat spells the name in two different ways, though referring to the same person. After two generations in the West Indies the name Rolland was gradually dropped while the « Sieur Devaux » was retained.

This Guillaume François Rolland Devaux married Marie Dabotte de Beaulieu in Martinique. They had three sons (1) Philippe Devaux (from whom we are descended), (2) Guillaume-André Devaux Desrivières and (3) Henry Devaux de Bellefond. It often happened that younger sons were given additional surames to differentiate them from the eldest son. Such additional names were often taken from relatives on the female side. That was the case with such names as des Rivières and Bellefond. These brothers left Martinique about 1740 to settle in St. Lucia where they had obtained concessions of land from the French Crown. It was they who converted a large area of forest in the Soufrière Distict into adjoining estates.

One of these Estates, called Morne Courbaril and owned by Philippe Devaux, remaind in the family for over two centuries, having been sold as recently as 1958. An old map of St. Lucia made about 1750 shows the Devaux family already established on these lands. The Map by Chervaux, Surveyor to the King of France, dated 1771, shows these estates in greater detail with their proprietors indicated as well as the estate buildings. The map of Lefort de Latour, Surveyor to the King of France, dated 1787, shows that one of these Estates, namely Habitation Soufrière, had recently changed hans, being no longer the property of Henry Devaux de Bellefond but that of the Baron de Micoud. This new proprietor had previously been the Chevalier de Micoud, a Lieutenant Governor of St. Lucia who had married Marie Anne Devaux. She was the dauther of Philippe Devaux of Morne Courbaril, who was now dead, and the niece of bellefond who had died without heirs. This map of 1787 shows Morne Courbaril as the property of Philippe’s widow. It is intreresting here to recall that the old sugar mill at Morne Courbaril which fell into ruins about 1946 had a keystone bearing the date 1777.

These three brothers, Philippe, Guillaume André and Henry were all planters and officers in the Militia. Philippe (of Morne Courbaril) was buried in the church at Soufrière. Bellefond (of Habitation Soufrière) was a Chevalier de l’ordre Royal et Militaire de St. Louis. Desrivières’ land included the volcano and sulphur Springs. Of these brothers Monsieur de Longueville, Governor of St. Lucia, wrote on the 12th September 1745, to the Minister for the Navy in Paris:

« Nevertheless, Sir, in fairness to some of the Planters I must mention that those who helped most, and without whose assistance we would not have made much progress, were the Sieurs Devaux brothers and officers of Militia, the eldest being a captain. Since I have been here they have not spared themselves in their help to improve this station. Their Negroes and their boats have continuously been used in the service of this young colony. If you agree, it would be a fitting token of your gratitude to send them a letter of thanks which would also serve as ancouragement to all »

The Minister adopted the Governor’s suggestion and the desiredletter was sent. Probably it perished with other family papers when Morne Courbaril House was completely destroyed by the hurricane of 1780.

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