Thomas DeVane, sometimes spelled DeVaughn, was born in about 1680 and was a resident of New Hanover County, North Carolina by 1735. In 1768 when Bryant and Mary Lee died, DeVane served as the administrator for their estates and received compensation from the local court when the Lees' accused murderer, an enslaved man, was executed. DeVane was likely a relative of Mary Lee, who's maiden name was DeVane. Thomas Devane died in New Hanover in about 1774.