DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it — the story of Judge Thomas L. Devine. Nova Scotia.
That's where this story begins. A long way from Texas, you might say, but Thomas L. Devine made the journey in 1843, and once he arrived, Texas had him for good.
Born in 1820, he put down roots fast. By 1851 he was serving as District Judge, and if you think that's movin' up in the world, well — just wait. When 1861 came around and Texas stood at the crossroads of secession, Devine wasn't sittin' on the fence.
He landed a seat on the powerful Public Safety Committee of the Texas Secession Convention. And that committee had teeth. Devine was named alongside Samuel A.
Maverick and Philip N. Luckett to take possession of federal property in Texas. Now, saying "take possession" sounds almost polite, doesn't it?
Don't let it fool you. They showed up backed by Colonel Ben McCulloch and twelve hundred minute men, and they forced the surrender of three thousand troops — along with their arms, their ammunition, their supplies, and thirty thousand dollars cash. Three thousand troops handed it all over.
That's the kind of arithmetic that tends to stick in a man's reputation. Through the entirety of the Civil War, Devine served as one of only two Confederate judges in the whole state of Texas. Two.
He tried cases involving persons accused of Union sympathies, handled the disposition of goods owned by Northern enemies, and sorted out maritime disputes rising from the coastal blockade and shipwrecks. The blockade threw a long shadow, and Devine worked inside it. Then in 1864, his role expanded again.
He was made Special Commissioner to settle disputes among foreign merchants handling cotton across the Mexican boundary. Cotton was the South's only medium of trade for vital supplies — and that boundary was where the business got done. When the war ended, Devine left Texas with other leaders still hoping — against all evidence — to continue the fight from Mexico.
That hope didn't last, but the consequences of it did. On his return, he became the only Southerner besides President Jefferson Davis himself to be twice indicted for treason. Twice.
Only two men in the whole defeated South carrying that particular distinction, and one of them had his name on a courthouse in Medina County. He was pardoned in June of 1867 by President Andrew Johnson. And then — because Thomas L.
Devine was not a man who stayed down — he went on to serve on the Texas Supreme Court and the University of Texas Board of Regents. He was born in 1820. He died in 1890.
And in 1882, this town was named for him. Nova Scotia to a Texas town bearing your name. Some journeys cover more ground than the miles suggest.
What the marker says
Born in Nova Scotia. Came to Texas in 1843. Became District Judge, 1851. On the powerful Public Safety Committee of the Texas Secession Convention, 1861. Named with Samuel A. Maverick and Philip N. Luckett to take possession of the federal property in Texas. Backed by Col. Ben McCulloch and 1,200 minute men, forced surrender of 3,000 troops with arms, ammunition, supplies and $30,000 cash. Served throughout the Civil War as one of two Confederate Judges in Texas. Tried cases of persons accused of Union sympathies; dispositions of goods owned by Northern enemy; and maritime disputes arising from the coastal blockade and shipwrecks. In 1864 was made Special Commissioner to settle disputes among foreign merchants handling cotton (South's only medium of trade for vital supplies) across the Mexican boundary. At war's end, left with other Texas leaders hoping to continue fight from Mexico. On his return became only Southerner besides President Jefferson Davis to be twice indicated for treason. Was pardoned in June 1867 by President Andrew Johnson. On Texas Supreme Court and University of Texas Board of Regents. This town named for him in 1882.