A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Evance, William Devereux
EVANCE. (Commander, 1818. f-p., 14; h-p.,27.)
William Devereux Evance is son of Mr. Evance, of the firm of Suttaby, Evance, and Co., Booksellers, of Stationers’ Court, Fleet Street, London.
This officer entered the Navy, 12 Sept. 1806, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Emulous brig, Capt. Gustavus Stupart, and afterwards sailed for the West Indies in the Franchise 36, Capt. Chas. Dashwood. During the three last years of the war he served, as Midshipman and Acting-Lieutenant, in the Cumberland 74, Capts. Robt. Clephane and Robt. Waller Otway, Prince of Wales 98, Capt. John Erskine Douglas, Venerable 74, Capt. David Milne, and Heron 18, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch, on the Mediterranean, Home, and West India stations. Being confirmed, while in the latter ship, by commission dated 3 Sept. 1814, Mr. Evance subsequently joined – 11 Sept. 1815, the Tigris 36, Capt. Robt. Henderson – and, 7 Nov. 1816, the Conqueror 74, as Flag-Lieutenant to Rear-Admiral Robt. Plampin at the Cape of Good Hope. He there assumed command, 15 Aug. 1818, of the Redpole sloop; but, since the following year, appears to have been on half-pay.
Commander Evance is the senior officer of his rank on the list of 1818. He married, 19 April, 1825, Harriet, youngest daughter of Job Dyer, Esq., of Chigwell, co. Essex, by whom he has issue eight children.