Account, historical and genealogical, from the earliest days till the present time, of the family of Vance in Ireland, Vans in Scotland, anciently Vaux in Scotland and England, and originally De Vaux in France, (Latin de Vallibus

THE FAMILY OF VANCE. 27
Deny, his name was John, he was my great grandfather. The two daughters of Dr. Vance
were married, one to Mr. Wright, a Presbyterian minister, the other to Mr. Johnson, of
Gortolowery, near Cookstown."
" Of the two younger sons, one of them settled in the County of Donegal, and produced
a family there, one of whose descendants became a Presbyterian minister of Belfast, and in
addition to his own children, brought some others of his family and name into that town,
where they are now pretty numerous."
Pausing at this stage of the " Account" of our uncle, Mr. G. Washington Vance, we
proceed to shew what is truth therein, and what error, to elucidate and confirm the former,
and guard against the latter, as far as our ability or opportunities for correction admit, and
also to extend his account, and gather into one, branches of the family, of which he appears
to have known nothing.
This account alleges the original of the family in Ireland was a refugee from Scotland,
the Rev. Mr. Vance (no nrname), a Puritan clergyman, and fixes the period of flight
"about 1660," settling at Coleraine.
The grand fact, here announced, is that the progenitor of the Vances of Ireland was a
clergyman from Scotland ; this fact we will prove beyond doubt, giving him a " local
habitation and a name" but also disclosing a very serious error as to date, creed, and
locality.
The first then of the family who settled in Ireland, and became progenitor of the name
and widely-spread family of Vance in that kingdom, and more recently in America, we
announce to have been of the Barnbarroch family of Vaux, Yauss, or Vans, in Wigton-
shire, Scotland, and to have been the Rev. John Vauss, or Vans, A.M., but so far from
being a Puritan clergyman, coming to Ireland about 1660, that is just about the period of
his decease, after having been for about 45 years tbe Rector of Kilmacrenan, Donegal, and
Diocese of Raphoe, the rev. gentleman having been appointed to that " cure of souls"
in 1617. From certain circumstances that have come to light in our enquiries, we think
it highly probable he was a refugee, as alleged by Mr. G-. W. Vance, but it has not
appeared, other than from his allegation, that the cause of his flight was religion ; that
indeed may have been an element, but to us it seems quite as likely that some family mis-
\mderstanding was the occasion. Be that as it may, he seems peacefully to have laboured
in this far Northern spot of Ireland for the long space of time we have indicated, and to
have died end of 1661, or beginning of 1662, his last will and testament, bearing date
22nd October, 1661, the date of Probate of same being 26th July, 1662.X^The testator
signs his name Jo. Vauss, but in the Records of the Rolls, Dublin Castle, his name is printed
Rev. John Vans, A.M. The will is sealed with the Barnbarroch Arms, in red wax, viz. :
" Argent on a bend gules, 3 mollets." He appoints his Sonne, William Vauss, his executor,
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