William Devereux, Baron Devereux of Lyonshall

William Devereux
Spouse(s) (1) Alice de Grandison
(2) Lucy Burnell
Issue
Walter Devereux of Bodenham
John Devereux of Frome
Father William Devereux
Mother unknown
Born c 1244
Died 1314

William Devereux, Baron Devereux of Lyonshall, was an important Marcher Lord, and held Lyonshall Castle controlling a strategically vital approach to the border of Wales in the time of Edward I and Edward II. He was the first of this family officially called to Parliament, and was ancestor to John Devereux, 1st Baron Devereux of Whitchurch Maund, the Devereux Earls of Essex, and the Devereux Viscounts of Hereford. His coat of arms was the same as his father's and described as "argent, fess and three roundels in chief gules" which passed to the descendants of his first wife, the Devereux of Bodenham; or "gules od un fesse d'argent ove turteaus d'argent en le chief" which passed to the descendants of his second wife, the Devereux of Frome.[1][lower-alpha 1]

Birth and Early Life

William Devereux was born about 1244, the son of the powerful marcher lord, William Devereux,[2] and an unknown woman. His mother died while he has still a young child, and his father married a second time to Maud de Giffard about 1258. After his father’s death while in rebellion at the Battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265, his inheritance was forfeited.

Benefitting from the support of her brother, Walter de Giffard, who became the Chancellor of England, William’s stepmother, Maud, was able to regain some of the family assets. In October 1265 King Henry III instructed the Treasurer of Hereford to return a jeweled harness William’s father had entrusted to him prior to the battle. The King further committed Frome, Holme Lacy, Wilby, Oxenhall, and 15 pounds of revenue from Lower Hayton for her maintenance, and her brother, Walter de Giffard granted the manors to Maud for life. In 1268 Robert le Paneter restored to her his lands in Trumpington and quieted his claim until the lawful age of the heirs of Richard de la Bere. Thomas de Solers also indicated he had given Maud the property of Worldende.

The remainder of William’s father’s estates was granted to Roger Mortimer (1st Baron Mortimer). These included Lyonshall castle, and the manors of Ballingham, Luntley, Lawton, Whitchurch Maund, and Cheddar. Lawton was already in Roger’s hands as part of the collateral pledged for the ransom of Adam le Despencer that had not been returned to his father.

With the Dictum of Kenilworth in Oct 1266, the terms for William Devereux to regain his father’s lands was outlined. Exclusions were made for his mother, and the terms are described in the Curia Regis Roll from 51 Henry III (membrane 32) below:

Whereas because of the trespasses which William de Evereus who stood with the King in the Battle of Lewes, was said to have done afterwards against the King and Edward his son, the King after his death gave his lands as he gave the lands of other adversaries in the time of the disturbance in the realm, and by the form of the award of Kenilworth, the King has power of making ordinances upon the state of such disinherited persons; he ordains that, as William the son and heir of the said William is prepared to stand to the said award to have his lands back, he shall pay within three years the ransom thereof to those to whom it belongs, to wit, the extent thereof for three years, so that according to the quantity of money he pays he shall have restitution of the said lands; saving to Maud late the wife of the said William for her life the assignment made to her of the said lands for the maintenance of herself and her children.

Marriage

Shortly after the terms for the recovery of his estates were established, William Devereux arranged a marriage alliance with the Grandison family. He married Alice Grandison [2][3] about 1265, and they had a son: Walter Devereux of Bodenham.[2][4][5][6] Her brother was probably Otto de Grandison.

His first wife probably died shortly after the birth of his son, and he married again about 1271 to Lucy Burnell.[2] Her brother probably was Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bath and Wells, and eventually Lord Chancellor. They would have at least 1 child: John Devereux.[2][7][8][lower-alpha 2] of Frome.[lower-alpha 3]

Career

As William Devereux struggled to obtain revenue to regain his inheritance, he was forced to make accommodations with his mother and sell assets. He borrowed money from a Jewish money lender, Aaron son of Vives, in the amounts of 600, 100, and 20 pounds with Lyonshall as collateral.[9] These debts were purchased by William's brother-in-law, Sir John de Pycheford, in 1274. He gained further monetary support by his two marriages, and in February 1275 Roger de Mortimer quit-claim his rights in Lyonshall Castle to him for 100 marks.[10]

In 1278, William granted that on the death of his stepmother, Maud, the reversion of Wilby to his half-sister, also named Maud, and her husband, Richard de Boylande, in the form of a charter of free-warren for all his lands here and in Brisingham (county Norfolk). After his half-sister’s death, he revived his claim in 1295 by filing suit with Simon, Abbot of York, against Richard de Boylande and his new wife, Ellen, over this property. Devereux lost the suit and was forced to abandon his claim[lower-alpha 4]

William Devereux also contested with his stepmother, Maud, over 8 pounds rent in Guleing (Gloucester) and Trumpeton (Trumpington, Cambridgeshire). William granted the right to the rents to Matilda (Maud), and her son, Baldwin de Freville. The remainder was to go to his other half-siblings: Alexander de Freville, Margaret (Maud) de Boylande, and Sibilla de Baskerville.

In 1280 in Hereford William Devereux sued Elizabeth the widow of Henry de Penbrugge[lower-alpha 5] for a messuage, a mill, and three carucates of land, etc., and £13 8s of rent in Stoke Lacy, in which Elizabeth had no entry except by a demise made by his father to Roger de Mortimer in time of war for the redemption of Adam le Despencer, and which should revert to him according to the provisions of Dictum of Kenilworth. Elizabeth claimed she did not hold the whole of the manor, and the suit was dismissed.

William Devereux confirmed the grants of his father and grandfather to Wormsley Priory. In 1285, A Register of Wormsley Priory indicated his testimony that the chaplain (Sir) Richard de Monytone was installed as rector in Dylewe by the bishop of Hereford, Sir Richard de Swynefeld. William Devereux also acknowledged the advowson of the ‘Church of Wylehy juxta Castell-Bukenham’ to be the right of Simon, Abbot of St. Mary’s (etc.) in 1286. In 1291, the Taxation of Pope Nicholas IV occurred in England. The Priory & Convent of St. Guthlac in Hereford was listed as possessing portions of Balingham as a grant of William Devereux, and the document was witnessed by his son, Walter Devereux.

In May of 1286 he demised all his lands in Cheddar (Somerset) to the Bishop of Bath and Wells (his brother-in-law Robert Burnell) to hold for a term and the reversion of some tenements in Lower Hayton. These lands would eventually pass to William’s half-sister, Sibyl, who had married her second husband, John de Acton.

On 19 Sep. 1289 William Devereux acknowledged that he owed William de Hamelton, Clerk, £10 to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in counties Stafford and Salop. The next month he acknowledged that he owed Robert (Burnell), bishop of Bath and Wells, £10, to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in county Hereford, and William de Hamelton received the acknowledgment. On 16 January 1290, William acknowledged that he owed Robert, bishop of Bath and Wells, £10, to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in co. Somerset.

On 14 Oct 1290 he was sentenced to major excommunication by the Bishop of Hereford for detention of the tithes of the manor of Lyonshall, but William ignored it. The Bishop wrote to the king’s justiciaries not to admit him to appear as plaintiff till he had made satisfaction to God and Church for his offence. This produced the effect wanted and his absolution was formally pronounced at Bosbury on 07 Nov 1290.

Following the pledging of Lawton and Stoke Lacy by his father for the ransom of Adam le Despencer, the Mortimer family had contested their restoration even following the payment of the ransom in 1274.[11] This caused William Devereux to contest the return of the manor of Stanley to Adam le Despencer, which eventually occurred prior to 1295. The first stage of the litigation against Mortimer was withdrawn after William used a defective writ in Easter term 1284. The case was revived by an amended writ and pleaded again in Michaelmas term 1285. The case was revived a second time against Roger de Mortimer (Baron of Chirk)[12] who then vouched Edmund in Michaelmas term 1290 and again at Hilary term 1291. In 1291 William Devereux filed a complaint with Parliament regarding the delay in the hearing of his plea by the Justices. They indicated that he had filed the plea incorrectly when it was described that Roger Mortimer (1st Baron Mortimer) and his father were on the same side during the conflict, but the King’s court indicated the parties were on opposing sides. Although, in fact they were on the same side at that point in the conflict, the justices were told to proceed as if they were on opposing sides. In 1292 the widow, Lady Maud Devereux, brought a writ of Dower against Edmund Mortimer, and Mortimer vouched to warranty William Devereux by the deed of William’s ancestor. Devereux countered that he could not be bound by that deed as it was made in a time of war, between two battles, and was voided by the Dictum of Kenilworth. The Justices argued over whether the deed was valid if the King was imprisoned at the time, but ruled this was not a factor. The Justices then questioned the phrase “time of war” is to be understood only of opposing parties, but William Devereux’s father and Edmund Mortimer’s father were both on the same side. Therefore it was not time of war, as to them. It was determined that other writs specified time only “in time of war,” but did not make any mention of opposite sides or of those who are on one side. Therefore the phrase is to be understood in a general sense, applying as well to one side as to both sides, and they established that the charter was made in time of war and the Dictum of Kenilworth applied. Judgment was for William and Maud Devereux.

The Hereford Court in 1292 also denied John Noremon’s request for recovery of back rent on lands William Devereux recovered for the time his title was in question. Finally, the Court heard a case involving a man name Ingram (unknown last name) who had died and his three sons (Roger, Ingram Jr., and Adam) contested who was the heir to land William Devereux had enfoeffed their father with.

William Devereux remained financially insecure, and was negotiating his redemption under the Dictum in 1290.[13] In 1292 his stepmother, Maud, approved his grant of the reversion rights to Oxenhall to William de Grandison and his wife, Sibyl. This may have been repayment for money his in-laws had given him towards the redemption of his forfeited estates. Devereux also claimed the lands forfeited by Thomas Wydye in 1293, which had been held by the King for a year and a day.

William Devereux was summoned for military service 12 Dec. 1276 to May 1279 against the Welsh.[14] Again during 1282 and 1283, the king called for men from Lyonshall in Hereford, and on 21 March 1283 specifically instructed that the bailiffs of 'William de Everus' was to provide 40 men.[14][15] In July of 1287 Devereux was on the King’s service in Wales. The time on King’s service further exacerbated his economic problems.

William Devereux was summoned to muster at Portsmouth on 1 September 1294 to participate in an expedition to Gascony with Edmund, Earl of Lancaster.[14] In 1295 Devereux requested remedy from Edward I as while on King's service and under royal protection, John de Acton (sheriff of Hereford) broke down the gates to his park at Lyonshall, and took his stock to Hereford. Acton held the stock until he extracted a pledge for 30 marks that Devereux owed him, and for default of this money Devereux released 13 marks of rent of assize for the term of his life from the annual rent that Acton owed him. William further requested the King have pity on his estate due to the debts he had incurred by service in Gascony, and was granted an exemption from the Tenth to be collected in 1295.[14]

As a result of these ongoing financial hardships, William Devereux claimed not to be able to pass with Lord Edmund to Gascony when summoned to muster again on 1 November 1295,[14] and requested to be released from that obligation. William was not released,[14][lower-alpha 6] and the cost of his involvement (on top of his earlier debts) led to an agreement with Roger de la Ware who agreed to provide 30 pounds yearly in return for the granting for life of Lyonshall, Stoke Lacy and Holme Lacy. Roger did not follow through on his side of the bargain, though, and the loss of these properties further drove the Devereux fortunes down.

With the death of his stepmother, Maud, in 1297 her dower lands were released. Oxenhall had been granted to William Grandison. Wilby had passed to his half-sister, Maud, and the de Boylande’s. Guleing and Trumpington had passed to the de Freville’s. Cheddar, and some tenements in Lower Hayton passed to his half-sister, Sibyl, and her husband John de Acton. His father's lands at Clehonger and Bullinghope had been claimed by his half-brother, John Devereux Canon of Ripon and Southwell under the Dictum of Kenilworth.[16] Now Lyonshall, Stoke Lacy, and Holme Lacy were being contested by Roger de la Ware.

On 06 Feb. 1299 William Devereux was called to Parliament, and created Baron.[14] That same year, though, saw the granting of the manors of Holme Lacy and Stoke Lacy, and Lyonshall Castle to Roger de la Warr (1st Baron de la Warr) for William’s lifetime. Roger de la Warr in turn transferred them to Walter de Langton, Bishop of Coventry, to hold for life. William Devereux followed by granting the bishop Holme Lacy and Stoke Lacy for life with reversion to himself and his heirs. The next year Devereux and his wife, Lucy, granted the bishop Lyonshall for life at an annual rent of 20 pounds during their life, and 10 pounds a year after their death.

The Bishop placed Lyonshall Castle in the possession of William Touchet in 1300/1. Touchet styled himself Lord of Lyonshall and was granted the right to a fair and market. On the death of William’s son, Walter Devereux, in 1305 his grandson, Stephen Devereux of Bodenham and Burghope, drove Touchet from Lyonshall. Stephen brought suit against Walter de Langton claiming he thus is ‘seisin alienated it (Lyonshall) in fee’ with this transfer to William Touchet, but the verdict goes against Stephen as he has no claim on the property as long as William Devereux was still alive. Stephen Devereux yielded control of Lyonshall in 1310.[17][18] Batholomew de Badlesmere gained Roger de la Warr’s rights to Lyonshall and enfeoffs William Touchet again in 1312.

Elevation to Peerage

William Devereux was summoned to Parliament on 6 February 1299, the 27th year of the reign of Edward I, by writ directed to ‘William de Ebroicis.’ By this he is held to have become ‘Lord Deverois.’

Death

William Devereux died in 1314. As the Bishop of Coventry to whom he had granted control of Lyonshall Castle did not die until 1321, this facilitated the alienation of the castle and initiated a long struggle to regain it by his heirs. His second wife, Lucy, would be identified on later documents as the widow of William Devereux, former ‘Lord of Lyonshall.’

Biographical References

Specific References

  1. ↑ Thomas D. Tremlett, Hugh Stanford London, and Sir Anthony Wagner. Rolls of Arms, Henry III. (Oxford, The University Press, 1957). page 123
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Morgan G. Watkins. Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford in continuation of Duncumb’s History, Hundred of Radlow. (High Town [Hereford]: Jakeman & Carver, 1902). Page 42 to 49. Parish of Castle Frome, Genealogy contributed by Lord Hereford
  3. ↑ Evelyn Philip Shirley. Stemmata Shirleiana. (Westminster: Nichols and Sons, 1873). page 103
  4. ↑ 'Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 33 Edward I (2)', Staffordshire Historical Collections, vol. 7, part 1 (1886), pp. 134-144. URL: Date accessed: 16 July 2014.
  5. ↑ , Staffordshire Historical Collections, volume 7, part 1. Major-General Hon. George Wrottesley. 1886. Pages 134-144, Banco Roll, Michaelmas, 33 Edward I, membrane 142.
  6. ↑ George Frederick Beltz. Memorials of the Order of the Garter. (London: William Pickering, 1841). Page 323 to 327
  7. ↑ , accessed October 30, 2013, The National Archives of the United Kingdom, Reference: C 241/27/56; Description as follows: Debtor: William de Ebroicis, Lord of Lyonshall {Lenhales} [Stretford Hundred, Herefords], John, his son and heir, and Richard de la Bathe, of Herefords. Creditor: Walter de la Barre, citizen [and merchant] of Hereford, and Sibyl his wife. Amount: £15 10s. Before whom: William Goodknave; John Lightfoot, Clerk; at Hereford. First term: 08/04/1295. Last term: 08/04/1295. Writ to: Sheriff of Herefords. Sent by: William Goodknave; John Lightfoot, Clerk; at Hereford. Date: 1295 Oct 8
  8. ↑ Henry Gough (editor). Scotland in 1298; Documents Relating to the Campaign of King Edward the First in that Year, and Especially to the Battle of Falkirk. (London: Alexander Gardner, 1888). Page 44, Letters of Protection 26 Edward I (1298), June 16, membrane 6, dorso. Page 190, Rolls of the Horse, Horses belonging to the Royal Household. 26 Edward I (1298), July 1
  9. ↑ JM Rigg (editor). Selden Society: Select Please, Starrs, and Other Recods from the Exchequer of the Jews, 1220-1284. London: Bernard Quaritcch, 1902. Page 80
  10. ↑ , Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward I, Volume 1. H.C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). 1900. 3 February 1275, Caversham
  11. ↑ Placitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi asservatorum abbrevatio, temporibus regum Ric. I., Johann., Henr. III, Edw. I, Edw. II. Printed by Command of His Majesty King George III in pursuance of an address of The House of Commons of Great Britain. 1811. page 194
  12. ↑ , accessed November 4, 2013, The National Archives of the United Kingdom, Reference: KB 138/15; Description as follows: Court of King's Bench and Other Courts: Various Writs and Returns. HEREFORDSHIRE. Transcript of proceedings in Common Bench, William son of William de Evreux (Deveroys) v Roger de Mortimer, land in Stoke Lacy (rot 4) (4 m). Court of King's Bench and Other Courts: Various Writs and Returns. HEREFORDSHIRE. Transcript of proceedings in Common Bench, Maud relict of William Deveroys v Edmund de Mortimer, land in Llanthony and Stoke Lacy (rots 1-3).
  13. ↑ Placitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi asservatorum abbrevatio, temporibus regum Ric. I., Johann., Henr. III, Edw. I, Edw. II. Printed by Command of His Majesty King George III in pursuance of an address of The House of Commons of Great Britain. 1811. page 286
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Francis Palgrave (editor). The Parliamentary Writs and Writs of Military Summons Together with the Records and Muniments. (London: Printed by command of King George IV, 1827). Vol. 1, page 570
  15. ↑ Calendar of various Chancery Rolls, 1277-1326; Supplementary Close Rolls. Welsh Rolls. Scutage Rolls. London, 1912. Pages 250, 276, and 280
  16. ↑ Placitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi asservatorum abbrevatio, temporibus regum Ric. I., Johann., Henr. III, Edw. I, Edw. II. Printed by Command of His Majesty King George III in pursuance of an address of The House of Commons of Great Britain. 1811. page 193 & 196
  17. ↑ Placitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi asservatorum abbrevatio, temporibus regum Ric. I., Johann., Henr. III, Edw. I, Edw. II. Printed by Command of His Majesty King George III in pursuance of an address of The House of Commons of Great Britain. 1811. page 304
  18. ↑ F.W. Maitland (Editor). Year Books of Edward II. Volume III, 3 Edward II, AD 1309-1310. (London: Benard Quaritch, 1905) Page 16 to 20. 1310, Hillary Term

Notes

  1. ↑ The arms of the Devereux family of Bodenham with tinctures reversed.
  2. ↑ John Devereux was the valet (esquire) of his father's step-brother, Alexander de Freville, during the invasion of Scotland by Edward I and Battle of Falkirk.
  3. ↑ John Devereux of Frome should not be confused with the John Devereux who held Burton, Northants. This John Devereux married Christiana (Joan) de Eylessford and held Burton from William de Eylesford. He married as his second wife, Eva, and was involved in litigation in 1308 over land in 'Aynaldestone' (Elnodestune, Hereford) showing him to be part of the Devereux family holding here.
  4. ↑ During Easter 1307/8 (De Banco. Easter. 35. Edw. 3, membrane 201. Norfolk). Adam Blome sued Nicholas de Bourne and Cecily, his wife, over the manor of Wilby. The suit established that William Devereux had given the manor to Richard de Boylande and Matilda (Maud), his wife, to be held by them and the heirs of their bodies after the death of his stepmother, Matilda (Maud), the widow of William de Ebroicis (this William’s father) who held it in dower. The defendants pleaded that Elizabeth, the grandmother of Adam, was the daughter of Richard by a first wife, and not by Matilda.
  5. ↑ William Devereux’s grandmother, Isabel de Cantilupe, married Ralph de Pembrugge, after the death of William’s grandfather, Stephen Devereux.
  6. ↑ William Devereux would be called to muster again at London 07 July 1297 for service "in parts beyond the seas."
Preceded by
Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer		 Lord of Lyonshall
1274–1300 		Succeeded by
Roger de la Warr