William Devereux (1219 to 1265)

William Devereux
Spouse(s) (1) unknown
(2) Maud de Giffard
Issue
William Devereux
Daughter Devereux
Maud Devereux
John Devereux
Thomas Devereux
Sibilla Devereux
Father Stephen Devereux
Mother Isabel de Cantelupe
Born 1219
Died 1265

William Devereux (1219 to 1265), was an important Marcher Lord, and held Lyonshall Castle controlling a strategically vital approach to the border of Wales. The castle’s significance was heightened by the rebellion of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales. With strong family ties to the politically powerful families of Cantilupe and Giffard, his support was strongly sought after by Henry III and Simon de Montfort throughout the Second Barons' War.

Birth and Ancestry

William Devereux was born in 1219,[1] the son of Stephen Devereux and Isabel de Cantilupe,[2] daughter of William I de Cantilupe.[3][4] The Devereux families were prominent along the Welsh marches since the conquest, and William was a descendent of the Domesday land holder, William Devereux. The coat of arms for Devereux portrayed on his mother's grant in 1242 was 'a fess and in chief three torteauxes.'[5] His coat of arms was described as "argent, fess and three roundels in chief gules" or "gules od un fesse d'argent ove turteaus d'argent en le chief.[6]"

Early life

At his father’s death, William was only 8 years old,[7] and came under the sway of his maternal relatives including William III de Cantelupe, Lord of Abergavenny; Walter de Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester; and Thomas de Cantilupe, Bishop of Hereford. His lands were taken into the King’s hands[lower-alpha 1] excluding the dower of his mother, Isabel, and originally placed under the control of Gilbert de Lacy, Lord of Weobley. De Lacy was summoned to mediate a dispute in 1229 over rent due the Prior of Leonard in Pyon (Wormsely) from the lands granted them by William’s father, Stephen. William eventually confirmed these grants in 1240 after he came of age.[lower-alpha 2] He later forgave 10 marks of rent owed by Wormsley for use of Holme Lacy in exchange for the blessings of the church for him and his heirs. There would be further disputes over a pond and alder grove in Hereford, and estover in his woods of Lyonshall. The dispute was finally settled in 1248. In a final concord William conceded 2 acres of woods in Kingswood in frank almoin; common pasture in his warrens at Lyonshall and his fields; and two mills in Lyonshall, for which he also granted wood for their construction and rights of ingress and egress, along with the suit his men owed to the mills. He also remitted and quitclaimed 6 shillings rent, which he drew from the prior, and gave the prior 2 marks. In return, the Prior remitted and quitclaimed any other rights of estover he might have in William’s woods; agreed to move a certain mill to a new location and quitclaim it to William; as well as renouncing some ways and paths and right of pannage for fifty pigs, all in the wood of ‘Kerdeslg’ (Eardsly?).

When Gilbert de Lacy died in 1230, William was still underage and part of his estates probably were placed under the guardianship of Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke. This brought William Devereux into the service of Richard Marshal during his rebellion. Following Richard’s death at the Battle of the Curragh in 1234, the King had William’s land in Lower Hayton seized for this service. Lower Hayton was returned to Devereux control by the time he came of age in 1240. For the final years of his minority, William was under the guardianship of Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath.[lower-alpha 3]

Career

William Devereux began asserting control of his inheritance in 1238 when he brought an assize de morte d’ancestor against Walter de la Hide for back rent in Hyde (part of Putley), Hereford. Devereux resumed the dispute of his father with the Bartonsham Prebend (Hereford) over a weir.[8] He secured a writ from the King in 1244 restoring Wilby manor, Norfolk, which had been seized as ‘terra Normannorum’.[lower-alpha 4] Frome Herbert (Haymond) was returned to his mother, Isabel de Cantilupe, as part of her dower that same year. Finally, on 12 November 1251 (Calendar of Charter Rolls, Tewkesbury, membrane 27) the King gave grant to ‘William de Ebroicis and his heirs’ of free warren in his demesne lands in Oxenhall of county Gloucester; Lenhales (Lyonshall), Frome Haymund (Haymond), Hamme (Holme Lacy), Stoke Lacy, La… (Lawton), Baldingham (Ballingham), Luntelegh (Luntley), Cattelegh (Cattelee), and Heregast of county Hereford.

In 1244 the Hospitallers agreed to remain as his tenants while a charter of Oxenhall was disputed by ‘Robert le Deveneis’ and ‘William Joindre.’ They had originally been granted this church by William’s great-grandfather, John Devereux.[lower-alpha 5][lower-alpha 6] In February 1255 further disputes regarding Oxenhall required the King to grant William ‘peace’ from the sheriffs of the county until they were settled.

In 1254 William Devereux was with King Henry III on his expedition to suppress a rebellion in Gascony. Upon his return he was granted quittance of summons in the county of Lincoln. Ongoing hostilities with the Welsh would occupy William’s attention over the next 10 years. On 10 May 1257 William Devereux along with Humphrey Bohun, Earl of Herefod and Essex; Humphrey de Bohun Junior; Roger Mortimer and others were ordered to aid and counsel John de Grey who had been appointed by Prince Edward to defend the marches.[9] He was summoned to attend the King at Chester with horse and arms to restrain the incursions of the Welsh led by Prince Llewelyn, and two years later was commanded to repair the marches without delay for similar purposes. Multiple summons were made over the years, and in 1263 Prince Edward begs his father to command ‘Will d’Evereus’ to “quod in castro suo de le Hales” and “moram faciet ac partes suas viriliter defendat.“ This translates to say, “that in his castle of Lyonshall he should stay and vigorously defend his estates.” For his ongoing service the King ordered William be given the gift of 2 deer from the forests of Salop in 1263.

In October 1258 John Chete sued William Devereux and others about damaging his fish pond and stealing his fish in Brosely, county Salop. A few months later Ralph de Coven and Roger de Eyton sued William (and his wife Maud), and the Bishop of Hereford over the advowson of the Church of Broseley.

During this period England began slipping into the Second Barons' War as the struggle for power between the crown and rebellious barons, led by Simon de Montfort, reasserted itself. Devereux remained loyal to the Henry III for nearly the entire conflict. When the King obtained absolution from the Pope from his oath to uphold the Provisions of Oxford, he sent a communication in February 1261 to William Devereux instructing him to bring his forces to defend Parliament. Other commands during this time were directed at William to continue to protect the border from Welsh incursions. In June of 1261, the King announced his absolution, and launched a counter coup against the baronial forces. He purged disloyal sheriffs, and seized control of many royal castles. Over the next two years the country teetered on the edge of civil war before Henry III’s unpopular policies brought out open conflict.

The de Montfort led revolt began on the Welsh marches. Fighting broke out in earnest when the King marched into the midlands in April 1264. William Devereux fought on the King’s behalf at the Battle of Lewes on 14 May 1264. Henry III, his brother Richard of Cornwall, and Prince Edward were all captured, and by imprisoning the King, Montfort became the de facto ruler of England.

After the battle William Devereux pledged the manors of Stoke Lacy and Lawton to Roger de Mortimer, 1st Baron Wigmore, to ransom Adam le Despencer. Records show William owed Roger de Mortimer 1000 marks in 1264. In March of 1265 the King instructed Roger de Mortimer to return the lands pledged by Devereux as this obligation occurred after the Council of Worcestershire during which Despencer had been freed without ransom. Furthermore, in April of that year William Devereux was instructed to return to Adam le Despencer the manor of Stanley, which he had been given as collateral for the ransom no longer needed. In February 1265, William Devereux and John de Balun received a commission to inquire regarding the things that belonged to the office of Gatekeeper to Hereford Castle, and the cause of robberies and trespasses committed in Hereford.[10] As the year progressed Henry III gave William Devereux several gifts of deer from the Royal forests, probably to try to retain his loyalty.

Between February and August 1265, William Devereux switched his allegiance from the crown to Simon de Montfort. This decision probably was influenced by the urging of his cousin, Thomas de Cantilupe, who was appointed Lord Chancellor of England by Simon de Montfort in February of 1264. When hostilities resumed with the escape of Prince Edward from captivity, the Welsh Marches erupted in rebellion and William Devereux now marched with de Montfort. The two sides met at the Battle of Evesham on August 4, 1265, and William Devereux died while fighting for the baronial forces.

Marriage

He first married an unknown woman about 1240, and they had two children: William (~1244) his heir, and a daughter (~1250) who married Sir John de Pycheford before 1272.[lower-alpha 7]

William Devereux married a second time about 1258 to Maud de Giffard as her second husband.[lower-alpha 8] She was the daughter of Hugh de Giffard and Sibyl de Cormeilles.[lower-alpha 9] Maud de Giffard’s brothers were the politically powerful Godfrey de Giffard (Bishop of Worcester), and Walter de Giffard (Archbishop of York, Bishop of Bath and Wells). Both brothers would later become Chancellors of England. Her sister was Mabel de Giffard, Abbess of Shaftesbury Abbey. William Devereux and Maud de Giffard would have children: Maud (~1259),[lower-alpha 10] John (~1261),[lower-alpha 11] Thomas (~ 1263),[lower-alpha 12] and Sibyl (~1265).[lower-alpha 13]

Principal Landholdings

His principle holding was the castle of Lyonshall, county Hereford. He possessed the manors of Oxenhall in county Gloucester (Maud de Giffard dower); Ballingham, Frome Haymond (Isabel de Cantilupe dower, and then Maud de Giffard dower), Holme Lacy (Maud de Giffard dower), Luntley, Lawton, Stoke Lacy, and Whitechurch Maund (Isabel de Cantilupe dower) in county Hereford; Wilby (Maud de Giffard dower) and Brisingham in county Norfolk; Cheddrehole in county Somerset; and Lower Hayton (Maud de Giffard dower) in county Salop. Other lands include Cattelegh (Cattelee), Clehonger, Heregast, Staunton-on-Wye, Stanton, and Trumpington (Maud de Giffard dower)

Death

William Devereux was killed during the Battle of Evesham. His wife, Maud, applied to the King for “certain jewels and harness,” which had been deposited in the church of Hereford by her deceased husband, and obtained a precept to the treasurer of the cathedral for their deliverance to her.

William Devereux’s lands were forfeited following this battle with exception by writ of the King of Frome (Haymond), Ham (Holme Lacy), Wileby (Wilby), Oxonhal (Oxenhall), and 15 pounds of revenue in Heiton (Lower Hayton) for the maintenance of his wife, Maud. In October Maud’s brother, Walter de Giffard Bishop of Bath and Wells, further granted her for life the manors of Frome, Holme Lacy, Oxenhall, and Wilby (Bishop Giffard’s position as Chancellor of England would later facilitated the further recovery of the Devereux estates). The remainder of William Devereux’s lands were granted on the 20th of November 1265 to Roger de Mortimer. They would later be redeemed by his son according to the Dictum of Kenilworth. The terms are described in an entry of the plea rolls from 1266 (51 Henry III, membrane 32):

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.

William Devereux’s widow, Maud de Giffard, died in late August of 1297. On the third day of September in 1297 Maud (de Giffard) Devereux was buried in Worcester Cathedral in a place arranged by her brother, Bishop Godfrey de Giffard, near his burial site.

Notes

  1. ↑ At his father’s death in 1227/8 he held the castle of Lyonshall, and the manors of Frome Haymond (Isabel de Cantilupe dower), Lower Hayton, Ballingham, Whitechurch maund (Isabel de Cantilupe dower), Cheddrehole, Oxenhall (Cecelia de Longchamp dower), and Putley (Cecelia de Longchamp dower; contains the manor Chanstone which would pass to his uncle, Nicholas). He had additional lands including Clehonger, Stanton, Staunton-on-Wye, and Trumpington.
  2. ↑ Know (etc.) that we, William de Ebroicis and my heirs, will from this hour forward shall keep and hold to all of the gifts, concessions and alms to the Priory and Convent of Wormsley which our father, Stephen of Ebroicis, gave to the said Priory and Convent, that he bequeathed or granted in the Testament including the lands, possessions, tithes, alms, pastures in so far as can be clearly understood and as witnessed (etc.), both for the benefit of the said Priory and Convent and as more fully contained in the Charter or Charters, seal or seals, or our father, Stephen, as mentioned (etc) as given this date at ‘Wike’ in Worcester, in the year of the Lord M.CC.XL. (1240)
  3. ↑ On 2 May 1234 (Reading, Close, 18 Hen III, membrane 25) indicates that as Walter de Lacy was on the King’s service in Ireland, the Sheriff of Hereford was commanded to respite till the Quizaine of Michaelmas the plaint in his county by the King’s writ between Walter de Baskerville, complainant, and the said Walter deforcient, touching the daughters of Stephen D’Evreux.
  4. ↑ Terra normannorum was land so called in the reign of Henry III being such as had been lately held by some noble Norman, who, by adhering to the French king or dauphin, had forfeited his estate in England, which by this means became an escheat to the crown. Definition from “A Law Dictionary and Glossary” by Alexander Mansfield Burrill (New York; Baker, Voorhis & Co., Law Publishers, 1870: vol. 2, page 521)
  5. ↑ John de Evereus gave them the church of Oxenhall, in the county of Hereford; with lands, tithes, and observances, and others, and the right of the patronage of the church, in the year of our Lord 1186 on the Kalends in April, and the time of King Henry the second, and brother Garner, of Naples, then the former Hospital of St. John in England.
  6. ↑ Curia Regis Roll: One month of St. Michael, 6 Richard I, 27 Oct 1194. The grant of the deceased ancestors of Walter Devereux to the brothers of the Hospital of Jerusalem of 2 marks rents in Oxenhall as gifted in the present written Charter, the justiciar is directed to insure you receive them to truly be venerated the Honor of the Holy Novitiates: Walter son of Walter, Walter of Wormsley, Hugh son of Eli.
  7. ↑ 4 Nov 1272 (1 Edward I), Inquiry Post-Mortem of George de Cantilupo. …John de Pycheford (knight) agrees, adding that he espoused a kinswoman of the said George, viz. the daughter of William de Ebroicis, and diligently enquired the age of the said George from Sir Adam de Gurdun and Sir Robert de Tregoz and others of the said household…
  8. ↑ Her first husband, Baldwin de Freville had died about 1256, and wardship of his lands and the marriage of her and their sons, Baldwin and Alexander, was granted to Eleanor, Queen of England. Maud de Giffard had married Baldwin de Freville as his second wife around 1254. Baldwin‘s first wife Lucia (married about 1240), daughter of Richard de Scalers, had died in 1253 after giving him a son, Richard de Freville (born ~1241; died 1299). Baldwin de Freville and Maud had four children, Baldwin (born ~1254; died 1289), Margaret (~1255), Sibilla (~1256), and Alexander (born ~1257; died 1328) before he died about 1257. On the Patent Rolls for 10 July 1253 Baldwin de Freville sold to Sibyl Giffard the marriage of his son and heir (Richard). An inquiry in 1299 at Tadington described a messuage and 2 carucates land, and 64 s rent held of the King in chief by service of 1/3 knight’s fee of the Barony of Cormailes; and 12 acres of land which he bought of fee of Monseleye. Lady Maud de Ebroicis, and Baldwin her son, and Alexander brother of the said Baldwin were jointly enfeoffed by a charter of the said land etc, excepting the 12 acres. The said Alexander is his next heir and of full age.
  9. ↑ Upon their marriage, Sibyl de Giffard transferred to Devereux the wardships of the tenements of Adam de Beysin (deceased 1243) until his heir, Robert came of age in 1262.
  10. ↑ Maud Devereux married Richard de Boylande who served as an itinerant justice in a dispute over land in Somerset in the year 1279, and for another dispute in 1288. In 1278, her mother and brother, William, gave reversion of Wilby in Norfolk to Maud and her husband, Richard de Boylande with a charter of free-warren for all his lands here and in Brisingham. By 1295 Richard de Boylande had a new wife, Ellen, suggesting Maud had died (probably before 1290), and William claimed an advowson on the property against Simon, Abbot of York, but lost the suit and was forced to abandon his claim.
  11. ↑ John de Ebroicis entered the Church as was common for younger sons, and advanced under the patronage of his uncles: Godfrey de Giffard (Bishop of Worcester), and Walter de Giffard (Archbishop of York). He would hold the post of Canon of Ripon and Southwell by 1281 and Prebend of Oxton. His career would peak when he obtained the position of Archdeacon of Gloucester in 1288. In 1301 Bishop Godfrey de Giffard died, and identified his nephew, John de Ebroicis in his Will. He bequeathed him a mitre covered over with pearls, which had once belonged to his uncle the Northern primate (Walter de Giffard, Archbishop of York) in the hope, perhaps, that it might sometime rest upon his brow.
  12. ↑ Probably the Thomas de Ebroicis who was Rector of the Doncaster Deanery which was part of the Church of St. Elene’s of Treatton belonging to the patronage of the Lords of Furnival. Treeton was part of the manor of Whiston.
  13. ↑ Sibilla is reported to have married Walter de Baskerville who died dsp. 1282. In the 1280’s, Matilda, the widow of William de Ebroicis (and Sibilla’s mother), contested William de Ebroicis (Sibilla’s half brother) over 8 pounds of rent in Guleing (Gloucester) and Trumpeton (Cambridgeshire). William Devereux granted the right to the said rent to Matilda, and Baldwin de Frevil (son of Matilda). The remainder to Alexander de Freville (brother of Baldwin), and Margaret and Sibilla (and heirs of Sibilla) the daughters of Matilda. Sibilla married a second time to John de Acton. On Nov 11, 6 Edward II (1312), an IPM was done for John de Acton in regards to the manors of Couerne and Yausore, both in Herefordshire. The Couerne listing leads as follows: 10 d. yearly rent held of Richard Baskerville by service of ½ d. yearly; and a fourth part of the manor held, as the dower of Sybil his wife, of Richard de Baskerville by service of a ¼ knights fee: she was dowered by Walter de Baskerville, her first husband. Yausore was held as above, by service of ¼ knights fee. On November 20 of the same inquisition regarding Somerset, there is reference to the property of Ceddre Manor, a capital messuage of 40 acres arable land, 10 acres meadow, water-mill, rents, etc. held jointly by John de Acton with Sibyl, his wife, of a gift of William de Ebroycis of the Bishop of Bath. This was held by service of ½ knight’s fee, and was to go to his heir.

Biographical References

Specific References

  1. ↑ 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
  2. ↑ Evelyn Philip Shirley. Stemmata Shirleiana. (Westminster: Nichols and Sons, 1873). page 103
  3. ↑ Lyte, HC Maxwell, ed. (1902). "Close Rolls, March 1228: membrane 11". Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III (1227-1231) 1. British History Online.
  4. ↑ Sharp, J.E.E.S., ed. (1906). "George de Cantilupo, 4 Nov, 1 Edward I". Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem Edward I, File 2 2. British History Online. pp. 11–23.
  5. ↑ John Gough Nichols (editor). Collectanea Topographica & Genealogica, Volume II. (London: John Bowyer Nichols and Son, 1835). Page 250
  6. ↑ Thomas D. Tremlett, Hugh Stanford London, and Sir Anthony Wagner. Rolls of Arms, Henry III. (Oxford, The University Press, 1957). page 123
  7. ↑ , Calendar of Close Rolls, Volume 2. HC Maxwell (editor). 1905. 9 November 1233
  8. ↑ 'Prebendaries: Bartonsham', Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066-1300: volume 8: Hereford (2002), pp. 29-31. URL: Date accessed: 16 July 2014.
  9. ↑ , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry III, volume 4. University of Iowa digital library. Page 553, 10 May 1257, Merton, membrane 9
  10. ↑ Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery) Preserved in the Public Record Office, Volume I. (London:Hereford Times Limited, 1916). 289 and 291. Writs to the sheriff of Hereford. 8 February 49 Henry III
Preceded by
Stephen Devereux		 Lord of Lyonshall
1228–1265 		Succeeded by
Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer