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William Devereux of Frome the younger was a member of a prominent Herefordshire family during the reign of Edward III. He was an important retainer of the Mortimer family, sheriff of Hereford, and member of Parliament.

Childhood and ancestry

William Devereux was born on 1 November 1314, the son of William Devereux of Frome (died 1336) and his wife, Miss Lacy. After his mother’s death, his father married Margaret de Mortimer of Richard’s Castle as his second wife about 1335. His father died in 1336 leaving William the manor of Lower Hayton, Salop. His stepmother married shortly after a third time to Thomas de Hulhampton quitclaiming her dower rights to William for Frome Haymondes, Holme Lacy, and Stoke Lacy for 200L

Career

As a retainer of the Mortimer’s, the fall of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March in 1330 placed William Devereux outside of royal favor.

In 1336 Thomas Charlton, Bishop of Hereford, complained that William Devereux and others disseised him of his freehold in Almeley and Kinnersley including manors in Almeley and Newchurch, and 3 acres of meadow. William countered that Peter Pichard had demised the contested lands to his father, that he entered into them as a minor until ejected by the Bishop, and had only re-entered them. The Bishop claimed that William’s father only held for life with reversion to Pichard on his death who then demised it to the Bishop, and William had entered armed and taken the land by force. The court found in favor of the Bishop, and William had to pay 40 pence in damages.

On 3 April 1337 Parliament included him on a list of suspected persons to be arrested and imprisoned in Hereford Castle. On 23 May 1337 the sheriff of Hereford was ordered to release him after Nicholas Devereux and others posted bond for his good behavior.

Following the death of Giles de Badlesmere’s, Lyonshall was awarded on 20 November 1338 to John de Vere, 7th Earl of Oxford by right of his wife, Maud de Badlesmere. William resurrected his father’s claims and sued John de Vere for the castle in 1340, but his claim was denied.

In 1370 William Devereux contracted his son, William Devereux III, in matrimony to Elizabeth de Mortimer. With her consent, he brought her to the manse of his manor at Haymondes Frome, Herefordshire, for safe keeping until the solemnization of the marriage. His household was given responsibility for Elizabeth’s care in addition to the disposition of his goods. Ralph Zeddefen, Thomas Zeddefen, Philip de Colynton, William de Brokhamptom, Peter de Nethewode, and others came, and besieged and broke into the manse. They assaulted William’s men and servants, and carried away Elizabeth de Mortimer and his goods. They also lay in wait for Devereux to kill him. William being unable to go to the manse to dispose of his goods (and evidently unable to recover Elizabeth, demanded 40 shillings compensation on 3 July 1370. This event appears to have led to a longstanding grudge against the Zeddefen's that was unresolved at the time of William’s death years later as described below.

This insult to Devereux honor appears to have led to a rapprochement with his cousins, William Devereux of Bodenham and John Devereux of Whitchurch Maund, which contributed to a return of royal favor. William Devereux began to have a more prominent role in Hereford. He was knighted about 1370. In 1371, he was entrusted along with his cousin, William Devereux of Bodenham, with the collection of a subsidy in Herefordshire voted by Parliament to fund the king’s wars in France. William was entrusted again on 14 November 1377 with the collection of the two fifteenths and tenths voted by Parliament, and on 4 March 1380 with a fifteenth and a half and a tenth and a half. He was called to Parliament on 26 November 1383. Devereux was appointed to a Hereford commission on 20 February 1383 to inquire into the death of John Kynges of Whiteborn. He was coroner for Herefordshire at the time of his death.

In inquisitions taken after the death of Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March, in 1398 and Edmund Mortimer, 5th Earl of March in 1426 it is stated that William Devereux had held Frome Haymonds, Stoke Lacy, Holme Lacy, and Lower Hayton.

Marriage

He first married Isabel “Matilda” de la Haye about 1338, daughter of William de la Hay. They had children:

• Thomas Devereux of the Hill (Wotton). No issue, and his heirs were those of his brother, John.
• John Devereux of the Moor. He married Elizabeth de la Bere and had a daughter, Margery.
• William Devereux. No issue.
• Elizabeth Devereux. She married Edmund Cheney.

He married Elizabeth Clodeshale, daughter of Richard Clodeshale of Woodcote Manor and heiress of the Lacy’s, as his second wife about 1369.

Death

William Devereux died between 21 April 1384 and 25 October 1385 Provided below is a translation of his Will written 21 April 1384:

In the name of God Amen, I, Sir William Devereux, being of sound mind, make this Will on the Thursday before the Feast of St. George the Martyr, AD 1384. First of all, I bequeath my soul to God Almighty and my body to be buried in the priory of St Leonard of Wormsley. Also I do bequeath the chapel in my manor of Frome Haymond 8 pounds sterling. Also I bequeath to William, son of Stephen Devereux, thirty shillings. Also, I bequeath to my son Thomas, thirteen shillings and four pence. Also, I ordain, assign and want my Executors to work together or separately with my sons, John and William, in pursuing the recovery of two hundred silver marks from Thomas Zeddefen that Thomas owes me; of which money I want my daughter Elizabeth to have forty marks and that my sons recovering the money I spoke of have between them the residue of the same money. Also, I bequeath, want and ordain that my debts be paid of the residue; and I want that whatever remains to be given to my wife Elizabeth and my servants to have and enjoy between them. Now this Will I ordain and make Sir Walter de Cokesay; Ralph Strafford; and my son, Thomas Devereux, my executors to fulfill all the premises.

The Thomas Zeddefen mentioned in the will is the same that carried off William Devereux III’s fiancée in 1370 described above. This debt was a matter of honor passed on to his sons, and led to further action after his death.

On 4 October 1385, William Devereux’s sons set out to fulfill his Will’s instructions. John Devereux ambushed and killed Thomas Zeddefen at Zeddefen with the aid of his brother, William; and support of his stepmother, Elizabeth, and Sir Thomas de Aston.

Sir Simon de Burley was granted Castle Frome on 25 October 1385 with confirmation on 26 June 1386. The castle had been seized from the widow, Elizabeth Clodeshale, for her role in the murder.

On 20 June 1388 the escheator in Herefordshire was ordered to restore Castle Frome to Elizabeth Clodeshale and her now second husband, Sir Thomas de Aston. It was indicated that they had never been officially outlawed, and therefore there was insufficient cause for seizure. On 28 November 1388, John and William Devereux, sons of William Devereux and Isabel de Hay, were pardoned for the murder of Thomas Zeddefen.

In 1420, William’s widow, Elizabeth, would sue his, great-granddaughter through his son John, Joan Hommes, over rents from Lower Hayton, Shropshire. Elizabeth claimed them as part of her dower rights.

When Elizabeth Clodeshale died, her only heirs were her daughters by Thomas Aston, Margaret and Joan. As heiress to Castle Frome, this manor went to her eldest daughter, Margaret and her husband Richard Brace.

References

General

• Brook, W. Holden. "Lords of the Central Marches: English Aristocracy and Frontier Society, 1087–1265." (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008). Pages 46 to 136
• Brydges, Sir Egerton. "Collins's Peerage of England; Genealogical, Biographical, and Historical. Greatly Augmented, and Continued to the Present Time." (London: F.C. and J. Rivington, Otridge and Son; J. Nichols and Co.; T. Payne, Wilkie and Robinson; J. Walker, Clarke and Sons; W. Lowndes, R. Lea, J. Cuthell, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Co.; White, Cochrane, and Co.; C. Law, Cadell and Davies; J. Booth, Crosby and Co.; J. Murray, J. Mawman, J. Booker, R. Scholey, J. Hatchard, R. Baldwin, Craddock and Joy; J. Fauldner, Gale, Curtis and Co.; Johnson and Co.; and G. Robinson, 1812). Volume VI, pages 1 to 22, Devereux, Viscount Hereford
• Burke, Sir Bernard. A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire. (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1978). page 169, Devereux-Barons Devereux
• Cokayne, G.E. Complete Baronetage. (New York; St. Martin's Press, 1984). Volume IV, page 296 to 306, Devereux or Deverose (including article by G.W. Watson)
• Robinson, Charles J. "A History of the Castles of Herefordshire and their Lords." (Woonton: Logaston Press, 2002). Pages 70 to 72 (Frome Castle), 125 to 129 (Lyonshall Castle), and 195
• Robinson, Charles J. "A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire." (Hereford: Books & Book Services LTD, 1872 republished).

Specific

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 : Jakeman & Carver, 1902). Page 42 to 49. Parish of Castle Frome, Genealogy contributed by Lord Hereford
2. Writ of diem cl ext. 6 Mar 11 Edw III, Inq Salop 12 Apr 1337
3. Pedigrees From the Plea Rolls, collected from the Pleadings in the Various Courts of Law, AD 1200 to 1500, from the Original Rolls in the Public Record Office. Major General the Hon. G. Wrottesley. (1905: Great Britain). Page 5, De Banco, Michaelmas, 14 Edward III (1340), membrane 591
4. , Medieval Genealogy Website. Abstracts of Feet of Fines. CP 25/1/82/40, number 89.
5. The Picards of Pychards of Stradewy (now Tretower) Castle, and Scethrog, Brecknockshire; Ocle Pichard, Almaly, Staunton-onWye, Over Letton, Merston, Bredwardine, Hopton Hagurnel in Great Cowarne, Bishop’s Stanford, Cradley, Pengethley, etc., Herefordshire; Sapey pichard, and Suckley, Worcestershire. With some Account of the family of Sapy of Upper Sapey, Herefordshire. (Londong; Golding and Lawrence, 1878). Page 96-97
6. , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, Volume 3. University of Iowa Digital Library. Page 446 (3 April 1337, membrane 20d)
7. 'Close Rolls, Edward III: May 1337', Calendar of Close Rolls, Edward III: volume 4: 1337-1339 (1900), pp. 127-133 (23 May 1337, Stamford). URL: , Date accessed: 09 December 2013.
8. , Calendar of the Fine Rolls, Edward III, Volume 4, 1327-1337. London: Wyman and Sons. 1913. Page 103 (20 Nov 1338, Kennington, membrane 8)
9. Pedigrees From the Plea Rolls, collected from the Pleadings in the Various Courts of Law, AD 1200 to 1500, from the Original Rolls in the Public Record Office. Major General the Hon. G. Wrottesley. (1905: Great Britain). Page 5. De Banco, Michaelmas, 14 Edward III (1340), membrane 591
10. ^ , Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI, Volume 1, 1422-1429. AE Stamp (editor). 1933. Pages 448-449 (3 July 1429)
11. Calendar of Charter Rolls, Volume IV, 1-14 Edward III, 1327 to 1341. (London: Public Record Office, 1910). Page 486
12. , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, Volume 14. University of Iowa Digital Library. Page 471 (3 July 1370, membrane 17d)
13. Calendar of the Fine Rolls, Edward III, Volume 8, 1356-1368. London: Wyman and Sons. 1923. Page 112, 28 Mar 1371, Westminster, membrane 30
14. Calendar of the Fine Rolls, Richard II, Volume 9, 1377-1383. London. 1926. Page 54, 55, 14 Nov 1377, Westminster, membrane 4
15. Calendar of the Fine Rolls, Richard II, Volume 9, 1377-1383. London. 1926. Page 186, 4 Mar 1380, Westminster, membrane 14
16. Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford, volume 1. By John Duncumb. Hereford: E.G. Wright. 1804, Page 152
17. , Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II, Volume 2: 1381-1385. HC Maxwell Lyte (editor). 1920. Pages 408-416 (26 Nov 1283)
18. , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Richard II, Volume 2. University of Iowa Digital Library. Page 258 (1383, February 20, membrane 16d)
19. , Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II, Volume 3: 1385-1389. HC Maxwell Lyte (editor). 1921. Page 325 (12 Nov 1387)
20. Inquiry post mortem. 22 Richard II. Volume II. Page 167 ante
21. , Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry VI, Volume 1: 1422-1429. A.E. Stamp (editor). 1933. Page 253 (20 July 1426, membrane 2)
22. ^ Calendar of Inquisitions Miscellaneous (Chancery) Preserved in the Public Record Office, Volume IV. (London:Hereford Times Limited, 1957). 356. Writ concerning the manor of Castelfrome. 8 May 9 Richard II
23. Court of Common Please, CP 40/637, rot 318d
24. Collectanea Topographica & Genealogica, Volume III. (London: John Bowyer Nichols and Son, 1834). Page 100, 101
25. , Calendar of Patent Rolls, volume 5, page 481 (10 August 1394, Westminster, membrane 22)
26. ^ , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Richard II, Volume 3. University of Iowa Digital Library. Page 45 (25 October 1385, membrane 25
27. ^ , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Richard II, Volume 3. University of Iowa Digital Library. Page 533 (1388, November 28, membrane 5)
28. , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Richard II, Volume 3. University of Iowa Digital Library. Page 197 (1386, June 26, membrane 38)
29. , Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II, Volume 3, 1385-1389. HC Maxwell Lyte (editor). 1921. Pages 408-418 (20 Jun 1388)
30. Pedigrees From the Plea Rolls, collected from the Pleadings in the Various Courts of Law, AD 1200 to 1500, from the Original Rolls in the Public Record Office. Major General the Hon. G. Wrottesley. (1905: Great Britain). Page 299, 11 June 1419, De Banco. Trinity, 7 Henry V, membrane 102 dorso

Notes

1. He should not be confused with his contemporary cousin, William Devereux of Bodenham.
2. Probably Nicholas Devereux IV of Chanston, a distant cousin.
3. Eventually Lyonshall would be regained by a descendant of the senior branch, Baron John Devereux, after William’s death. His son, Thomas Devereux, was granted an interest that he yielded just prior to his death in 1429
4. He was bequeathed 90 pounds in the Will entered June 1385 by his distant cousin John Devereux of Whitchurch Maund
5. He may be the Devereux represented in the effigy of a knight in chain-armour beneath a canopy ornamented with ball flowers seen in the church at Bishop’s Frome.
6. This may be referring to the William Devereux of Bodenham mentioned above who died in 1376/7

• 1314 births
• 1384 deaths
• Devereux family