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Birth:          ABT 1219 of Kington, Herefordshire, England
Death:          4 Aug 1265 Battle of Evesham

Notes
ancestry.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Devereux_(1219_to_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[edit]

William Devereux was born in 1219,[1] the son of Stephen Devereux and Isabel de 
Cantilupe.[2] She was the daughter of William de Cantilupe (died 1239) and Mazilia 
Braci.[3][4] His father had risen to be a powerful member of the inner circle of William 
Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, which led to a prominent role during the regency of 
Henry III. The Devereux family had been 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[edit]

At his father’s death, William was only 8 years old,[7] and came under the sway of his 
maternal relatives including William de Cantelupe (died 1254), Lord of Abergavenny; 
Walter de Cantilupe, Bishop of Worcester; and Thomas de Cantilupe, Bishop of 
Hereford. His interests on the Welsh Marches were further guarded by his paternal 
uncles: John Devereux of Bodenham and Decies and Nicholas Devereux of Chanston. 
The close relationship of the Cantelupe family with Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of 
Leicester would later influence Devereux’s decisions during the Second Barons' War.

William Devereux’s lands were taken into the King’s hands on 17 March 1228[a] 
(excluding the dower of his mother, Isabel)[8][b] and initially 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 (Wormsley) from the lands granted 
them by William’s father, Stephen. When Gilbert de Lacy died about 1230, Devereux’s 
estates were placed under the direct guardianship of Gilbert’s father, Walter de Lacy, 
Lord of Meath.[c]

Gilbert de Lacy also was involved in an ongoing dispute that began in 1221 with the 
Abbot of Saint Peter’s in Gloucester over the appointment of a priest for the Church of 
Stoke Lacy. Following his father’s death, William Devereux became embroiled in this 
controversy, and ultimately yielded the right to the Abbots in 1261 (45 Henry III).[9] 
This would later be confirmed by his son, William Devereux, Baron Devereux of 
Lyonshall, after his death.

His lands at Lower Hayton were held from him by Giles de Clifford, and Giles was in 
the service of Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke.[10] Following Marshal’s death 
at the Battle of the Curragh in 1234 the King had Lower Hayton seized by the sheriff 
of Salop, and it was not returned to William Devereux’s control until he came of age in 
1240.

Principal landholdings[edit]

As William Devereux came of age he directed his efforts at re-establishing control over 
his father’s estates and his position as a powerful Marcher Lord. The Testa de Nevill 
showed him holding at least four and a half fees in Herefordshire, and a half fee at 
Lower Hayton, county Shropshire.[11] The center of his lordship was his castle at 
Lyonshall in Herefordshire. He possessed the manors of Ballingham, Frome Haymond 
(Halmond), Holme Lacy, Luntley, Lawton, Stoke Lacy, La Fenne (Bodenham), and 
Whitchurch maund in Herefordshire; Oxenhall and Guleing in Gloucestershire; 
Cheddrehole in Somersetshire; Lower Hayton in Shropshire; and Trumpeton 
(Trumpington) in Cambridgeshire. He held additional lands at Cattelegh (Cattelee), 
Clehonger, Heregast (Hergest Ridge), and Staunton-on Wye in Herefordshire; and 
Stanton in Worcestershire.

In 1237 William Devereux released the wardship and marriage of Robert de Barewe to 
Alice de Mynors.[12] A proclamation was made about 29 Sep 1244 following the death 
of Robert de la Berwe that any Jew who had claim to the estate needed to come 
forward before 28 Nov 1244. On that day the sheriff indicated claims only from 
Sampson, son of Moses, and Meyr le Petiti. They were instructed to appear on 29 Jan 
1245 to account with William Devereux, guardian of Robert’s lands.[13] On 20 April 
1248 Richard of Juveny, steward of Richard de la Bere, submitted to the king’s court 
a request to recover the lands of Richard de la Bere which are in the kings hands 
following a default on a plea of warranty against William Devereux.[14]

William Devereux brought an assize de morte d’ancestor in 1238 against Walter de la 
Hide for back rent in Hyde (part of Putley), Hereford. He withdrew his claim following 
the gift of a sparrowhawk.

About 1240 William was mentioned in Walter de Lacy’s charter describing the grant of 
L30 rent in Holme Lacy (Herefordshire) and the village of Hay (Ireland) to Simon de 
Clifford[d] for the manor of Yarkhill (Herefordshire).[15] Devereux also witnessed the 
grant of Katherine, daughter of Walter Lacy of Land in Cofham[e] to Acornbury Priory.
[16] During Easter 1244 Margery, widow of Walter de Lacy, sued William Devereux for 
one third of 2 mills in Hereford, which she claimed as part of her dower.[17][18]

He confirmed in 1240 his father, Stephen’s grant to Wormsley Priory that had required 
mediation by Gilbert de Lacy in 1229.[19][f] In 1241 William forgave 10 marks of rent 
owed by Wormsley for the use of Holme Lacy in exchange for the blessings of the 
church for him and his heirs. There would be further disagreemet in 1242 over a pond 
and alder grove in Hereford with Thomas de Fauconburg, Canon of Hereford, that had 
been disputed by his father, Stephen Devereux, in 1221;[20] and estover in his woods 
of Lyonshall in 1243. 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?). On 24 June 1249 the church of Hereford confirmed their acceptance of the 
concord.[21] On 14 April 1256 William Devereux again confirmed the charters and 
grants of his father, Stephen Devereux, to the church of Saint Leonard of Wormsley 
(de Pyon).[22] This was witnessed by his cousin, Walter Devereux.

He secured a writ from the King in 1244 restoring Wilby manor, Norfolk, which had 
been seized as Terra Normannorum.[23][g] Frome Herbert (Halmond) was returned to 
his mother, Isabel de Cantilupe, as part of her dower that same year. On 2 October 
1251 William de Nucemaigne filed a writ of novel disseisin against William Devereux 
for tenements in Frome Halmond.[24]

In summer 1242 the inheritance of 2 hides of land in Erdicot (Gloucester) valued at 
100 shillings was disputed, and the possession was shown to be held of the Prior of 
the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem by warranty of Nicholas Pointz through charter 
of William Devereux.[25] Devereux claimed that this should revert to him based on the 
terms of inheritance. [h][i] About 1243 William Devereux was again called to answer 
why the 100 shillings of this land had not been paid, and the Prior called to answer 
why he withheld William’s charter. On 25 March 1244 the Hospitallers attorned Robert 
le Deveneis and William Joindre in the ongoing dispute over the unjust withholding of 
the charter.[26] On 11 February 1255 further disputes regarding Oxenhall required the 
King to grant William peace from the sheriffs of the county until they were settled.[27]

On 12 November 1251 the King granted to ‘William de Ebroicis and his heirs’ free 
warren in his demesne lands in Oxenhall of county Gloucester; Lenhales (Lyonshall), 
Frome Haymund (Halmond), Hamme (Holme Lacy), Stoke Lacy, La… (Lawton), 
Baldingham (Ballingham), Luntelegh (Luntley), Cattelegh (Cattelee), and Heregast of 
county Hereford.[28]

Following William Devereux’s marriage to Maud de Giffard about 1258, Lady Sibyl de 
Giffard transferred the wardship of Robert de Beysin to him.[29] 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. On 10 July 1260 Robert de Beysin’s had a suit of 
novel disseisin against William Devereux and his wife, Matilda, concerning the manor 
of Billingsly. Robert de Beysin took advantage of the political upheavel occurring in 
England during this time to use armed men to seize and hold the manor of Billingsly, 
which remained in the custody of William Devereux, and on 20 March 1261 the king 
commanded the sheriff of Shropshire to remove Robert and restore the manor to 
Devereux.[30] Beysin came of age in 1263, and on 22 September an Inquiry Post-
mortem was made into his father, Adam de Beysin’s estates which identified his 
wardship with William Devereux.[31] In 1284 Maud de Giffard, now a widow, pursued 
a suit of novel disseisin against Robert’s heir, Walter de Beysin, concerning a 
tenement in Billingsly.[32]

Career[edit]

Following the death of Llywelyn the Great on 11 April 1240, he was succeeded by his 
son, Dafydd ap Llywelyn. Henry III called the Welsh and Marcher Lords including 
William Devereux to gather at Gloucester on 15 May 1240. The Welsh continued to 
resist, and the king invaded Gwynedd forcing Dafydd to sign the Treaty of 
Gwerneigron on 29 August 1241.

In late 1244, following the death of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn Fawr on 1 March 1244 at the 
Tower of London, the king granted estates in Powys to Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn 
triggering a revolt in Wales requiring the king to send an army, which included 
Devereux. The English army defeated the Welsh at the Battle of Montgomery in late 
February 1245. On 6 September 1245 the king gave William Devereux 10 oaks from 
the Haye in Hereford for his use as reward for his faithful service.[33]

Daffydd died on 25 February 1246, and was succeeded by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. In 
1247 Henry III intervened again and came to terms with the Welsh with the Treaty of 
Woodstock.

William Devereux accompanied King Henry III on his expedition to suppress a rebellion 
in Gascony. The king arrived in August 1253, and remained there until a treaty was 
signed with Alphonso X in April 1254. On 2 October 1254 the King ordered that William 
Devereux was to receive the equivalent of 100 shillings sterling in cloth or other 
goods as payment towards wages earned by his service.[34]

On 24 July 1256 William Devereux was summoned to serve on a jury. The itinerant 
justices of Somerset were investigating the accusation by William fitzGeoffrey and 
Roger fitzWilliam that Alexander de Montfort had a role in the death of William 
Wympel.[35] Due to his involvement with the trial he was granted quittance of the 
common summons in the county of Lincoln on 12 August 1256.[36]

In February 1257 Llewelyn invaded South Wales. On 10 May 1257 a counsel was 
ordered to aid Sir John de Grey who had been appointed by Prince Edward to defend 
the Welsh Marches between county Cheshire and South Wales. The counsel was to 
include the marcher lords Humphrey (IV) de Bohun, earl of Hereford and Essex; 
Humphrey (V) de Bohun the Younger; Reynold fitzPeter; Roger Mortimer (1st Baron 
Mortimer); William Devereux; Walter de Clifford; William de Stuteville; Gruffydd ap 
Gwenwynwyn (Lord of Powys Wenwynwyn), Thomas Corbet (Baron of Caus); John 
l’Estrange (of Ellesmere and Knockin); John fitzAlan (Lord of Clun and Oswestry); Fulk 
(IV) fitzWarin; Gruffydd ap Madog (Lord of Dinas Bran); and Ralph le Botiller.[37] In 
June an English army was wiped out at the Battle of Cadfan. In August Henry III raised 
a new army at Chester and invaded North Wales, but withdrew in September. For his 
quick response to the general summons, Devereux was released from 40 shillings that 
he had been fined by justices sitting in county Norfolk on 27 October 1257.[38] Henry 
III, unable to campaign further that season, released his army for the winter, and sent 
Roger Clifford to stock the castle at Carmarthen. On 14 March 1258 orders were given 
to William Devereux and the other lords to gather again on 16 June at Chester with 
horse and arms.[39] Llywelin advanced into South Wales and on his return desolated 
the lands of Gruffydd ap Madog at Bromfield.

Another crisis gripped England in 1258. The barons revolted in anger over the way the 
King was raising funds and the influence of the Poitevins at court. In April Montfort 
and other major barons formed an alliance, and Hugh Bigod marched on parliament 
and carried out a coup d’etat. This led to the Provisions of Oxford being passed on 22 
June placing greater power in the hands of the barons, and enacting governmental 
reforms. As disagreements arose among the barons, further reforms were passed as 
the Provisions of Westminster in October 1259.

In January 1260 Llywelyn broke the truce and attacked the lands of Roger de 
Mortimer, and Builth Castle. The king summoned William Devereux and the other 
Marcher Lords to gather without delay.[40] On 29 March 1260 Devereux and the other 
Lords were further directed to appear at London on 4 April 1260.[41] During the Fall 
Llywelyn captured castle Builth, and on 1 August 1260 William Devereux and the other 
lords were instructed to come with horse and arms to Shrewsbury on 8 September.[42]

During this period England slipped 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 Henry III until the very end of the conflict. On 3 
February 1261 the King pardoned William Devereux for permitting the escape of Adam 
le Provost. Provost had been arrested for the felony of fleeing to the church and 
renouncing the realm.[43]

When the King obtained absolution from the Pope for his oath to uphold the Provisions 
of Oxford, he sent a communication on 17 February 1261 to William Devereux 
instructing him to come to London immediately with his men, horses and arms to be in 
place before the assembly of Parliament.[44] On 12 June 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. On 26 August 1261 the king 
commanded William Devereux to be ready by 29 September 1261 to support the king 
is his efforts to throw off the restrictions placed on him.[45] William Devereux was 
rewarded on 16 September 1261 with four live bucks and six live does from the stock 
in the royal park at St Briavels Castle.[46] Over the next two years the country 
teetered on the edge of civil war.

In 1262 Llywelyn ap Gruffyd attacked the Welsh Marches again. On 22 December 
1262 the king commanded William Devereux to appear with arms and horses on 9 
January 1263 at Hereford to counter this invasion.[47] On 24 January 1263 William 
Devereux was further commanded to come on 5 February 1263 to Hereford.[48] Once 
there William and the other lords summoned were to divide the gathered forces for the 
defense of their castles and lands, and to insure that their castles were kept in good 
repair. On 3 March 1263 the English fought the Welsh at the Battle of Abergavenny. 
On 15 April 1263 Prince Edward specifically 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.”[49] On 25 May 1263 the king again commanded 
William Devereux to appear with horses and arms on 1 August 1263 at Worcester for a 
campaign against Llywelyn.[50] For his ongoing faithful service the King ordered 
William be given a gift of 2 deer from the forests of Salop on 13 September 1263.[51]

Henry III’s unpopular policies finally brought out open conflict, and the de Montfort led 
revolt began on the Welsh marches. On 20 January 1264 the king proclaimed that 
Hugh Bigod and Rogert Aguyllun would insure on behalf of the king that Roger 
Clifford; Roger Leyburn; John de Vaulx; Ralph Basset; John Giffard; Hamo l’Estrange; 
Hugh de Turbeville; William de Huntingfield; and William Devereux would make 
appropriate amends to the Archbishop of Canterbury for damages and violence 
committed against the church in the province of Canterbury.[52] Fighting broke out in 
earnest when the King marched into the midlands in April 1264. Devereux was present 
with the king’s forces on 6 April when Prince Edward captured Northampton Castle in 
the Battle of Northampton. Following the battle William Devereux pledged his manors 
of Stoke Lacy and Lawton to Roger de Mortimer, 1st Baron Wigmore to ransom Adam 
le Despencer. The ransom was to be 1000 marks to be paid as 100 marks a year 
beginning on 1 August 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.

At the Council of Worcester it was agreed that all prisoners who had been captured up 
to this point in the conflict were to be delivered without any consideration of 
redemption. Part of the negotiation specifically provided for the release of the Marcher 
Lords who had supported Prince Edward.

On 7 July 1264 letters of safe conduct were granted through 25 July to William 
Devereux and other knights of the Welsh Marches to come to the king.[53] It is 
probably at this time that Devereux switched his allegiance from the king to Simon de 
Montfort. The decision was probably influenced by his cousin, Thomas de Cantilupe, 
who had been appointed Lord Chancellor on 25 February 1264. By December 1264 
Montfort had dealt with the Marcher Lords, and on 20 January 1265 Parliament is 
assembled at Westminster including the knight’s of the shire, and representatives of 
the cities and boroughs.

On 8 February 1265 William Devereux and John de Balun were commissioned to 
inquire as to what appurtenances belonged to the office of gatekeeper for Hereford 
castle, which had been granted to Philip de Leominster.[54] They also were 
commissioned along with Roger de Chandos to investigate robberies and other 
trespasses committed in the city of Hereford.[55]

On 6 March 1265 the King commanded Roger de Mortimer to return the lands pledged 
by William Devereux for the ransom of Adam le Despencer as this obligation had been 
voided following the Council of Worcester.[56] Furthermore, on 2 April Devereux was 
instructed to return to Despencer the manor of Stanley, which he had received as 
collateral for the same ransom.[57] On 29 April the king ordered the Prior of 
Leominster to release the charter he was holding in which William Devereux granted 
his manors to Mortimer until Despencer’s redemption had been paid. On 17 May the 
Prior came to the king at Hereford and in his presence restored the charter to William 
Devereux.[58]

On 15 May 1265 the Exchequer was instructed by the king to release William 
Devereux of 20 pounds he owed on behalf of Robert de Grendon in payment for a 
horse taken from him when the king was at Lewes.[59] On 17 May Henry III gave 
William Devereux three deer from Feckenham Forest, and on 3 June four bucks and 
four does from the forests of Shropshire.[60][61]

When hostilities resumed with the escape of Prince Edward from captivity on 28 May 
1265, the Welsh Marches erupted in rebellion and William Devereux now marched with 
Simon de Montfort. The two sides met at the Battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265, and 
William Devereux died while fighting for the baronial cause.

Marriage[edit]

He first married a daughter of Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk, and Maud Marshal 
about 1240, and they had children:[j]
William Devereux, Baron Devereux of Lyonshall (~1244) his heir[62]
Probably Roger Devereux of Bishopstone (Hereford).[63][64][65][66][67][68][69][k]
Margery Devereux(~1250)[70][l]

William Devereux’s first wife died about 1254, and he married a second time about 
1258 to Maud de Giffard as her second husband.[2][m] She was the daughter of Hugh 
de Giffard[2] and Sibyl de Cormeilles. Maud de Giffard’s brothers were the politically 
powerful Godfrey de Giffard (Bishop of Worcester), and Walter de Giffard (Archbishop 
of York, and Bishop of Bath and Wells).[2] Both brothers would later become 
Chancellors of England. Her sister was Mabel de Giffard, Abbess of Shaftesbury 
Abbey. William Devereux and Maud de Giffard had children:
Maud Devereux (~1259)[n]
Archdeacon John Devereux (~1261)[71][o]
Master Thomas Devereux (~ 1263)[71][p]
Sibyl Devereux (~1265)[q]

Death[edit]

William Devereux was killed during the Battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265. His wife, 
Maud, applied to the King for a jeweled harness, which had been deposited in the 
treasury of the church at Hereford by her deceased husband. She obtained from the 
king a precept to the treasurer of the cathedral for their deliverance to her on 12 
October 1265 at the request of her brother, Walter de Giffard, Bishop of Bath and 
Wells and the Chancellor of England.[72]

William Devereux’s lands were forfeited following this battle with exception by writ of 
the King on 3 October 1265 of Frome (Halmond), Ham (Holme Lacy), Wileby (Wilby), 
Oxonhal (Oxenhall), and 15 pounds of revenue in Heiton (Lower Hayton) for the 
maintenance of his widow, Maud. Sir John Giffard had been granted the lands of 
Gutinges (Guleing) and Oxenhale (Oxenhall) in Gloucester, and Maud de Giffard to 
hold of him.[73] On 12 October Maud’s brother, Walter de Giffard, further granted her 
for life the manors of Frome (Halmond), Hamme (Holme Lacy), Oxenhall, Wilby, 
Trompiton (Trumpington), and La Fenne (Bodenham); and the rents of Ballingham, 
Guting (Guleing), and Heynton (Hayton); and the meadow of Jarchull to hold to the 
value of 60 pounds of land a year.[74] Bishop Giffard’s position as Chancellor of 
England would continue to facilitate the recovery of the Devereux estates. Roger de 
Mortimer was granted the forfeited lands of William Devereux on 20 November 1265 
with the exception of Lyonshall castle, which would be held by his son, Ralph de 
Mortimer (died 10 August 1274). William Devereux’s lands would later be redeemed by 
his son according to the Dictum of Kenilworth. These 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 1297. On 3 September 
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.

Parents
D'EVEREUX Stephen (ABT 1191 - 1228)
DE CANTILUPE Isabel (ABT 1190 - )

Siblings
D'EVEREUX William (ABT 1219 - 4 Aug 1265)

Marriage To BIGOD ----- ()
    m.  

Notes

Parents
BIGOD Hugh (ABT 1182 - 18 Feb 1225)
MARSHALL Maud (Matilda) (ABT 1192 - 27 Mar 1248)

Children by BIGOD ----- 
D'EVEREUX William (ABT 1240 - 1314)

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