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Birth:          1173 
Death:          ABT 1197 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Devereux_(born_1173)
Walter Devereux was an Anglo-Norman nobleman living during the reign of king Henry 
II of England and Richard I of England. The Devereux, along with the Baskervilles 
and Pichards, were prominent knightly families along the Welsh marches during the 
twelfth century, and linked to William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, and the Braose 
and Lacy lordships of the region.[1] William Devereux's descendants would later give 
rise to the Devereux Viscounts of Hereford and Earls of Essex.
Ancestry[edit]

Walter Devereux is descended from William Devereux[2] who held land in Hereford 
and Gloucester at Domesday in 1086.

William’s son, Walter Devereux of Lyonshall,[2] gained control of Lyonshall Castle as 
the caput of the Devereux’s marcher lordship. With the exile of Roger de Lacy in 
1085, Walter of Lyonshall joined the retinue of Bernard de Neufmarché, Lord of 
Brecon.[3][a]

On the death of Bernard about 1125, another Walter Devereux, son of Walter of 
Lyonshall, joined the retinue of Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford.[b] Taking 
advantage of the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda, this 
Walter Devereux[2] increased his autonomy.[4][c] Walter probably was present at the 
Battle of Lincoln,[5] and the Rout of Winchester [6] with the earl of Hereford. A 
supporter of the Empress Maud, he was rewarded when her son, Henry II, finally took 
the throne.[7][8][d] With the extinction of the male line of the earls of Hereford in 
1155, Walter Devereux and his son, John,[2] joined the retinue of Humphrey II de 
Bohun, Lord of Trowbridge.[e]

When Humphrey III de Bohun died with an underage heir, John Devereux joined the 
retinue of William de Braose Junior, Lord of Bramber.[f] John Devereux would 
campaign in Wales and France under de Braose.

As one of the prominent knightly families of the Welsh Marches, the Devereux became 
closely entwined with the de Braose, de Lacy, de Longchamp, and Marshal families. 
Through these connections, and following the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1071, the 
Devereux family established holdings in Ireland over the next three generations.

Biography[edit]

Walter Devereux was born in 1173, the son of John Devereux.[9] His father died in 
1187[2] possibly from involvement in the de Braose campaigns in Wales and France. 
The Pipe Rolls of 1190 show 8 pounds and 13 pence of oblations due the king's court 
were pardoned for the lands of John Devereux in Herefordshire.[10] As Walter was 
under-age his lands and 2 castles (including Lyonshall) were taken into the hands of 
the king and placed in the possession of the sheriff of Hereford, William de Braose. 
Devereux participated in the expansion of the Norman holdings in Ireland, and in 1210 
Walter Devereux was listed as having been responsible to John (fitzJohn) Marshal for 
20 shillings of fees for the maintenance of soldiers ‘beyond the water that is called 
Stiuthe,' and 2 marks for those at Carrickfergus in Ireland[11]

Walter Devereux came of age in 1194.[2] His father had granted a church on his lands 
in Oxenhall, Gloucester, to the Knights Hospitaller in 1186, and on 27 October 1194 
Walter Devereux filed an Assize of mort d'ancestor against the Order over 2 marks 
rent in Oxenhall.[12][13][g]

About 1186 Walter had witnessed with his father the land grant of Maud de Hagarnel 
to the priory of Brecon.[14] About 1190 Devereux granted 12 acres of land near 
Berrington (Hereford) to the same priory ‘for the love he bore his lord, William de 
Braose the younger.’[15] This identifies Walter Devereux as a member of the military 
retinue of the Braose family. Devereux also witnessed the grant of land by William de 
Bradfelde of lands in Bradfield, Petercroft, Laneglege, lands near Mara, Estlege, and 
in Weteroft near the chapel to the priory of Brecon.[16] In 1211, Walter Devereux was 
listed as having held 1/2 knight's fee of the honor of Brecon.[17]

Marriage[edit]

Walter Devereux married Cecilia de Longchamp,[2] daughter of Hugh de Longchamp.
[9][h]

They had children:
Stephen Devereux,[2][9] his heir and a retainer of William Marshal, 1st Earl of 
Pembroke.
John Devereux,[18][19][20][21][22] Knight of Bodenham and Decies (Ireland). He was 
enfoeffed by Thomas fitzAnthony,[23] the loyal retainer of William Marshal.[i]
Nicholas Devereux,[24][25] Lord of Chanston (Hereford), and Steward of Meath 
(Ireland) for Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath[j][26]

Death[edit]

Walter Devereux died about 1197,[27] and as a member of the retinue of William de 
Braose this probably occurred in May 1197. At this time Braose was accompanying 
Richard I as England resumed its wars in France to recapture lands lost during his 
captivity. Many knights from the Welsh border were injured in the assault on the castle 
at Milly-sur-Therain where William Marshall himself led many into the fray.[28] After 
Walter's death, his sons were fostered for training as knights: Stephen Devereux with 
William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke; Nicholas Devereux with Walter de Lacy, Lord 
of Meath; and John Devereux with William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber. These 
sons would sire the three Devereux families that would play an integral role in 
controlling the Welsh marches during the thirteenth century. Also following the death 
of her husband, Cecilia began a series of legal fights to establish her dower rights 
which when added to the holdings of her eldest son, Stephen Devereux, provides an 
indication of the extent of the Devereux holdings at the time.

Walter’s ancestor, William Devereux, held Eastleach, Gloucester at Domesday in 
1086. He had made grants in Leach and Hatherop in 1096 to the church of St Peter in 
Gloucester.[29] On 30 November 1215, the charters for the monastery of Saint Peter 
from 23 July 1100 were reviewed and confirmed.[30] Among the grants were the lands 
in Eastleach comprising the greater part of the tithes of Lady Sibillae de Evereus 
(Cecilia Devereux). Cecilia was granted in May 1198 a hearing of a plea against 
Robert de Lechelad (Leachland) to be held on 20 October 1198 involving a half hide 
and 6 acres (36 acres) of land near Leach in Gloucester.[31][32] Robert de Lechelad 
probably died later that year as in mid-May 1199 Master Ralph de Lechelad put Hugh 
de Welles in his place for the ongoing land plea against Cecilia, and a new date was 
set for 25 November 1199.[33]William de Lechelad, Master Ralph’s brother, was also 
granted a hearing at the same court if his health permitted. On 8 July 1199 Hugh de 
Welles, acting in place of Ralph de Lechelad, was granted a petition for the case to 
go forward as Ralph had recovered from his illness.[34] As the matter progressed 
through the courts, on 8 November 1199 Cecilia Devereux put William Prudhome in 
her place in the matter of her plea against the brothers, Master Ralph and William de 
Lechelad.[35] On 23 April 1200 it was postponed yet again until the king and court 
returned from Normandy.[36] On 29 May 1200 Master Ralph and William de Lechelad 
put Hugh fitzWilliam in their place regarding the ongoing court case involving the 36 
acres of land contested by Cecilia Devereux.[37] The suit was adjourned without 
receiving a new date in January 1201 as the Lord of Norwich (John de Grey, Bishop of 
Norwich) was overseas on the king’s service, and Master Ralph de Lichelade was in 
his service.[38]

The court case between Devereux and Lechelad would not resume again for 10 years. 
On 14 October 1211 William de Lechelad testified under his sworn oath that by 
inheritance he had greater right to Leach, Gloucester, which Cecilia held in demesne.
[39] Cecelia presented her claim to Leach as her right because her grandfather, 
William Devereux[k] held the land in the time of Henry, the king’s father.[l] William de 
Lechelad claimed the greater right to the holding based on his descent from William 
Devereux,[m] and the passing of the land from William Devereux to Lechelad’s mother, 
Orenge Devereux. Further, Lechelade stated that Cecilia’s right only was through 
marriage. The case was granted a new date on 19 November 1211.[40] On 19 
November 1211 Cecilia put in her place Thomas fitzWilliam in the ongoing land dispute 
which had been delayed again.[41] In January 1212 the assize was put in respite 
again due to a lack of jurors, and a new date given on 9 April 1212.[42] On 21 May 
1212, the hearing was delayed yet again due to lack of jurors, and a claim by Peter de 
Barton that William de Lechelade had not recovered from his previous illness. The 
court did not require Cecilia Devereux to accept this excuse as 4 knights had not yet 
confirmed his illness, and a new date was set.[43] On 24 June 1212 the final hearing 
took place, and the jury found in favor of William de Lechelad and his heirs. Cecilia 
Devereux could make no further claims on these 33 acres.[44] The Pipe Roll for 
Michaelmas 1212 records the payment by Cecilia Devereux of 2 marks for making a 
false claim.[45]

On 30 November 1216 Cecilia demised all of her remaining lands and men in Eastleach 
for 5 years to the monks of Bruerne.[46] On 23 February 1220 Robert de Turville paid 
the court half a mark to summon Cecilia Devereux to confirm a warrant for 12 virgate 
(360 acres) of land in Eastleach, Gloucester.[47] On 22 May 1220 Turville claimed the 
right to warranty the land, and presented a supporting charter. Cecilia acknowledged 
the previous charter, and requested permission for them to come to an agreement and 
grant him a new charter re-affirming his warranty. The right to enter an agreement was 
withheld as the new charter contained a release by Robert de Turville of estover 
rights to Cecilia Devereux that had not been present in the original gift. This issue 
involved the rights of Turville’s wife, and this had not been defined in the new 
document. The matter was discharge without a day until they could correct this.[48] 
The Testa de Nevill records Cecilia Devereux and Galliana de Turville as holding 3 
knight’s fees in Eastleach of the fee of Walter de Lacy for ¼ pound.[49]

Walter’s ancestor, William Devereux, also held land at Elnodestune, Herefordshire at 
Domesday in 1086. Cecilia put forward a claim in late 1201 on 140 acres of bocage 
(woods and pasture) in Mescott, part of Alnatheston (Elnodestune), as the heir of her 
uncle, Roger Devereux, who held the land of Walter de Lacy.[50] The court found in 
her favor, and validated her claim in January 1202.[51][52]

Reginald de Dunhers of Elnodestune would counter her claim to 33 acres in 
Elnodestune. On 22 June 1205 Cecilia Devereux put Simon Tirell in her place for this 
land plea.[53] Dunhers requested a delay of the hearing due to illness. In May 1206 
Richard of Chandos, John Bankington, Geoffrey Ruff, and Jordan of Manington were 
sent to confirm that Reginald de Dunhers was truly too ill to attend the court 
proceedings. On 25 May 1206 they confirmed that he was incapacitated, and a new 
hearing granted for 26 June 1207 at the Tower of London.[54] On 26 June 1206 the 
delay granted on 25 May 1206 due to Reginald’s illness was again confirmed, and the 
delay was extended indefinitely due to the absence of Reginald’s son, John de 
Dunhers, in the service of the king overseas.[55] On 29 January 1207 Cecilia 
Devereux claimed in court that the 33 acres in Elnodestune were hers by hereditary 
right as they had been held by her grandfather, William Devereux, in the time of 
Henry, father of the king.[56] Reginald denied her right making a grand assize of his 
own claiming a greater right to the land, and a day was granted on 6 May 1207 to hear 
the case. Reginald put his son, John of Dunhers, in his place for this hearing. On 7 
October 1207 Reginald de Dunhers gave the king 1 mark for an agreement between 
him and Cecilia Devereux regarding the 33 acres in Elnodestune. The payment was 
guaranteed by pledge of John de Dunhers and Lawrence Canute.[57]

On 26 January 1222 Cecilia Devereux paid the court a half mark to move a case from 
the regional court to the superior courts held during Easter term at Westminster. The 
plea involved the complaint of Richard Fulcon (Fulton) concerning 2 knight’s fees in 
Alnathestun (Elnodestune).[58] The half mark was recorded as paid on the Pipe Roll 
for Michaelmas 1223.[59] On 14 January 1224 Richard, son of Godfrey Fulton, brought 
suit against Cecilia Devereux for one knight’s fee in Elnodestune, and one knight’s 
fee in Putley.[60] His claim was based on the land being held by his uncle, Roger 
Devereux, in the time of King Henry,[n] grandfather of the King,[o] and assessed at a 
value of 20 shillings.[p] Roger Devereux died without heirs and his rights passed to a 
sister, Sybil Devereux. Sybil had a son, Godfrey Fulton, and a grandson, the 
complainant Richard Fulton.[q] Cecilia countered Fulton’s claims. Concerning the fee 
of Elnodestune, she did not hold that fee directly, but as part of the holding of Walter 
de Lacy. Richard Fulton could not counter this and yielded his complaint. Concerning 
the fee of Putley, she denied holding a whole fee, but admitted possessing a third of a 
fee. Richard Fulton indicated that regardless of whether it is a third or a whole fee, 
this is the fee that corresponds to his ancestor's holding. Cecilia put forward that the 
court should deny his claim as Roger Devereux had two sisters, Orenge and Sybil, and 
they possess an equal claim. As the descendents of Orenge put forward no claim,[r] 
she asserts that she should not respond to the current complaint. Fulton countered 
that Orenge never married the man she was betrothed to, and her children by Parson 
Ralph de Lichelade were illegitimate. Cecilia put forward that it is true Orenge did not 
marry her fiancée, but land was given her as dowry based on her relationship with 
Parson Ralph. These rights passed to her children thereby establishing their 
legitimacy. The land passed to Orenge’s son, Master Ralph de Lechelad, who gave it 
to his brother, William. Cecilia showed that she had sued William, and the king’s court 
found in Lechelad’s favor confirming legitimacy. She called for the court to vouch this 
warranty, which was done, and the court found in favor of Cecilia.[61] About 1235, 
the Book of Fees compiled the military tenants of the Honour of Weobley who held of 
Walter de Lacy. The list included William Devereux, grandson of Cecilia by her eldest 
son, Stephen, holding a half fee in (Lower) Hayton, Salop; and Cecilia Devereux and 
her son, Nicholas, holding four fees with William de Furches. Nicholas Devereux's 
holdings included Chanstone manor in Elnodestune, Herefordshire.

Walter’s ancestor, William Devereux, also had land at Putley at the time of Domesday 
in 1086.[62][63] William Devereux granted the chapel of Putley to the canons of the 
Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert (later incorporated into Hereford). The gift 
would be confirmed by later charters[64]The Testa de Nevill showed Cecilia Devereux 
holding land in Putley.[65] She put forward a claim on the church at Putley, which was 
granted by the king’s court.

In April 1205 the Bishop of Hereford was summoned to appear before the court for his 
refusal to admit a suitable priest to this church currently in the possession of Cecilia 
Devereux. In his defense he stated that the clergy of the Hereford Chapter refused to 
allow an appointment as they claimed possession of this chapel. They requested the 
right to present their case.[66] On 6 June 1205 Hugh, Dean of Hereford, paid 2 marks 
for convening another court to hear his suit countering the recognition of Cecilia’s 
holding of the chapel at Putley.[67][68] On 29 June 1206, the Bishop of Hereford and 
his attorney appeared before the court claiming the church of Putley as their right, and 
that the grant to Cecilia Devereux had only occurred because the hearing proceeded 
too quickly to allow them to present their case. When the canons were informed of 
Cecilia’s claim, they had requested that the sheriff of Hereford put her claim on hold 
and were told this would require a warrant of the king. The canons submitted an 
assize presenting their position, and paid 12 shillings for the court to be summoned.
[69] On 15 October 1206 the Canons of Hereford appeared to show by what right the 
claim of Cecilia to the chapel of Putley should be set aside. They argued that they had 
been in possession of the chapel for over 60 years, and presented the original charter 
granting them the chapel by William Devereux. They also presented a charter the 
Bishop of Hereford, which later confirmed the original grant. They argued that the 
granting of the claim of Cecilia Devereux had occurred too quickly for them to 
respond, and when they had discovered that it had occurred they began the 
proceedings to regain their rights. On the payment of 40 shillings, the sheriff was 
ordered to have a jury assembled on 26 November 1206.[70] The sheriff failed to 
gather the jury on this day and the hearing was postponed to January 1207.[71] Hugh, 
Dean of Hereford, put Walter de la Puille in his place for the hearing now occurring on 
29 January 1207.[72] On this date the court found in favor of the Canons of Hereford. 
On 7 October 1207 Cecilia Devereux was fined 3 marks, and she released her claims 
and those of her future heirs. The canons paid Cecilia 8 marks, and granted her the 
privilege of having her name celebrated in Hereford Cathedral at the annual 
thanksgiving to benefactors, and daily in service of the church of Putley.[73][74]

Parents
D'EVEREUX John (ABT 1140 - 1187)

Siblings
D'EVEREUX Walter (1173 - ABT 1197)

Marriage To DE LONGCHAMP Cecelia ()
    m.  

Notes

Parents
DE LONGCHAMP Hugh ()
----- ----- ()

Children by DE LONGCHAMP Cecelia 
D'EVEREUX Stephen (ABT 1191 - 1228)

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