William Devereux (~1037 to ~1110)

William Devereux was born about 1037, the son of William d'Évreux by an unnamed first wife, and grandson of the archbishop of Rouen.

Following the death of his father, William d’Evreux, his stepmother, and sisters came under the care of Hawise’s son by her first husband, Robert de Grantmesnil. This Robert had joined the monastery at St. Evroult, but remained an irritable and headstrong individual. Believing his abbot devoted too much time to spiritual matters and too little to secular, Robert became zealous in the cause of religion. Orderic stated that Robert:    …suffered much inconvenience in supplying the necessities of the church, and often laid hands on the substance of his kinsfolk, who were very wealthy,charitably distributing it in the support of the faithful.

In this manner Grantmesnil paid his mother, Hawise, forty livres of Rouen to deprive her of her dower by transfer to St. Evroult. This consisted of lands in Noyer-Menard, Vieux-Mesnil, La Tanaisie and Mesnil Dode. He conferred many benefits on his church both by furnishing ecclesiastical ornaments and the necessary comforts. It is probable that Grentemesnil also siphoned off the wealth of the under-age William Devereux and his brother, Roger.

William’s stepmother, and half-sisters, Judith and Emma, took holy vows probably under Grentemesnil’s encouragement and entered a nunnery at Ouche, Normandy. Like Robert himself, William, was probably placed as a squire for training as a knight at age 14 (~1051); and this probably was in the household of Ilbert de Lacy. Similarly, his brother, Roger Devereux, was probably placed for training in the household of his future overlord, William d’Ecoius. Following William’s stepmother’s death, Robert de Grandmesnil became Judith and Emma d’Evreux’s guardian, and probably served this role for William and his brother, Roger. William Devereux also maintained the dual role established by his father and grandfather as having a position in the church associated with the Rouen cathedral.

About 1058 William Devereux’s guardianship ended. In June 1059 his stepbrother, Robert, became abbot of St. Evroult. Drawing upon the resources of his wealthy relatives further, he funded an expansion of the abbey and laid the foundations of a new church. Over the next two years, though, quarrels broke out between the Norman barons, and Duke William was convinced of the disloyalty of the Giroie and Grentemesnil extended family. This probably also created suspicion of William Devereux as well.

Abbot Robert was summoned before the duke to answer false charges brought by a prior of St. Evroult that he had commented disparagingly upon duke William’s character. Upon learning of these allegations Robert consulted Hugh, Bishop of Lisieux, who noting the Duke’s wrath advised him to leave Normandy. On 27 January 1061 Robert departed with two monks, Fulk and Urse, and left William’s half-sisters in the convent at Ouche.

After visiting Rome, the abbot returned to Normandy armed with apostolic letters and two papal legates. This enraged Duke William further, and Robert fled back to Italy with eleven loyal monks. William’s half-sisters, Judith and Emma, renounced their vows and went with him arriving in Rome by September 1061.

William Devereux and his brother, Roger, remained in Normandy, but probably remained under suspicion. This could have been tempered by their uncle, Richard d’Evreux, count of Evreux.

There are indications William Devereux fought at Hastings as he was rewarded with lands along the Welsh Marches in Herefordshire and Gloucester that he held at Domesday in 1086.

William Devereux married Hawise de Lacy, daughter of Walter de Lacy. This marriage occurred after 1066 as her dowry included post-conquest land grants. They had issue:

• Gilbert Devereux (~1068), Chaplain and Treasurer to Henry I (Probably named for his father’s pre-conquest feudal lord, Ilbert de Lacy)

• Walter Devereux (~1070), Lord of Lyonshall (Probably named for his maternal grandfather, Walter de Lacy)

About 1082 William Devereux placed his eldest son in training for the church and knighthood in Rouen, and gave him responsability for the Devereux family's Norman possessions he would inherit. About 1084 William Devereux placed his younger son, Walter, in training as a knight with his post-conquest feudal lord, Roger de Lacy. By the time of Domesday in 1086 his son was listed as holding Lyonshall. At the direction of Roger de Lacy, Walter Devereux oversaw the construction of Lyonshall Castle about 1091. When de Lacy was exiled in 1095 the castle came under the direct control of Walter Devereux, and eventually his descendants became its chief lords and inherited the majority of William Devereux's acquired lands in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

William Devereux was a benefactor of the Abbey at Gloucester (Church of St. Peter in Gloucester). In 1086 William the Conqueror issued a charter to the abbey confirming the land it possessed, and William Devereux was identified as giving 1 hide of land.

In the year of the Incarnation of our Lord one thousand and eighty-six, I, William, king of the English, petition Serlo, Abbot of Gloucester, and some of my nobility, conceding to God and the church of St Peter in Gloucester, possession of the lands Thomas, archbishop held of the same church, namely … and in Herefordshire one hide from Robert Curtis; and also one from William of Ebroycis; …

During the time of King William Rufus in 1096 he was identified as granting a hide in Herefordshire, and two tenths (duas decimas) from 'Leech and Hadrop'.

In the year of the incarnation of our Lord one thousand and ninety-sixth. I, William, King of England petition Serlo, abbot of Gloucester, and some of my nobility to grant to God and the church of St. Peter in Gloucester possess of the lands and alms which Archbishop Thomas held in thesame church, that is … And in Herefordshire one hide from Robert Curtis, and the other of William Devereux, and two tenths from Leach and Hatherop (Leech et Hadrop), of the gift of the said William… Also the tenth of Gatredeope a gift from Walter Lineshalla…

A list of donations to the abbey showed William Devereux giving one hide of land in Jerchenfeld, Westone, and tithes from Haythrop, in the time of Abbot Serlo (1072 to 1104).

The Westone. William de Ebroicis gave one hide of land in Jerchenfeld, Westone, and tithes from Haythrop, in the time of Abbot Serlo.

Other sources indicate he confirmed the grant of a hide in Herefordshire to St. Peter’s Abbey at Gloucester in the tenth year of Henry I (1110). During the time of Abbot William (1113 to 1130) a woman named Hawise, identified as the widow of William Devereux, appeared on a list of donations as giving the land called Hyde, and that Walter de Lacy had given this to her upon her marriage.

The Hyde. Helewise, relict of William of Ebroys, gave to God and the church of St. Peter of Gloucester in Herefordshire a certain land called Hyde, that Walter de Lacy gave her in marriage, King Henry the Elder confirming during the time of William the Abbot.

The gift of William Devereux of one hide of land to the abbey was confirmed again by King Stephen in 1138,

In the year from the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, one thousand one hundred and thirty-eight, I, Stephen, king of the English, in the year of my kingdom the third, grant petition of Walter de Lacy, abbot of Gloucester, and some of my nobility, granting and confirming to the church of St. Peter of Gloucester the lands, churches and tithes, and all the donations, which the barons of England, gave to the aforesaid church, and that my ancestor kings confirmed by their charters; namely … in Herefordshire, one hide in Aspertonam a gift from the Robert Curtis; In the same area, one hide of the gift of William Devereux; ...

confirmed by the Archbishop of Canterbury between 1139 to 1148, and King Henry II about 1174.

Henry, by the grace of God king of England, duke of Normandy and Aquitaine, and count of Anjou, to the archbishops, bishops, abbots, earls, barons, justiciariiis, reeves, sheriffs, ministers, and all his faithful men, French and English, of all England, greeting. Know ye that I have granted and confirmed to the church of St. Peter of Gloucester, and the monks there serving God, all the lands, and the churches and tithes, and liberty, and the customs, and all the donations, that the previous Kings of England privileges granted to them. In addition, I grant to them, and confirm all those things which an archbishop or bishop, earls, and barons, and knights, or anyone else of my faithful subjects could reasonably have given the aforesaid church, and have confirmed their charters, that is, …. In Herefordshire one hide in Aspertone gift from the Robert Curtis; In the same area, one hide of the gift of William de Evreux; ...

William Devereux witnessed an undated grant by William de Hussemain of a tenement in the manor of Castle Frome, Herefordshire, to Walter de Longchamp. Another witness to this document, Baldwyn de Boulers, was married by 1102, and signed a charter of Henry I to Shrewsbury Abbey in 1121.

Around 1200 the Devereux family challenged the ownership by the church of some of the grants by William Devereux to the church. During court proceedings, the church produced charters confirming their right to the properties. It appears that, as was common at the time, these charters were doctored (or are forgeries) to support their claim as the witnesses are from a period about 30 years after William Devereux’s death.

Know all present and to come, that I, William Devereux, with the assent and advice of my wife, and my heirs, have given and granted God and St. Mary and St. Ethelbert all of my rights in the chapel of Puttely, and the right of patronage of the Chapel, by hand Dean Ralph cosigned: and that this will remain valid and unshaken, I confirmed my seal. Witnesses Dean Ralph, Gilbert of Overwyke, Ranulph fitzOrchemar, Mauritius Superior Hereford, Geoffrey de Scotot, Philip of Sernesfeld, and Ralph de Monselawe, and many other clergy and laity. 

Confirmation 'Ralph Murdac.' Let them know, so much of the future than the present, which I, 'Ralph Murdac,' it has been granted to God and the Church of St. Mary and St. Ethelbert of Hereford, and the canons of the congregation of the church, Puttelega of the church, with all its appurtenances, to be held in perpetual alms, freely and quietly, which 'William D'Euvereus', has given my predecessor, and that I will have my own gift and to be ratified, and the present charter have confirmed to them by my seal it. Witness Richard Bishop of Winchester, Ralph of Glanvill, William Basset, Robert Mantel, Alexander Kaysneto, Ralph, his brother, and so on and many others, who will then be should in Westminster. before the justices of the king.

William Devereux died about 1110.