The Devereux Family of Balmagir, county Wexford, Ireland

?      Hugh Devoueus

He was a witness to John Fitz-Geoffrey’s charter to Kells in the time of King John where his name appeared as “Hugh Devoueus.” Hugh may have been a Devereux, and possibly a younger brother or son of John Devereux of Lyonshall (grandfather of Stephen Devereux below) and a woman named Constance. He is not known to have children.

 

 

I1       Stephen Devereux of Lyonshall (son of Walter; See Wikipedia Page)

Stephen Devereux was born ~1191, the son of Walter Devereux and Cecilia de Longchamp. He was a part of the retinue and close confidante of William Marshal, earl of Pembroke and Leinster, who rewarded him with lands in Wexford. He died in 1227/8, but is still identified in 1236 (Ulster’s Office, Le Peer, page 155) as his children were under-age at this time.

His father died young in 1197, probably at the assault on Milly-sur-Therain (France) in May of that year when King Richard I was fighting to regain his French possessions. Stephen was placed in the household of William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, for training. His brothers were also placed for training: Nicholas Devereux with Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath; and John Devereux with William de Braose, Lord of Bramber. A pedigree of the Devereux of Ballybarne (Kilrush), County Wexford, indicates their family descended from the ‘ancient family of Devereux of Balmagir in that county, who settled there in the reign of King John’ (1199-1216). That would confirm their arrival in Ireland at this time, and they became Stephen Devereux of Balmagir; Nicholas Devereux, steward of Meath; and John Devereux of Decies.

Stephen Devereux married Isabel de Cantelupe and had children: William (who inherited his estates in Hereford), unknown daughter, Margaret Devereux (born ~1216 and married Alexander Redmond of The Hall, County Wexford), and Philip (who inherited his estates in Ireland, see below).

 

I1.1     Philip Devereux

Philip Devereux was born about 1221, the son of Stephen Devereux of Lyonshall and Isabel de Cantelupe. He spent his youth on the Devereux ancestral lands in Hereford. A pedigree of the Devereux of Carigmenan, County Wexford (held in the National Archives in Dublin) was headed by Philip Devereux with written annotation indicating he came to Ireland in 1232. The family remained in the retinue of the Earls of Pembroke.

Philip married Alicia De Headon, daughter of Alexander De Headon, knight of Balmagir. They had a son: Stephen Devereux II (his heir), and Sir John Devereux (born ~1249, and between 1272 to 1307 he founded the Convent for Friars Minors at New Ross).

 

I1.1.1   Stephen Devereux II

Stephen Devereux, knight of Balmagir, was born about 1245, the son of Philip Devereux and Alicia de Headon. Sir Stephen Devereux of Balmagir (1 Edward I, 1272). In 1280 he was named ‘Dominus’ or Lord when he witnessed a deed of Lord Henry de Carew in 1280. Stephen was identified as Lord of Balmagir and a knight in the obituary of his grandfather, Alexander de Redmond, in 1285. In 1296 he was chief of a grand jury on the Earl of Pembroke’s lands.

Stephen Devereux had children: Stephen Devereux III. He possibly had two more sons: Reymond Devereux and John Devereux. A John Devereux, son of Reymond Devereux, was feoffed in lands in Kyltra in 1384. 

 

I1.1.1.1  Stephen Devereux III

Stephen Devereux III of Balmagir was born about 1270 in Balmagir, Barony of Bargy (Modern Richfield), Ireland, the son of Stephen Devereux II and an unknown woman.

Devereux was knighted in 1307. He witnessed the charter of Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, to Wexford in 1317.

Stephen Devereux held on 26 July 1324 two knight’s fees at Maghermeyvyn (Maghmain) and Balmymagyr (Balmagir) in County Wexford by 4L of royal service. These were held from Aymer de Valencia, Earl of Pembroke.

It is recorded that the town wall whose construction began in the time of King John was not completed until Sir Stephen Devereux, knight of Balmagir, did it in the time of Edward III (1327 to 1377). He erected a grand west gate near the Abbey of Selskar. This was near to the large castle, with a gateway under it for a sally-port. Over the new gate Devereux placed his arms with the following inscription, “Nisi Dominus Custodit Civitatum Frusta Vigilant qui Custodiant Eam.” This gate was taken down in 1759, and eventually replaced in a plain manner.

Devereux made a deed to his sons in 1327, and identified: Nicholas Devereux (his heir), Alexander (~1303), Michael (~1305), Robert (~1307), William (~1309), and Stephen (~1311).

Alexander Devereux had two sons: Nicholas (died after 1367) and Robert (died after 1390).

Michael Devereux was Chief Sergeant of County Wexford before 1356.

William Devereux was a chaplain to the church of St. Mary (Wexford), with the chapels of Artkeyvan and Balibrenan annexed to the same church, in the diocese of Ferns.

Stephen Devereux was summoned among the county Wexford gentlemen to go to Scotland in 1335. He had a son, Walter Fitz-Stephen Devereux.

 

N1  Nicholas Devereux Senior

Nicholas Devereux Junior of Balmagir was born about 1299 in Balmagir, Barony of Bargy (Modern Richfield), Ireland.

He was summoned among the Magnates of Ireland in 1320 as Nicholas Devereux of Balmagir.

In 1336 he was appointed Keeper and Seneschall of the County, and the Earl of Pembroke’s lands. He held this office for 10 years.

In 1346 he was summoned among the gentry of the county of Wexford to attend the Lord Justice of Ireland with horse and arms. Other Devereux that were summoned included: Adam, Alexander, Richard, and Walter Fitz-Stephen.

On 3 February 1348 the King granted to Ralph Meillere, Nicholas Devereux and others the right to supervise the monastery of Dunbrothy (Dunbrody Abbey) in Ireland which had fallen into a decayed state.

In 1349 he was surety for John Esmond, late Bishop of Ferns.

In 1356 Nicholas Devereux appeared Custos Pacis in the County of Wexford along with Henry Fitz-Redmond.

The children of Nicholas Devereux Sr.: Nicholas Devereux Junior (his heir), and John Devereux (~1337).

            John Devereux was a clerk. On 27 October 1383, he received a pardon for all treasons, trespasses, and misprisions. On 01 August 1394 he was granted an exemption from the proclamation requiring all men born in Ireland to return there by the feast of the Assumption.

 

N1.1  Nicholas Devereux Junior

Nicholas Devereux Junior of Balmagir was born about 1335. The family was described in his time as the "Proud Devereux"

He married a woman named Johanna. Nicholas Devereux Junior died at Balmagir on 11 March 1379. On 12 March 1379 the custody of his lands was granted to Walter Synnott.

He had sons, Nicholas Devereux III his heir (~1368), John Fitz-Nicholas Devereux (~1375), and William Devereux (~1377).

John Fitz-Nicholas Devereux served as the attorney for Reginald de Grey in 1400. William Devereux signed a letter dated 26 June 1417 from the Prelates and Lords of the Pale to Henry V, on behalf of the great Earl of Shrewsbury.

 

N1.1.1     Nicholas Devereux III

Nicholas Devereux III was born about 1368. He married as a minor, and had a son, Nicholas Devereux IV, about 1386. He served as Attorney for Reginald Grey in 1390. He died in 1392 shortly after coming of age.

On 26 July 1392 the custody of the lands was granted to Thomas Denn, Bishop of Ferns and Johanna Devereux.

His widow, Johanna, married a second time to Nicholas Aunger of Ross after 1392. Nicholas Aunger gained custody of a messuage and three carucates of land in Balmagir until Nicholas IV came of age.

 

N1.1.1 .1 Nicholas Devereux IV

Nicholas Devereux IV was born about 1386. When he came of age in 1407 Nicholas Aunger complained that Nicholas had struck, wounded, and ill-treated him. A pardon was given to Nicholas Devereux IV and his uncle, John Fitz-Nicholas Devereux, for intrusions into the manor of Balmagir.

On 12 March 1408 he was appointed Justice of the Peace for Wexford County.

In 1413 Nicholas Devereux of Balmagir is appointed a commissioner for raising money in the barony of Bargy for presentation to the Prior of St. John of Jerusalem for his services in the county of Wexford.

In 1422 Nicholas appeared as one of five justices in six counties for inquiring into wrongs, etc.; and one of the four justices in the counties of Wexford and Waterford.

Nicholas Devereux, armiger, was granted the custody of the lands of Nicholas Hay on 30 December 1422, and the grant was revoked in 1423 (2 Henry VI).

            He had at least one son, John Devereux, who on 2 June 1460 witnessed a deed at Rathmacknee concerning the vicarage there.