Walter Devereux (died 1402)

Walter Devereux of Bodenham and Weobley
Spouse(s) Agnes Crophull

Issue

Walter Devereux of Bodenham
Richard Devereux
John Devereux
Thomas Devereux
Margaret Devereux
Elizabeth Devereux
Father Walter Devereux of Bodenham
Mother Maud
Born c 1361
Died 1402
Battle of Pilleth

Sir Walter Devereux of Bodenham and Weobley was a prominent knight in Herefordshire during the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV. He represented Hereford in Parliament, and gave rise to the Devereux Earls of Essex and Viscounts of Hereford.

Ancestry and childhood

Walter Devereux[1][2] was born about 1361, the son of Sir Walter Devereux (died c. 1383) [1][2][3] of Bodenham and a woman named Maud. His father was the cousin of John Devereux, 1st Baron Devereux of Whitchurch Maund,[lower-alpha 1] and they were close allies. Walter’s grandfather, William Devereux of Bodenham,[4] had made land concessions in Bodenham Parish (Hereford) to John Devereux about 1350, and throughout his life Baron Devereux appears to have promoted the career of his cousin’s son in the royal household.

His arms were: Argent a fesse gules, in chief three torteaux.

Career

Walter was a King’s esquire by 8 February 1382 when he and his father were appointed to a Royal Commission[2] to arrest William Solers for disseising John ap William ap Jankin of the manor of Dorstone. On the same date, he was appointed Constable of Builth Castle in Radnorshire during the minority of Roger Mortimer, earl of March.[5]

He also would be Commissioner of Arrest for Herefordshire (February 1382 and April 1401), and Salop (1382). He was a surety in March 1383 when John Burley and others took out a royal lease on certain Mortimer lands in Herefordshire and Brecon. In February 1385 he participated in an inquiry for a murder trial; in Feb. 1391 an inquiry regarding the alienation of the property Eaton Tregoes; and another murder inquiry in Aug. 1401. He also served on an array in April 1385, March 1392, and December 1399.

He was a justice of the peace for Herefordshire from 9 November 1385 to 1399, and member of Parliament for Herefordshire from 16 May 1401 to his death[6] He served as Sheriff of Herefordshire from 16 May to 8 November 1401.[7]

In April 1385 Devereux was given a commission of array to prepare Hereford for a believed imminent invasion by the French.[8] As a King’s esquire, Walter served on Richard II’s expedition to Scotland in the summer of 1385. However, despite his membership of the royal household, he apparently did not side with the King during the political crisis of 1387-8. He probably was following the lead of Baron John Devereux, who was a prominent supporter of the opposition party and a member of their commission of government. He was appointed in March 1388 to administer to the notables of Herefordshire the oath of loyalty to the Lords Appellant. After the forfeiture of Lyonshall Castle by Simon de Burley in 1388, Baron Devereux was granted the return of his family’s caput that had been alienated 87 years earlier, and he insured that Walter was granted his inheritance rights to the castle as well.

Having been knighted by 1387, Devereux participated in a naval expedition in the company of Sir Thomas Mortimer under the overall command of Richard fitzAlan, Earl of Arundel.[9] In 1390, he was mandated in this year to suppress the Lollards in Herefordshire.[10] He was granted clause volumus for one half year[11] to accompany Richard II to Ireland in September 1394, and he nominated Roger Wigmore and Thomas Oldcastle as his attorneys in his absence.[12] In 1400 he led a company in Henry IV's expedition to Scotland.[13]

Owain Glyndŵr rebelled against the English in 1400 when they tried to illegally seize his land. Intermittent fighting occurs over the next few years, and Walter Devereux was instructed to resist the Welsh rebels and relieve Abergavenny in May 1401. He made the proclamation of Henry IV’s intention to govern well in Herefordshire in May 1402.

Death

Ultimately the struggle with the Welsh led to the Battle of Pilleth on 22 June 1402.[lower-alpha 2] During the battle, Walter Devereux was mortally wounded, and died 3 days later.[14]

Walter Devereux is believed to have been buried in Weobley Church. Provided is an excerpt from the Journal of the British Archeological Association on this subject: The two monuments on the north and south sides of the chancel are described by Silas Taylor in 1665. Speaking of the one on the north side, he says, “near him, on the wall, hangs a wooden shield with the arms of Devereux. Over against it on the south side, another shield hangs up with a cross engrailed between four spear-heads. I could not discern the colours… A little lower, near the remains of the quire are the effigies of a man in close armour, and a woman”… I am disposed to think that the single figure represents Sir W. Devereux, who died in 1402, and the two figures represent John Marbury and Agnes his wife. I think so partly because Silas Taylor says the Devereux shield hung on the north side and the Marbury shield on the south. [lower-alpha 3][15][16]

Marriage

He married Agnes Crophull[1] (1371/3 to 3 February 1436) before November 1382.[17][18] She was the daughter of Thomas Crophull,[19] and granddaughter and heiress of John Crophull[20] and her cousin.

Upon their marriage, Agnes’ grandfather gave them Newbold Vernon in Leicester.[21][22] On his death in June 1383, they inherited interests in Braunston, and Cotesbach in Leicester. Thomas’ widow held the remaining Crophull properties as part of her dower. After the widow’s death and Agnes coming of age in September 1385, Walter Devereux seized the remaining estates based on his marriage right in 1386.[23] These included Weobley manor (Herefordshire); Sutton Bonnington manor and lands at Arnold (Nottinghamshire); the manors of Cotesbach, Braunston, and Hemington (Leicestershire); and an estate at Market Rasen (Lincolnshire). Weobley would become his principal residence.

They had children:[lower-alpha 4] Sir Walter Devereux his heir (1387).,[1][lower-alpha 5][24] Sir Richard Devereux (c. 1389) ),[1][24][25][26] Sir John Devereux (c. 1391),[1][24][26][27][28] Thomas (c. 1393), Margaret (c. 1396), and Elizabeth (c. 1401).[29][30][lower-alpha 6]

Agnes survived her husband and was the godmother Humphrey, earl of Stafford in August 1402.[31]She married a second time to John Parr of Kendall about 1403. John Parr died about September 1407, and his heir was a son Thomas (aged 2).[lower-alpha 7] By their son, Thomas, John Parr and Agnes were ancestors of the sixth queen consort of King Henry VIII, Catherine Parr.

Agnes Crophull married a 3rd time to John Merbury (died 3 February 1438) in 1416.[32] By 1428 John Merbury is indicated as holding one share of Lyonshall previously held by Lord Fitzwalter.

When Agnes Crophull died on 9 February 1436, her heir was Walter Devereux, grandson of her first husband through their son, Walter Devereux (died 1420). Lyonshall passed to this grandson from her, and also by right of his wife, Elizabeth Merbury, who was the daughter of Agnes Crophull’s third husband, John Merbury, by a previous marriage. Agnes was buried at Weobley as described above.

Biographical References

Specific References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Charles Mosley (editor). Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 106th Edition. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, 1999. Volume 1, pages1378-80
  2. 1 2 3 Calendar of Patent Rolls, Volume 2, Page 132. 1382, 8 February, Westminster, membrane 35d
  3. ↑ , Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II, volume 2. H.C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). 1920. Pages 216 to 222, 25 October 1382, Westminster
  4. ↑ G.E. Cokayne. Complete Baronetage. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1984. Volume IV, page296
  5. ↑ , Calendar of Patent Rolls, volume 2, page 96. 1382, 8 February, membrane 30
  6. ↑ John Duncumb Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford, volume 1. Hereford: E.G. Wright. 1804, Page 152
  7. ↑ Calendar of the Fine Rolls, Henry IV, Volume 12, 1399-1405. London. 1931. Page 94 (16 May 1401, membrane 25)
  8. ↑ , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Volume 2, page 589. 1385, 26 April, Westminster, membrane 31d
  9. ↑ , The Soldier in Late Medieval England website. University of Southampton. Walter Devereux, membrane 10, TNA E101/40/33 and 21, TNA E101/40/34
  10. ↑ William Henry Cooke. Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford in continuation of Duncumb’s History. Hundred of Grimsworth. London: John Murray, Albermarle Street. 1892, Page 12, Greytree Hundred
  11. ↑ , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Volume 5, page 451. 1394, 7 August, Westminster, membrane 36
  12. ↑ , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Volume 5, page 476. 1394, 23 September, Haverford, membrane 25
  13. ↑ , The Soldier in Late Medieval England website. University of Southampton. Walter Deverose/Devereux, membrane 23, TNA E101/41/1
  14. ↑ UK National Archives, Walter Devereux, knight: Herefordshire. [30 September 1402 – 29 September 1403] Reference: C 137/34/9. Description: Chancery: Inquisitions Post Mortem, Series 1, Henry IV. Walter Devereux, knight: Herefordshire, Date: 4 Henry IV
  15. ↑ Rev. H.W. Phillott. On Weobley Church and Castle. The Journal of the British Archeological Association. London: Printed for the Association, 1871. Page 353.
  16. ↑ An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Herefordshire, Volume 3: North West. The Royal Commission on Historical Monuments. Page 74, Weobley
  17. ↑ 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 [Hereford]: Jakeman & Carver, 1902). Page 42 to 49. Parish of Castle Frome, Genealogy contributed by Lord Hereford
  18. ↑ Joseph Henry Parry (Transcriber). Diocesis Herefordensis, Registrum Johannis Gilbert. London: Issued for the Canterbury and York Society at 114 Chancery Lane, June 1915. Part XLV, Vol. XVIII, Page 54-55
  19. ↑ , Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II, volume 2. H.C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). 1920. pages 321 to 332. 20 October 1383, Westminster.
  20. ↑ Calendar of the Fine Rolls, Richard II, Volume 10, 1383-1391. London. 1929. Page 2
  21. ↑ , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Richard II, volume 2. University of Iowa digital library. Page 183-4, 4 November 1382, Westminster, membrane 10.
  22. ↑ , Calendar of Patent Rolls, Richard II, volume 2. University of Iowa digital library. Page 232, 4 November 1383, Westminster, membrane 10
  23. ↑ , Calendar of Close Rolls, Richard II, Volume 3. H.C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). 1921. pages 32 to 35, 27 September 1385, Westminster
  24. 1 2 3 UK National Archives [30 July 1428] Reference: E 40/6038. Grant by Maurice Tayllour of Webbeley (Weobley), Roger Heynes of Aston, Richard Baby and William Mym of Webbeley, to John, Walter, and Richard Devereux, and John Skydmore, esquires, of all the lands and tenements &c. which the grantors lately had of the gift of John Bradeley of Leomynstre, mercer, in Bradeley and in the fees of Webbeley, Dylewe (Dylwin) and Piona Regis (King's Pion): [Heref.] Date: 30 July 6 Henry VI
  25. ↑ UK National Archives, [21 March 1421 – 20 March 1422] Reference: E 101/70/735, Description: Parties to Indenture: Indentures between the king and the following for service in France. Richard Devereux, Date: 9 Henry V
  26. 1 2 , Calendar of Patent Rolls, volume 2, page 376. 1434, 1 May, membrane 27
  27. ↑ Harris Nicholas. The History of the Battle of Agincourt; and of the Expedition of Henry the Fifth Into France:, To which is Added, The Roll of the Men at Arms, in the English Army. London: Johnson, Brooke Street, Holbern, 1827. Page 88
  28. ↑ UK National Archives, Petitioners: John Deveros (Devereux) and Joan Deveros (Devereux) his wife. [1409] Reference: SC 8/43/2101
  29. ↑ William Henry Cooke. Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford in continuation of Duncumb’s History. Hundred of Grimsworth. London: John Murray, Albermarle Street. 1892, Page 51 and 58, Grimsworth Hundred
  30. ↑ Charles Robinson. A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire. (London: Longmans and Company, 1872). page 56
  31. ↑ Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Henry VI. (London: Mackie and Co., 1908). E149/132/4m.1. Humphrey Earl of Stafford. 369. [Writ de etate probanda not extant] Herefordshire and the Adjacent March of Wales. Proof of age. Weobley. 18 November 1423 [Monyngton]
  32. ↑ , accessed 4 December 2013, The History of Parliament Online; John Merbury (d. 1438), of Lyonshall and Weobley, Herefs.

Notes

  1. ↑ They shared common descent from Stephen Devereux of Bodenham and Burghope, son of William Devereux, Baron Devereux of Lyonshall who died in 1314. For Walter Devereux his descent was: Stephen Devereux, William Devereux of Bodenham, Walter Devereux of Bodenham, and Walter Devereux of Weobley. The descent of Baron John Devereux was: Stephen Devereux, John Devereux of Manne, and John Devereux of Whitchurch Maund.
  2. ↑ The inscription on his daughter, Elizabeth's tomb is reported to be: Here lieth the bodies of Sir John Milborne and Elizabeth his wife, daughter of the most honourable knight of England, Sir Walter Devereux, who was slain at the great battle of Pilleth
  3. ↑ It has been suggested that the Devereux buried here is Walter Devereux's son and heir, Walter who died in 1420. They base this on the appearance of the armor being consistent with that worn in the 1420s, and the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments indicated a date c. 1430. The counter-argument is that the monument was raised after his death at the time of the death of his widow, Agnes Crophull, in 1437.
  4. ↑ Burke's Peerage, 106th edition, indicates a possible daughter, Joan, that married Thomas Swynford, but she may have been the sister of Walter Devereux (died 1402). The Peerage also indicates possibly 2 additional sons: Stephen and Roger.
  5. ↑ His three elder sons (Walter, Richard, and John) are all reported to have fought at the Battle of Agincourt in1415
  6. ↑ Burke's Peerage, 106th Edition, records her as being his grand-daughter, but the description on her tomb described in the note above records her as a daughter
  7. ↑ In 1431 there was a licence for John Merbury, Esquire, and Agnes, his wife, to surrender the one third of a fourth part of the Manor of Kyrkeby Kendale which they hold in chief as her dower of the heritage of Thomas de Parr, esquire, son and heir of John de Par, sometime her husband.
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