Stephen Devereux (died 1350) of Bodenham and Burghope was a member of a prominent knightly family in Herefordshire during the reigns of Edward I, Edward II and Edward III. An important retainer of the de Bohun Earls of Hereford, he gave rise to the Devereux Earls of Essex and Viscounts of Hereford.
Ancestry and childhood Stephen DevereuxMorgan 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 42–49. Parish of Castle Frome, Genealogy contributed by Lord Hereford was born probably in the range 1289-1295,In the legal battle over Lyonshall between 1306 and 1310, Stephen Devereux was consistently described as being of 'non-age' during these events. This indicates he had not reached the legal age of 21 years by 1310. the son of Walter Devereux of BodenhamAnthony Story. Inquisitions and Assessments Relating to Feudal Aids: 1284-1431, Volume II: Dorset to Huntingdon. (London: Public Record Office, 1900). Pages 378, 384, 394Evelyn Philip Shirley. Stemmata Shirleiana. (Westminster: Nichols and Sons, 1873). page 103 to 104 and his wife, Margery de Braose. His grandmother, Alice Grandison, died shortly after the birth of his father, and his grandfather married a second time to Lucy Burnell. She gave birth to his half-uncle, John Devereux of Frome, whose descendants would later contend with Stephen over control of their patrimony.The early death of Stephen Devereux's grandmother, Alice de Grandison, and the granting for life of some of the attainted Devereux lands directly to his step-great-grandmother, Maud de Giffard, facilitated the passage of lands to John Devereux including Frome, Holme Lacy, Stoke Lacy, and Lower Hayton. His grandfather spent his life struggling to regain control of the lands forfeited by Stephen's great-grandfather who had died in rebellion at the Battle of Evesham in 1265, and were subject to the Dictum of Kenilworth. Stephen Devereux's coat of arms was the same as his father: argent a fess gules, in chief three torteaux.
Marriage He married Cicely.Cicely's last name may be de la Wood. On 27 Oct 1328 William de la Wood the Elder was granted Willersley manor; and 3 messuages, 2 carucates, 45 acres of land, and 2 shillings rent in Weobley, Norton Canon, Willersley, and Bredwardine from Parson John Gomond with remainder to William de la Wood the Younger, and in absence of heirs successively to William Devereux, Nicholas Devereux, and Richard Clehonger. William Devereux was the patron of the rectory in Willersley parish, Herefordshire in 1349.Some Notes of On Medieval English Genealogy. CP 25/1/82/37, number 10Stephen Devereux possibly had a second wife, Agnes, who was his widow. There is a reference in the will of Elizabeth de Bohun, Countess of Northampton, dated 31 May 1356 to an Agnes Devereux. They had children: Walter Devereux of Bodenham.
About 1331 Sir Walter Devereux witnessed the grant for life by Walter fitzRichard of Bulley (Gloucestershire) to Hugh and Mabel de Bradfield of 20 acres of land and a fourth part of the meadow held in Bulley of the fee of the Hospital for 20s and rent of 2s yearly. This probably means he had to then at least be an adult (aged 21). A copy of this grant is held in the Devereux Papers at Longleat House. On 1 February 1338 he set out on pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. With the outbreak of the war with France, Devereux was back in support of the Earl of Northampton, and probably participated in the battles of Sluys and of Morlaix, and the campaigns in Brittany. Walter Devereux was in the retinue of the king when Edward III invaded France in 1346. He was present at the Battle of Crécy on 26 August 1346.George Wrottesley. Crecy and Calais, From the Original Record in the Public Record Office. (London: Harrison and Sons, St. Martin's Lane, 1898). Page 94, French Roll, 20 Edward III, Part I, Membrane 9 As a retainer of William de Bohun, he probably fought in the second division.George Wrottesley. Crecy and Calais, From the Original Record in the Public Record Office. (London: Harrison and Sons, St. Martin's Lane, 1898). Page 30 On 10 November 1351, Devereux received a commission with Thomas de Cary, sheriff of Somerset and Dorset, to arrest Nicholas de Poyntz and his servants.Calendar of Patent Rolls, Edward III, Volume IX, 1350-1354. (London: Mackie and Co, 1907). Page 204, 10 Nov 1351 Walter Devereux seized Hoke and Stapulford in Dorset on 6 January 1355 following the death of Joan, widow of Robert Syfrewast of Hoke, claiming to be the chief lord of these lands.Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Volume X, Edward III. (London: Mackie and Co., 1909). 563. Robert Syfrewast of Hoke Devereux held the estates until 1 August 1355 when they were taken into the king's hands. He died without issue about 1359. William Devereux of Bodenham
Career Upon the death of his father, Walter Devereux, in 1305 Stephen Devereux was the heir to the ancestral Devereux lands in Bodenham and Burghope.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, Albemarle Street. 1892, Page 2, Parish of Bishopstone He could not however, be the lord of the places until he was of age which happened several years afterwards. Large parts of Bodenham had been in the possession of his family since the Domesday Survey when they were held by a William Devereux. Burghope had been held by the Longchamp family,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, Albemarle Street. 1892, Page 172, Grimsworth Hundred and probably came into the possession of the Devereux through the marriage of Walter Devereux with Cecilia de Longchamp as did other lands at Frome Herbert (Halmond) in 1205.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: Jakeman & Carver, 1902. Page 47
He was a retainer of the de Bohun's, and his family had been drawn into the private war between Humphrey de Bohun, 3rd Earl of Hereford, and Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, in 1291., Accessed 13 January 2014, British History Online. Parliament Rolls of Medieval England, Roll 5 (SC 9/5). Proceedings on the complaint of the earl of Hereford against the earl of Gloucester It is probable that de Bohun's defiant actions in support of baronial rights may have contributed to an unfavourable disposition by King Edward I towards the Devereux family.
Stephen's grandfather, Baron Devereux of Lyonshall, to meet debts incurred in the service of the King in Gascony, was forced to grant in 1299 his castle of Lyonshall to Roger, 1st Baron de la Warr. Within the year de la Warr transferred it to Walter de Langton, Bishop of Coventry, and in 1300 the Baron is shown granting Lyonshall to the Bishop for life. Later that same year Langton in turn placed Lyonshall in the possession of William Tuchet who began styling himself as Lord of Lyonshall.
Following the death of Edward I in July 1307, Walter de Langton was arrested, and his lands seized. The bishop was brought to trial for corruption, and during the proceedings the court dealt with the ownership of Lyonshall.Alice Beardwood. Records of the Trial of Walter Langeton, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, 1307-1312. (London: University College, 1969). Pages 71, 201, 202, and 258 The sheriff of Herefordshire was ordered to determine if Sir William Devereux, Lord of Lyonshall, or his heirs held the castle. The sheriff reported that William Devereux held nothing, but William Tuchet and Richard de AbyndonAppointed baron of the Exchequer in 1299, he worked closely with Walter de Langton and would receive a prebend in Lichfield Cathedral in 1304. possessed certain lands and tenements previously held by Devereux. On 30 November 1307 William Tuchet testified that William Devereux currently held the manor of Tasley, Shropshire, and the Bishop of ChesterThe bishopric of Chester at this time was held by Walter de Langton as part of the bishopric of Coventry held some of the other tenements in the county of Salop, which together Devereux held on the day of the debt's recognition in 1300.
The court proceedings continued from term to term, and William Devereux failed to appear to protect his family's interests (possibly due to some incapacity either from old age or injuries suffered from many years of military service). The reversion of Lyonshall after the death of William Devereux and his second wife, Lucy Burnell, had been granted to Walter Devereux, William's son by his first marriage and Stephen's father. As his father had died in 1305, Stephen Devereux seized this opportunity in 1308 to drive Tuchet from Lyonshall by force.Placitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi asservatorum abbrevatio, temporibus regum Ric. I., Johann., Henr. III, Edw. I, Edw. II. (London: Public Record Office, 1811). Page 304 In June 1308 Tuchet requested 30 pounds compensation for damages and losses caused by the attacks executed by Stephen Devereux and 4 others.Placitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi asservatorum abbrevatio, temporibus regum Ric. I., Johann., Henr. III, Edw. I, Edw. II. (London: Printed by Command of His Majesty King George III in pursuance of an address of The House of Commons of Great Britain, 1811). Page 304
On 14 October 1309 the part of Langton's trial concerning Lyonshall was dismissed because no recognizance was found. As Stephen was under-age, his guardian (and uncle, John Devereux of Frome) brought suit on his behalf in 1310 against William Tuchet demanding the restoration of Lyonshall as the transfer violated Stephen's rights of reversion as heir of Walter Devereux, son of William Devereux and his first wife, Alice Grandison. Stephen was granted the right to be heard despite being under-age, as the potential damage was occurring while he was under-age. Stephen's suit was denied based on the terms of the recovery of Lyonshall under the dictum of Kenilworth. It had been granted to William Devereux and his second wife, Lucy Burnell, for the term of their two lives, and after their decease reverted to Stephen's father, Walter Devereux, and his heirs. As the Baron and his second wife were both alive and tenants-for-life, any action on behalf of Stephen was not supported by common law or Statute (which only gave right of recovery for alienation by a tenant-in-dower). Stephen Devereux yielded control of Lyonshall in 1310.F.W. Maitland (Editor). Year Books of Edward II. Volume III, 3 Edward II, AD 1309-1310. (London: Benard Quaritch, 1905) Page 16 to 20. 1310, Hillary TermPlacitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi asservatorum abbrevatio, temporibus regum Ric. I., Johann., Henr. III, Edw. I, Edw. II. Printed by Command of His Majesty King George III in pursuance of an address of The House of Commons of Great Britain. 1811. page 304
Walter de Langton would be restored to his office of Treasurer in January 1312, but by this time Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere, had gained the rights to Lyonshall and enfeoffed William Tuchet again. By the time of Langton's death in 1321 control of Lyonshall castle had passed from the Devereux family.