Walter Devereux of Bodenham and Bromwich was an Anglo-Norman knight and sheriff of Herefordshire living during the reigns of Henry III of England and Edward I of England. The Devereux were a prominent family along the Welsh MarchesBrock W. Holden. Lords of the Central Marches. (Oxford; Oxford University Press, 2008). page 92 during the thirteenth century, and integral to the control of this region during the Second Barons' War.

Ancestry and childhood

Walter Devereux was born about 1221, the son of Sir John Devereux of Bodenham (Herefordshire) and Decies (Ireland). His father was a key member of the retinue of Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke,H.C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III, Volume 2, 1231 to 1234. (London: Public Record office, 1905). 17 August 1233, membrane 6d and as a result of Henry III's conflict with the earl, John Devereux lost his estates in Ireland.Paul Drybaugh and Beth Harland (editors). Calendar of Fine Rolls of the Reign of Henry III, Volume III, 1234 to 1242. (Boydell Press, 2009). 20 Henry III, 474, membrane 4 Walter Devereux was placed as a hostage with Hugh de Kilpeck in 1233 and 1234H.C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III, Volume 2, 1231 to 1234. (London: Public Record office, 1905). 17 June 1234, membrane 18 to ensure his father's good behavior, and eventually inherited his father's lands in Bodenham.Deputy Keeper of Records. Liber Feodorum. The book of fees, commonly called the Testa de Nevill. (London: Public Record Office, 1920). Page 805

Career

Walter Devereux was in the king's service, helping protect the Welsh Marches during the 1240s. On 29 September 1245 following the death of his father, he was granted respite from the demand of payment by Hamo of Hereford (a Jewish money lender) of a debt of 12½ marks owed by his father, John Devereux.Excerpta E Rotulis Finium in Turri Londinensi Asservatis, Henrico Tertio Rege, 1216–1272, Volume 1. (London: Public Record Office, 1831), Page 442, Entry 504, membrane 4

In the 1240s there is a reference to a release by Robert de Wilmeston, son of Roger de Chandos (Lord of Snodhill), to the monks of Dore of all the land upon the Godway (Blakemere) in Hereford, which the said monks held from Sir John Devereux, from the upper part of Wadel (a tributary of the river Lugg) to the boundaries of Malfeld (in Peterchurch) and Isaacsfeld (abutting on a meadow called 'Wetemore). The land extended to the combe of Wilmeston, and part abutted on Titekmille and extended to Hyldithelee. This document was witnessed by his son, Sir Walter Devereux among others.'Deeds: B.3901 - B.4000', in A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 3, ed. H C Maxwell Lyte (London, 1900), pp. 271-282, B3902, B3903, and B3917. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/ancient-deeds/vol3/pp271-282 [accessed 28 March 2020]. Walter Devereux gave a confirmation of these gifts of land in his fee to the abbey on 6 December 1251.

In 1253 Walter Devereux was granted protection while overseas with the king in Gascony.H.C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry III, 1247 to 1258. (London: Mackie and Co., 1908). Page 232, membrane 11d Henry III arrived in Gascony in August 1253, and would remain there until a treaty was signed with Alphonso X in April 1254. Walter may have been injured during this expedition as on 26 July 1256 Walter Devereux is granted an exemption for life from being put on assizes, juries or recognitions, and from being made sheriff etc. against his will.H.C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry III, 1247 to 1258. (London: Mackie and Co., 1908). Page 489, membrane 6

Following his marriage to Sarah de Offini about 1252, Walter held additional lands in Bromwich, county Staffordshire.A.P Baggs, G.C. Baugh. D.A. Johnston. A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 17, Offlow Hundred. (London: Victoria County History, 1976). Pages 14 to 20He held with 2 coparceners. Sarah's sister, Margaret de Offini, had not married Richard de Marnham by this time and Walter Devereux's coparceners were his wife, Sarah, and Margaret. In 1258 his sister-in-law, Margaret de Offini of Bromwich accused a servant of Walter Devereux of holding her against her will.

On 14 April 1256 his first cousin, William Devereux, confirmed the charters and grants of William's father, Stephen Devereux, to the church of Saint Leonard of Wormsley (de Pyon).The Manuscripts of the Earl of Westmoreland, Captain Stewart, Lord Stafford, Lord Muncaster, And Others. (London: Public Records Office, 1885). Page 416 This was witnessed by Walter Devereux whose father, John Devereux, had witnessed the original grant.

During Easter of 1261 Walter Devereux, now stylized as Lord of Bodenham, borrowed 22.5 marks from Ysah son of Dyay, the Jew.National Archives (Great Britain). Bond by Walter de Ebroicis, lord of Bodenham, to Yash son of Dyay, the Jew, for 22½… Reference: E210/19. Held at Kew Around this time Lord Walter Devereux, identified as a knight, witnessed the grant of Thinghill (Herefordshire) by Roger Burghull to his son.John Duncumb. Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford. (Hereford UK: EG Wright, 1812). Volume 2, Issue 1, Page 251, Broxash Hundred

As the Second Barons' War broke out, Walter Devereux probably remained loyal to Henry III like his cousin, William Devereux, and fought for the king at the Battle of Lewes on 14 May 1264. Following the victory of Simon de Montfort, Walter again probably followed his cousin's lead and went over to the Baronial side. On 28 October 1264 Walter Devereux was appointed sheriff of Herefordshire.John Duncumb. Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford, volume 1. (Hereford: E.G. Wright. 1804), Page 139 On 20 May 1265 the issues of Herefordshire were committed to the care of ‘Walter de Everiis’ and this included the support of the constable of Hereford Castle.H.C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). Patent Rolls of the Reign of Henry III, Volume 5. (London: Mackie and Co., 1910). Page 426, 1265, May 20, Hereford, membrane 15 On 20 June 1265 Walter Devereux, sheriff of Herefordshire, was granted control of Lugwardine, Mawardine and, Dylun.H.C. Maxwell Lyte (editor). Patent Rolls of the Reign of Henry III, Volume 5. (London: Mackie and Co., 1910). Page 434, 1265, June 20, Hereford, membrane 12These were estates of Simon de Montfort in Herefordshire. Devereux fought against the king at the Battle of Evesham on 1 August 1265. He appears to have died in the battle and the lands of the rebel, Walter Devereux, were granted to Matilda, wife of Roger Mortimer.Joseph Hunter (editor). Rotuli Selecti ad Res Anglicas et Hibernicas Spectantes. (London: Public Record Office, 1834). Page 250

In 1272 the Prioress of Lingebrook was summoned to answer the coheirs of Walter Muscegros as to why she blocked their redemption of tenements in Bodenham under the Dictum of Kenilworth. They claimed the tenements had been given by King Henry III to John L’Estrange under the terms of Kenilworth. The Prioress claimed that Muscegros had enfeoffed John L’Estrange, who enfeoffed Walter Devereux, who enfeoffed Nicholas Duredent, who enfeoffed Master John de Croft, and Croft granted the same to the Prioress in frankalmoin.RW Banks. Lingebrook Priory. Archaelogia Cambrensis. (London: Pickering and Chato. 1891). Volume VIII, Fifth Series, Page 185 The result of the suit is not known. Lingebrook Priory was near Devereux's lands lying a quarter mile from the left bank of the river Lugg, and within 2 miles of Wigmore.

Marriage

Walter Devereux married Sarah, daughter of Richard de Offini of (West) Bromwich, Staffordshire.The Offini family is first reported to have Guy de Offini holding (West) Bromwich about 1140 (died after 1155). He passed it to his son, William (holding in 1166, and died about 1213), and William in turn passed it to his son, Richard (succeeded to Bromwich in 1212) who died in 1222. Richard's brother, William inherited it, but died in 1224 and his son, Richard inherited the fees for (West) Bromwich as a minor. Richard was of age by 1242, but died by 1255. A fine from 1248 involving land in Bromwich is endorsed by ‘Sarra and Hellis (Margaret), daughters of Richard de Bromwyz.’ Upon Richard's death (West) Bromwich was inherited by his two daughters: Sarah (wife of Walter Devereux) and Margaret (wife of Richard de Marnham). about 1252. They are known to have had a son:

Walter Devereux the YoungerG Wrottesley (editor). Staffordshire Historical Collections, Vol. 6 Part 1. (London, 1885), pp. 211-278. Plea Rolls for Staffordshire: 21 Edward I (January) accessed 27 December 2015. in 1257.Chris Given-Wilson, Paul Brand, Seymour Phillips, Mark Ormrod, Geoffrey Martin, Anne Curry and Rosemary Horror (editors). Original Documents: Edward I Parliaments, Petition 1, in Parliament Rolls of Medieval England (Woodbridge, 2005), British History Online. accessed 20 March 2016.

Death

Walter Devereux of Bodenham and Bromwich probably died in rebellion at the Battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265. His son, Walter Devereux the Younger made a claim against Roger Mortimer and Maud his wife for 2 carucates of land in the village of Bodenham, 1 carucate in the village of Maund, and 1 carucate in the village of Wellbrook that they withheld because of war and because he was underage. He demonstrated that he was of full age, and was granted his lands according to the terms of the Dictum of Kenilworth.

Walter Devereux the younger