Biography of John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux 1337-1393

Paternal Family Tree: Devereux

Around 1337 John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux was born to [his father] John Devereux [aged 35] and [his mother] Margaret Barre. He a great x 4 grandson of King John of England.

After 26th August 1346 [his father] John Devereux [deceased] died.

Before 1361 Henry Beaumont 3rd Baron Beaumont [aged 20] and [his future wife] Margaret Vere Baroness Devereux and Beaumont were married. She by marriage Baroness Beaumont. She the daughter of John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford and Maud Badlesmere Countess of Oxford [aged 52]. He the son of John Beaumont 2nd Baron Beaumont and Eleanor Plantagenet Countess Arundel and Surrey [aged 42]. They were fourth cousin once removed. He a great x 2 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

Battle of Nájera

                    On 3rd April 1367 the forces of Peter "Cruel" I King Castile [aged 32] commanded by Edward "Black Prince" [aged 36] defeated the army of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile [aged 33] at the Battle of Nájera at Nájera [Map]. The English forces included John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster [aged 27], William Scrope, Peter Courtenay [aged 21], John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 30], John Savile of Shelley and Golcar [aged 42], Bernard Brocas [aged 37] and Thomas Banastre [aged 33].
                
                    The forces of Henry "Fratricide" II King Castile included Bertrand Geusclin [aged 47]. The battle achieved little since Bertrand Geusclin escaped.
                
                    John Ferrers 4th Baron Ferrers of Chartley [aged 36] was killed. His son Robert [aged 9] succeeded 5th Baron Ferrers of Chartley. Margaret Despencer Baroness Ferrers of Chartley by marriage Baroness Ferrers of Chartley.
                
                    Edward "Black Prince" thereafter returned home, taking Peter's daughters Constance [aged 13] and Isabella [aged 12] as hostages to ensure Peter would pay the money owed to Edward. Constance married John of Gaunt 1st Duke Lancaster, Isabella married Edmund of Langley 1st Duke of York [aged 25].

Battle of Chiset

On 21st March 1373 John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 36] was captured during the Battle of Chiset at Chizé at which the English were defeated by the French forces commanded by Bertrand Geusclin [aged 53]. The battle brought an end to English control in Poitou.

In 1376 John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 39] was appointed High Sheriff of Hertfordshire.

In 1377 John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 40] and Margaret Vere Baroness Devereux and Beaumont were married. She the daughter of John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford and Maud Badlesmere Countess of Oxford. They were fifth cousins. He a great x 4 grandson of King John of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

Around 1378 [his son] John Devereux 2nd Baron Devereux was born to John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 41] and [his wife] Margaret Vere Baroness Devereux and Beaumont. He married 17th August 1390 his fourth cousin Phillipe Bryan Baroness Scrope Masham Baroness Devereux.

On 1st March 1378 John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 41] was appointed Constable of Leeds Castle.

Around 1379 [his daughter] Joan Devereux 3rd Baroness Devereux Baroness Burnell was born to John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 42] and [his wife] Margaret Vere Baroness Devereux and Beaumont. She married before 29th January 1408 her fifth cousin once removed Hugh Burnell 2nd Baron Burnell, son of Nicholas Haudlo Burnell 1st Baron Burnell.

After 1384 [his step-daughter] Eleanor Beaumont [deceased] died.

On 28th September 1384 John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 47] was created 1st Baron Devereux. [his wife] Margaret Vere Baroness Devereux and Beaumont by marriage Baroness Devereux.

Before 15th August 1385 [his brother-in-law] Aubrey de Vere 10th Earl of Oxford [aged 47] and Alice Fitzwalter Countess of Oxford were married. She by marriage Countess of Oxford. He the son of John de Vere 7th Earl of Oxford and Maud Badlesmere Countess of Oxford. They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England. She a great x 4 granddaughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England.

Patent Rolls. 3rd January 1388. Appointment, during pleasure, of John Devereux [aged 51], knight, to be constable of Dover castle and warden of the Cinque Ports, receiving therefor for the maintenance of himself and the chaplains, servants, watchmen and one carpenter abiding therein, £300. a year, viz. from, wards belonging to the castle £146., from the issues of the customs in the port of Sandwich 100 marks and the residue at the Exchequer, without rendering account, as Simon de Bureley [aged 48], knight, late constable and warden, saving to the king chattels of felons and fugitives, fines, ransoms, amercements, etc. from the said ports belonging to the king, for which he is to render account at the Exchequer; provided that he stay in person upon the custody as is reasonably needful and as necessity demands. By K. & C. Mandate in pursuance to the said Simon to deliver the castle to him. Mandate de intendendo in pursuance to the barons, bailiffs, good men and whole commonalty of the liberty of the Cinque Ports.

Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans

Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.

Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.

On 12th March 1388 John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 51] was appointed Constable of Dover Castle.

Patent Rolls. 12th March 1388. Grant, for life, to John Devereux [aged 51], one of the king's bannerets, of the offices of constable of Dover castle and warden of the Cinque Ports, as held by Simon de Burleye [aged 48]. By p.s. Vacated because otherwise below.

In 1389 [his step-son] John Beaumont 4th Baron Beaumont [aged 28] and Katherine Everingham Baroness Beaumont were married. She by marriage Baroness Beaumont.

In 1389 John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 52] was appointed 78th Knight of the Garter by King Richard II of England [aged 21].

Around 17th August 1390 [his son] John Devereux 2nd Baron Devereux [aged 12] and [his daughter-in-law] Phillipe Bryan Baroness Scrope Masham Baroness Devereux were married. She by marriage Baroness Devereux. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King John of England.

On 22nd November 1392 Robert de Vere 1st Duke Ireland [aged 30] was killed whilst hunting at Louvain [Map]. His uncle [his brother-in-law] Aubrey [aged 54] succeeded 10th Earl of Oxford.

On 22nd February 1393 John Devereux 1st Baron Devereux [aged 56] died. He was buried at Greyfriars Church Farringdon Within [Map]. His son John [aged 15] succeeded 2nd Baron Devereux.

On 16th June 1398 [his former wife] Margaret Vere Baroness Devereux and Beaumont died.

[his father] John Devereux and [his mother] Margaret Barre were married.