See also
| Husband: | John * DEVEREUX (c. 1614-c. 1694) | |
| Wife: | Ann * (1621-1708) | |
| Children: | Hannah DEVEREUX (1645- ) | |
| Ann DEVEREUX (1647- ) | ||
| Bethia DEVEREUX (1650- ) | ||
| Robert DEVEREUX (1652- ) | ||
| John * DEVEREUX (1653- ) | ||
| Humphry DEVEREUX (1655- ) | ||
| Emme DEVEREUX (1655- ) | ||
| Name: | John * DEVEREUX | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Father: | - | |
| Mother: | Elizabeth * KNIGHTLY (1595-1659) | |
| Birth | 1614 (est) | England |
| Immigration | 1630 (age 15-16) | from England1 |
| Occupation | Fisherman and fish processor | |
| Residence | 1683 (age 68-69) | Massachusetts Bay Colony, MA, US |
| Death | 1694 (est) (age 79-80) | Marblehead, Essex, MA, US |
| Name: | Ann * | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Father: | - | |
| Mother: | - | |
| Birth | 1621 | |
| Death | 26 Apr 1708 (age 86-87) | Marblehead, Essex, MA, US |
| Name: | Hannah DEVEREUX | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Birth | 1645 | |
| Name: | Ann DEVEREUX | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Birth | 1647 | |
| Name: | Bethia DEVEREUX | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Birth | 1650 | |
| Name: | Robert DEVEREUX | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Birth | 1652 | |
John * DEVEREUX
Spouse: Susanna * HARTSHORN
| Name: | John * DEVEREUX | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Spouse: | Susanna * HARTSHORN (1660-1718) | |
| Birth | 1653 | Marblehead, Essex, MA, US |
| Residence | 1683 (age 29-30) | Massachusetts Bay Colony, MA, US2 |
| Name: | Humphry DEVEREUX | |
| Sex: | Male | |
| Birth | 1655 | |
| Name: | Emme DEVEREUX | |
| Sex: | Female | |
| Birth | 1655 | |
OCCUPATION: Fisherman and fish processor. Devereux was sued on two counts by William Keene of Marblehead at the January Term 1641/2 regarding the mackerel to be divided between Devereux and Edward Clark [ EQC 1:31]. At the March Term, 1651, John Devereux sued Mr. Valentine Hill for expenses amounting to more than £178 incurred on a fishing voyage to Munhegan in Maine [ EQC 1:214]. A long and difficult case, the depositions of many men were entered in the file, providing a rich and varied description of fishing practices in this early period, from paying for the bread Goody Knight baked for the fishermen to the meeting at Mr. Hill's house in Boston where Hill "importuned him [Devereux] to go to Munhigon with his men" [ EQC 1:214-17; 221; 232; 325; 2:338]. The case was appealed to the Court of Assistants [ EQC 1:233]. We learn more about his fishing business from a June Term, 1661, case in which the Nicholsons sued John over fish delivered in 1660 [ EQC 2:290-1]. Wife Ann delivered receipts "with her own hands" and deposed to that effect [ EQC 2:291]. When John Bartol of Marblehead died, he owed John Devereux £2 9s. in fish [ EQC 3:257, June Term, 1665]. Major William Hathorn left a fish rack in the hands of John Devereux in the fall of 1666 [ EQC 3:378]. At the November Term, 1672, John Devereux, aged about fifty-five, deposed that he had built John Codner's stage about twenty years ago [ EQC 5:110].
EDUCATION: Supposedly signed his name to several court documents, but made his mark to documents after June 1680 and to his will.
OFFICES: Essex grand jury, 27 September 1660, 25 June 1661 (apparently failed to show up and was fined), 26 November 1678, 24 June 1679 [ EQC 2:250, 281, 300, 7:106, 195]. Petit jury, 24 November 1663, June 1672, 26 November 1672 [ EQC 3:102, 5:76, 107, 126]. Coroner's jury, November Term 1665, that met at his house to view the bodies of two men shipwrecked from the ketch Phenix, and March Term 1669, on the body of Marie the little daughter of Mr. Christopher Lattimore who drowned in a well [ EQC 3:296, 4:211].
Selectman of Marblehead in 1667, 1668, 1671 [ EQC 4:251; 276, 378]. Sworn constable of Marblehead, November 1657 [ EQC 2:59].
ESTATE: He was granted half an acre for a Salem houselot 8 November 1637 [ STR 1:59] and received ten acres there [ STR 1:25], but was rated as an inhabitant at Marblehead that same year [ STR 1:63]. He was granted half an acre of marsh on 25 December 1637, with a household of two [ STR 1:102].
On 1 July 1659 John Devereux of Marblehead, "fisherman," purchased from Charles Gott of Wenham, attorney for Mr. Hugh Peters, sometime pastor of the church at Salem, three hundred and fifty acres of neck or meadow in Marblehead [ ELR 1:63]. He was stinted two cows in his access to the commons, 10 April 1671 [ EQC 5:279]. On 22 July 1678, John "Deverix of Marblehead Senr. with the free consent of Ann his wife" sold to Vinson Stilson Jr. a quarter acre in Marblehead [ ELR 6:10].
On 5 November 1692, John and Ann Devereux sold one and a quarter acre of land and "rock" in Marblehead to John Waldron Sr. of Marblehead, anchorsmith [ ELR 9:105].
John had one-eighth part of a windmill at Marblehead that was in controversy at the June Term, 1680 [ EQC 7:384-5]
In his will, dated 4 September 1693 and proved 20 May 1695, John Devereux of Marblehead, yeoman, bequeathed to son Robert Devereux 300 acres with my now dwelling house and barn; to "my son Robert's son Joseph" when he is 21 twenty acres out of my son Robert's land lying next to Marblehead common, entailed; to the "three sons of my son Humphry Deverix deceased," John, Humphrey and Ralph Devereux, one-third part of my land when they are 21, entailed; Elizabeth Devereux "mother of these three sons Jhon Humphry and Ralph" shall have nothing to do with the house or land or ever live on them at any time; to "my son Humphry's two daughters Elizabeth and Ann," £5 each; to "my son John deceased his three daughters Sarah, Susanah and Ann" £40 or 12 acres each when they are of age; to "my daughter Hannah Swett" £20 to her and her children that "she had by Knott"; to "my daughter Ann Nichols" and her children £20; to "my grandchild John Boason the house his mother now lives in", with appurtenances, his mother to hold it during her life, entailed; to "my daughter Bethia Bartlet" and her children £20 and the land her house stands on, entailed; to "my daughter Em Peach" and her children £60 or 20 acres of land; to my "dear and loving wife Ann Devereux," executrix with life estate in lands and household goods at her dispose; land in Dunstable to be sold to pay debts [ EPR Case #7614].
The inventory of "John Deverix Senr." of Marblehead was brought to court 25 March 1712 and consisted of only "a thirty acre grant" valued at £25 [ EPR 310:419-20].
A just claim by Elizabeth Barker of Deptford, England, daughter of Rev. Hugh Peters of Salem, prevented the passing of most of the estate as expressed in John's will, and his "only surviving son Robert" attempted to settle things as best he could as administrator cum testamento annexo [ EPR Case #7614]. In the light of Barker's successful claim, Robert Devereux called together his brothers-in-law, sisters and their heirs to consider what was to be done to support their mother "in her old age." In March 1703/4 at the Marblehead house of Dr. Jackson, Robert Devereux met with "Joseph and Hannah Swett his wife, Anne Nichols, Bethia Bartlet, the said Hanah, Anna & Bethiah being three of the daughters of John Devouraux of Marblehead deceased, William Peach who married with Emm Devouraux one of the daughters as aforesaid and Joseph Abbet who married with Sarah Devouraux, granddaughter to said John Devouraux deceased," and discussed the tragedy of their loss [ ELR 18:174].
BIRTH: Between 1614 and 1621 (deposed aged fifty years March 1669 [ EQC 4:114]; but still aged fifty years November 1670 [ EQC 4:313]; aged about fifty-five years November 1672 [ EQC 5:110]; aged about sixty years 29 March 1675 [ EQC 6:19]; aged about sixty-four years probably in June 1679 [undated, EQC 7:200]; aged about sixty on 19 September 1681 [ EQC 8:180]; aged about seventy years June 1684 [ EQC 9:241]).
DEATH: Marblehead between 24 December 1694 (deposition [ ELR 11:131]) and 20 May 1695 (probate of will).
MARRIAGE: Almost certainly by 1645, and certainly by 3 September 1657 [ EQC 2:74], Ann _____; born about 1621 (deposed aged about forty-three for June 1664 court [ EQC 3:158]; deposed aged forty-six in June 1667 [ EQC 3:414]; aged fifty-four on 29 March 1675 [ EQC 6:19]; aged about sixty years June, 1684 [ EQC 9:241]); died on or shortly after 26 April 1708 (she is described as "not being dead above three months" on 26 July 1708 [ EPR Case #7614]). (Mary Walton Ferris collected nine different clues that indicate that Ann was closely related, perhaps sister, to Margaret, wife of John Bennett [ Dawes-Gates 2:293-94].)
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SSOCIATIONS: In depositions at the March Term, 1675, John and Ann described lodging Christopher Codner and his master, Joseph Emmons, cordwainer, at their house [ EQC 6:19]. They were well enough acquainted that Ann could depose at the June Term, 1679, that Christopher was "twenty-one years old the latter end of September last past" [ EQC 7:225]. Her knowledge of Christopher's age probably came from the fact that John Devereux and Christopher Lattimore were feoffees in trust for Christopher and Joane, children of the late Christopher Codner of Marblehead [ ELR 2:31]. Young Christopher acknowledged that he had received full possession of his house and land in Marblehead from John "Deverix Sr." and Richard Knott, at his majority 15 August 1679 [ ELR 6:127].
The Devereuxs were well acquainted with John Bennett, and testified in June 1684 that "Bennett built the house and lived in it and died there and was buried from there. Mary, mother of Jone Boobeer, had enjoyed the house twenty-seven years. Also that Jone, wife of Joseph Boobeer is the reputed daughter of Christopher Codner which he had by Mary, daughter of John Bennett" [ EQC 9:241]. John and Ann deposed that Mary, wife of Christopher Codner, lived many years with Richard Downing as his wife and had many children by him...[ EQC 9:265, June Term, 1685].
COMMENTS: John Devereux "undertook to pay" the fines of Marmaduke Barton and Robert Allen who, at that same term of court, were convicted of receiving stolen silver and sentenced to be whipped on lecture day and Allen was ordered to serve his master, Mr. Williams, for an extra month. The connection that the two young offenders had to John Devereux is not immediately apparent [ EQC 1:35].
Throughout his life, John Devereux was in and out of court regarding suits for debts related to his business [ EQC 1:42, 45, 320, 348, 409, 2:306, 4:414, 7:419]. In the estate inventories of many of his customers and suppliers, he appeared with debts or credits [ EQC 1:106-7, 5:211, 6:308].
He was a debtor to the estate of George Pollard in September 1646 and the estate was, in turn, indebted to him for "diet for two years and a quarter," £17 12s. [ EQC 1:106; 107]. At November Term 1655 John sued Samuel Yew "For killing his cow by the falling of a tree in the commons" [ EQC 1:409]. Capt. James Smith had a writ served on John Devereux for slander, 29 September 1670 [ EQC 4:324].
Devereux took the stand in many cases over the years, often giving his age. John Devereux and Sarah Allen were witnesses when John Peach Sr. was fined 20s. for "giving Trustrum Dolliver opprobrious provoking words urging to a breach of the peace" [ EQC 1:49]. At July Term, 1645, John was a witness in the case against his neighbors Walter Price, William Browne and Samuel Archer for selling wine without a license [ EQC 1:83]. He was again a witness at the February Term, 1645/6, when John Bartall was charged with working on the Sabbath [ EQC 1:93]. John, aged fifty, deposed regarding the will of Susannah Pitts of Marblehead, November Term, 1670 [ EQC 4:313]. John Devereux testified to the death of Mary Downing "last winter" at the June Term, 1684 [ EQC 9:241]. He appraised the estates of several of his neighbors [ EQC 2:259, 5:56] and once served as an administrator [ EQC 3:136]. John was appointed and discharged as one of two feofees in trust for the Codner children [ EQC 3:295, November Term, 1665]. Devereux contributed to the effort to build the new prison at Salem in late 1669 and was paid £4 5s. for felling 17 trees and dragging them to the water's edge [ EQC 4:213]. In March 1669 John, aged fifty years, deposed that he was asked to witness an offer of bedding by Richard Rowland to Mr. Moses Maverick in April 1667, and that Maverick refused it [ EQC 4:114].
Despite his good works, he was a boisterous and sometimes violent neighbor. At the December Term, 1643, Devereux was fined a modest 40s. for striking Henry Stacy "in his own house" [ EQC 1:58]. John Devereux and nine other men, including the contentious William Keene, were fined for drinking wine, "etc." at the January Term, 1644/5 [ EQC 1:77]. John Devereux was sued for debt by Thomas Gray of Marblehead over merchantable and refuse fish at the July Term, 1647 [ EQC 1:116]. The resolution of the case must not have been acceptable, for at the March Term, 1647/8, John Devereux of Marblehead was fined for fighting with Thomas Gray, "Also for breaking his face," as described by the witnesses, "Walsingum" Chilson and John Spark [ EQC 1:135]. At the November Term, 1651, John sued Peter Pitford of Marblehead for defamation, claiming that Pitford often threatened him "whereby he went in fear of him" [ EQC 1:243]. Perhaps he had reason to worry, for Pitford lived contentiously and was presented for striking Joseph Rogers "several blows with his fist" some years later [ EQC 1:324].
John Devereux's wife Ann was a good match in many ways. At the July Term, 1644, we presume it was Ann Devereux who was called "Goody," indicating her husband's modest social standing. In this case, both John and Ann deposed regarding Alice Peach, wife of John Peach, Jr., defaming John Bartoll and his wife Alice, and Ann called John Peach a "wittall" [ EQC 1:62]. She witnessed the 3 September 1657 agreement between Mr. William Paine of Ipswich, merchant, and William Beale of Marblehead, miller. When the arrangement went sour, "Anne Devorex" was called to depose about it at the June Term, 1658 [ EQC 2:74]. Ann, aged about forty-three years, deposed that she weighed the pork for Andrew Rowland [ EQC 3:158, June Term, 1664].
Trespassing through the Downings' lot on their way to John Devereux's house, William Beale's wife, Frances Gilligan and Mary Parnel came to blows with Margaret Bennet over using the land as a highway. Devereux's servant, Robert Newman, aged about 17, deposed in this case and Bethiah and Ann Devereux witnessed Margaret Bennett's letter of attorney [ EQC 3:414; 443].
Devereux had many servants over the years, but not all stayed out of the courts. Devereux "his man Thomas" was a witness in the December 1642 case against William Keene, Devereux's old nemesis, but the charges were dropped since the house that was "suffering disorder" was not Keene's [ EQC 1:48]. John Slade and John Ford deposed as workers for Mr. Devereux's farm [ EQC 4:285, September Term, 1670]. Devereux servants John Hobbs and "one Francis" stole turkeys from Richard Downing in 1683 [ EQC 9:146]. Sons John and Humphrey were not above reproach, and were sentenced to be fined or whipped for being part of a group of boys that met at night and committed petty theft [ EQC 4:274 June Term, 1670].
In another extensive case, Christopher Nicholson is charged with pulling down the fence that John Devereux had erected near some rocks by the water. With the fence gone, a great deal of petty thievery went on, and some of Devereux's servants and hired hands were obliged to watch constantly, much to their inconvenience. While John was gone, Ann went to the selectmen for permission to erect another fence. This almost accomplished by servant Robert Paty, Christopher Nicholson came and pulled it down again. The outcome of this June Term 1662 case was in Devereux's favor [ EQC 2:407-9, 431]. John prevailed in a suit against Mr. Moses Maverick, John Peach, Sr. and Jr., and Richard Rowland for failing to set up a fence as agreed, but it was repeatedly appealed and he ultimately lost. This troublesome boundary cost him a lost horse and a bull mired and killed, as well as his corn threatened by animals so that he had to keep watch even at night [ EQC 4:190, 251, 285, 289]. John's trouble with fences lasted for decades [ EQC 7:5-6, June Term, 1678; EQC 7:324, November Term, 1679]. John sued John Codner "for removing a landmark" and won in the May Term, 1670 [ EQC 4:251].
At the June Term, 1679, John Devereux Sr., aged about sixty-four years, testified that about thirty-four years ago he cut hay in Kittell Cove marsh and was forbidden by Rev. Blinman of Cape Ann, but they afterwards agreed [ EQC 7:201].
John Devereux, aged about sixty years, deposed that having been many years inhabitant of Marblehead, and still resident there, and having no interest in the property then under controversy, that the land had been owned by Marblehead men for the past thirty-four years [ EQC 8:180].
"The Testimony of John Devereux of Marblehead aged about eighty years, testifieth & saith that about the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred & thirty I came over from old England to New England & the place of my abode and residence has been at Salem & Marblehead ever since & when I came hither here was an old Squaw called old Squaw Sachem, the Squaw of the deceased sachem which had three reputed sons, viz: John, James and George, who were the reputed sachems & owners of all the lands in these parts as Salem, Marblehead, Lynn and as far as Mystic & in those days the land where Salem town now stands & the lands adjacent were called Nahumkege by the Indians & English then inhabiting in these parts," 24 December 1694 [ ELR 11:131].
Records of The Winthrop Society
John DEVEREUX
Born c1615
Died wp 20 May 1695
English Origin Stoke-by-Nayland, Suffolk
Came to New England 1630
With the Winthrop fleet
Resided in Salem, Marblehead 1637
Freeman of MBC
Occupation fisherman
First Spouse Ann (1621 - 1708)
Children Hannah, Ann, Bethiah, John, Robert, Humphrey, Emme
Estate of John Devereux of Marblehead
Essex Probate Docket # 7614
In the Name of God Amen the fourth day of September in ye yeare of our Lord 1693 I John Devereux of marblehead in the County of Essex in New england Yeoman Doe make and Declare this my last Will and testament
I give and bequeath unto my Sonn Robert Devereux two thirdes of all my land within the Stonnwall now lying in Marblehead being three hundred Acres more or less with my now dwelling house and Barne, only
I giv unto my Son Roberts Son Joseph twenty Acres of land within ye Stonn wall which is out of the two thirds of my Son Roberts land before mentioned which land lying next to marblehead comon Jyning to my land without the Stonn wall, when he shall be; 21 yeares of age, to them and there heires (All the land abovementioned) in way of intale fforever and ever, And to remaine in the family and name of the Devereuxes from generation to generation in way of intale fforever and ever.
Item I give and bequeath unto the three sonns of my Sonn Humphry Devereux deceased that is to say John Humphry and Ralph Devereux one third part of my land; and meddow that is now before my, now, dwelling hous, within the Stonn wall, my grandsonn John Devereux to have one halfe of the third and the other halfe to Humphry and Ralph to be equally devided betweene them, two, when they or eyther of them come to ye age of one and twenty yeares or to ye longer liver of them But if any of them dye before, then to the next male heire of my familye to be houlden and continue and remaine in the family and name of Devereuxes from generation to generation in way of intale forever and ever
And it is my will that Elizabeth Devereux mother to these three Sonns John, Humphry and Ralph that She shall have nothing to doe with the housing or lands to come upon it to dwell with them or eyther of them at any time or times whatsoever.
Item I give unto my son Humphryes two daughter Elizabeth and Ann five pounds apece After mine and my wives decease;
Item I give unto my Son John deceased, his three daughters Sarah Susanah and Ann forty pounds in monyes to each of them after my decease and my wives, or twelve Acres of land to each of them without the Stonn Wall
And it is my will that my executrix and executor shall have ye disposing this land until they ar of age
Item I give unto my daughter Hannah Swett twenty pounds in currant pay to her and her children that she had by Knott After mine and my wives decease
Item I giv unto my daughter Ann Nichalls twenty pounds in currant pay to her and her children After mine and my wives decease I give unto my Grandchilde John Boason, the house his mother now lives in and ye land halfe an Acre be it more or less belonging to ye sd house in marblehead together with one cowes common in sd Towne after his mothers decease, and his mother to hold it dureing her naturall life, and then to him and his heires forever
I give unto my daughter Bethia twenty pounds in currant pay to her and her chyldren I give unto my daughter Bethia Bartlett the land that her house stands upon and that part of the house which belongs to me, with the garden and land to her and her chyldren for ever
I give unto my daugher Em Peach sixtty pound in monyes or twentie Acres of land Without the Stonn wall to her and her children, After mine and my wives decease
Item I give unto my deare and loveing wife Ann Devereux all my lands housin or houses during her naturall life and then to my children as in my will exprest After her decease
Lastly I Apoynte my deare and loveing wife Ann Devereux executrix And my Sonn Robert Devereux executor, And whatsoever, I have not in this my last will and Testament disposed of my Estate, I give to her my executrix, All my household goods which in my dwelling house and all my cattle sheep horses or horse land that is without the Stone wall in Marblehead And all my land that is at Dunstable to pay debpts and legasyes as in this my will is expressed; This being now my last Will and testament given under my hand and Seale
The mark X of John Devereux Senr
(seal)
Signed Seald in ye presence of us
Signam
John X Waldron, Senr
Robert Bartlett Senr
Jn Blany Senr
John Blany Junr
And it is my will that my Executrix or Executor Shall have the desposing of all the estate of lands that I have gave unto my Sonn Humphrye Devereux his three Sonns untill they or eyther of them shall bee at ye Age of twenty one yeares
Jn Waldron Senr
Jn Blany Senr
Jn Blany Junr Jurati May. 20. 95 before Coll. Gedney
proved approved & allowed
| 1 | "Passenger and Immigrations Lists Index 1500-1900". |
| 2 | "MA Census, 1790-1890". |