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The Devereux Family of Marblehead

John/1 Devereux, born prob. About 1615 (NEHGR - "The New England Historical and Genealogical Register), origin unknown, came to New England about 1630 (NEHGR). The Winthrop Society claims he arrived on the Winthrop Fleet. His first residence was at Salem, Massachusetts. He removed to Marblehead, 1637 (TGMB - "the Great Migration Begins", by Robert Charles Anderson). He was a farmer (NEHGR); a fisherman and fish processor (TGMB). He was Selectman at Marblehead, 1667, 1668, 1671, and Constable, Nov., 1657 (NEHGR). He d. betw. 24 Dec. 1694 (deposition) and 20 May 1695, when his will was proved (NEHGR). He married by 1645 and certainly by 3 Sept. 1657 (TGMB), Ann (___?___), born about 1620 (NEHGR), who d. 26 Apr. 1708 in her 88th y. (NEHGR). She may have been closely related to Margaret, wife of John Bennett, perhaps a sister (TGMB).She was named executrix of the will of her husband, John/1 Devereux(NEHGR).

Children of John/1 and Ann Devereux: (Order of Births per TGMB)

  1. Hannah, b. abt. 1645,ment. in will of John/1 Devereux, "Hannah Swett" "to her and her children that she had by Knott"(NEHGR); m. (1) Peter Greenfield (NEHGR); m. (2) Richard Knott, Surgeon (NEHGR); m. (3) Joseph Swett (NEHGR) after Dec. 1683 (TGMB)
  2. Ann, b. abt. 1647 (TGMB), ment. in will of John/1 Devereux, "Ann Nichalls" (NEHGR); m. (1) Walter Boston (TGMB) ("Boason", NEHGR), by June 1668 (TGMB); m. (2) Robert Nichols, betw. Nov. 1674 and June 1683 (TGMB); her s. John "Boason" ment. in will of John/1 Devereux (NEHGR).
  3. Bethiah, b. abt. 1649; d. 22 Apr. 1718, a. 69y., bur. Old Burial Hill (Marblehead vital records); "Bethiah Bartlett" she and her "children forever" ment. in will of John/1 Devereux (NEHGR); m. John Bartlett by Mar. 1680 (TGMB)
  4. John, b. abt. 1653 (TGMB), ment. in will of John/1 Devereux as "my son John deceased", with his three daughters, Sarah, Susanah and Ann; m. Susannah Hartshorn, Dau. Thomas (TGMB)
  5. Robert, b. abt 1652 (TGMB); he and his son, Joseph, ment. in will of John/1 Devereux of which Robert was named executor (NEHGR); d.bef. 22 Dec. 1740 (NEHGR); m. Hannah Blaney of Lynn, b. 11 nov. 1667, dau. John, b England 1627, sett. at Lynn, 1659, and Hannah (King, dau. Daniel) (NEHGR)
  6. Humphrey, b. abt. 1655 (TGMB); sons John, Humphrey, and Ralph and two daus. Elizabeth and Ann, ment. in will of John/1 Devereux (NEHGR) ; m. Elizabeth (___?___), by June, 1681 (TGMB)
  7. Emme, b. abt. 1657, ment. in will of John/1 Devereux (NEHGR); m. William Peach (NEHGR: TGMB); she d. Marblehead, June, 1737, a. 80y. (Marblehead vital records)

The farm of John/1 Devereux "which he had lawfully purchased, as he believed, in 1659, was claimed after his death by Elizabeth Barker of Deptford, England, daughter and heir of Rev. Hugh Peters, and the recognition of this claim by Robert Devereux" and his mother led to the drawing up of petitions by his mother, Anne Devereux, widow, and himself. Robert "retained possession of the Devereux farm which he had been obliged to purchase again from the heir of Rev. Hugh Peters, until Apr. 1729, when 'for the amicable settlement of this estate', and in consideration of security given to him by his sons for a payment of 80 pounds annually to him and his wife during their lifetime, he conveyed the land to his sons John, Robert, Humphrey, and Ralph, and to his daughters, Sarah, Emme, and Hannah." (NEHGR) John/1 Devereux also owned land at Dunstable.

Sources: "John Devereux of Marblehead, Mass. and Some of his Descendants", by Mrs. Frank M. Angellotti of San Rafael Cal., NEHGR, Vol. 74, April 1900; "The Great Migration Begins", by Robert Charles Anderson; Marblehead vital records