Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex
Walter Devereux was the eldest son of Sir Richard Devereux, who was created a Knight of the Bath on 20 February 1547 and died that same year, in the lifetime of his father, The 1st Viscount Hereford. Walter Devereux's mother was Lady Dorothy Hastings, daughter of The 1st Earl of Huntingdon and Anne Stafford, said to have been a mistress of Henry VIII. Through his paternal ancestry he was related to the Bourchier family, to which previous Earls of Essex had belonged: John Devereux, son of Walter Devereux who died at the Battle of Bosworth, married Cecily Bourchier, sister of Henry Bourchier, 2nd Earl of Essex.
Walter Devereux of Bodenham and Bromwich
Walter Devereux married Sarah, daughter of Richard de Offini of (West) Bromwich, Staffordshire. about 1252. They are known to have had a son: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 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 by reason 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.