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.
William Devereux (1219–1265)
In 1262 Llywelyn ap Gruffyd attacked the Welsh Marches again. On 22 December 1262 the king commanded William Devereux to appear with arms and horses on 9 January 1263 at Hereford to counter this invasion. On 24 January 1263 William Devereux was further commanded to come on 5 February 1263 to Hereford. Once there William and the other lords summoned were to divide the gathered forces for the defense of their castles and lands, and to insure that their castles were kept in good repair. On 3 March 1263 the English fought the Welsh at the Battle of Abergavenny. On 15 April 1263 Prince Edward specifically begs his father to command Will d’Evereus’ to “quod in castro suo de le Hales” and “moram faciet ac partes suas viriliter defendat.“ This translates to say, “that in his castle of Lyonshall he should stay and vigorously defend his estates.” On 25 May 1263 the king again commanded William Devereux to appear with horses and arms on 1 August 1263 at Worcester for a campaign against Llywelyn. For his ongoing faithful service the King ordered William be given a gift of 2 deer from the forests of Salop on 13 September 1263.