People Australia

John Devereux, a captain in a Yeoman Battalion, was charged with treason for aiding and assisting in the 1798 Irish rebellion at Vinegar Hill in Wexford, Ireland. Sentenced to life transportation at a military court martial in Cork in November 1799-January 1800, he arrived in Sydney (under the name 'John Devneaux') in October 1802 aboard the Atlas II. Although there is no evidence he was involved in the Irish Uprising at Castle Hill in March 1804 he was sent to Norfolk Island shortly afterwards, perhaps as a preventative measure to discourage future trouble with the Irish, arriving on 23 June 1804 on the Lady Nelson.

It was about this time that he began a relationship with Harriet McCarty. She was expecting their first child on her departure of the island for Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on the Porpoise in 1808. Devereux also departed Norfolk Island, on the Estramina, arriving in Hobart, VDL, on 5 June 1808. The couple married on 13 June 1808 at St Davids, Hobart.

Devereux was granted 65 acres of land at Herdsman’s Cove Bridgewater (also known as Green Point) in the Mellville district on the Derwent River on 20 September 1813. The grant was very close to his father-in-law John McCarty. 

The family remained in Hobart Town until sometime between the birth of daughter Ann in December 1818 (at Hobart) and the recording of the family resident on the land at Bridgewater in the October 1819 Land & Stock muster, where Devereux was recorded with a 65 acre grant with his wife, four children, a convict assistant, eight cattle, and 120 sheep. He was cultivating wheat and potatoes. From 18-24 May 1818 he supplied 500lb of meat to the Government Stores in Hobart Town (Hobart Town Gazette, 7 February 1818). In the later 1818-1822 VDL musters Devereux claimed to have 'Came Free' to the colony. It is unknown whether he was being misleading or simply was of the understanding that he came free to VDL — there is no known pardon or ticket of leave recorded for John Devereux.  

Devereux does not seem to have had continuing success as a landowner. The Devereux Farm deed was to be transferred to James Haydock Reibey according to a notice in the Hobart Town Gazette, 12 June 1823, but Reibey elected instead to move to Port Dalrymple. Harriet Devereux placed a warning to persons that she had a Dowry claim on the land at Green Point in the Colonial Times on 25 January 1828.  A notice in the Hobart Town Courier, 23 February 1828, stated that John Devereux's impounded cattle were to be sold to defray expenses at Black Brush. Other newspaper notices informed that the Devereux Farm, 60 Acres at Green Point was to be auctioned.  

About July 1828 the family moved to Black Brush, a few miles south of Green Ponds. In the Hobart Town Courier, 28 June 1828, there is an advertisement stating that, in the case of Hodgson vs Devereux, the farm at Green Point will be auctioned off on 5 July 1828. The land was still under a cloud in April 1840 when Peter Murdoch applied for the land formerly belonging to John Devereux at Mellville in applications for grants (True Colonist, 17 April 1840). Murdoch had been leasing the land from Devereux since at least 1832 when, according to the Writ of Subpoena filed by Peter Murdoch, he claimed John Devereux was in default of mortgage on his 65 acre grant (Supreme Court of Van Dieman's Land, 3 April 1832). The land was finally sold to John Glover (True Colonist Van Diemens Land Political Despatch, 17 April 1840).

The articles regarding the land are not necessarily an indication that Devereux was still in VDL as he may have been the J. Devereux who departed for Port Phillip aboard the brig Frances in November 1838 accompanying his daughter Ann and her husband William Hartley-Budd, although it must be noted that he had a son of the same name who could also be the man recorded here. 

By 1844 his wife Harriet was living as a housekeeper for William Campbell in his house at Black Brush. Harriet married Campbell in September 1847, presumably having been estranged from Devereux for at least six years, as required under British law.  

No death has ever been recorded for John Devereux in the colony.