John C. Devereux

John C. Devereux (5 August 1774 – 1848) was a pioneering Irish Catholic in Utica, New York and its first elected mayor. "A settler of 1802 and a very prince among his fellows was John C. Devereux whose honourable career and many deeds of charity left behind him a memory as verdant as that of the green isle whence he came."

Family John Corish Devereux came from a patriotic and pious family, and was a son of Thomas and Catherine Corish Devereux. Originally of Norman French extraction, they were wealthy and well connected, and lived at ease on their handsome estate, "The Leap", at Davidstown, near Enniscorthy. They sympathized warmly with and took an aggressive part in the agitations preceding the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and on the defeat of the patriots or rebels the family was ruined. Thomas Devereux was arrested and imprisoned and pardoned just before his death. The Devereux had six sons and three daughters. A price was set upon the heads of three of his sons and his estates were confiscated. His children were:

Walter, the eldest son, was a man of powerful frame, distinguished for his strength and courage, and was in several battles in the Rebellion of 1798. John Corish was born at his father's farm, near Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland, 5 August 1774. Thomas married Mary Redmond and they had one son, John C., Jr., who was afterwards adopted by his brother, John C. Devereux, of Utica. James was killed at the Battle of Vinegar Hill. Luke came to America and died of yellow fever at Natchez, Mississippi in 1818. Nicholas was the sixth son.

Life During the agitation preceding the rebellion, John C. Devereux was obliged to fly from the country; he went first to France and afterwards to America. He landed at New York about 1797, gave dancing lessons in Connecticut, and in November 1802 opened a dry goods and grocery store in Utica, New York. Devereux was a friend of Albany shopkeeper and entrepreneur William James. His goods were of handsome quality. Devereux "...had energy, shrewdness, and industry; a temper most generous, a tongue that was persuasive and fluent, and manners benignant and polished." The meticulous Mr. Williams, who had served as a collector on the Erie Canal, continued to serve as secretary well into his nineties.

Prior to 1840, the mayor was appointed by the city council. That year, John C. Devereux became the first elected mayor of the city of Utica.

He was twice married. His first wife, Miss Ellen Barry, of Albany, died in 1813. His second wife Mary, daughter of Peter Colt, of Rome, New York, survived him twenty-one years and died August 7, 1868. They had no children, but at different times adopted two: Ellen, who became the wife of Mr. Catlin, of Paterson, New Jersey, and his nephew, John C. Devereux, Jr., son of his brother Thomas. John C. Devereux, Jr. died in 1861. and donated both the land and buildings. The sisters subsequently opened a day school.