Everyone in town knows Devereux Beach, but do you know about the Devereux Mansion?
In 1748, Joseph Homan purchased a piece of land called a “mowing field,” according to the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS). In 1764, Homan built the house that stands at 16 Franklin St.
Later in 1774, Elbridge Gerry, whose house I have already written about, purchased 16 Franklin St. for his sister Elizabeth. The next year, Elizabeth married Burrill Devereux, after whom the house is named.
But Burrill was not the only Devereux in Marblehead. The Devereuxs’ lives were some of the more abnormal and exciting ones.
As stated in a 2015 “Marblehead 101” article, Benjamin Devereux was a member of Glover’s Regiment. According to MACRIS, Burrill Devereux privateered numerous ships alongside people like Capt. John Bartlett. Burrill also was a benefactor who contributed to building an academy and later served as a selectman.
You might even recognize a Devereux. In the “Spirit of ‘76” painting that hangs in Abbot Hall, the little drummer boy shown in the photo was referenced from Henry K. Devereux, son of Gen. John Devereux, according to the town’s website.
Like the Devereux name, the house at 16 Franklin St. is still around. It even has a plaque that honors its builder, Homan. “Old Devereux House,” as it was called, is no longer a rooming house like it was in the 19th and 20th centuries. A Georgian house with a period-appropriate plan, little has changed about the house, leaving its history – and legacy – intact.