John Deveraux and Ester Ann Cockshut were both born and christened in Dymock, Gloucestershire, England. John was born April 6, 1800 and christened May 4, 1800. His parents were Joseph Deveraux and Elizabeth Hayward. Ester, who was four years older than her husband, was born January 24, 1796 and christened February 7, 1796. Her parents were William Cockshut and Ann Wood. (Ancestral File and Family Group Sheet)

When John and Ester were married February 26, 1827 in Ledbury, Gloucestershire, England Ester had a six-year-old son named Paul Cockshut. Paul had been christened January 28, 1821 in Dymock, Gloucestershire, England. It is unknown who his father was or when he passed away. The Deveraux’s 1^st child, a daughter named Ann, was born March 18,1828 and christened April 6, 1828, also in Dymock. She grew to adulthood but died sometime after 1851. Apparently John and Ester lived in Dymock, Gloucestershire, for a short time after their marriage and then moved to Eastnor, Herefordshire, England because the rest of their six children were all born in Eastnor. (Ancestral File and Family Group Sheet)

Their 2^nd child, Joseph, was born September 19, 1829 and christened October 11, 1829. He later married Jane Lewis, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and emigrated to Pleasant Grove, Utah, USA where he now has a large posterity. Many of his descendants still live in and around Pleasant Grove. Child #3, John, was christened March 18, 1832 and lived only a short time. He was buried May 9, 1833. Harriet, my 2^nd great-grandmother, was child #4. She was born December 29, 1833 and christened January 26, 1834. She married Thomas Richins, joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and also emigrated to Pleasant Grove, Utah. Their story is recorded separately. In 1835 child #5, another son, Emanuel, was born and passed away while still in infancy. Child #6, Ester, was born October 21, 1838. She stayed in England and married James Baldwin on September 24, 1856, shortly after her family emigrated to Utah. Ester passed away sometime after 1881. (Ancestral File and Family Group Sheet)

“In the spring of 1840 Herefordshire, England looked much like Pennsylvania and upstate New York, USA. The soil, recently plowed for spring planting, was rich and black. Fields were divided into a patchwork of squares and rectangles by rock or rail fences, or thick hedgerows. On the east, the land rose gracefully to form a small range of gentle peaks covered here and there with trees. There were many large and well-constructed houses, clearly testifying to the prosperity of their owners. There were also the residences of the tenant farmers, which were little more than one room cottages, but they were clean and well-kept.” (Lund pp.310-11)