William Checkley Devereux was born 14 Nov 1822 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, a son of Robert Devereux & Susanna Checkley. He died aged 65 on 26 Sep 1887, in Lower Hutt after ailing for some time and is buried Plot 265, Christ Church Taita cemetery

William emigrated in 1855 on the 'Myrtle' and settled in the district. He established the wholesale and retail butchery in the Main Road, Lower Hutt in 1856, the only one of its kind in the district. He took a keen interest in local and colonial politics for over thirty years and died in 1887, five minutes after having voted at the general election. His son Frederick William Devereux, took over the business in 1886. The freehold premises included a two-story shop and dwelling. His slaughter-house, fitted with every modern appliance, was situated on the Main Road about a mile from the shop.

William Checkley Devereux married Ellen Gill/King, as his 2nd wife, before 1857
A total of their children not yet known
* 1857 - 1938 Lydia Myrtle
. . Lydia married William Williams in 1887
* 1859 -1934 Frederick William Devereux
. . Frederick died 14 April 1934 & buried Plot 85K at Bolton Street cemetery, Wellington
* 1863 - 1924 Marian Amy Devereux
. . Marian was a dressmaker
* 1865 - 1880 Edgar Amos Devereux
. . Edgar died aged 15 by drowning with 2 companions, George Cooley aged 20 and Henry Franklin 'Francis' Cross aged 17 in Lake Wairarapa
* 1869 - 1908 Margaret Ellen 'Nellie' Devereux
* Nellie (unmarried) died in Auckland 7 Nov 1908 aged 39
* 1871 - Jane Ann Devereux

* From "The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (Wellington Provincial District), Commercial & Industrial, the entry for his son Frederick William:
Frederick William Devereux, Wholesale and Retail Butcher, Main Road, Lower Hutt. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. This business, the only one of the kind in the township, was established in 1856 by the late Mr William Checkley Devereux, father of the present proprietor.
The founder, whose portrait is reproduced herein, came to the Colony in 1855, per ship "Myrtle," (arrived in Wellington Jan 1854 via Sydney) and settled in the district. He took a keen interest in local and colonial politics for over thirty years, and died in 1887 - five minutes after having voted at the general election of that year. Frederick Devereux was born in Lower Hutt in 1859 and learned his business with his father, assisting in the management of the business for several years before taking it over. As an Oddfellow he has been a member of the Rose of the Valley Lodge for some eighteen years past. In musical matters, Mr Deveieux is a singer and possesses a good tenor voice, which he is ever ready to use as a soloist for any local charity. He is also an amateur athlete and, having studied the noble art of self-defence, has attained considerable renown as a boxer.

NOTES
27 Sep 1887
DEVEREUX - At his residence, Lower Hutt, William Checkley Devereux, aged 65 years .. at about a quarter past 12 to-day Mr Devereux, an old settler, died suddenly after registering his vote, The deceased had been ailing for some time, and was aged 65
The Friends of the late Mr William C. Devereux are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave his late residence, Lower Hutt, for the Taita Cemetery, on Wednesday, 28th instant, at 3 p.m. E. & A COLLETT, Undertakers, Petone

Wife Ellen died in Auckland 10 Nov 1906 aged 74 and is buried Plot 34, Row 55, Block E at Purewa Cemetery with daughter Nellie

PHOTO
Devereux family outside their house on High Street, Lower Hutt, Wellington, photographed by William Williams in 1887 (husband of their daughter Lydia Myrtle)
Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington