Wexford Country Ireland

Nicholas Devereux was a descendent of a wealthy Irish family from County Wexford in Ireland. He was born on the family estate, which was called "The Leap." Nicholas's older brother, John, emigrated to the United States and settled in Utica, N.Y, in 1806, Nicholas followed. In 1798 a rebellion broke out which was one of the causes for Nicholas to leave and head to U.S.

In 1798, an underground republican group known as the Society of United Irishmen instigated a major uprising against British rule in Ireland. Ireland remained a separate kingdom with its own parliament in Dublin. However, in reality, it was firmly under British control.To maintain Protestant power, Catholics were denied many rights. They couldn't vote, hold political office, join the Army, or purchase and inherit land. Across Ireland, there was also a deep-seated resentment felt by the Catholic peasantry at the brutal exploitation they often experienced at the hands of their Protestant landlords. People wanted equal rights and complete independence from England. These ideas of rebellion came from American Independence and the French Revolution.

In October 1791, the Society of United Irishmen was founded by Theobald Wolfe Tone and a group of like-minded associates. With branches established in Belfast and Dublin, they set out to follow a path of peaceful reform towards a more independent and democratic Ireland.

It was only in County Wexford that the rebellion managed to gain momentum. Incensed by stories of government brutality, and invigorated by a victory over the hated North Cork Militia at Oulart on 27 May, the rebels succeeded in capturing Enniscorthy and Wexford town. 

Irish Rebellion of 1798, National Army Museum . Accessed December 2nd, 2022. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/irish-rebellion-1798.

Devereux , Archives. Accessed December 2nd, 2022. http://archives.sbu.edu/Biographies/Devereux/index.html.