Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

County surveyor for the southern division of Co. Mayo, 1856-1861, for the southern division of the eastern region of Co. Cork, 1861-1871, and for Co. Cavan, 1871-1889. Frederick Deverell, a son of William Deverell, a military officer from Co. Offaly, was born in Co. Offaly circa 1821.(1) He was admitted to Trinity College, Dublin, in November 1838 at the age of seventeen and obtained the BA degree in 1843.(2) In 1850 he was employed as a district engineer for the Board of Works at Glencar, Co. Sligo, and in 1854 as resident engineer on the Roscrea & Parsonstown Railway.

Following the division of the east riding of Co. Mayo into two parts, Deverell he was appointed county surveyor for the new southern division of the east riding on 31 March 1856. He held the post until the end of 1861, when he was transferred to the southern division of the eastern region of Co. Cork, changing places with WILLIAM A. TREACY. WILLIAM A. TREACY. (2) In 1871 he was transferred from Co. Cork to Co. Cavan where he remained until at least 1889.(3) He was succeeded by RICHARD NEWMAN SOMERVILLE  RICHARD NEWMAN SOMERVILLE in October 1889. He died on 8 December 1890, aged sixty-nine, and was buried at Deansgrange cemetery, Dublin.(4) He was survived by his widow Letitia (1826ca-1911) and a daughter, Susan Eva.(5)

Addresses: Castlebar, 1856-1861;(6) Drumbar, Cavan, <=1875->=1887.(7)



References

All information not otherwise referenced is from Brendan O'Donoghue, The Irish County Surveyors 1834-1944 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2007), 147-8, which gives the fullest account of Deverell's career.

(1) Alumni Dublinenses, 226; a William Deverell married a Mrs Arabella Ridley at Killeigh, Co. Offaly on 3 August 1820 (www.familysearch.org).
(2) Alumni Dublinenses gives the date of 1843 for his BA, but according to O'Donoghue he took his degree in 1841, then registered for the 2-year diploma in civil engineering but did not take the examination.
(3) Mayo Constitution, 19 Nov 1961 (B.O'D.).
(4) Thom's Official Directory 1887, 1038.
(5) Inscription on headstone at Deansgrange cemetery (B.O'D.).
(6) See note 4, above.
(7) See note 2, above.
(8) Thom's Official Directory 1875, 1166, and see note 5, above.