"A settler of 1802 and a very prince among his fellows was John C. Devereux whose honourable career and many deeds of charity left behind him a memory as verdant as that of the green isle whence he came.
Originally of Norman French extraction, they were wealthy and well connected, and lived at ease on their handsome estate, "The Leap", at Davidstown, near Enniscorthy.
They sympathized warmly with and took an aggressive part in the agitations preceding the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and on the defeat of the patriots or rebels the family was ruined.
Dr. Bagg in "The Pioneers of Utica" says, "a settler of 1802 and a very prince among his fellows was John C. Devereux whose honourable career and many deeds of charity left behind him a memory as verdant as that of the green isle whence he came".
"The scant savings of poorer citizens who confided in the integrity of these gentlemen were sacredly guarded and regular interest was paid on all accumulated balances.
At first the bank was operated from Nicholas Devereux's office, a vacant shop where the corporation secretary, Stalham Williams would receive deposits.
On the wall was a gauge for measuring height for the purposes of identification, and a detailed physical description of each depositor was maintained in a memorandum book.
They had no children, but at different times adopted two: Ellen, who became the wife of Mr. Catlin, of Paterson, New Jersey, and his nephew, John C. Devereux, Jr., son of his brother Thomas.
[7] In 1843 he and Nicholas brought the Daughters of Charity of Emmitsburg, Maryland to Utica to open St. John's Female Orphan Asylum; the two Devereux brothers each gave $5,000 towards the project,[3][8] and donated both the land and buildings.