Ferrers, Earls of Derby
Walkelin de Ferrieres b abt 1015, of Normandy, d aft 1066. The identity of his wife is undetermined.
Child of Walkelin de Ferrieres was:

Henry de Ferrieres [a], Sire de Ferrieres and Chambrais, b abt 1048, d abt 1116. He md Bertha abt 1070. She was b abt 1056.
Children of Henry de Ferrieres and Bertha were:

LINE A
Sir Robert de Ferrieres [b], Earl of Derby, b abt 1078, d 1139. He md Hawise de Vitre abt 1100, daughter of Andre de Vitre and Agnes de Mortain.
Children of Robert de Ferrieres and Hawise de Vitre were:
Sir Robert de Ferrieres [c], Earl of Derby, b abt 1108, d bef 1160. He md Margaret Peverel abt 1127, daughter of William Peverel and Oddona. She was b abt 1112.
Child of Robert de Ferrieres and Margaret Peverel was:

Sir William de Ferrers [d], Earl of Derby, b abt 1132, Tutbury, Staffordshire, England, d bef 21 Oct 1190, siege of Acre, Palestine. He md Sybil de Braose abt 1165, daughter of William de Braose and Bertha of Hereford.
Children of William de Ferrers and Bertha Fitz Walter of Hereford were:

  • Sir William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, b abt 1170.
  • Agatha de Ferrers b abt 1172, Chartley, Staffordshire, England; mistress of John I Lackland Plantagenet, King of England.
  • Petronilla/Pernel de Ferrers b abt 1188, Derbyshire, England. She md Sir Hervey de Stafford abt 1214, son of Sir Hervey de Bagot, Baron Stafford, and Millicent de Stafford.
Sir William de Ferrers [e], Earl of Derby, b abt 1170, Ferrers, Derbyshire, England, d 22 Sep 1247. He md Agnes of Chester 2 Nov 1192, Cheshire, England, daughter of Sir Hugh of Kevelioc, Earl of Chester, and Bertrade de Montfort.
Children of William de Ferrers and Agnes of Chester were:
  • Sir William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, b 1200.
  • Sibyl de Ferrers b 25 Jul 1216, Derbyshire, England. She md Sir John de Vipont, Lord of Appleby, abt 1237, son of Robert de Vipont and Idonea de Builly.
Sir William de Ferrers [f], Earl of Derby, b 1200, of Derby, Derbyshire, England, d 24 Mar 1253/54, Evington, Leicestershire, England. He md:
[1] Sibyl Marshal bef 14 May 1219, daughter of Sir William Marshal, Mareschal of England, Earl of Pembroke, and Isabel de Clare.
Children of William de Ferrers and Sibyl Marshal were:
  • Isabel de Ferrers b abt 1220, of Derbyshire, England, d bef 26 Nov 1260; md [1] Sir Gilbert Basset, and [2] Sir Reynold de Mohun, Chief Justice of Common Pleas, Knight.
  • Maud/Matilda de Ferrers b abt 1222, d 12 Mar 1298/99. She md [1] Simon de Kyme, [2] Sir William de Vivonia, "de Fortibus", Lord of Chewton, abt 30 Jul 1248, son of Hugh de Vivonia, Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset, and Mabel Malet, and [3] Aimery de Rochechouart aft 1259.
  • Joan de Ferrers b abt 1232, of Derbyshire, England, d bef Oct 1267. She md [1] John de Mohun, and [2] Sir Robert Aguillon in/bef Aug 1256, son of William Aguillon and Joan Fitz Henry.
  • Agatha de Ferrers b abt 1237, of Derbyshire, d bef 12 Jun 1306. She md Hugh de Mortimer Jul 1255, son of Sir Ralph de Mortimer and Gwladys-Dhu verch Llewelyn-Fawr.
[2] Margaret de Quincy 21 Jun 1238, daughter of Sir Roger de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, Constable of Scotland, and Helen of Galloway.
Children of William de Ferrers and Margaret de Quincy were:
  • Sir Robert de Ferrers b abt 1239. See LINE A1
  • Sir William de Ferrers b abt 1240. See LINE A2
  • Joan de Ferrers b abt 1248, Derby, Derbyshire, England, d 19 Mar 1308/09. She md Sir Thomas de Berkeley, Lord of Berkeley, 1267, son of Maurice de Berkeley and Isabel Fitz Roy.
  • Agnes de Ferrers b abt 1250, Derby, Derbyshire, England, d aft 9 May 1281. She md Sir Robert de Muscegros abt 1276, Bicknor, Kent, England, son of Sir John de Muscegros and Cecily Avenal.

    LINE A1
    Sir Robert de Ferrers [g], Earl of Derby, b abt 1239, Derby, Derbyshire, England, d 1278-79. He md Eleanor de Bohun 26 Jun 1269, daughter of Sir Humphrey VI de Bohun and Eleanor de Braose.
    Children of Robert de Ferrers and Alianore de Bohun were:

    • Sir John de Ferrers b 20 Jun 1271.
    • Alianore de Ferrers b abt 1274, prob Huntingdonshire, England; md Sir Robert Fitz Walter 1289, Westminster, Middlesex, England.

    Sir John de Ferrers [h], Lord Ferrers, b 20 Jun 1271, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales, d Aug 1312, Gascony, France. He md Hawise de Muscegros 1297/98-1300, daughter of Sir Robert de Muscegros and Agnes de Ferrers.
    Children of Sir John de Ferrers and Hawise de Muscegros were:
    • Robert de Ferrers b 1303.
    • Eleanor de Ferrers b abt 1305, Chartley Castle, Staffordshire, England. She md Sir Thomas de Latham, Knight, bef 21 May 1329, son of Sir Robert de Latham and Katherine de Knowsley.

    Sir Robert de Ferrers [i], Lord of Chartley, Knight, b 25 Mar 1309, Chartley Castle, Staffordshire, England, d 28 Aug 1350. He md:
    [1] Margaret 21 Nov 1324, Caldecott, Northamptonshire, England.
    Child of Robert de Ferrers and Margaret was:

      Sir John de Ferrers [j] b abt 10 Aug 1331, prob Northamptonshire, England, d 3 Apr 1367. He md Elizabeth de Stafford abt 1356, daughter of Sir Ralph de Stafford, Earl of Stafford, Knight of the Garter, and Margaret de Audley.
      Child or Sir John de Ferrers and Elizabeth de Stafford was:

      Sir Robert de Ferrers [k], Lord of Chartley, Knight, b 31 Oct 1357 or 1359, prob Staffordshire, England, d abt 12 Mar 1413/14. He md Margaret le Despenser abt 1390, daughter of Sir Edward le Despenser and Elizabeth de Burghersh.
      Child of Sir Robert de Ferrers and Margaret le Despenser was:

      Philippa de Ferrers b abt 1398, prob Northamptonshire, d 3 Nov 1415. She md Sir Thomas Greene abt 1412, son of Sir Thomas Greene, Knight, and Mary Talbot.

    [2] Joan de la Mote, Lady of Willisham, abt 1345, of Willisham, Suffolk, England, d 29 Jun 1375, London, England.
    Child of Robert de Ferrers and Joan de la Mote was:

      Sir Robert de Ferrers b abt 1347, of Willisham, Suffolk, and Wem, Shropshire, England, d abt 31 Dec 1380. He md Elizabeth le Botiler abt 27 Sep 1369, daughter of Sir William le Botiler, Lord of Wem and Oversley, and Elizabeth.
      Child of Robert de Ferrers and Elizabeth le Botiler was:

      Sir Robert de Ferrers, Lord Ferrers, Knight, b 1373, of Wem, Shropshire, England, d bef 29 Nov 1396. He md Joan Beaufort bef 30 Sep 1390, daughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and Katherine Roet.
      Child of Robert de Ferrers and Katherine de Roet was:

      Mary Ferrers b abt 1394, of Oversley, Warwickshire, England, d 25 Jan 1457/58. She md Ralph Neville abt 1406, son of Sir Ralph de Neville, Earl of Westmorland, and Margaret Stafford.

    LINE A2
    Sir William de Ferrers [l] b abt 1240, of Groby, Leicestershire, England, d 24 Jan 1298/99. He md [1] Anne le Despenser abt 1268, Wooten Basset, Wiltshire, England, possible daughter of Sir Hugh le Despenser and Aline Basset, and [2] Alianore de Lovaine.
    Child of William de Ferrers and Anne le Despenser was:

    Sir William de Ferrers [m], Lord Ferrers, b 30 Jan 1271/72, Yoxall, Staffordshire, England, d 20 Mar 1324. He md Ellen de Segrave abt 1293, daughter of Sir John de Segrave and Christian de Plescy.
    Children of William de Ferrers and Ellen de Segrave were:

    • Sir Henry de Ferrers, Lord of Groby, b abt 1294.
    • Anne de Ferrers b 20 Apr 1315, Groby, Leicestershire, England, d 8 Aug 1337. She md Sir Edward le Despenser 20 Apr 1335, Groby, Leicestershire, England, son of Sir Hugh le Despenser and Alianore de Clare.
LINE B
Engenulf de Ferrieres [s] b abt 1080. Wife unidentified.
Child of Engenulf de Ferrieres was:

Henry de Ferrieres [t] b abt 1106, of Oakham, Rutland, England. The identity of his wife is undetermined.
Children of Henry de Ferrieres were:

Sir Walkelin de Ferrieres [u], Seigneur de Ferrieres-Saint-Hilaire, Lord of Oakham, b abt 1135, of Rutland, England. The identity of his wife is undetermined.
Child of Walkelin de Ferrieres was:

Isabel de Ferrieres [v] b abt 1170, of Rutland, England, d bef 1252. She md Sir Roger de Mortimer abt 1182, son of Sir Hugh de Mortimer and Maud le Meschin.

NOTES:
a. A Commissioner of Domesday, he held at that date some 210 lordships or manors, more than half being in co. Derby, but the caput of his honour was at Tutbury, co. Stafford. Founded a priory for Benedictine monks near Tutbury.

b. Third son of Henry de Ferrieres and Bertha, he succeeded to the majority of his father's possessions in England. He was one of the commanders at the battle of the Standard, and for his services was created Earl of Derby by King Stephen.

c. Founded the Abbey of Merevale, co. Warwick during Stephen's reign, as well as Darley near Derby. He was also the virtual founder of the Priory of Bredon, co. Leicester.

d. Adherent of the younger Henry in his rebellion Apr 1173, he participated in the sacking and burning of Nottingham in May/Jun 1174, but submitted to the King at Northampton 31 Jul 1174, surrendering his castles of Tutbury and Duffield. Whence the King took him and other prisoners to France the following August, and imprisoned them at Caen. He died on Crusade, at the siege of Acre, bef 21 Oct 1190. His wife, Sibyl, survived him by many years, and was still living as late as 5 Feb 1227/28.

e. He took part in Richard's second coronation 17 Apr, and after the King's death, was at the Council of Northampton, which declared for John as Richard's successor, being also present at John's coronation 27 May 1199. King John, with his own hand, girded him with the sword as Earl. That same day, King John have him Higham, Newbottle and Blisworth. He was present at the coronation of Henry III 28 Oct 1216, and on 30 Oct the King granted him the castles of Peak and Bolsover, co. Derby. He was Sheriff of co. Lancaster and Keeper of the honour of Lancaster 30 Dec 1223 to Jan 1227/28, and accompanied the King in the expedition to Brittany and Poitou Apr to Oct 1230. He was summoned for military service against the Scots 15 May 1244. After his marriage to Agnes, sister and coheir of Randolf, Earl of Chester and Lincoln, they had, in Nov 1232, livery of her purparty of her brother's lands, which included the castle and manor of Chartley, co. Stafford, the castle and vill of West Derby, co. Lancaster, the vills of Bugbrooke, co. Northants, and Navenby, co. Lincoln. He is said to have been long afflicted with the gout.

f. He accompanied the King to France in Apr 1230. On 10 Nov 1247, the King took his homage and he had livery of Chartley Castle and the remainder of his mother's lands. He was invested with the Earldom, Feb 1247/48 at Westmorland. Having suffered with the gout from the time of his youth, he was injured while crossing a bridge, being accidently thrown from the litter he used in travel, and sustaining injuries from which he never fully recovered. Thus, the remaining roughly six years of his life there is little recorded of him. With his first wife, Maud, sister and coheir in her issue of her brother, Walter, Earl of Pembroke, he had seven daughters: (1) Agnes (md William de Vescy); (2) Isabel (md Gilbert Basset and Reynold de Mohun); (3) Maud (md Simon de Kyme, William de Vivonne, and Aimery, Vicomte de Rochechouart); (4) Sibyl (md Frank de Bohun); (5) Joan (md John de Mohun and Robert Aguillon); (6) Agatha (md Hugh de Mortimer); and (7) Alianore (md William de Vaux). He secondly married Margaret, first daughter and coheir of Roger de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, from whence came the succeeding Earl of Derby.

g. Son and heir by his father's second wife, the wardship of his lands was granted to Prince Edward, who then sold the wardship in 1257 to the Queen and Pierre de Savoie. The remainder of his life was spent in almost constant rebellion. Upon livery of his lands in 1260, he shortly thereafter destroyed Tutbury Priory, and upon the outbreak of the Barons' War in 1263, he seized three of Prince Edward's castles. In Feb of the following year, he captured Worcester, and destroyed the town and jewry, whereupon the Prince retaliated by demolishing Tutbury Castle. While he absented himself from the battle of Lewes, he, with 20,000 foot and many horsemen, put to flight the royal forces near Chester the following Nov. On 24 Dec 1264, he was ordered to surrender Peak Castle and that same day summoned to Parliament where he was accused of diverse trespasses and sent to the Tower, his lands being taken into the King's hand. The following Dec he was admitted to the King's grace and upon payment of a fine, received full pardon for all offenses. But within a few months, he again rebelled, joining forces with John d'Eiville and Baldwin Wake, and others, who then devastated the Midlands. In May 1266 they were surprised at Chesterfield, and Robert was captured and sent to Windsor Castle, where he remained a prisoner for nearly three years, his lands again being taken into the King's hand. Labeled Robert de Ferrers, formerly Earl of Derby, the King's enemy and rebel, his castles and lands, and the honour of Derby, were granted to Edmund the King's son. By the Dictum of Kenilworth, Edmund was ordered to restore Robert's lands, but on 1 May 1269, he was forced to sign a charter, by which he agreed to redeem them and obtain his release from prison for 50,000 pounds, to be paid to Edmund in a single payment before the following July; and should he fail this payment, said lands to revert to Edmund and his heirs. While Robert soon regained his freedom, he could not redeem his lands, which were accordingly released to Edmund. He was twice married, firstly to the King's niece, Mary, daughter of Hugh "le Brun", and secondly, to Alianore, daughter of Sir Humphrey de Bohun.

h. Of Chartley, co. Stafford, Southoe and Keyston, co. Hunts, and Bugbrooke, co. Northants, the King took his homage on 21 Nov 1293, whereupon he had livery of those lands as heir of his grandmother, Margaret, Countess of Derby. On 13 Sep 1294, he had license to demise to Robert de Bures the manor of Chartley, for the life of said Robert. He was the principal supporter of the Earls of Hereford and Norfolk in their quarrel with the King in 1297. His attempts to regain the lands which had been forfeited by his father's rebellion, which included a payment for such to the Earl of Lancaster, did not meet with the King's approval and he was thus summoned to appear before the King's Court or suffer forfeiture of all his lands. He was summoned for military service from May 1297 to 28 May 1311, as well as to Parliament from 6 Feb 1298/99 to 19 Dec 1311. He was in the King's service in Scotland in 1298 and 1303, as well as Constable of the Army of Scotland in 1306. On 24 Jun 1311/12, he was appointed Seneschal of Gascony. About this time, which was probably in Aug 1312, John de Ferrers died in Gascony, "of poison, it was said" at the age of 41. His widow married John de Bures, whom she predeceased.

i. Although under age, the King took his homage 13 Aug 1327, and gave him livery of the lands of his brother, John (d bef 23 Jul 1324). Robert appears to have already been knighted by the King at this date. He was summoned for military service against the Scots 27 Mar 1335, and in 1338 and 1339 he was with the King in Flanders, and in Oct 1342, as a member of the King's retinue, he accompanied the King in his expedition to Brittany. He served as Chamberlain to the King in Jul 1343. For good services, the King granted him the custody of the manor of Handborough, co. Oxon, and of the manor and park of Woodstock for life. On 26 Apr 1344, he was appointed Vice-Admiral of the Fleet to convey the King in his expeditions overseas, and he was with the Earl of Derby in Oct 1345 at the battle of Auberoche in Perigord, as well as being present at the battle of Crecy and the siege of Calais.

j. He was with the King in the invasion of France, Oct 1359 to 1360, as well as the invasion of Navarre in 1367. He was slain "beyond the seas" at the battle of Najera on 3 Apr 1367, at the age of 36.

k. The king took his homage and fealty 23 Jul 1381, and he had livery of his father's lands and those which his mother had held for life in dower. His second wife, Margaret, was the 4th and youngest daughter of Sir Edward le Despenser, Lord of Glamorgan and Morgannwg.

l. He was the younger son of William, Earl of Derby, by his second wife, Margaret de Quincy. When aged about 11, his father gave him the manor and advowson of Woodham, the manor of Stebbing, the capital messuage of Chiche (now St. Osyth), and the lands of Fairsted, to hold in tail general. Some four to five years later, still under age, he had livery of these lands, but he subsequently exchanged them with his mother for lands in Scotland and Galloway, but he again had livery thereto, with her consent, before her death. She also gave him the manor of Newbottle, and his brother, Robert, the Earl of Derby, gave him all his own lands in the wapentake of Leyland, co. Lancaster. He was taken prisoner following the conflict at Northampton 5/6 Apr 1264, and was committed to the custody of Roger de Leyburne, who demanded an excessive ransom. But the latter was ordered to release him, whence William, appearing before the King, was pardoned, and permitted to retain, for a fine, the manor of Groby, of which his mother had enfeoffed him. He was summoned for military service from 18 Mar 1263/64 to 14 Mar 1282/83, and to attend the King at Shrewsbury 28 Jun 1283. He married Anne, said to be the daughter of Hugh le Despenser and Aline Basset. After her death he secondly married Alianore de Lovaine, who survived him.

m. Son and heir by first wife, he was born and baptised at Yoxhall. The King took his homage and he had livery his father's lands 17 Mar 1292/93, and in Aug 1295, he was beyond the seas with the Duke of Brabant. On 15 Nov 1296, the King took his homage for the lands he held of the King of Scotland, but which, by reason of war, had been taken into the King's hand. He was at the battle of Falkirk 22 Jul 1298, as well as the siege of Carlaverock Jul 1300. He was in Scotland in the King's service in 1303, 1306, 1308, and 1311. He was summoned for military service from 29 Jun 1294 to 1 May 1325, as well as to attend the King at Salisbury 26 Jan 1296/97, and summoned to Parliament from 29 Dec 1299 to 24 Sep 1324, whereupon he became Lord Ferrers. He married Ellen, said to be daughter of Sir John de Segrave and Christine de Plessy, of Hooknorton and Kidlington, Oxon.

n. Aged 22 and more at his father's death, the King took his homage and he had livery of his father's lands 24 Apr 1325. Having accompanied the Earl of Lancaster to Bedford in Jan 1228/29, his lands were taken by the King, but were later restored to him. He was in the King's service in Scotland in Jun 1336, and served as Justice of Chester on five occasions. The King promised him 400 marks a year, in tail male, in consideration of his constant attendance, and he was Chamberlain to the King Mar 1336/37 to Nov 1340. The King granted him Bradford in co. Salop in tail male and shortly thereafter he received a general pardon for all offences, including the capture of Roger de Mortimer, late Earl of March. He was summoned to Parliament from 25 Jan 1329/30 to 15 Nov 1338. He married Isabel, fourth daughter and coheir of Theobald de Verdun, and on Oct 14, 1331, the King took his fealty and the Chancellor of Ireland was ordered to give to him and Isabel livery of her purparty of her father's lands in that country, and Henry and Isabel had livery of her purparty of her father's lands in England 26 Mar 1332.

o. She died during the pestilence, 25 Jul 1349.

p. Born and baptised at Newbold Verdon, co. Leicester, the King, granted him 50 pounds a year during his minority, and afterward gave him the manors of Stoke-upon-Tern, Wootton, and Hethe, and a moiety of Ludlow, to hold, instead of this payment. When the Queen granted him all lands of his late father, 6 May 1351, he was then a Knight. He accompanied the Prince of Wales to Gascony in Sep 1355, and was at the battle of Poitiers. He was with the King in the invasion of France in Oct 1359 to 1360, and on 23 Jul 1360 he was exonerated from any levy on his lands in Ireland for the defence of that country. He was summoned to Parliament from 15 Mar 1353/54 to 6 Apr 1369, and was with the Duke of Lancaster in his raid into Picardy and Caux, Jul 1369.

q. Son and heir by his father's first wife, the King took his homage and fealty, 26 Apr 1377, and he had livery of his father's lands as well as those his stepmother had held for life in dower or otherwise of his inheritance. He took part in the 1377 expedition under the Earl of Buckingham, in that of 1378 under the Duke of Lancaster, and in the raid of the Earl of Buckingham into Brittany Jul 1380 to Apr 1381. In 1385, he accompanied Richard II in his invasion of Scotland, and was summoned to Parliament from 4 Aug 1377 to 17 Dec 1387. He was "nearly" aged 32 at his death.

r. Attended the King in Ireland, Sep 1394, and was summoned to Parliament from 30 Nov 1396 to 13 Jan 1444/45. As one of the Lords temporal, he swore on the altar of the shrine of St. Edward at Westmorland, 30 Sep 1397, to maintain all the statues, etc., made in the preceding session of Parliament, and have his assent in Parliament 23 Oct 1399, to the secret imprisonment of Richard II.

s. The Complete Peerage states that this individual was either Engenulf or William (father of Henry immediately following), both of whom were known to be sons of Henry, the Domesday Commissioner.

t. He was living 1136, and held Oakham, co. Rutland, and Lechlade, co. Gloucester, the latter a manor held by his grandfather Henry at Domesday.

u. Son of Henry, he was father of (1) Henry, Seigneur de Chambrais in 1202; (2) Hugh, of Lechlade, who died s.p. 1204; and (3) Isabel.

v. She inherited Lechlade, as well as Oakham, the latter which her eldest brother, Henry, had lost at the time of the conquest of Normandy.
SOURCES:
CP: Vol IV[190-203], Vol V[305-321, 340-357], Vol XII/I[171]; AR: Line 11[31-37], Line 57[29-32], Line 59[29-30], Line 61[31-35], Line 62[32-34], Line 74[33], Line 82[30], Line 189[4], Line 262[29].
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