1139 Robert de Ferrieres succeeded his father Robert de Ferrieres as Earl of Derby in 1139, "Ego Robertus Comes junior de Ferrariis … Sciatis me concessisse huic ecclesie mee Tuttesbir' … quicquid avus meus Henricus sic Engenulfus patruus meus seu Robertus pater meus seu uxores vel barones seu milites vel homines eorum donaverunt vel concesserunt huic prefate ecclesie … Nigellus de Albiniaco et Amicia filia avi mei dederunt ecclesiam de Catton." In a charter of the same Robert, styling himself "Comes junior de Notingham," to the Church of Tutbury, mentioning the same predecessors, "Anno ab incarnacione domini MC quadragesimo primo Ego Robertus junior Comes de Notingham concedo et do huic ecclesie Sancta Marie Tuttesbur' omnem decimam denariorum de Novo Burgo … pro salute anime mee … et maxime pro solucione marce argenti quam Robertus filius Wakelini de Roburna huic ecclesie solvebat singulis annis … post mortem Hauwisie matris mee." [1]
Robert de Ferrieres married Margaret, daughter and heir of William Peveril of Nottingham. [2]
During the reign of King Stephen, Robert de Ferrieres founded the Abbey of Merevale, co. Warwick, as "Robertus Comes de Ferrariis … pro anima Roberti Comitis de Ferrariis patris mei." [3]
Robert de Ferrieres also founded the Abbey of Darley, near Derby, "Robertus comes de Ferr' Waltero Coventrensi episcopo … Ego fundavi domum unam religionis in Derb' in fisco regio concessu et confirmatione regis Stephani et concessu regis Henrici et posui in eam canonicos et abbatem Abbatem vero presentavi utrique regum et dedi eis de terris meis et de redditibus in primis ecclesiam de Uttokishathara et Cruch' … et decimum denarium redditus mei de Derb' ..." and "Walterus dei gratia Cestrensis episcopus … Confirmando locum in quo fundata est ecclesia sancte Marie super Derewent … accepimus scilicet de dono Henrici regis Anglorum Derlegam et locum et fundationem ubi predicta ecclesia fundata est … Ex dono Roberti comitis de Ferr' et ex concessione regis Stephani quia de suo patrimonio est decimam de tertio denario de Derb' cum prato quod pertinet et ecclesiam de Uttok' …" [4]
Robert de Ferrieres was also a founder of the Priory of Bredon, co. Leicester, as "Rodbertus Comes de Notingh'." [5]
Robert de Ferrieres died before 1160 and "was burried in Merevale Abbey, wrapped in an oxhide." [6]
[1] George E. Cokayne and Vicary Gibbs, ed., The Complete Peerage, rev., Vol. 4, Dacre to Dysart (London, St. Catherine Press, 1916), 192, citing Cartulary of Tutbury nos. 52, 70, 71: R.O. Transcripts, ii, no. 140 B, vol. iii, 427, 428, [InternetArchive].
[2] George E. Cokayne and Vicary Gibbs, ed., The Complete Peerage, rev., Vol. 4, Dacre to Dysart (London, St. Catherine Press, 1916), 192, [InternetArchive].
[3] George E. Cokayne and Vicary Gibbs, ed., The Complete Peerage, rev., Vol. 4, Dacre to Dysart (London, St. Catherine Press, 1916), 192, citing the Foundation Charter, in Monasticon, vol. v, p. 482, [InternetArchive].
[4] George E. Cokayne and Vicary Gibbs, ed., The Complete Peerage, rev., Vol. 4, Dacre to Dysart (London, St. Catherine Press, 1916), 192, citing Cartulary of Darley, Cotton MSS., Titus, C 9, ff. 150, 154, [InternetArchive].
[5] George E. Cokayne and Vicary Gibbs, ed., The Complete Peerage, rev., Vol. 4, Dacre to Dysart (London, St. Catherine Press, 1916), 192, citing the Cartulary of Nostell, Cotton MSS., Vesp., E. 19, f. 125, [InternetArchive].
[6] George E. Cokayne and Vicary Gibbs, ed., The Complete Peerage, rev., Vol. 4, Dacre to Dysart (London, St. Catherine Press, 1916), 192, citing for the death date, the Chronicle of St. Evroul, the Cartulary of Tutbury, nos. 68, 69, and R.O. Transcripts, ii, no. 140 B, vol. iii, 430, 431, and noting that "A charter, by which one William de Ferrariis made a gift to Tutbury, is witnessed by Bernard, Abbot of St. Evroul, and is therefore of date 1160 or before" and that this "gift was ratified, presumably about the same time, by William, Earl de Ferrariis," and for the burial, citing Dugdale, Warwickshire, vol. ii, p. 1090, from the Register of Merevale Abbey, [InternetArchive].