Individual Details
(Abt 1062 - 1139)
From the beginning, he gave great support to Henry I. As part of his tenure of Duffield Frith in 1129-30, he is on record as having interests in lead mines at Wirksworth. At about this time he granted the church of Potterspury, Northamptonshire, to Bernard the Scribe. It is, however, during his last years that he is most in evidence as a leading supporter of King Stephen He took a large body of Derbyshire men northwards to assist in repelling an invasion of the Scots under King David I of Scotland, nominally on the behalf of Matilda. Little actual fighting took place, but Thurstan, Archbishop of York, won the Battle of the Standard on Stephen's behalf, fought near Northallerton, on 22, August, 1138. Robert was mainly instrumental in securing the victory for his Sovereign, who for this and other important services created him Earl of Derby, although charters and chronicles during this period refer to him interchangeably as Earl Ferrers, earl of Nottingham or earl of Derby.
Events
| Birth | Abt 1062 | Derbyshire, England | | | |
| Marriage | Abt 1087 | Brittany, France - Hawise (Andre) | | | |
| Death | 1139 | | | | |
Families