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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_de_Ferrers,_1st_Earl_of_DerbyRobert I de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby , was born in
Derbyshire,
England, a younger son of
Henry de Ferrières and his wife Bertha Roberts . His father, born in
Ferrieres,
Normandy,
France accompanied
William the Conqueror during his invasion of
England. The family was rewarded with a grant of
Tutbury Castle in
Staffordshire and 114 manors in
Derbyshire.
Robert's elder brother William's main interests were in France. He joined
Robert Curthose and was captured at
Tinchebrai. His other brother Engenulf died shortly after his father and so Robert succeeded to the estates in 1088.
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. It should be noted that charters and chronicles from this point refer to him interchangeably as Earl Ferrers, earl of Nottingham or earl of Derby.
He died in the following year and was succeeded in his earldom by his second but eldest surviving son
Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby often known as Robert de Ferrars the Younger.
As with most Norman lords, the Ferrers brought their Norman underlords to England with them - in this case, the Curzon , Livet and Boscherville families, who held their fiefs in Normandy from the Ferrers, and who subsequently held their English lands from Ferrers as well.