Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford

  General Notes:

~Weis' Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America before 1700, 8th Edition, 60:28, father of Hugh, 246:27, Robert de Vere, Earl of Osford, baptized in 1164, died before 24 Oct 1221, Hereditary Master Chamberlain of England, Magna Carta Surety, 1215, m. Isabel de Bolebec ¹⁶⁰

  Noted events in his life were:

• Dates & Events: Magna Charta Surety, 1215.

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
Hereditary Master Chamberlain of England, brother and heir, being third but eldest surviving son of the first Earl, by his third wife, Robert de Vere was probably born after 1164. He attested four of his father's charters and three other charters for Colne Priory. He appears to have had land at Bumpstead Helion, Essex, and in or shortly after 1208 he acquired one moiety of the Bolebec barony by marrying the aunt of his eldest brother's late wife.

In 1214 he attested the King's letter promising freedom of election to sees and abbeys. After his father, Aubrey's death, he had seisin of his lands and the castles of Hedingham and Canfield in October 1214. Next year he was one of the Barons who met at Stamford and who forced John to grant Magna Carta at Runnymede, and was one of the 25 elected as its guardians. On 23 June 1215 the King issued a writ from Runnymede to the sheriff of Oxfordshire directing him to let Robert have the third penny in accordance with his charter. With the other baronial leaders he was excommunicated by the Pope, and he joined them in inviting Louis of France to England.

Robert was in arms against the King; but in March 1216, after John had taken Hedingham Castle, Robert went to him there and swore that in future he would serve him loyally. However, later in the year, Oxford went over to Louis and was among the Barons who did homage to him at Rochester. In 1217 Louis took Hedingham Castle and restored it to Robert, but in October 1217 Robert returned to his allegiance. On 18 February 1218/9 the sheriff of Oxfordshire was ordered to let him have as Earl of Oxford what his ancestors had. He was a justice itinerant in 1220 and a justice in the King's Court at Westminster in 1221. The Earl was a benefactor to Oseney Abbey and Tilty Abbey.

Robert married Isabel, daughter of Hugh and sister of Walter de Bolbec, coheir to her niece Isabel, Countess of Oxford, and widow of Henry de Nonant. He died before 25 October 1221, and was buried at Hatfield Priory. His wife survived him and died 3 February 1245, being buried in the church of the preaching friars at Oxford, which she had founded.

~Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, (Oxford), Vol. X, pp. 210-213

Robert married Isabel de Bolbec, daughter of Sir Hugh de Bolbec Knight and Unknown.¹⁴¹ (Isabel de Bolbec was born before 1166 in Hatfield, Essex, England and died on 2 Feb 1245 in England ¹⁶⁰.)