General Notes

BARONY OF VERE (I)

HUGH DE VERE, 2nd son of Robert (DE VERE), 5th EARL OF OXFORD, Hereditary Master Chamberlain of England, by Alice, daughter and heir of Gilbert DE SANFORD, Hereditary Chamberlain to the Queen for her Coronation, was born (almost certainly) between June 1257 and March 1258/9. He was granted 6 good oaks of the King's gift from the park of Handley, in Whittlewood Forest, 14 August 1279, and, as the King's yeoman, had a similar grant from Puxley park, in the same, 26 May 1284. He had quittance of the common summons of the eyre in Berks, 14 July 1284, and Bucks, 5 December 1285; was given a protection for one year, going beyond seas with the King, 26 April 1286; and was knighted before 23 August 1293. After taking part in the abortive negotiations at Paris for a treaty with France and for the marriage of Edward I with the Princess Margaret, King Philip's sister, early in 1294, he served as one of the leaders during the ensuing war in Gascony, 1294-97; and when Captain of St. Sever he stood a siege of about 13 weeks, or 6 April-25 June 1295, by Charles of Valois, brother of the French King, until compelled by famine to surrender on honourable terms. On 1 January 1295/6 he was appointed a Commissioner to treat for peace with France; and in the spring of 1298 he was sent to Rome on a similar mission. While still in Gascony and for his good service he and his wife Denise, then of full age, had livery of her father's lands, 22 July 1297. He was summoned to Parliament from 6 February 1298/9 to 3 March 1317/8, by writs directed Hugoni de Veer, whereby he is held to have become LORD VERE, or VEER. He was also summoned repeatedly for service in Scotland, 1299-1319, being at the siege of Carlaverock, July 1300, and with the King in Scotland, 1300-01, and at Roxburgh, February 1301/2. His seal was appended to the Barons' letter to the Pope, as on 12 February 1300/1, as Dominus de Swanescampis; and he was a Commissioner to meet the French ambassadors at Canterbury and treat with them concerning peace with Scotland, 1 March and 1 May 1301. In 1304 Denise was found heir to her paternal grandmother, Denise de Munchensy (died shortly before 23 May 1304), and she and Hugh had livery of her lands, 22 October following, Hugh having done fealty. In the same year he was present at the funeral of John (de Warenne), Earl of Surrey. He and his wife were summoned to the Coronation of Edward II by writs dated 18 January and 8 February 1307/8; and he was sworn one of the Lords Ordainers, 20 March 1309/10.

He married, shortly after 12 June 1294, Denise, then a minor, only daughter and heir of Sir William DE MUNCHENSY (died s.p.m. before 16 September 1287), by his wife Amy (who died in childbed, circa July 1283, and was buried in the church of the Friars Minor, London, M.I.) (g), widow of Sir John DE HULL, of Hill Croome, co. Worcester. She, who was born shortly before 22 July 1283, died s.p. shortly before 13 April 1314, aged 30. Hugh received his last writ of summons for service in Scotland, 22 May 1319, and is presumed to have died s.p. soon afterwards, aged 60 or more, when any Barony which may be supposed to have been created by the writ of 1299 became extinct.  [Complete Peerage XII/2:253-6, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

(g) William m. Amy before suncrise on the Tuesday after the Feast of St Bartholomew (24 Aug 1279), in the parish church of Hill Croome, co. Worcester, he in a robe of black camlet and she in one of murry colour.  About the time of Amy's death the validity of this marriage was challenged, apparently on the ground that it took place at the church door.  But as a result of proceedings in Worcester Cathedral, on the 2nd law-day after the Feast of St Simon and Jude (28 Oct) 1283, wherein inter alies depositions were taken from Thomas de Wychio, priest of the church of Hill Croome aforesaid, who officiated at the ceremony, Bishop Giffard gave sentence that William and Amy were lawfully married.  This was in accordance with similar declaration by the Archbishop of Canterbury, 23 Aug 1283.  Nevertheless the matter was again raised in the King's Court, 1287, and in Parliament, 1290, by William de Valence and his wife Joan, Denise's aunt of the half-blood and next heir, who tried, but failed, to prove that Denise was in consequence a bastard and not her father's lawful heir.