The earl d. in 1221, and was 8. by his elder son,

HUGH DE VERE, 4th Earl of Oxford and 5th Great Chamberlain. In the 17th King HENRY III. he was knighted at Gloucester, the King at that time solemnizing the feast of Pentecost there. In 1245 his lordship's mother died, and he then, upon giving security for payment of his relief, namely, the sum of £100, and doing homage, had livery of the lands of her inheritance. In the 30th HENRY III. he was one of the subscribing barons to the letter transmitted to the Pope, complaining of the exactions of his holiness upon this realm, and he sat in the parliament, 32nd HENRY III., wherein the king was upbraided with his prodigal expenditure, and informed that neither his treasurer nor chancellor had the confidence of their lordships. The earl m. Hawise, dau. of Sayer de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, and d. in 1263, having had issue, 1. ROBERT, his heir; II. Aubrey; 111. Richard: 1. Margaret, m. to Hugh de Cressi; II. Maud; III. Isabel, m. to John de Courtenay. The eldest son,

ROBERT DE VERE, 5th Earl of Oxford and 6th Great Chamberlain, having arrayed himself under the banner of Montfort, Earl of Leicester, was amongst those who were surprised with young Hugh de Montfort, at Kenilworth, a few days before the battle of Evesham, and taken prisoner, but he made his peace soon after, under the "Dictum de Kenilworth," and we find him employed by King EDWARD I. against the Welsh, in the 14th of that monarch's reign. His lordship m. Alice, dau. and heiress of Gilbert de Saundford, chamberlain in fee to Eleanor, Queen of HENRY III., and had, with other issue,

The earl d. in 1296, and was 8. by his eldest son,

ROBERT DE VERE, 6th Earl of Oxford and 7th Great Chamberlain, who took part in the wars of Scotland, 24th and 27th EDWARD I. His lordship m. Margaret, dau. of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, but d. s. p. in 1331, when his honours devolved upon his nephew,

JOHN DE VERE, as 7th Earl of Oxford, and 8th Great Chamberlain. This nobleman, who was a military personage of great renown, shared in all the glories of King EDWARD III.'S martial reign. When he s. to the earldom, he had but just attained his eighteenth year, and very soon afterwards we find him with the army in Scotland, where he appears to have been engaged for some years. In the 14th EDWARD III., he attended the king into Flanders. The next year he assisted "at the great feast and justing in London, which King EDWARD III. caused to be made, as it was said, for the love of the Countess of Salisbury." In the 16th year he was again in the wars of France, to which service he brought forty men-atarms (himself included), one banneret, nine knights, twentynine esquires, and thirty archers on horseback, and had an allowance of fifty-six sacks of wool for the wages of himself and his retinue. The next year he accompanied Henry de Lancaster, Earl of Derby, and divers other great personages, into Scotland, for raising the siege of Lochmaban Castle. And in the 18th, he was in Gascony, at the surrender of Bergerath, after which, proceeding to assault the castle of Pellegrue, he was taken prisoner in his tent, but soon after exchanged for the Viscount de Bonquentyne, when he marched with the Earl of Derby to Attveroche, then besieged by the French, and relieved it. "But about the feast of the Blessed Virgin," writes Dugdale, "returning out of Brittany, he was by tempest cast upon the coast of Connaught, in Ireland, where he and all his company suffered much misery from those barbarous people there, who pillaged them of all they had."

His lordship returned to France soon after this event, and continued with little interruption during the remainder of his life actively and gallantly engaged in the wars in that country.

This Gilbert inherited the manor of Hormade Magna, co. Herts, and held it by serjeanty of service, in the queen's chamber, which manor was conveyed by his heiress, Alice, to her husband, the Earl of Oxford, and sold by his successor, Edward, Earl of Oxford, temp. ELIZABETH, to Anthony Cage, citizen of London, whose representative, Daniel Cage, at the coronation of King JAMES I., claimed the office of chamberlain to the queen; but the court for determining claims came to no decision upon the case, because the Earl of Oxford held three manors by this office, and there was no proof that Ginges, one of the three, was yet severed from the earldom.

His lordship, who left vast landed possessions in the cos. Hereford, Bedford, Leicester, Essex, Buckingham, Hertford, Dorset, Wilts, Suffolk, and Cambridge, was 8. by his eldest son,

SIR THOMAS DE VERE, Knt., 8th Earl of Oxford and 9th Great Chamberlain. Of this nobleman little more is mentioned than his being engaged in foreign warfare like his father, but not with the same renown. His lordship. in the life-time of the late earl, Maud, dau. of Sir Ralph de Ufford, brother of Robert, Earl of Suffolk, and was 8. at his decease, 18 September, 1371, by his only son,

ROBERT DE VERE, 9th Earl of Oxford and 10th Lord Chamberlain, K.G., who doing homage, and making proof of his age, in the 6th King RICHARD II., had livery of his lands. His lordship becoming subsequently the favourite of that weak and unfortunate prince, obtained large territorial grants from the crown, amongst which was the castle of Okeham, in Rutland, and was advanced to a new dignity in the peerage, by the title of MARQUESS OF DUBLIN, for life, in which he had summons to parliament, 8 August, 1386. On his elevation to the marquessate his lordship obtained a grant of the lordship and domain of Ireland, with all profits, revenues, and regalities, as amply as the king himself ought to enjoy the same, to hold by homage and allegiance. With the lordship and domain thereof, as aforesaid, "quoad vixerit," he was created DUKE OF IRELAND on 8 August, 1386, on his surrender of the Marquessate. These high honours and immunities exciting the jealousy of the nobles, and the favourite bearing his fortune imperiously, several of the great lords assembled at Haringhay House, near Highgate, co. Middlesex, and evinced open hostility to the royal minion. Thence, at the desire of the king, who became alarmed, they transferred their deliberations to Westminster, and in reply to an interrogatory put to them by the bishop of Ely, then lord chancellor, they demanded that the king should dismiss the traitors that surrounded him, amongst whom they particularized Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland. For the moment, however, RICHARD allayed this tumult by fair promises, but De Vere not considering himself safe, soon after effected his escape, in disguise, to the continent, accompanied by Michael de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk. He subsequently returned to England, at the head of 4000 or 5000 men, and marching into Oxfordshire, was met at Radcote Bridge, on the river Isis, by the Earl of Derby and Duke of Gloucester, where his troops being surrounded, he could secure personal safety only by abandoning his two gauntlets and armour, and thus swimming down the stream. In the pursuit, his grace's chariot having fallen into the hands of his foes, it is said that they discovered there letters from the king, calling on him to hasten to London, and the Monarch would be ready to live or die for him. In a parliament soon after convened, through the influence of the nobles, the duke, not appearing to a citation, was sentenced to banishment, and at the same time outlawed and attainted. He again, however, effected his escape to the continent, where, being wounded by a wild boar, while hunting. he died of the hurt at Lovaine, anno 1392, in great distress and poverty; his English property being all confiscated, and his honours extinguished by the attainder. When the news of the duke's death reached England, King RICHARD caused his body to be brought over, had the coffin opened, that he might once again see the features of the friend he had loved so well, and attended the corpse himself, in grand procession, to its interment at Earl's Colne, in Essex.

His grace m. 1st, Lady Philippa De Coucy, dau. and coheiress of Ingelram, Earl of Bedford, by his wife, the Princess Isabel, dau. of King EDWARD III., which noble lady, in the zenith of his prosperity, he repudiated, and m. 2ndly, a Portaguese girl, named Lancerona, stated by some accounts to have been a joiner's daughter, but by others, styled "the Landgravine," who came out of Bohemia, with Anne, Queen consort of King RICHARD. This lady was the companion of De Vere's banishment and adversity; and there may yet be seen at Earl's Colne, among the De Vere memorials, the tomb and effigy of Lancerona, Duchess of Ireland, conspicuous from the quaint head-dress of "piked horns," introduced by Anne of

The earl m. 1st, Lady Margaret Nevill, dau. of Richard, Earl of Salisbury, by whom he had a son, John, who d. young in the Tower of London during his father's exile. His lordship m. 2ndly, Elizabeth, dau. of Sir Richard Scrope, Knt., and widow of William, Viscount Beaumont, but had no issue. The earl who with his other honours was a knight of the Garter, d. in 1513, and was s by (the eldest surviving son of his deceased brother, Sir George Vere) his nephew,

JOHN DE VERE, as 14th Earl of Oxford, commonly called, "Little John of Campes," from his diminutive stature, and residence at Castle Campes, in Cambridgeshire. His lordshipm. Lady Anne Howard, dau. of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, but had no issue. He d. in 1526, when his sisters (refer to children of Sir George Vere, son of John, 12th earl,) became heirs to the ancient baronies of the family, and those fell into ABEYANCE between them, as they still continue with their descendants; while the Earldom of Oxford passed to his cousin and heir-atlaw (refer to descendants of the Hon. Robert Vere, 2nd son of Richard, 11th earl),

*

JOHN DE VERE, as 15th Earl of Oxford and Great Chamberlain, K.G. This nobleman was a privy councillor in the reign of HENRY VIII., and supported the measures of the court. He signed the articles exhibited by the King against Cardinal Wolsey, and his name was to the letter addressed to the Pope (CLEMENT VII.) by several of the nobility and divers churchmen, declaring that unless his holiness sanctioned the king's divorce from Queen Katharine, the supremacy of the holy see within this realm would terminate.

The earl m. Elizabeth, dau. and heiress of Sir Edward Trussel, Knt., of Cublesdon, co. Stafford, by whom he had issue,

JOHN, his successor,

Aubrey, m. Margaret, dau. of John Spring, Esq., of Lavenham, co. Suffolk, and had, with other issue, HUGH, m. Eleanor, dau. of Walsh, Esq., and left a son, ROBERT, who s. as 19th Earl of Oxford. Geffery, who m. Elizabeth, dau. of Sir John Hardkyn of Colchester, and had, with other issue,

Francis (Sir), some time governor of Brill, in the Netherlands.

HORATIO, the celebrated Lord Vere, of Tilbury. (See that dignity.)

Frances, m. to Sir Robert Harcourt, Knt., ancestor of the
extinct Earls of Harcourt.

Elizabeth, m. to Thomas, Lord Darcy, of Chiche.
Anne, m. to Edmund Sheffield, Lord Sheffield.
Frances, m. to Henry, Earl of Surrey.

His lordship, who was a knight of the Garter, d. in 1539, and was s. by his eldest son,

JOHN DE VERE, 16th Earl of Oxford and Great Chamberlain, who, in the 32nd HENRY VIII, had livery of those lands which descended to him from Elizabeth, his mother, sister and heir of John Trussel, Esq. and in the 36th of the same monarch was in the expedition into France, when Bulloigne was besieged and taken. His lordship m. 1st, Lady Dorothy Nevill, dau. of Ralph, Earl of Westmoreland, by whom he had an only dau.,

Katherine, m. to Edward, Lord Windsor.

The earl m. 2ndly, Margery, dau. of John Golding, Esq., of Halstead, co. Essex, auditor of the exchequer, and sister of Sir Thomas Golding, Knt., of Notts, by whom (who m. 2ndly, Christopher Tyrrell, and d. 2 December, 1568,) he had issue,

EDWARD, his successor.

in which he lived, and distin guished alike by his patriotism and chivalrous spirit. In the tournaments of ELIZABETH's reign he was pre-eminently conspicuous, and on two occasions was honoured with a prize from her Majesty's own hand, being conducted, armed by two ladies, into the presence chamber for the purpose of receiving the high reward. Walpole says that he obtained reputation as a poet, and was esteemed the first writer of comedy in his time. His lordship m. 1st, Anne, dau. of William Cecil, the celebrated Lord (Treasurer) Burghley, and had issue,

Elizabeth, m. to William, Earl of Derby; the heir-general of this marriage is the DUKE OF ATHOLE.

Bridget, m. to Francis, Lord Norris, of Rycote; the heirgeneral of this marriage is the EARL OF ABINGDON. Susan, m. to Philip Herbert, Earl of Montgomery; the heirgeneral of this marriage is the EARL OF PEMBROKE.

The earl m. 2ndly, Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas Trentham, Esq., of Rowcester, co. Stafford, by whom he had an only child, HENRY, his successor.

This Lord Oxford was the first person who introduced perfumes and embroidered gloves into England, and on his presentation of a pair of the latter to Queen ELIZABETH, her Majesty was so pleased with them, that she had her picture painted with those gloves on. His lordship, who seems to have dissipated the noble inheritance of his family, lived to an advanced age, and dying in 1604, was 8. by his son,

HENRY DE VERE, 18th Earl of Oxford, and Great Chamberlain, who m. Lady Diana Cecil. 2nd dau. of William, Earl of Exeter, one of the greatest fortunes and most celebrated beauties of the period, but had no issue. His lordship d. at the siege of Breda, in the Netherlands, where he had the command of a regiment in 1625, when his honours devolved upon his cousin (refer to descendants of Aubrey, 2nd son of John, 15th earl),

ROBERT DE VERE, as 19th Earl of Oxford. In the 2nd CHARLES I., there was great controversy between this Robert and Robert Bertie, then Lord Willoughby de Eresby, in consequence of the latter claiming in right of his mother, Mary, dau. of John, 16th Earl of Oxford, and sister and heiress of Edward, 17th earl, the Earldom of Oxford, with the baronies in fee belonging to the family, and the Great Chamberlainship of England. The judges, gave their opinion, however, in parliament, "that the earldom was well descended upon the heir male; but that the baronies having devolved upon heirs female, the three sisters of John, 14th earl (refer to children of Sir George Vere, 3rd son of the 12th earl,) were then in ABEYANCE." As to the office of Great Chamberlain, it was also referred to the judges, then attending in parliament, to report, whether "that Robert, Earl of Oxford, who made the entail thereof, temp. RICHARD II., on the heir male, was at that time seized thereof or not, and admitting that he was, then whether such an office might be conveyed by way of limiting of uses." On this reference three of the judges, Doderidge, Yelverton, and Trevor, decided for Lord Willoughby, and two, Chief Justice Crew, and Chief Baron Walter, for the heir male; five of their lordships only attending. Whereupon the Lord Willoughby was admitted 13 April, 13th CHARLES I., into the house with his staff of office; and took his place above all the barons, according to the statute of 31st HENRY VIII., and the next day, Robert de Vere took his seat as Earl of Oxford, next to the Earl of Arundel. His lordship m. a Dutch lady, Beatrix Van Hemmend, by whom he left, at his decease in 1632 (falling at the siege of Maestrich, where he commanded a regiment,) an only surviving

Bolebec, Badlesmere, and Plaitz.

AUBREY DE VERE, 20th Earl of Oxford, K.G. This nobleman, at the decease of his father, was but six years of age, and in ward to King CHARLES I. In 1648 he had command of a regiment of English infantry in the service of the States General. During the civil wars he espoused the royal cause, and suffered much in consequence, but after the Restoration he was sworn of the privy council, made a knight of the Garter, and appointed lord-lieutenant of the co. Essex, His lordship m. 1st, Anne, dau. and co-heir of Paul, Viscount Bayning, by whom he had no issue. He m. 2ndly, Diana, dau. of George Kirke, Esq., one of the grooms of the bedchamber to King CHARLES I., by whom he had,

Charles,

Charlotte, both d. young.

Diana, m. to Charles Beauclerk (illegitimate son of CHARLES

*This decision appears strangely at variance with our present notions; Loid Willoughby was not the heir-general of the De Veres, but was simply the nearest relation by the full blood to the last holder of the title. (See Vicissitudes of Families, vol. 2, p. 434.)

The earl d. "at a miserable cottage" 12 March, 1702 (having acquiesced in the expulsion of the royal house, which he had previously so zealously upheld,) and with him the very ancient Earldom of Oxford, which had passed through twenty generaHow can this tions, is supposed to have become EXTINCT. brief epitome of the history of the De Veres be more appropriately concluded, than by the following quotation from the summing up of Chief Justice Crew, at the great controversy of the time of CHARLES 1.-"This great and weighty cause" (these are the chief justice's words,) "incomparable to any other that hath happened at any time, requires great deliberation, and solid and mature judgment to determine it; and I wish that all the judges of England had heard it (it being a fit case for all), to the end we all together might have given our humble advice to your lordships herein. Here is represented to your lordships certamen honoris, and, as I may well say, illustris honoris, illustrious honour. I heard a great peer of this realm, and a learned, say, when he lived there was no King in Christendom had such a subject as Oxford. He came in with the CONQUEROR, Earl of Guynes; shortly after the Conquest, made Great Chamberlain of England, above 500 years ago, by HENRY I., the CONQUEROR's son, brother to RUFUS; by MAUD, the empress, Earl of Oxford; confirmed and approved by HENRY II., Alberico comiti, so earl Lefore. This great honour, this high and noble dignity hath continued ever since in the remarkable surname of De Vere, by so many ages, descents and generations, as no other kingdom can produce such a peer in one and the self same name and title. I find in all this length of time, but two attainders of this noble family, and those in stormy and tempestuous times, when the government was unsettled, and the kingdom in competition. I have laboured to make a covenant with myself, that affection may not press upon judgment, for I suppose there is not many that hath any apprehension of gentry or nobleness, but his affection stands to the continuance of so noble a name and house, and would take hold of a twig or a twine thread to uphold it. And yet, time hath his revolutions; there must be a period and an end to all things temporal-finis rerum-an end of names and dignities and whatever is terrene, and why not of De Vere? For where is Bohun? Where is Mowbray? Where is Mortimer? Nay, which is more and most of all, where is Plantagenet? They are entombed in the urns and sepulchres of mortality! And yet let the name and dignity of De Vere stand so long as it pleaseth God."

A family of VERE seated at Carlton, Notts, which traces back its ancestry to William Vere, of Hints, co. Stafford, temp. JAMES I., has long asserted a claim to the Earldom of Oxford.

Arms-Quarterly: gu. and or; in the first quarter a mullet,

arg.

VERE-BARON VERE.

By Writ of Summons, dated 27 September, 1299.

Lineage.

HUGH DE VERE, one of the younger sons of Robert, 5th Earl of Oxford, a military personage of high reputation, was summoned to parliament as a Baron from 27 September, 1299, to 3 March, 1318. In the 25th EDWARD I., he was joined in an embassy to France with the bishop of Gloucester, for negotiating peace between the two crowns; and the next year he was deputed to the court of Rome on a mission of great importance. He was, subsequently, employed upon other diplomatic occasions, and was actively engaged in the Scottish wars. His lordship m. Dyonisia, dau. and heiress of William, son of Warine de Monchensy, which lady d. s. p. in 1313, when Adomare de Valence, son of the Lady Joane de Valence, was found to be her next heir. Lord Vere does not appear to have m. a second time, and the barony became therefore, at his decease, EXTINCT.

Arms-Same as De Vere, Earl of Oxford, with proper differ

ence.

Francis (Sir). Of the exploits of this gallant person an account appeared in 1657, under the title of The Commentaries of Sir Francis Vere, being divers pieces of service, wherein he had command, written by himself, published by William Dellingham, D.D. Sir Francis m. Elizabeth Dent, dau. and co-heir of a citizen of London, by whom he had several children, all of whom, however, predeceased himself unm. He d. in 1608, and was interred in Westminster Abbey, under a splendid monument.

The youngest son,

SIR HORATIO VERE, Knt., becoming one of the most eminent persons of the period in which he lived, was elevated to the peerage for his distinguished services, by King CHARLES I., in the dignity of BARON VERE, of Tilbury, co. Essex, 24 July, 1625. The exploits of this gallant personage form a brilliant page in British History, and it would be in vain to attempt even to epitomize them here. He was so great a military officer that the first generals were proud of having served under him; and Clarendon in mentioning Edward, Lord Conway, says, "he was bred up a soldier, in several commands under the particular care of Lord Vere." He also observes, that "Monk, Duke of Albemarle, had the reputation of a good foot officer, when he was in the Lord Vere's regiment in Holland.” Fuller in his Worthies thus characterizes his lordship: "Horace, Lord Vere, had more meekness and as much valour as his brother; of an excellent temper: it being true of him what is said of the Caspian Sea, that it doth never ebb, nor flow, observing a constant tenor, neither elated or depressed with success. Both lived in war much honoured, and died in peace much lamented." Lord Vere m. Mary, dau. of Sir William Tracy, Knt., of Toddington, co. Gloucester, and relict of William Hoby, Esq., and had five daus., his co-heirs, viz.,

Elizabeth, m. to John Holles, 2nd Earl of Clare, and had issue,

GILBERT, 3rd Earl of Clare, whose son,

JOHN, 4th Earl of Clare, was created DUKE OF NEWCASTLE, K.G., and d. in 1711, leaving an only dau. and heiress,

Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holles. who m. Edward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford, and had an only dau. and heiress,

Lady Margaret Cavendish Harley, m. to William, 2nd Duke of I'ortland.

On the demise of John Holles, Duke of Newcastle, the honours of the Holles family expired, but they were revived in his grace's nephew, Thomas, Lord Pelham, from whom the extant Dukes of Newcastle derive. Mary, m. to Sir Roger Townshend, Bart., of Raynham, co. Norfolk, from which marriage the extant Marquesses Townshend derive. Her ladyship m., after the decease of Sir Roger, Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmoreland, and had issue, VERE, who 8. his half-brother, Charles, as 4th Earl of Westmoreland.

Catherine, m. 1st, Oliver, son and heir of Sir John St. John, of Lydiard Tregoze, and 2ndly, John, Lord Paulet. Anne, m. to the celebrated parliamentary general, Sir Thomas Fairfax, Lord Fairfax, by whom she had an only dau. and heiress, Mary, m. to George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham.

Dorothy, m. to John Wolstenholme, Esq., eldest son of Sir John Wolstenholme, Bart. of Nostel, co. York. by whom she had no issue. Mr. Wolstenholme predeceased his father and was buried at Stanmore under a stately monument of white marble.

His lordship d. 2 May, 1635, when the Barony of Vere, of
Tilbury, became EXTINCT. Horatio, Lord Vere, was interred
near his brother, Sir Francis, in Westminster Abbey.
Arms-See those of Vere, Earls of Oxford, duly differenced.

EDWARD VERNEY, Esq., m. Dorothy, dau. of Sir Edward Peckham, but d. 8. p., 1558, when the estate devolved on his brother,

SIR EDMUND VERNEY, who received the honour of knighthood. He was sheriff of the co. Bucks and Hertford. He m. 1st, Frances, dau. of John Hastings, Esq., of Yelford, co. Oxford, by whom he had no issue; and 2ndly, Audrey, widow of Sir Peter Carew, and dau. of William Gardiner, Esq., of Fulmer, and by her had,

Francis (Sir), who m Ursula, dau. of William St. Barbe, Esq., and d. 8. p.

Hem. 3rdly, Mary, dau. of John Blankey, Esq., of Sparrowham, and widow of G. Turvile, Esq., and had issue, by her.

SIR EDMUND VERNEY, of Middle Claydon, b. in London, 7 April, 1596, knight mareschal of the household. He m. Margaret, eldest dau. of Sir Thomas Denton, Knt., of Hillesden, in Bucks, by whom he had issue,

SIR JOHN VERNEY, 2nd baronet of Middle Claydon, co. Bucks, M.P. for that shire, was raised to the peerage of Ireland, 16 June, 1703, as Baron Verney, of Belturbet, and VISCOUNT OF FERMANAGH. His lordship m. 1st, Elizabeth, dau. of Daniel Baker, of London, Esq.; 2ndly, Mary, dau. of Sir Francis Lawley, of Spoonhill, in Shropshire, Bart.; and 3rdly, Elizabeth, dau. of Ralph Palmer, Esq., of Little Chelsea,

in Middlesex, and by her (who d. 12 December, 1736, and was buried at Hertford), he had issue,

RALPH, his heir.

Elizabeth, d. unm.

Mary, m. to Col. John Lovett, of Soulbury, Bucks; all her issue d. um.

MARGARET, M. to Sir Thomas Cave, Bart., of Stanford Hall, co. Leicester. Her great-granddau. and representative, SARAH OTWAY CAVE, widow of Henry Otway, Esq., of Castle Otway, co. Tipperary, claimed to be one of the co-heirs of the Barony of Braye, as the descendant of Elizabeth Braye, by her husband, Sir Ralph Verney, of Middle Claydon; and having established her claim, had the ABEYANCE of the barony terminated in her favour, 3 October, 1839. Lord Fermanagh d. 23 June, 1717, and was s. by his son, RALPH VERNEY, 2nd Viscount Fermanagh, who was created 22 March, 1742, EARL VERNEY. He m. Catherine, eldest dan and co-heir of Henry Paschall, Esq., of Baddow Hall, Essex, and by her (who d. 28 November, 1748) had issue,

John, who m. in 1736, Mary,* dau. of Jonas Nicholson, Esq.; but d. v. p., 3 June, 1737, leaving his wife enceinte. She was afterwards delivered of a dau.,

MARY, created in 1792, BARONESS FERMANAGH. Her ladyship d. unm. 15 November, 1810 (when her title EXPIRED, having bequeathed her estates to her half-sister, Mrs. Wright.

RALPH, his father's heir.

Elizabeth, m. to Bennet, Earl of Harborough, and had several children, who d. in infancy. Catherine, d. unm. in 1750.

The earl d. 4 October, 1752, and was 8. by his son,

RALPH VERNEY, 2nd Earl Verney, F.R.S., who m. 11 September, 1740, Mary, dau. and co-heiress of Henry Herring, Esq., of Egham, in Surrey, a merchant of London and director of the Bank; but d. s. p. 31 March, 1791, when all his honours became EXTINCT.

Arms-Az., on a cross, arg., five mullets, pierced, gu

VERNON-BARON ORWELL, OF NEWRY,
AND EARL OF SHIPBROOK.

Barony, by Letters Patent, dated 17 April, 1762
Earldom, by Letters Patent, dated 28 January, 1777.

Lineage.

The Vernons were a family of noble Norman origin, and their ancestors were seigneurs of Vernon, in Normandy. William de Vernon founded and richly endowed the collegiate church of St. Mary there, in 1052, where he is interred. His eldest soa, Richard, accompanied WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR to Englant and was one of the barons created by Hugh Lupus, to whom King WILLIAM, in the 20th year of his reign, granted the county palatine of Chester. His great-grandson, Warine de Vernon, 4th Baron of Shipbrook, was father of William, who married the heiress of Avenel, of Haddon, co. Derby.

WARINE DE VERNON had an elder son, Richard, who carried on the line of the elder branch, the Barons of Shipbrook, of whom one of the descendants,

RALPH VERNON (2nd son of Ralph Vernon, of Haslington, Esq., by Isabella, his wife, dau. of Thomas Leversege, of Willock, co. Chester), m. Elizabeth, s.ster of Thomas Moreton, and had issue; his 2nd son,

FRANCIS VERNON, of London, merchant, m. a Dutch lady, and had issue; his eldest son,

FRANCIS VERNON, of London, m. Anne, dau. of Mr. Alderman Smithies, of London, and had with other issue, a son,

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE JAMES VERNON, one of the principal Secretaries of State, temp. WILLIAM III. (a.d. 1697), m. Mary, dau. of Sir John Buck, of Hamby Grange, Lincolnshire, Bart, and had issue,

I. JAMES, of whom presently. II. Francis.

111. Edward, of Nacton, in Suffolk, b. 1684, in Westminster. a very distinguished naval officer, who attained the rank of admiral of the white, and was employed in many important services; in 1739, he captured Portobello, in the West Indies; and in 1741, commanded at the attack on Carthagena. He m. Sarah, dau. of Thomas Best, Esq., of Chatham, in Kent, and d. 29 October, 1757, having had three sons, James,

She m. 2ndly, Richard Calvert, Esq., and was mother of Catherine (wife of the Rev. Robert Wright), who eventually inherited the estates of Mary, Lady Fermanagh, and assumed the surname of VERNEY. She d. 8. p. in 1827, and was 8. in her estates by her cousin, SIR HARRY CALVERT, Bart., who has also taken the name of VERNEY.