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Alberic (Aubrey) de Vere

The Vere family was founded in England by Aubrey 'Albericus' de Vere. The earliest information in England concerning Vere history can be found inthe cartulary of Abingdon, which relates the grant of Kensington church to the abbey by Alberic de Vere senior.

Alberic de Vere came to England in 1066 with the Norman invasion, fighting alongside his brother-in-law, William the Conqueror. As reward for hisbravery and loyalty, Alberic was given vast estates by William the Conqueror. These estates were once the property of Ulwine, a great Saxon thane,and consisted of manors in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Middlesex. The de Veres were also Lords of Cheniston(now Kensington, London) and nearby Earl's Court is where they had their court-house. To this day there is a rather upscale neighborhood ofKensington called de Vere Gardens. For his part in the conquest De Vere was also given lordship over Lavenham, which was the center of the wooltrade in England.

Albericus de Ver married Beatrice, half sister of King William, and they had five sons. He founded Earl's Colne Priory in 1105, and after the deathof Beatrice he became religious and took vows as a monk. Brother Alberic died in 1088(?1112); he was buried in the church of Earls Colne Priory,which he founded. He is also said to be responsible for laying out four new vineyards in England, one being at Hedingham, where wild red grapes havebeen found several times during the last century.

Alberic was known as Count Aubrey, and the "Sanglier." His wife, Beatrix of Ghisnes, Countess of Ghisnes in her own right, was daughter of Henry,Count of Ghisnes, and his wife Sibylla Alberic. He and his wife had five sons as follows: 1. Alberic de Vere, 2. Geoffrey de Vere, 3. Roger de Vere,4. Robert de Vere, and 5. William de Vere. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Alberic.