"Bertram de Verdum" granted land at Long Whatton, Leicestershire to "Wauchelino filio Baldewini et Aeliz uxori sue", which was held by "mater uxoris predicti Walchelini" during the reign of King Henry I, by charter dated to the reign of King Henry II. Military fee certifications in the Red Book of the Exchequer, in 1166, record the knights’ fees held from "Bertram de Verdone" in Staffordshire. The Red Book of the Exchequer refers to "Bertram de Verson i m" in Staffordshire in [1167/68]. The Red Book of the Exchequer refers to "Bertram de Verdone xx s" in Staffordshire in [1171/72]. The 1176/77 Pipe Roll names "Bertrannus de Verdun" in Warwickshire and Leicestershire. "…Bertr de Verd…" subscribed the charter dated to [29 Aug 1176/1179] under which Henry II King of England confirmed an agreement between the bishop of Ely and the Templars. "…Bertranno de Verduno…" subscribed the charter dated to [1183/89] under which Henry II King of England confirmed income from the prévôté de Valoignes and the forest of Brix for the hospital de la Madeleine. The Red Book of the Exchequer refers to "Bertram de Verdone xx s pro uno militis" in Staffordshire in [1186/87]. “Bertramus de Verdun” founded Croxden abbey, for the souls of “Normanni de Verdune patris mei et Lucelinæ matris meæ et Richardi de Humez qui me nutrivit” and for the salvation of “mea et Roehais uxoris meæ”, by undated charter, witnessed by “...Roberto de Verdun, Waltero de Canvile, Ada de Aldithelee...Willielmo Pantouf, Radulpho de Biseche, Rogero Bagot, Philippo de Draicote, Milone de Verdun”.
The Chronicle of Croxden records the death in 1192 of “Bertramus de Verdun fundator” and his burial “in die sancti Bartholomei apud Acon”. The 1194/95 Pipe Roll records that "Manaserus Judeus de Gipesw" owed gold "pro recto de xx m versus Willelmum de Verdun et Bertrannum fratrem suum". 1
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This feudal lord was sheriff of Leicestershire, from the 16th to the 30th of King Henry II.'s reign, inclusive. He subsequently attended the <i>lion-hearted</i> RICHARD to the Holy Land, and was at the siege of Acon; which place upon its surrender was committed to his custody. This Bertram founded the abbey of Croxden, in the county of Stafford, anno 1176, and was otherwise a liberal benefactor to the church. He m. first, Maud, daughter of Robert de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, by whom he had no issue, and secondly, Rohese, but of what family is unknown.... 2
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