He was the eldest son of Vauquelin de Ferrers and in about 1040 inherited his father's lands centred on the village of Ferrières-Saint-Hilaire.
hiː wʌzðɪ ˈɛldɪst sˈʌn ʌv vˈɔːkwɪlˌɪn də fˈɜːɹɚz ænd ɪn ɐbˌaʊt wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd fˈoːɹɾi ɪnhˈɛɹɪɾᵻd hɪz fˈɑːðɚz lˈændz sˈɛntəd ɔnðə vˈɪlɪdʒ ʌv fˌɛɹiˈɛɹzsˈeɪnthɪlˈɛɹ.