Robert Fitz Walkelin

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ²⁰⁷
The Manor of Egginton, in the hundred of Morleston and Litchurch, seven miles southwest of Debry, was held under the Bardolfs by Ralph Fitz Germund, whose son, William Fitz Ralph, Seneschall of Normany, gave it to his nephew, William de Grendon, in exchange for Stanley. Ermitrude Talbot gave to Robert, son of Robert Fitz Walkelin in free marriage with Margaret her daughter, all her land in Egginton which she had of William de Grendon, her husband. Robert Fitz Walkelin and Margaret de Grendon had two daughters and coheirs, Margaret who married Sir John Chanos; and Ermitrude who married Sir William de Stafford.

~ Magna Britannia, Vol. V, Derbyshire, p. 156

• From Gen-Medieval Archives: Robert Fitz Walchelin. ¹⁹³
From: rbevan@paradise.net.nz (Rosie Bevan)
Subject: Re: Robert de Lisle and Ermentrude de Ferrers/Talbot
Date: 5 Mar 2003 18:51:29 -0800

The pedigree given in an article on the Manor of Eggington [F.N.Fisher, ?Eggington Court Rolls 1306/7 ? 1311/12', Journal of the Derbyshire Archaeological and Natural History Society, v. LXXXV, pp.36-61] shows the following:

1.Walchelin of Radbourne 1086, fl 1125
2.William
2.Robert f. Walchelin d.c. 1160
3.Robert f. Robert f. Walchelin d.1232
+ Margaret, da.of William de Grendon d.1203, and Ermentrude
widow of Quintin Talbot
4.Ermentrude
+ William de Stafford fl 1286
4.Margaret
+ John de Chandos

From a case in the 1233 curia regis roll, it appears that William Talbot, brother of Robert's wife Margery (Margaret), claimed custody of the lands of Robert f.Robert f.Walchelin against William, Earl Ferrers. A jury stated that Robert had held a quarter share of the vill rents of Eggington by military service, which came about by his marriage to the daughter and heir of William de Grendon. However, Robert had also held in socage, in his own right, a quarter share of the manor of Eggington from the heirs of William f.Ralph, Seneschal of Normandy. (Supporting evidence of earlier fitz Walchelin interest in Eggington, is that in 1141 Robert Ferrers II had granted Tutbury priory the whole tithe of the new borough of Nottingham in lieu of the silver mark which Robert f. Walchelin had given annually from rents in Eggington. [Avrom Saltman, The Cartulary of Tutbury Priory,(Historical Manuscripts Commission, 1962) no.71].) It appears that William Talbot's interest lay in the land held in socage but it is not stated how. Judgement went in his favour [CRR, v.XV no.133].

From this it seems that Margery de Grendon and William Talbot shared the same mother. However there is some conflict over which Talbot Ermentrude was married to. Whether she was the same as married to Henry fitzGerold is difficult to say, but his widow, Ermentrude, was living in 1233 [CRR v.XV no.185]. I think it unlikely that this would be Ermentrude the grandaughter as she appears to have been a minor in 1232 on the death of her father. Her heirs were her five daughters by William Stafford.

Although there seems to be no proof that Walchelin was related to the Ferrers family, there is very strong onomastic evidence for a Ferrers connection.

There is also something of a hint of it in charters relating to Tutbury Priory, founded by Henry de Ferrers, whose caput of his honor was at Tutbury Castle. Walchelin was the third of five witnesses of a confirmation charter given around 1110 by Robert de Ferrers, of the foundation and endowment of the priory by his parents [The Cartulary of Tutbury Priory, no.103].

Robert married Margaret de Grendon, daughter of William de Grendon and Ermitrude. ¹⁹³(Margaret de Grendon was born about 1200 in Ockbrook, Shardlow, Derbyshire, England and died in Egginton, Burton-upon-Trent, Derbyshire, England.)