William FitzAlan (abt. 1110 - abt. 1160)

Born about 1110 in Shropshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Christiana (Unknown) FitzAlan — married about 1131 in Shropshire, England [uncertain]

Husband of Isabel (Saye) de Botreaux — married 1153 in Shropshire, England

Descendants

Died about 1160 at about age 50 in Oswestry, Shropshire, England

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Biography

1110 Birth Year Estimation

R. W. Eyton, discussing a later medieval cartulary asserting that Haughmond Abbey had been founded by William fitzAlan in 1100, ^[1] pointed out that William FitzAlan is known to have been still a youth in 1138, when he became involved in the Anarchy of Stephen's reign. Using age 18 as "youth", would provide an estimated birth year for William of 1120.

However, given other donation activities attributed to him in the 1130's, it may be more reasonable to place his birth ten years earlier at 1110, making him a "youth" of 28 in 1138. This would still leave him at a relatively young 50 when he died in 1160.

Parentage

William FitzAlan was the son of Alan FitzFlaald and his second wife Adeline or Aveline d'Hesdin. ^[2]

Cawley reports that Aveline died in 1160. ^[3]. Marlyn Lewis, on the other hand, reports that Alan died in 1114 and Aveline died about 1126. ^[4]

1130 Founded Haughmond Abbey

Cawley reports that William FitzAlan founded the Augustinian priory of Haughmond in Shropshire in the time period 1130-1138 and that the priory became an abbey in 1155. ^[3] "William Fitz Alan" donated the fishery of Upton-upon-Severn to Haughmond abbey by undated charter, witnessed by "Walter his brother, Christiana his wife…" ^[3] A charter of Henry II King of England, dated 1176, recites donations to Haughmond abbey including that of "Willielmus filius Alani" of "terram de Piperinges" previously enjoyed by "Aveline matris ipsius Willielmi filius Alani". ^[3]

1131 First Marriage to Christiana

William first married Christiana, who was a niece of Robert FitzRoy Earl of Gloucester. As Orderic Vitalis records it, "William fitz Alan castellan and vicecomes of Shrewsbury" married "a niece of Robert Earl of Gloucester". ^[3] Burke reports that her name was Christian, she was possibly a niece of Robert FitzRoy, 1st Earl of Gloucester of the 1122 creation, and that Robert himself was an illegitimate son of Henry I. ^[5] Christiana, wife of Willoiam, along with William's brother Walter, witnessed the donation of the fishery to Houghton Abbey as noted above.

For Tierney, the niece of Robert Earl of Gloucester was named Ellen rather than Christian, and she was the daughter of William Peverel. William Fitzalan thereby obtained with her a large accession of Property in Brittany. (Orderic, 917). ^[6]

No date has been attached to his first marriage. If, as noted above, his birth occurred around 1110, and he married at age 21, his marriage year would have been 1131.

1138 Sheriff of Shrewsbury and Supporter of Matilda

The Gesta Stephani Regis names "Willelmus filius Alani" among the supporters of Empress Matilda in the English civil war. ^[2]

Burke writes that he was the "Sheriff of Salop and Castellan of Shrewsbury in 1138. He was beseiged there as an adherent of the Empress Maud by King Stephen. ^[5] Tierney writes that he defended Shrewsbury against Stephen in 1138 and fought with the Empress Maud at Winchester, three years alter; (Orderic, Annal. Waverl, 153; Gesta Steph, 956. Lib. Rub. Scace, 185, 189 ) ^[6] Suppe reports that William was a loyal supporter of the Empress Matilda and the Angevin side during the cvil war of Stephen's reign; he held Shrewsbury briefly against King Stephen's forces but then fled the country in 1138 and remained in exile until the advent of Henry II's reign. ^[7]

1149 Madog ap Maredudd seized Oswestry

During the period of his absence, the ruler of Powys, Madog ap Maredudd, had seized Oswestry in 1149 and built or rebuilt the castle there. Madog apparently retained possession of Oswestry until 1155. ^[7]

1153 Second Marriage to Isabel

William's second wife was Isabel....daughter and heir of Ingram de Say, feudal Lord of Clun, Salop ^[5] Cawley reports that the marriage took place about 1153 to 1154 and that Isabel was the daughter of Elias de Say Lord of Clun, Shropshire & his wife ---.

A charter of Henry II King of England, dated 1176, recites donations to Haughmond abbey including that of "Willielmus filius Alani" of the church of Stokes with the consent of "Isabelle uxoris sue"[69]. The primary source which confirms her parentage has not yet been identified. She was heiress of the honour of Clun. ^[3]

1155 Restoration by Henry II

Tierney reports that he was reappointed Sheriff of Shropshire by Henry the second, as soon as Henry succeeded to the throne. (Orderic, Annal. Waverl, 153; Gesta Steph, 956. Lib. Rub. Scace, 185, 189 ) ^[6] Burke says that in 1155 William was restored to his lands by Henry II and set about recovering the Barony of Oswestry, by now in Welsh hands; ^[5] The 1156 Pipe Roll records "Wills fili Alani. Redd Comp." in Shropshire. ^[3]

On 25 July 1155 William Fitz Alan reasserted control over his family lands in Shropshire. On that day the king officially regranted the lands to him and William in turn received a renewal of homage from all his feudal tenants in the county. ^[7]

1155 Grant to Haughmond Abbey

Sir Roger Powy's first known appearance in a document is as the first named witness to a charter dated 25 July 1155 in which William Fitz Alan granted the advowson of Wroxeter to Haughmond Abbey. ^[7]

Donations to Shrewsbury Abbey

“Ric comes de Arundell et dom de Albo” confirmed donations of property by “bonæ memoriæ Wil. filii Alani antecessoris nostri” to Shrewsbury Abbey by charter dated “die Martiis in festo Annunciationis beatæ Mariæ anno regni regis Edwardi vicesimo”[65]. ^[3]

1156 Pipe Roll

The 1156 Pipe Roll records "Wills fili Alani. Redd Comp." in Shropshire[64]. “Ric comes de Arundell et dom de Albo” confirmed donations of property by “bonæ memoriæ Wil. filii Alani antecessoris nostri” to Shrewsbury Abbey by charter dated “die Martiis in festo Annunciationis beatæ Mariæ anno regni regis Edwardi vicesimo”[65]. The Red Book of the Exchequer refers to "Willelmo filio Alani i m" in Warwickshire, Leicestershire in [1161/62][66]. ^[2]

1160 Death

William died in 1160^[2][5] leaving an only son, William, whose marriage with Isabel, daughter and heir of Ingelram de Say, added the exensive Lordship of Clun to the Patrimonial possessions of the family. The titles of Clun and Oswaldestre were now united. ^[6]

The Red Book of the Exchequer refers to "Willelmo filio Alani i m" in Warwickshire, Leicestershire in [1161/62]. ^[3]

Remarriage of widow

After William's death, Isabel married secondly ([1160/66]) as his second wife, Geoffrey de Vere, and thirdly ([1171]) as his first wife, William Boterel [II] of Cornwall. The primary source which confirms her second and third marriages has not yet been identified. ^[3]

Issue

William fitz Alan had three children, the first by his first wife Christiana, the second probably by Christiana, given her name, and the third by his second wife Isabel.

1. Alan, son of William fitz Alan and his wife Christiana, died during the lifetime of his parents, i.e., before 1160. He was buried at Haughmond Abbey. "William Fitz Alan with his wife Dame Christiana" donated land at Hales to Haughmond abbey, for the soul of "their son Alan…[buried] there", by undated charter[70]. ^[3]
2. Christiana. Her parentage and marriage are confirmed by reading several documents together: firstly, under a charter dated [3 Mar/24 Jun] 1170, Henry II King of England authorised deduction from the FitzAlan estates of revenue from the manor of Badminton "which the king had assigned as the marriage portion of William fitz Alan’s daughter"; secondly, Hugh Pantulf donated his rights in the church of Badminton to Lilleshall abbey by charter dated to [1215/18]; thirdly, Hugh Pantulf names his wife "Christiana" in a donation to Shrewsbury abbey[71]. It is assumed that Christiana was William’s daughter by his first marriage because of her name, but this is not beyond all doubt. She married (before [3 Mar/24 Jun] 1170) Hugh Pantulf of Wem, son of Ivo Pantulf & his [first wife ---] (-before 28 Dec 1224). ^[3] Burke agrees that William had a daughter Christian, who married Hugh Pantulf. ^[5]
3. William FitzAlan (1154]-[1210) was the son of William FitzAlan and his second wife Isabel de Say. He came of age in 1175. “Willielmus filius Willielmi filii Alani” donated “villam…Parva Buldewas” to Buildwas Abbey, Shropshire by undated charter, witnessed by “Johannes Extraneus et Wido frater eius, Johannes filius Johannis Extranei, Wido et Hamo filii Widonis Extranei, Thomas filius Roberti filii Noelli…”. A register of Dunstable priory records the death in 1210 of William FitzAlan. He married a daughter of Hugh de Lacy of Ludlow and Ewyas who was later Lord of Meath, and Hugh's first wife Rohese ---. Her parentage and marriage are referred to by Eyton but he cites no primary source on which this is based[75]. William & his wife had four children: ^[3] William Fitz-Alan, Lord of Oswestrie in Shropshire. He was ancestor of the English house of Fitz-Alan.

Research Notes

Given the adequacy of sourcing from more reliable documents, all sourcing from ancestry.com trees has been deleted.

Controversies regarding Alan FitzFlaald's marriage

Alan FitzFlaald did NOT accompany the Conqueror in 1066, as stated by Tierney, and he did not marry the daughter of Warin the Bald, Sheriff of Shropshire. ^[6]

Controversies regarding Alan FitzFlaald's death

Burke reports that William FitzAlaald was the feudal Baron of Oswestry ^[5] and Frederick Suppe adds that William succeeded his father, Alan FitzFlaald, after Alan's death in 1114. ^[7] However, if William's birth year was, as estimated 1110, he would have been aged 4 in 1114. Further review of this claim is therefore necessary.

Disputed children

The following children were linked to Aveline de Hesdin. There is no documentation for these children so they have been de-linked pending further review:

• Rhiwallon FitzAlan no birth date or place. Gender was female, changed to male.
• William FitzAlan born 1070, Shropshire. Son of Alan Fitz Fitzflaald.
• Adelina (FitzAlan) Oswestry
• Sibil FitzAlan
• Simon Jordon FitzAlan

Sources

1. ↑ The Monasteries of Shropshire: their origin and founders, p. 146 Haughmond Abbey Cited in Wikipedia, Haughmond Abbey Accessed December 6, 2017 jhd
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Charles Cawley. Foundation for Medieval Genealogy. Medieval Lands Database. William FitzAlan Accessed Jan 20, 2018 jhd
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12} Charles Cawley. Foundation for Medieval Genealogy. Medieval Lands Database. [William FitzAlan, Accessed December 6, 2017. jhd
4. ↑ Marlyn Lewis. Our Royal Titled Noble and Commoner Ancestors. William FitzAlan. Last Edited 20 Sep 1998. Citing Gerald Paget. The Lineage and Ancestry of H.R.H. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, by Gerald Paget, Vol. I, p. 211. Accessed December 6, 2017. jhd
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6} Wikisource contributors, "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Fitzalan, William," Wikisource , https://en.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=Dictionary_of_National_Biography,_1885-1900/Fitzalan,_William&oldid=10747339 (accessed January 20, 2021).
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4} Rev. Mark Aloysius Tierney. The History and Antiquities of the Castle and Town of Arundel; Including the Biography of its Earls from the Conquest to the Present Time. Volume 1. London, 1834. An old book John FitzAlan], First Earl and His Family. Pages 193-194 Accessed Jan 20, 2018. jhd
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Frederick Suppe, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. Roger of Powys, Henry II's Anglo-Welsh Middleman, and his Lineage Welsh History Review, Vol. 21 (June 2002), pp. 1-23. Accessed Sept 11, 2015

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Sheri Sturm for starting this profile.