Matilda

  General Notes:

MATILDA, daughter of --- (-bur Stone). A table (obviously of late composition because of the language), hanging in Stone priory at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries, names "Maude Moolte" as the wife of Nicholas and records their burial at Stone. "Nicholaus filius Roberti de Stafford…et Mathildi uxori mee" donated Idlicote to Kenilworth priory by charter dated to [1122/25]. Matilda´s parentage is unknown. The Stone Priory table suggests a link with a family named "Moult", but the probable late dating of the source suggests that the information may not be reliable. Domesday Descendants states that Matilda was "probably the daughter of Ralph I de Limesey" without specifying any reasoning. This speculation is presumably based on the undated charter under which "Radulfus de Limesey" donated property to Hertford priory, with the consent of "Hadwisiæ uxori suæ", witnessed by "Raerus filius domini, Robertus de Statford nepos domini…", on the assumption that "Robertus de Statford" was the same person as Robert [II] de Stafford, Matilda´s son. If that is correct, she was Matilda de Limesey, daughter of Ralph [I] de Limesey & his wife ---. Matilda is also recorded in relation to land in Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire. Firstly, "Matildis de Stafford" granted land in Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire, held from her by "Toruerdus le mutere et Gilebertus filius eius", to "Matildi filie Roberti filii Gilberti filiole mee", with the consent of "Johannis filii mei et Radulfi nepotis mei", by charter dated to the reign of King Henry II, witnessed by "…Willelmo filio Otueri, Rannulfo de Seis, Ingeramo Bagot…". Secondly, "Radulfus de Suleya filius Radulfi de Suleya" confirmed land in Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire to "Matildi de Hambi" granted to her by "Matildis de Staforda avia sua", and land given to her in the same place by "Haraldus frater eius", by charter dated to the end-12th century, another charter which records the same confirmation clarifying "Radulfus de Suleya…Matildis de Estafford avia mea". "Matilda de Hamby" was therefore the god-daughter of Matilda, wife of Nicholas de Stafford. Presumably Theddlethorpe entered the Stafford family through Matilda´s marriage and later passed to Matilda´s grandson "Radulfus de Suleya" junior. It appears probable that the second parcel of land in Theddlethorpe, granted to Matilda de Hamby by "Haraldus frater eius", formed part of the same property which, if correct, would have been held jointly by Ralph "de Suleya" and Harold. As noted in the first charter, Matilda de Hamby was the daughter of Robert FitzGilbert. It appears unlikely that Matilda, wife of Nicholas, was related to "Toruerdus le mutere et Gilebertus filius eius" who held land from her. On the other hand, it seems equally unlikely that "Radulfus de Suleya" junior would have confirmed the grant of land by Harold to his sister Matilda de Hamby unless there had been some family connection. One explanation could be that Matilda held the land jointly with an unknown relative who had transferred his/her share to Harold. A charter of King Henry II confirmed donations to Stone Priory, among which a donation by "Matildis de Stafford" with the consent of "Roberti de Stafford", by undated charter. ¹

Matilda married Nicholas de Stafford, son of Robert [III] de Tosny and Avice.¹ (Nicholas de Stafford died after 1137 and was buried in Stone Priory, Stone, Staffordshire, ST15, GB ¹.)