General Notes

Theobald Walter or Fitzwalter, son and heir of Hervey Walter of West Dereham, Norfolk (owner of large estates in Norfolk and Suffolk, by Maud, daughter and co-heir of Theobald de Valoignes, who accompanied John, Count of Mortain, Lord of Ireland, afterward King John of England, in 1185, into Ireland, who conferred vast estates in that kindom, including, before 1189, the fief of Arklow, etc., and in or before May, 1192 the important Office of Butler or le Botiller, a dignity which, of itself, probably comprised (even if it did not comprise more) "Baronial rank and position" for himself and his successors. Under the name of Butler or le Botiller, these barons appear on the roll of every Parliament to which they were summoned, the office giving henceforth the surname to the family. He is said subsequently to have obtained the vauable monopoly of the prisage of wine and is styled Theobald Butler as early as 1199. Returning to England he obtained from Richard I, in 1194, a grant of the Wapentake of Amounderness with the lordship of Preston in Lancaster. He was Sheriff of Lancaster, personally or by deputy 1194-1199, and was founder of the Abbey of Cockersandin, that County. In 1197 he was one of the justices itinerant. He founded the Abbey of Nenagh in County Tipperary in 1200, the Abbey of Wotheny, County Limerick, in 1205, and the monastery of Arklow, County Wicklow. He married in or shortly before 1200 Maud, daughter and heir of Robert le Vavasour, with whom he acquired the Manors of Edlington, Newborough, etc., County York. He died between Aug. 4, 1205, and Feb. 14, 1206, and was buried at Wortheny Abbey aforesaid. His widow, Maud, married 2nd in 1207 Fulke Fitzwarine.