General Notes

Allegedly the assassin of William II Rufus King of England.

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The pedigree I am following is found in a posting by John Stuart to soc.genealogy.medieval.  It shows the "classic" descent of the Tyrell family of Heron Hall, Essex from Walter Tyrell, the alleged assassin of William II, which is found in a book "A Genealogical History of the Tyrrells" by Joseph Henry Tyrrell (JHT).  There are many problems with the pedigree (in fact, according to John Stuart, JHT presents three variations in his book, but the one presented here is based on visitations.)  John Stuart presents a critique with suggested alternatives based on a book "The Tyrells of England" by Dr. O. F. Brown (OFB).  I am leaving my ancestry according to JHT, even though it has obvious problems, until the pedigree questions are resolved.

The following is excerpted from the posting:

Generation 1 [the supposed Regicide] as extracted from JHT
"Sir Walter III Tirel Third Lord of Poix, second Lord of Laingaham, Kingsworthy and Avon, A Baron of France, and England, Castellan of Pontoise 1091.  At Seige of Jerusalem, 1096.  Reputed to have slain William Rufus 1100.  Founded Priory of St. Denis, 1116, and Monastery of Selincourt, 1131.  Made a pilgrimage to Holy Land in 1136, and there died.
Married Adelaide, daughter of Richard Giffard, son of Walter, 1st Earl of Buckingham.  Living in 1136.  Died in Nunnery of Conflans 1138."

[OFB points out that Pipe Roll, 31 Hen. 1, 1130 shows Walter's wife, Adelice, answering for Langham in 1130, presumably as Walter's widow.  OFB therefore surmises that Walter III was dead by 1130 and that a Walter IV, probable grandson of Walter III and Adelice, was Lord of Poix in 1131.  OFB also points out that both J. H. Round and Michael Maclagan concluded that Walter III's spouse, Adelice, was a daughter of Richard de Clare (1024-1090) by his wife Rohese Giffard, daughter of Walter Giffard, the elder, standard bearer of Duke William at the Battle of Hastings.  This alliance by marriage with the powerful Clare family likely contributed to Walter III having a position at King William's court, eventually leading to his participation in that fateful hunt in the New Forest during which King William Rufus was killed -- by accident or otherwise.  However, both OFB and JHT note that the evidence is far from conclusive that Walter III launched the fatal arrow.]

Allegedly the assassin of William II Rufus King of England.

----------------------------------

The pedigree I am following is found in a posting by John Stuart to soc.genealogy.medieval.  It shows the "classic" descent of the Tyrell family of Heron Hall, Essex from Walter Tyrell, the alleged assassin of William II, which is found in a book "A Genealogical History of the Tyrrells" by Joseph Henry Tyrrell (JHT).  There are many problems with the pedigree (in fact, according to John Stuart, JHT presents three variations in his book, but the one presented here is based on visitations.)  John Stuart presents a critique with suggested alternatives based on a book "The Tyrells of England" by Dr. O. F. Brown (OFB).  I am leaving my ancestry according to JHT, even though it has obvious problems, until the pedigree questions are resolved.

The following is excerpted from the posting:

Generation 1 [the supposed Regicide] as extracted from JHT
"Sir Walter III Tirel Third Lord of Poix, second Lord of Laingaham, Kingsworthy and Avon, A Baron of France, and England, Castellan of Pontoise 1091.  At Seige of Jerusalem, 1096.  Reputed to have slain William Rufus 1100.  Founded Priory of St. Denis, 1116, and Monastery of Selincourt, 1131.  Made a pilgrimage to Holy Land in 1136, and there died.
Married Adelaide, daughter of Richard Giffard, son of Walter, 1st Earl of Buckingham.  Living in 1136.  Died in Nunnery of Conflans 1138."

[OFB points out that Pipe Roll, 31 Hen. 1, 1130 shows Walter's wife, Adelice, answering for Langham in 1130, presumably as Walter's widow.  OFB therefore surmises that Walter III was dead by 1130 and that a Walter IV, probable grandson of Walter III and Adelice, was Lord of Poix in 1131.  OFB also points out that both J. H. Round and Michael Maclagan concluded that Walter III's spouse, Adelice, was a daughter of Richard de Clare (1024-1090) by his wife Rohese Giffard, daughter of Walter Giffard, the elder, standard bearer of Duke William at the Battle of Hastings.  This alliance by marriage with the powerful Clare family likely contributed to Walter III having a position at King William's court, eventually leading to his participation in that fateful hunt in the New Forest during which King William Rufus was killed -- by accident or otherwise.  However, both OFB and JHT note that the evidence is far from conclusive that Walter III launched the fatal arrow.]