HENRY WALLENSIS (le Waleys), who in 1154-58 witnessed a charter of Henry de Lacy, is the earliest member of this family of whom there is definite evidence. In 1166 he held 3 knights' fees of the Honor of Pontefract of Henry de Lacy and ½ knight's fee of Guy de la Val, who was a tenant of the same Honor (b).
He married Agnes and died possibly before 1179 and certainly before 1185. His widow married Hervey DE LEDSTONE, whom she survived, and was living cirea 1220. [Complete Peerage XII/2:317, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]
(b) 3 knights fees were held by Henry le Waleys in 1242, and the land can be identified as those in Burghwallis, Skellow, and Sutton in Campsall, Yorks, held by Sir John Depeden in 1401-2. In 1170 Henry is called 'Henry Waleis of Burg', indicating his connection with Burghwallis at this date. The Waleys interest in these lands may have come from the marriage of Henry or his father with a daughter and coheir of one of the Poitevin family, whose ancestor, William, held Burghwallis of the Lacys at the time of Domesday Book. That Burghwallis descended to coheirs is deduced from the fact that Richard le Waleys presented to this living in 1252 with the assent of others, his co-patrons. It has been said that Denis, daughter and coheir of Robert the Poitevin, was mother of Richard le Waleys (d. 1256-72), but this is incorrect; others allege that Denise m. Robert le Waleys (d. circa 1218), but this does not explain the Waleys interest in Burghwallis in the middle of the 12th century.
Note: I have Denis m. to Robert le Waleys, d. c1218.