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Birth:          ABT 1165 of West Dereham, Norfolk, England
Death:          1206 
Burial:         Wotheney Abbey, Limer, Ireland

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theobald_Walter,_1st_Chief_Butler_of_Ireland
Theobald Walter (sometimes Theobald FitzWalter,[2] Theobald Butler, or Theobald 
Walter le Boteler) was the first Chief Butler of Ireland. He also held the office of Chief 
Butler of England and was the High Sheriff of Lancashire for 1194.[3] Theobald was 
the first to use the surname Butler of the Butler family of Ireland. He was involved in 
the Irish campaigns of King Henry II of England and John of England. His eldest 
brother Hubert Walter became the Archbishop of Canterbury and justiciar and Lord 
Chancellor of England.
Family[edit]

Theobald was the son of Hervey Walter and his wife Matilda de Valoignes, who was 
one of the daughters of Theobald de Valoignes.[4] Their children were Theobald, 
Hubert—future Chief Justiciar and Archbishop of Canterbury—Bartholomew, Roger, and 
Hamon. Theobald Walter and his brother Hubert were brought up by their uncle Ranulf 
de Glanvill, the great justiciar of Henry II of England who had married his mother's 
sister Bertha.[5]

Career[edit]

On 25 April 1185, Prince John, in his new capacity as "Lord of Ireland" landed at 
Waterford and around this time granted the hereditary office of butler of Ireland to 
Theobald, whereby he and his successors were to attend the Kings of England at their 
coronation, and on that day present them with the first cup of wine.[6] Theobald's 
father had been the hereditary holder of the office of butler of England.[7] Some time 
after, King Henry II of England granted him the prisage of wines, to enable him, and 
his heirs, the better to support the dignity of that office. By this grant, he had two tuns 
(barrels) of wine out of every ship, which broke bulk in any trading port of Ireland, and 
was loaded with 20 tons of that commodity, and one ton from 9 to 20.[5] Theobald 
accompanied John on his progress through Munster and Leinster. At this time he was 
also granted a large section of the north-eastern part of the Kingdom of Limerick.[6] 
The grant of five and a half cantreds was bounded by:


"...the borough of Killaloe and the half cantred of Trucheked Maleth in which it lay, 
and the cantreds of Elykarval, Elyochgardi, Euermond, Aros and Wedene, and 
Woedeneoccadelon and Wodeneoidernan."

These are the modern baronies of Tullough (in County Clare), Clonlisk and Ballybritt (in 
County Offaly), Eliogarty, Ormond Upper, Ormond Lower, Owney and Arra (in County 
Tipperary), Owneybeg, Clanwilliam and Coonagh (in County Limerick).[8]

Theobald was active in the war that took place when Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair 
attempted to regain his throne after retiring to the monastery of Cong, as Theobald's 
men were involved in the death of Donal Mór na Corra Mac Carthaigh during a parley 
in 1185 near Cork.[9] In 1194 Theobald supported his brother during Hubert's actions 
against Prince John, with Theobald receiving the surrender of John's supporters in 
Lancaster. Theobald was rewarded with the office of sheriff of Lancaster, which he 
held until Christmas of 1198. He was again sheriff after John took the throne in 1199.
[10]

In early 1200, however, John deprived Theobald of all his offices and lands because 
of his irregularities as sheriff. His lands were not restored until January 1202.[11] A 
manuscript in the National Library of Ireland points to William de Braose, 4th Lord of 
Bramber as the agent of his restoration:


"Grant by William de Braosa, (senior) to Theobald Walter (le Botiller) the burgh of 
Kildelon (Killaloe) ... the cantred of Elykaruel (the baronies of Clonlisk and Ballybrit, 
Co. Offaly), Eliogarty, Ormond, Ara and Oioney, etc. 1201."[12]

"Elykaruel" refers to the Gaelic tuath of "Ely O'Carroll", which straddled the southern 
part of County Offaly and the northern part of Tipperary (at Ikerrin). The other 
cantreds named are probably the modern baronies of Eliogarty, Ormond Upper, Ormond 
Lower and Owney and Arra in County Tipperary.

Theobald founded the Abbey of Woney,[13] in the townland of Abington (Irish: 
Mainistir Uaithne, meaning "the monastery of Uaithne"), of which nothing now 
remains,[14] near the modern village of Murroe in County Limerick Ireland around 
1200.[13] He also founded the Cockersand Abbey in Lancaster, Abbey of Nenagh in 
County Tipperary, and a monastic house at Arklow in County Wicklow.[4]

Marriage and Children[edit]

Theobald married Maud le Vavasour (1176-1226), heiress of Robert le Vavasour, a 
baron of Yorkshire,[4] John Lodge in the Peerage of Ireland in 1789 gave the year as 
1189,[15] but on no apparent authority, as no other author follows him on this.[citation 
needed] He died April 4 1206, and was buried at Owney abbey. Their children were
Theobald le Botiller, 2nd Chief Butler of Ireland[4]
Maud (1192-1244) marries three times yet only has two surviving children Ralph and 
Marie
Matilda (1199-1225) who married Edward de Godolphin, they have a son together 
William

Parents
WALTER Hervey ()
DE VALOINES Matilda ()

Siblings
FITZ WALTER Theobald (ABT 1165 - 1206)

Marriage To LA VAVASOUR Maude (1176 - )
    m.  

Notes

Parents
LE VAVASOUR Robert (ABT 1155 - BEF 1231)
DE BIRKIN ----- (ABT 1155 - )

Children by LA VAVASOUR Maude 1176 - 
DE BOTILLER Theobald "Le Butzllen" (Jan 1200 - 19 Jul 1230)

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