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FITZ ALAN Walter
Birth:          ABT 1106 
Death:          1177 
Burial:         Paisley Abbey, Renfrewshire, Scotland

Notes
familysearch.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_fitz_Alan
Walter FitzAllan (1106 – June 1177) was the first Hereditary High Steward of Scotland 
(c. 1150-1177), and described as "a Norman by culture and by blood a Breton".[1] He 
was the third son of a Breton knight, Alan fitz Flaad, feudal lord of Oswestry, by his 
spouse Aveline, daughter of Ernulf de Hesdin.[2][3]
Life[edit]

When The Anarchy took hold in England and civil war between Empress Matilda and 
Stephen, Walter rallied to the support of the Empress.[4]

When Empress Matilda's cause was lost, Walter befriended David I who was an uncle 
of Matilda. He became David's dapifer or Steward. Accompanied by his brother 
Simon,[5] Walter came to Scotland about 1136 [6] and fought for Scotland at the 
Battle of the Standard at Northallerton in 1138 under the command of David I's son, 
Prince Henry.

Subsequently he was appointed Steward of Scotland by King David I; in 1157 the 
appointment as Steward was confirmed as a hereditary office. In return for the service 
of five knights, David also granted him [7] what eventually comprised Renfrewshire: 
the lands of Paisley, Pollok, Cathcart, and Ayrshire; this grant was reconfirmed in a 
charter in 1157 from Malcolm IV. In 1163 Walter founded, first at Renfrew but shortly 
afterwards at Paisley, a house of monks of the Cluniac order drawn from the priory of 
Much Wenlock, in his native county of Shropshire.[8] Walter acquired directly from the 
Crown the Berwickshire estates of Birkenside and Legerwood on the eastern or left 
bank of the Leader Water[9] and presented to the monks the church of Legerwood, 
which they held from 1164 until the Reformation in 1560.[10] The monastery steadily 
grew and by 1219 became Paisley Abbey.

In 1164 he led a force which defeated Somerled, King of the Hebrides (Gaelic: rí 
Innse Gall) in the Battle of Renfrew.

Marriage and issue[edit]

Walter fitz Alan was married to Eschyna de Londoniis, heiress of Uchtred de Molla 
(Molle) and Huntlaw (territorial designations, not then surnames) [11][12] and widow of 
Robert Croc. Upon Walter's death his widow married Henry de Molle,[12] whose new 
surname is probably taken from his wife's lands.

She and Walter had issue:
Alan fitz Walter, married firstly Eva, allegedly a daughter of Sweyn Thorsson, secondly 
Alesta, daughter of Morggán, Earl of Mar.
Walter fitz Walter[13]
Simon fitz Walter
Margaret fitz Walter,[13] married Robert de Montgomery of Eaglesham.
Christiana fitz Walter, married firstly William de Brus, Lord of Annandale, secondly 
Patrick, Earl of Dunbar.

Death[edit]

Walter, The Steward, died in 1177 and was interred in the monastery at Paisley, the 
burying-place of his family before their later accession to the throne.[14]

Parents
FITZ FLAALD Alan (1078 - AFT 1121)
DE HESDIN Avelina (1081 - )

Siblings
FITZ ALAN William (ABT 1105 - 1160)
FITZ ALAN Walter (ABT 1106 - 1177)

Marriage To DE LOUDONIS Eschyna (ABT 1102 - ) m. Notes Parents DE LOUDONIS Thomas (ABT 1080 - ) ----- ----- () Children by DE LOUDONIS Eschyna ABT 1102 -
FITZ WALTER Alan (1140 - 1204)
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