Person:William de Hastings (2)

William became established in both Warwickshire and Norfolk, but his origins are unknown. It appears there are no sources available which confirm the parents, wife and titles being given on WeRelate at this time, and they do not appear realistic. It is proposed that these should be removed/disconnected.

(The parents appear to have been selected to give a connection to the place, Hastings, and the wife's first name is the wife of Walter de Hastings who may have been a close relative such as a brother. See below. The wife's family name is a reasonable guess because William's apparent son Ralph was named as nephew and heir to Maurice de Windesor. Maurice was described in Latin as Ralph's avunculus, which strictly meant maternal uncle.)

The only clear source for William and his family is Dugdale, who claimed in the 17th century to have seen documents in the collection of the herald Robert Glover to the following effect:

The first of this Family of whom I find mention, is William de Hastings, Steward to King Henry the First. Which Office he held by Serjeantie, in respect of his Tenure of the Mannor of Ashele, in Com. Norff. viz. by the Service of taking charge of the Naperie (id est, the Table-clothes and Linen) at the Solemn Coronations of the Kings of this Realm.

To whom succeeded Hugh his Son and Heir. Which Hugh obtain'd, by the Gift of that King, all the Lands of Robert de Flamenvill, with Erneburgh Daughter of Hugh Flamenvill, Niece to the same Robert.

The only record of his life that Dugdale or any modern author has proposed is the unsuccessful bid made by one William de Hastings to be Marshall of England. This dispute was recorded in the time of King John, generations later, as part of a confirmation of the rights of the successful claimants, the family of William the Marshall.^[2]

Originally Dugdale had found a record in Warwickshire of a Walter de Hastings, and he had proposed him as the founder of this family. But in later editions of his Warwickshire history he corrected this to William.^[3]

1.   Dugdale, William. The baronage of England: or, an historical account of the lives and most memorable actions of our English nobility. Deduced from publick records, ancient historians, and other authorities. (London, England: Thomas Newcombe, 1675).
2. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/historyantiquiti01mado#page/46/mode/2up
3. ↑ Compare (1) Dugdale, W. (1656), Antiquities of Warwickshire. [archive.org links for p.741, p.774, and p.778]; and (2) Dugdale, W. (1730), Antiquities of Warwickshire ("corrected" version made posthumously based on Dugdale's own corrections). vol II on google books, see p.1024ff.