Parentage of Alice de Senlis, mother of William de Huntingfield, Magna Carta baron
Douglas Richardson
Alice de Senlis (died 1204), wife of Roger [Fitz William] de
Huntingfield and mother of William de Huntingfield (died 1221), the
Magna Carta baron, has been identified by one recent historian as
“perhaps” the daughter of Maud de Senlis, lady of Bradenham, wife
successively of Robert Fitz Richard (de Clare) (died 1136) and Saher
de Quincy I [see Wilkinson, Women in 13th-Century Lincolnshire (2007):
175]. Another historian states Alice “was probably related to the
[Senlis] earls of Northampton” [see Hatton, Book of Seals (1950):
201]. Alice’s husband, Roger de Huntingfield, is known to have
witnessed charters for both of Maud de Senlis’ sons, Walter Fitz
Robert and Saher de Quincy II [see Hatton, Book of Seals (1950): 194,
201]. Roger de Huntingfield likewise held property at East Bradenham,
Norfolk, the chief manor of which was previously held by Maud de
Senlis, who gave the church there sometime before 1176 to Norwich
Cathedral [see Blomefield, Essay towards a Top. Hist. of Norfolk 6
(1807): 134–138; Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum 5 (1825): 56, 58;
Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum 6(1) (1830): 148–149; Dodwell, Charters
of the Norwich Cathedral Priory 1 (Pubs. Pipe Roll Soc. n.s. 40)
(1974): 180–183; Ward, Women of the English Nobility & Gentry 1066–
1500 (1995): 49–50]. In 1200 Roger de Huntingfield was present when
William the Lion, King of Scots, paid homage to King John at Lincoln
[see Stubbs, Chronica Magistri Rogeri de Houedene 4 (Rolls Ser. 51(4))
(1871): 141–142]. Also, present on this occasion were Roger le Bigod,
Earl of Norfolk, Henry de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, Saher de Quincy IV,
William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury, Robert de Roos, and William de
Vescy, all of whom were near kinsfolk or related by marriage to King
William the Lion. If Alice de Senlis, wife of Roger de Huntingfield,
was the daughter of Maud de Senlis, it would make Alice a first cousin
of King William the Lion. Lastly, it may be noted that the given name
Saher occurs at least twice in subsequent generations of the
Huntingfield family. Given the chronology, passage of lands, naming
patterns, etc., it seems virtually certain that Alice de Senlis was
the daughter of Maud de Senlis and her 2nd husband, Saher de Quincy,
and that Alice’s maritagium included Senlis property at East
Bradenham, Norfolk.
For information relating to Alice de Senlis’ own charter to Stixwould
Priory dated c.1180–3, see Hallam, Settlement & Society (1965): 51;
Wilkinson, Women in 13th-Century Lincolnshire (2007): 175. For her
husband, Roger de Huntingfield’s undated charter to Mendham Priory,
Suffolk, see Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum 5 (1825): 58.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah