Corrections to "Plantagenet Ancestry" , Blackmere Page 108
This page edited and hosted by Will Johnson, Professional Genealogist
Page 108 Blackmere
7.Ela de Herdburgh, married (1st) (as his 2nd wife) Walter de Hopton, knt. He was born about 1255. He was married previously before 1283 to Maud Pantolf (died shortly before 6 May 1289), widow of Ralph le Boteler.
Remark : Complete Peerage II 230 does indicate that Maud Pantulf (not Pantolf) married as her second husband, Walter de Hopton. However, the chronology is suspect for this to be the same Walter de Hopton. Maud�s son (by her first marriage to Ralph le Boteler), William le Boteleler, marries shortly after 1261. The chronology suggests that Maud is probably born no later than 1230. Even if born as late as 1235, she would still be 20 years older than the Walter de Hopton who married Ela de Herdeburgh.
Sanders� �English Baronies�, p. 95 indicates that Walter de Hopton, widower of Maud Pantulf, died before 7 April 1290, whereas, Ela de Herdeburgh�s husband died shortly before 10 March 1305.
CP further indicates that Walter de Hopton controlled Maud�s lands after her death in 1289. As Maud and Walter were not married until after Ralph le Botiler�s death in 1278, it is impossible for Maud and Walter to have had any children together. It appears that the elder Walter de Hopton had a son of the same name by an earlier wife, which younger Walter was the first husband of Ela de Herdebergh. This makes more sense, rather than Richardson�s scenario which would have Ela de Herdeburgh marrying the widower of her second husband�s grandmother.
At any rate, it seems to me that the Walter de Hopton who married Maud Pantulf died in 1290, and the Walter de Hopton who married Ela de Herdeburgh died in 1305 and cannot possibly be the same man.
Contribution of Had Bradley 25 Aug 2004