Matilda of Huntingdon

Matilda of Huntingdon, also called Maud, was the daughter of Waltheof, Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton, and Judith of Lens. She married first Simon de Senlis and later David I of Scotland. After David became king in 1124, she was Queen of Scotland. She died on 23 April 1131 according to the supplied life dates; the family-tree notes give her death as 1130 or 1131.

Matilda of Huntingdon, also known as Maud, was born about 1070 according to the supplied life dates. The family-tree notes instead describe her as born about 1074. She was the daughter of Waltheof, the Anglo-Saxon Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton, and Judith of Lens. Her father was described as one of the last major Anglo-Saxon earls to retain power after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, and as a son of Siward, Earl of Northumbria. Her mother was a niece of William the Conqueror. The notes therefore describe Matilda as William's great-niece and as a granddaughter of Earl Siward. They also state that, through the Counts of Boulogne, she descended from Alfred the Great and Charles the Bald and was a cousin of Godfrey of Bouillon.

About 1090, Matilda married Simon de Senlis, also called St Liz. The notes state that Simon received the honour of Huntingdon, probably through his wife, from William Rufus before the end of 1090. Matilda and Simon had three known children: Matilda of St Liz, also called Maud, who died in 1140 and married first Robert Fitz Richard of Tonbridge and secondly Saer De Quincy; Simon of St Liz, who died in 1153; and Waltheof of Melrose, described in the notes as Saint Waltheof, who lived about 1100 to 1159 or 1160.

Simon died sometime after 1111. In 1113, Matilda married David, later David I of Scotland and brother-in-law of Henry I of England. The notes state that David gained control of Matilda's extensive English estates through this marriage, in addition to his own lands in Cumbria and Strathclyde. Their four children were Malcolm, born in or after 1113 and died young; Henry, who lived about 1114 to 1152; Claricia, who died unmarried; and Hodierna, who died young and unmarried.

David became King of Scots in 1124, and Matilda thereafter was Queen of Scotland. The notes state that her sons Simon and Henry, by her two marriages, later competed for the Earldom of Huntingdon.

Matilda died on 23 April 1131 according to the supplied life dates. The family-tree notes give the year as 1130 or 1131 and state that she was buried at Scone Abbey in Perthshire. Those notes also say that she appears in a charter dated 1147, but describe that charter as of doubtful origin.

In the supplied relationship path, Matilda is identified as the 23rd great-grandmother of James Dempsey Waters, through Barbara's family.

Historical context

Matilda's life connected the Anglo-Saxon earldom of Huntingdon with the Norman royal family and the Scottish kingship. Her first marriage was associated with the honour of Huntingdon, while her second marriage joined her to David, who became King of Scots in 1124. The supplied notes further state that her sons Simon and Henry later contended for the Earldom of Huntingdon.

Sources & research

Original Family Tree Maker Notes for Matilda of Huntingdon, supplied by the user.
Citation [1], referenced in the supplied notes; no bibliographic details were provided.
Citation [2], referenced in the supplied notes; no bibliographic details were provided.
Citation [3], referenced in the supplied notes; no bibliographic details were provided.