Judith of Lens

Female Between 1054 and 1055 - Aft 1086  (~ 33 years)


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  • Name Judith of Lens  [1, 2, 3
    Born Between 1054 and 1055  [1
    Gender Female 
    Died Aft 1086  [1
    Notes 
    • Countess Judith (born in Normandy between 1054 and 1055, died after 1086), was a niece of William the Conqueror. She was a daughter of his sister Adelaide of Normandy, Countess of Aumale and Lambert II, Count of Lens.

      In 1070, Judith married Earl Waltheof of Huntingdon and Northumbria. They had three children, the eldest daughter, Maud, brought the earldom of Huntingdon to her second husband, David I of Scotland.

      In 1075, Waltheof joined the Revolt of the Earls against William. It was the last serious act of resistance against the Norman conquest of England. Judith betrayed Waltheof to her uncle, who had Waltheof beheaded on 31 May 1076.

      After Waltheof's execution Judith was betrothed by William to Simon I of St. Liz, 1st Earl of Northampton. Judith refused to marry Simon and she fled the country to avoid William's anger. He then temporarily confiscated all of Judith's English estates.

      Judith founded Elstow Abbey in Bedfordshire around 1078. She also founded churches at Kempston and Hitchin.

      She had land-holdings in 10 counties in the Midlands and East Anglia. Her holdings included land at:

      Earls Barton, Northamptonshire
      Great Doddington, Northamptonshire
      Grendon, Northamptonshire
      Merton, Oxfordshire
      Potton, Bedfordshire

      The parish of Sawtry Judith in Huntingdonshire is named after the Countess.

      From the Domesday Book

      In POTONE Hugh holds ½ virgate of land from the Countess. Land for 1 plough; it is there, with 1 smallholder. The value is and was 5s; before 1066, 2s. Earl Tosti held this land in Potton, his manor.

      Countess Judith holds POTONE herself. It answers for 10 hides. Land for 12 ploughs. In lordship 3½ hides; 3 ploughs there. 18 villagers and 2 Freemen with 8 ploughs; a ninth possible. 13 smallholders and 3 slaves. 1 mill, 5s; meadow for 12 ploughs; pasture for the village livestock. In total, value £12; when acquired 100s; before 1066 £13. King Edward held this manor; it was Earl Tosti's. There were 4 Freemen who had 1 hide and 1 virgate; they could grant to whom they would.

      In (Cockayne) HATLEY Countess Judith holds 3 hides and 2½ virgates as one manor. Land for 6½ ploughs. In lordship 1 hide and ½ virgate; 2 ploughs there. 8 villagers with 4½ ploughs; woodland, 4 pigs. Value £6 5s; when acquired 100s; before 1066 £6. Earl Tosti held this manor. It lies in Potton, the Countess' own manor. A Freeman had 1 virgate; he could grant and sell, and withdraw to another lord.

      Ranulf brother of Ilger holds EVERTON from the Countess. It answers for 5 hides. Land for 5 ploughs; 2 ploughs there; 3 possible. 4 villagers; 5 smallholders. Meadow for 1 plough. Value £3; when acquired 100s; as much before 1066. Earl Tosti held this manor. It lay in Potton, the Countess' own manor.
    Person ID I1821  Bosdet Genealogy
    Last Modified 16 May 2013 

    Father Lambert de Boulogne Comte de Lens, II,   d. 1054 
    Relationship Natural 
    Mother Adeliza, Countess of Aumale,   b. 1029, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Between 1087 and 1090  (Age 58 years) 
    Relationship Natural 
    Married Abt 1053  [1
    Family ID F1065  Group Sheet

    Family Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria and Huntingdon,   b. 1050,   d. 31 May 1076, St Giles's Hill, Winchester, Hampshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 26 years) 
    Married Abt 1070  [4
    Children 
     1. Maud of Northumberland,   b. Abt 1074, Scone, Perthshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Between 23 Apr 1130 and 22 Apr 1131  (Age ~ 56 years)
    Family ID F513  Group Sheet

  • Sources 
    1. [S180] Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy, Alison Weir, (Name: The Bodley Head; Location: London, U.K.; Date: 1999;).

    2. [S174] Wikipedia.

    3. [S162] Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists who came to America before 1700, 7th Edition, Weis, Frederick Lewis, Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr, David Faris, (Name: Genealogical Publishing Co; Location: Baltimore; Date: 1992;).

    4. [S188] Royal Genealogies Website (ROYAL92.GED).