Family Lessons 146: Waltania de Reynaham

My oldest known female ancestor is a woman called Waltania, which I understand to be a Germanic name. This might indicate that she and her family were of Anglo-Saxon stock. Her first husband, my 24th great-grandfather, was Richard de Bold, who died in 1211 in south Lancashire. We know that she outlived him, however, because she remarried shortly afterwards. Her new husband was Waldern de Reynaham, which sounds a more Norman name. Curiously, the records state that she was

the king's gift as a wife to Waldern

The King at that time was John Plantagenet, a man unknown for his piety, kindness and integrity. How she managed to fall into his hands, I cannot know. Whether she had been his ward or Richard had been his Tenant-in Chief, and that selecting a new husband was part of the feudal arrangements, it is unclear. I would like to think that she was a willing participant and that Waldern made a generous and benevolent husband. My instinct tells that a woman called Waltania could more than handle herself and would be a match for any man who tried to tame her, but I have no evidence for this.  

Perhaps Waldern paid well for the king’s ‘gift’, for John never gave anything freely or generously. Contrast that with the King of Heaven who gives so magnanimously, accepting a disgraced and adulterous people to be His own bride, conferring on her His own glory and righteousness? This is grace- God’s riches at Christ’s expense, freely conferred on all who come to Him. Hopefully, Waldern provided well for Grandma and she died a happy old lady. Whatever our sorrows and pains, Jesus Christ will receive us when the time is appointed, never to leave us widowed or lonesome.

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17

Because I delivered the poor who cried out,
The fatherless and the one who had no helper.
The blessing of a perishing man came upon me,
And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;
My justice was like a robe and a turban. Job 29:12-14