Research Notes:

The Historia fundationis cum fundatoris genealogia of the priory of Abergavenny names “Emmam, Luciam et Beatriciam” as the three daughters of “Dru dominus de Baladun”. The parentage of Emmeline, wife of Arnoul de Hesdin, has not been identified with certainty. However, two sources indicate that she was closely related to the Ballon family. If that is correct, the chronology suggests that she was the daughter of Dreux de Baladon. The first source is a charter dated 14 Sep 1100 under which [her grandson] "Patricius" donated "v hidas terræ de Westona" to Bath St Peter, for the souls of "…Hamelini et Winebaldi de Baalun…ac…Arnulfi de Hesding…et Warini clerici mei", witnessed by "Hamelinus et Winebaldus de Baalun…". The second source is a donation to Gloucester St Peter made by [her grandson] "Patricius de Cadurcis" of land "apud Ameneye de feodo suo…[et] apud Ameneye Sancti Nicholai" to Gloucester St Peter, with the confirmation of "rege Henrico seniore", read together with the donation to the same abbey of land "in Ameneye" made by "Wynebaldus de Balon…et Rogerius filius meus". It should also be noted that, if this is correct, her supposed brother Hamelin had a daughter who was also named Emmeline.

There are indications that Emmeline, wife of Arnoul de Hesdin, was the widow of Walter de Lacy. Both families made numerous donations to Gloucester St Peter, although it has not yet proved possible to link any of the names of land donated to both families, but most significantly the Historia sancti Petri Gloucestriæ, in a list of holdings, records (in order) donations made by "Walterus de Lacy dedit Leden, Ernulfus de Hesding dedit Lyncoholt, Hermelina de Lacy dedit pro anima viri sui Duntesbourne…". The interposition of Arnoul´s name between Walter de Lacy and his wife Emmeline is best explained if he was Emmeline´s second husband. From a chronological point of view, the two marriages would fit.... ¹