William fitz Nigel de Gresley

✓ William fitz Nigel de Gresley (Madan gen. i), son of Nigel de Stafford; held four knights' fees of the Earl Ferrers (Liber Niger: 'William fitz Nigel held... and Robert his son then held them'); occ. 1129, witness 1150-52; founder of Gresley Priory (Austin canons); probably dead by 1166. His wife is 'traditionally' Elena, first found only in a pedigree of 1583 - not wired. Younger son Engenulph married Alina, heiress of Robert fitz-Orm, bringing Darlaston. Source: Falconer Madan, The Gresleys of Drakelowe (Oxford, 1899; archive.org The_Gresleys_of_Drakelowe), chs. II-III and pedigrees, from the Gresley Chartulary, Gresley Charters, Liber Niger and Salt Society records; read 2 Nov 2026. [DIRECT ANCESTOR OF THE COMPILER: flag added 2 Nov 2026 by walking the tree from Aynsley, so that this marker is reliable and can be searched.]