Exactly when Robert de Wintona was born is unknown, but given his participation in the Norman invasion of Wales in the late 11th century, it can be conjectured he was born between 1050 and 1075. Likewise the name of his parents and otherwise early history is almost completely unknown, save that he was doubtlessly a native of Winton, i.e. Winchester. Robert de Wintona first appears in historical records in 1090, among the personal retinue of Robert Fitzhamon during the Norman conquest of Glamorgan. That he was among those who lead the invasion may suggest that he was of noble stock. Similar to his prior history, the exact chronology of the Norman conquest is largely unknown, though the dates of its final battles are more easily identifiable; its believed Fitzhamon deposed the king of southern Wales, Rhys ap Tewdwr, in 1090, whereas Iestyn ap Gwrgant, the king ofMorgannwg which encompassed Glamorgan, was defeated a year later in 1091. Both kings were killed in battle in 1093. With the native Welsh defeated, the Normans began divvying up the newly conquered lands, with the Bretons and French scrambling to ensure the lands they held in Welsh territory were not encroached upon. It's during this time that a number of Fitzhamon's soldiers were personally appointed lordships, and Robert de Wintona was no exemption. According to the Golden Grove book of pedigrees, Robert was granted lordship over “Lancuyan”, later recorded as “Lanquian”, an area in what is today Llanblethian, however it also lists his place of residence as Winton, indicating he returned to Winchester despite possessing land in Wales. It is on this land in Lanquian that Robert is recorded as building a large castellated manor in a valley which is still today called pant Wilkyn, “Wilkin’s hollow”. It is unknown when or where Robert died.
Legacy
Despite his apparent repatriation, Robert de Wintona's descendants continued to exude their power in Wales. Robert's son, Nicolas, is recorded as granting the land of “Llanilltud” to the Gloucester Abbey, indicating it was among the lands Robert was also granted lordship over. It is at this point that the descendants of Robert de Wintona begin disappearing from historical records aside from pedigrees. It is recorded that Nicolas bore a son named Michael, who in turn bore a son named Wilklyne. Wilklyne became the last to directly bear “de Winton” as his byname as his son is recorded as being named William de Wincestria in all pedigrees. William's son, also named William, bore a child called John who is recorded as being lord of Llandow. John's son Robert Winchester is notable for being the first in the lineage to be recorded as having multiple children, William Winchester, who is the first to have a known spouse, Catrin Winchester, and John Wytcolyne. John Wytcolyne's son later became known as John Wylcolyna, whose son was in turn known as John Wylkyn, from whom the by-names of Wilkin, Wilkins, and other derivatives later emerged. Notable descendants of Robert de Wintona include Bray Wilkins, Walter Wilkins, and the Powell Wilkins family.
