 He was the only son of Sir Henry de Hastings (d.1250) by his wife Ada of Huntingdon, the youngest of the four daughters of David of Scotland, 8th Earl of Huntingdon and Maud of Chester.His father died in 1250 when he was a minor and in about 1252 his wardship and marriage were purchased by William III de Cantilupe (d.1254), 3rd feudal baron of Eaton Bray in Bedfordshire, who married him off to the elder of his two daughters, Joan de Cantilupe (d.1271).Joan's mother was Eva de Braose, heiress of the Lordship of Abergavenny in Wales.