He was the son of another Richard de Montfichet, whom Henry II made forester of Essex. Richard the elder was son of Gilbert, who married Avelina de Lucy, daughter of Richard de Luci. Richard the elder was grandson of William de Montfichet, founder of the abbey of Stratford-Langton Essex; he was with Richard I in Normandy in 1195, was sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire in 1202, and died the next year, leaving one son by his wife Milisent. William de Warenne offered King John 500 marks for licence to marry the widow Melisent.