Æthelwald first appears in the historical records in a letter written by Pope Paul I to king Eadberht, ordering him to return lands taken from an Abbot Fothred, which were given to his brother Moll.
Æthelwald aparece nos rexistros históricos por vez primeira nunha carta escrita polo papa Paulo I ao rei Eadberht, ordenándolle devolver as terras incautadas ao Abade Fothred, que foron entregadas ao seu irmán Moll.