Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-03-18
Origin of the American Flag.

SPECULATION has often been INDUCED il
about the origih--that is. from whence cam,
the idea Of the stars and stripes composing
our national flag. Whoever has an oppor
tunily OF examining the illustrated pedigre'
Of the Washington family, lately publishe.
by that accomplished artist, Il. w. CIVIL
Mapleson, Esq, Of New Haven. CT, will bt
struck with the idea in moment that the
cost Of arms OF Washington, furnished the
flag of the country, which his gensralshiI
made independent of the flag Of ST. George
and entitled TO wear one Of her own.
The pedigree OF General Washington
! traced and illuminated by Mr.. Gwilt Maple
son, carries back his descent 10 William de
Hertburn, Lord Of the Manor OF Washing
ton, in the County of Durham, England.-
| From him descended John Washington, ol
! Whtefeld, n the time Of Richard Ill; and
ninth in descent from the said John, was
George. The first President Of the United
States. The mother of John Washington,
who emigrated to Virginia 10 1867, and who
was great grandmother TO the General, was
Eleanor Hastings, grand daughter to Fran
els, second Earl of Huntington. She was
the descendant, through Lady Huntington
Of George, Duke Of Clarance, brother OF
King Edward Nv ;, and king Richard Ill, by
Isabel Nevi, daughter and heiress of Rich
ard, Earl of Warwick. the King maker.
Washington, therefore, as well as all the
descendants Of that marriage, are entitled 10
quarter the arms OF Hastngs--Pole, Earl Of
Salisbury, Plantagegenet Scotland, Morli
mer, Earl of March, Nevn, Montagu Beauc-
hamp. and Devereux.
The pedigree. which is iull and accurate
in regard TO dates, gives as il were, an cpl
tome of the history Of the family. II is sur
rounded by a border orHamented by the
shields Of arms, implated by different ances
tors in right OF their wives, as we'll as some
Of the quarterings borne by their desccn-
dsnts.
The engraving in colors is in the very first
style, and perhaps the most highly finished
work ever done by Sinclair, OF Philadelphia,
who i, acknowledged 10 be without rival in
his art
The coat Of arms Of the first john Wash
ington. was composed OF three stars and
three stripes which form a part Of all herald
ic bearings OF the family ever since.
George Washington wss entitled to use
his ensign upon flag 10 the army which he
commanded. and IN all probability the first
one ever UlduE III was VI
three stars aud three stripes, which those
who were versed in herady, would at once
recognize as the proper cOlols OF the Com
mander- in Chief OF the Revolutionary Army
1.-The flag of Washington!
In time ten other stars were added, and
the flag Of Washington, became the flag Of
the thirteen United Colonies.
While individuals still live who might have
seen the first Washington standard unfnrled,
who helped In swell the shout that went
up 10 Heaven when the thirteen stars first
spread TO the breeze over the thirteen Uni
ted States. Lo! the figures are transposed
thirteen has changed TO thirty oue--a ten
foid multiplicity from the original number of
stars, has hidden the origin of the flag, and
few are aware, as they uncover the head 10
honor the name Of Washington, and send MP
shout after shout as the stars and stripes are
unfolded TO the breeze, that the flag they
adore, is the flag Of the name they would
honor--the stars and stripes Of the arms and
standard OF Washington.
Let us send up one more shout of gratu-
lation, that
"our flag is istilll there"
and the name Of its founder is still here, in
our hearts--in the hearts of all the people
OF the thirty-one United States, over whom
until the name is forgotten, may no other
flag ever wave, than the stars and stripes OF
Washington.