Washington telegraph., 1855-04-25
Origin of the American, Flag.

Speculation has often been indulged In,
about the origin--that is, from whence
came the idea of the stars and stripes COM
posing our national flag Whoever has an
opportunity of examining the illustrated
pedigree of the Washington family, lately
published by that accomplished artist L.
". Gwilt Mapleson, ESQ., of New Haven,
Conn, will be struck with the idea in a
moment that the coat Of arms Of Washington
furnished the flag of the country, which his
generalship made independent Of the flag OF
st. George, and entitled to wear Que of her
own
The pedigree of General Washington,
traced and Illuminated by Mr.. Gwilt Maple
son. carries back descent to William Hert-
burn, lord of the the manor Of Washington.
in the county OF Durham. England From
him descended John Washington, of Whit
field. in the time Of Richard LII; and ninth
! in descent from the said John, was George,
the iirst President of the United States
The mother of John Washington, who emf
grated to Virginia in 1867, and who was
great grandmother to the General. was Ell
eanor Hastings, grand daughter to Francis,
second earl Of Huntington. She was the
descendant through lady Huntington, OF
George. Duke of Clarence, brother of King
Edward ", and King Richard III, by ISa-
bel Nevil. daughter and heiress of Richard
Earl Of Warwick. the king maker
Washington, therefore, as well rs the de-
scendants of that marrige. are entitled to
quarter the arms Of Hastings-Pone, Earl
Of Salisbury, Plantagcnet, Mortimer, Earl
of March, Neyil, Montague, Beauchamp, and
Devereux
The pedigree, which is full and accurate
in regard to dates, gives, as it were, an
epitome of the family. It is surrounded
by border, ornamcnted by the shields OF
arms. Implanted by the different ancestors
in right Of their wives, as we'll as some of
the quarterings borne by their descendants.
The engraving, in colors, is in the very
first style. and perhaps the most highly fin
ished work ever done by Sinclair, of Phila-
delphia, who is acknowledged to be without
a rival in his art.
The coat Of arms of the first John Wash
ington was composed of three. stars and
stripes which form part of all or herald
bearings of the family ever since.
George Washington was entitled TO pse
his ensign upon flag in the army which he
commanded, and IN all probability the first
one ever made in America was composed of
three stars and three stripes, which those
who were versed in heraldry would at once
recognize as tie proper colors Of the CON-
u1ander-in-c chief of the revolutionary army
the flag of Washington
In time, ten othe stars were added, aud
the flag Of Washington became the Gag Of
the thirteen United Colonies
While individuals still live who might
have seen the first standard unfurled, or
who helped TO swell the shou. that went up to
Heaven, when the thirteen stars were first
spread to the breeze over the thirteen Unit
ed States, To- the figures are transposed-
thirteen mas changed to thirty-one-a ten
fold multiplicity from the original number
of stars has hidden the origin of the flag,
and few are, aware as they uncover the head to
honor the name of Washington, ard send
up shout after shout as the stars and stripes
unfolGed TO the breeze. that the flag they
adore is ;he flag of the name they honor
the stars and stripes OF the arms and stand
ard of Washington.
Let Us send up Que more shout of gratu-
lation, that
sour fas is (stilD 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