The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-20
VIRGINIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Highly Interesting Proceedings-Gins Of
Books Autographs, and ReIics-The An
cestry OF Washington TO lIs3-A Centen-
NAL Record.

AT The last meeting Of the Executive
Committee Of the Virginia Historical So
ciety, at its rooms in the Westmoreland
Ciub-llouse- Colonel Henry Coalter Cabell
IN the chair-a large number OF gifts OF
books, relics, etc, were reported, including
the following A rudely-fashioned knife,
with hand-wrought blade and buck-horn
handle, recently exhumed at Newport's
News, Va, in digging the foundation for
an elevator there, and which is supposed
TO be memorial OF the early settlement OF
Nirginia--from L. Il. Mllar. Esq, Rich
mond; specimens OF curious natural com
bination OF Virginia wood growth. stem
OF hickory, encompassed with poplar:
minic-bal, deeply Embedded IN q segment
cut from pine tree from the battlefield
OF Seven Pines; "A certificate giving per-
mission TO survey lands for patent 10
James kenney, OF Prince George county,
signed by Colonel William Fairfax, agent
for Lord Thomas Fairfax, proprietor OF the
Northern Neck, dated September 10. 17jl-
from John Sleicher, Lsq., Richmond
autograph letter Of Hon. Henry A. Wise,
from William ii. Wesson, ESP, Richmond;
a Sketch OF the Life OF Randolph Fairfax,
1854; Coercion and Cancellation, sermon,
1861, from the author, Rev. Philip Slaugh-
ter. ID. D., Mitehers station, Culpeper
county, Va; also. from the same, an auto
graph letter OF J. T.. Il. Stuart. Major-Gen-
eral Confederate States army, dated .Ianu-
airy "a. 1864, commencing the Life OF Il.
Fairfax; "An Ancient Document Of the
House OF Washington Temp. A. d. 1200),"
read before the American Antiquarian So
ciety, October q, 1882, from the author,
Rev. Edward G.. Porter, A. NJ, LeXing-
ton. Mass. This document is an argument
between Thomas OF Diucleston (Dilston) and
Walter of Washington Washington, his
brother-in-law, in regard 20 q certain
carrucate las much az a plough would cul-
tivatc; about 100 acres understoOd) in the
vile OF NIilleburne, on the Tyne, in the
parish OF Newburn, above Nue. Castle, held
by virtue OF his free marriage with Diana,
sister OF said Thomas, free from multure
tax, or proportion Of grain paid TO the
lords mill when corn was ground therel.
A large round seal, attached TO the parch-
ment, contains lion PEASANT, and the le-
gend Y SIGI QE) WALTER FIJI (LD WILL
DE WEssINGTuN-Seal OF Walter, son OF
William of Wessigton. This William, a
Norman, named DE Hertburn, was the
first man in English history who bore
the name OF Washington, which he as
sumed in 4. d. 1883, on the purchase
Of the manor and town OF Wessyngton for
the sum OF four pounds, with the added
engagement 10 attend the Bishop with two
greyhounds on grand hunts. and to fur
nish man-at-armS when needed. The
name OF Washington has in time under
gone various changes, among them: Wes-
sington. Washington, WasigtOn. Wessyn-
ton, WeissigtOn, Washington, Guessing
ton, Whissyngton, Whessynton. Wasting
ton, Washington. Washington. II l.
pure Saxon, meaning Il town on the
marshy meadow. and was known before the
Conquest. IL i mentioned i'm "A Saxon
charter as granted by King Edgar in 973 TO
ThOrney Abbey. The pedigree as traced
by Baker, and Sir Isaac Heard claims George
Washington, first President OF the United
states. a. the ninth i'm descent from John
Washington, OF Whitfield, in Lancashire
temp Richard ILL. who was directly de-
Scended from William the first lord Of the
WesSyngtOn manor, and father OF Walter,
whose seal IS attached TO this ancient docu-
meni.
The late northumberland genealogist,
the deeply-lamentcd Colonel Chester, who
held that he had detected n serious error IN
the existing pedigree, so far as relates to
the WashingtOns OF Sulgrave, and who en-
Enthusiastically avOwed that he could not die
content until he had made clear the whole
descent, was much interested in this chiro-
graph. His great want was the original
will Of Major John Washington, the emf
grant ancestor OF our President, or failing
in the will. an autograph signature, 10 ena-
BILE him TO identify some important dOcu-
mentarv evidence OF which he had become
pOssessed. The will was frequently i'll
ouired for through the press widely
and OF many OF the cOuntv-cOut clerks,
but fruitIessly. IL disappeared from the
archives OF Westmoreland county during
our late war. Where is IL? Ii is much 10
be desired that some one equal to the task
will take up the inquiry where Colonel
Chester has left it, and obtain the necessary
documentary evidence IN proof OF an exact
and ample pedigree OF the illustrious house
of Washington. The reception OF the book
plate of Governor Dinwiddie, various
commissions, aud interesting particulars OF
his life, with photographs OF the portraits
of himself and two daughters, from Mrs.
General Gilbert Hamilton Dinwiddie, Lon
don. England. was announced.
The following preamble and resolutions
were adopted:
Whereas Report No. 1925, Forty-seyenth
Congress, second session, OF the Senate
Committee on Education and Labor, to
whom was referred Senate bill No. 1921,
entitled a hill to provide for the prepa-
ration OF centennial record OF the Gov
eminent Of the United States" with the
explanatory statement OF DR.. Franklin B..
Uoueh, having been considered by the
VIRGINIA Historical SOclptV-
Resolved. That the Virginia Historical
Society approve this bill in its specific de-
tails as a material exposition OF the Gov
ernmeut Of the United States i'm its varied
exemplification.
Resolved, That the representatives OF
this state in the national Congress be re-
mested to actively promote The said mea-
sure at the fitting moment during the next
session OF that body, and TO unite in a due
effort for its cOnsummation-so eminently
desirable.
circular Of the 4" lluguenOt Society Of
America" Rev. a. V. Wittmeyer, secre-
tary, No. 222 west Twenty-first street. New
York city, was read. IL is proposed to
unite i'm membership "all descendants in
both male and female lines OF the Hugue-
not families belonging to the emigrations
OF the seventeenth century, and OF other
French families whose Protestant faith
dates back to the time OF the Reformation.
Annual fee, So; life. $50.
Letters were read from Mrs. i. e.. De
Fontaine, New York city, proposing to sell
TO the Society the original Constitution Of
the Confederate States, ~ feet in length,
with all the signatures, for $4,000; and the
MS. Opinion Book OF the Acknowledgement
of the Confederate States. 3jS pages, with
opinions OF j. p. benjamin, George Davis.
Wade Keycs, Thomas Bragg, Thomas III.
Watts, and others, for $1,000; from James
p. Harrison, Esq, Danyile, Va; Dugald
r.l.o, C.u,nhel Eso Toudon Emo