The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1909-02-19
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and Mrs. Noah. The profession
OF pedigree tracing depends upon the dol
lar II the price can be paid genealogical tree
will be drawn up. which finally will strike its roots
into some royal tomb.
There is one famous name which can be traced
back for more than 700 years. The family boasts
Of no royal ancestor. and it held any heredi-
tary title but all through this long time its
bers were people of position.
In l1S3-before surnames were thought of-a
Norman knight named William of Hertburn bought
the manor of Wessyngton from the bishop of Dur
ham In England He paid four pounds In good
ash for It, and also agreed to attend the bishop
fth two greyhounds occasions of state hunt
Ihgs, and to furnish a man-at-arms when the lord
bishop had any fighting on hand. This William
hereafter known Sir william Of Wessyngton.
was the nrst man to bear the name, and was the
direct ancestor of George Washington. The name
is pure Saxon meaning the town on the marshy
meadow; and the village now known as Washing
ton is in the coal mining district about ten miles
from Durham. The Washingtons soon spread all
the north of England, where the name still is
common, and one branch Of the family settled in
the county Of Lancashire
From Lancashire one Lawrence Washington went
up to London. to study law in Gray's inn. He made
his mark, and. leaving London for Northampton.
was SO successful there that he twice became may
of that city This in the days of King
Henry the Eghth-blun King Hal-the man who
could not make. his marriage ideas fit in with the
ideas of the church, and so quarreled with It,
Church property was confiscated on all hands, and
among other fertile spots the mayor of Solgrave
fell into his clutches. 1t was bestowed upon Law
renee Warrington, who thus became lord of the
manor Of Solgrave in Northamptonshire and was
revered by the community
The manor house still stands. Lawrence Wash
ington altered 1t to suit his own tastes and in the
carvings of both stone and woodwork and the
decorations Of the windows he wove his arms OF
Stars and Stripes.
Old fashioned folk shook their heads asd said
that property taken from the church never could
prosper. However that may be, the family only
held Solgrave for three generations The nrst
Lawrence had large family of four sons and seven
(kughters, and his family twice intermarried with
the noble Spencer family-direct ancestors OF the
present Earl Spencer. So when trouble came on
the family the earl built home for his kinsman
in the little village of Brington in the same county.
Here in the old village church Lawrence Washing
ton, grandson of the first Lawrence, is buried ac-
cording to tradition.
Though reduced" the family was not impover-
ished nor did its members lose their worthy stand
ing. This Lawrence exceeded his grandfather IN
the number of his children, for 16 were born 10
him. Two of his sons became knights, some OF ms
daughters married knights or other men OF ois'
tinction and his fourth son, also named La~rence,
became fellow of Brazenose college, O1ioro' Anu
clergyman.
Times changed quickly in those old days henry
the Eighth and his children long were In tnei.
graves, and Charles the First was on MS tiouoieu
throne, As became an Od county AoA"H' ..
'Washinstons one and all were for their king ana
several fought bravely against Cromwell and ma ms
parliamentary troops. While the knights 1ougn'
the clergyman preached and 1t is evident una. ns
did not mince words. The parliamen'ar'a"e "ti'Aeu
under his home-thrust and when they got the up
per hand they did forget him. His church was
taken from him. and not content with that tney
published his iniquities in book OF Mahsnae
a sort Of roeues gallery of those who were stancn
est in the support of their king. The pohucians m
of those days worse than those OF toaay. ~, ~
Row I.wrence "is a common freQuenter OF ale
houses not only himself sitting daily Tipping us.e'
but also encouraging others in that oeast,y We
and hath often been drunk he hath saiu .n". 49,. ~
u their armies than the king had about hin Ut IN ~
ils armie, and that the parliaments arme o,a ,a
more hurt than the cavaliers. and 'nat ues wv
m he at all; and hath published them 10 oe
that lend to or assist the parliament
The reverend gentleman never again maoe n''