Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1909-02-18

--'" -hls- MOAN. The
OF pedigree tracing depends upon the dol.
| lar " the price can be paid a genealogical tree
"lll be drawn up, which finally will strike its roots
INTO some royal tomb
lhere Is one famous name which can be traced
| back for more than 200 years The family boasts
o no royal ancestor and il never held any heredi-
tary title but all through this long time it's mem.
Ders We're people of position
4 In llS3-before surnames were Thought of-a
norman knight named William OF Hertburn bought
| the manor of Wessyngton from the bishop of Dur.
nam IN England. He paid four pounds in good
cash for II. and also agreed to attend the bishop
"ith TWO sreyhounds on occasions of state hunt
fngs. and To furnish man-at arms when the lord
| oshop mad amy fighting on hand. This William
hereafter known Sir William OF Wessvnston
was the first 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 known as Washing
ton is in the coal mining district about ten miles,
from Durham. The Washingtons soon spread all
over the north of England, where the name still is
common. and one branch OF the family settled in
the county of Lancashire
From Lancashire Lawrence Washington Went
| mp to London. 10 study law in Grays inn He made
his mark and, leaving London for Nortfampton
was SO successful there that he twice became may
or of that city. This was in the DAYS of King
Henry the Eightl--bluff King llal-the man who
could not make his marriage ideas fit In with the
ideas OF the church. and q,arreed with it.
Church property was conisca,ed all hands and
among other fertile spots the mayor OF Solgrave
fell into his clutches II bestowed upon Law
renee Washington. who thus became lord of the
manor of Solgrave in NorhamWonshre and was
,nvered by the community.
Tho manor house still stands. Lawrence Wash
ington altered ii to suit his tastes. and i'm the
carvings OF both stone and woodwork and the
decorations of the windows he his arms Of
Stars and Stripes.
Old fashioned folk shook their heads and said
that property taken from the church never could
prosper However that may be. the family only
held Solgrave for three generations. The first
Lawrence had large family OF -four sons and seven
daughters, and his family twice nterlnalried with
4 the noble Spencer family-dilect ancestors of the
present Earl Spencer. So when trouble
| the family the earl built home for his knsman
in the little village of Brington i'm the same county.
Here in the old village church Lawrence Washing
ton, grandson of the first Lawrence. is buried.
cording TO tradition.
Though reduced" the famil! was impover-
ished, did its members lose then worthy stand
ing. This Lawrence exceeded his grandfather in
\ the number of his children for is We're born to
him. Two of his sons became knights some OF his
daughters married knights other OF dis
tincton. and his fourth son also named Lawrence,
became fellow OF l,razenose college Oxford. and
clergyman.
Times changed quickly in those old days. Henry
| the Eighth and his children long We're in their
graves, and Charles the First on his troubled
| throne. AS became an old country family the
| Washingtons and all for their king. and
several fought bravely against Cromwell and his
parliamentary troops. While the knights fought
the clergyman preached and it is evident that he
1 did not mince words The paramenfarans wrihed
under his home TRUSTS and when they got the up
per hand they did not forget him. His church was
taken from him. and content with that they
published his inquities In book of sMalignants,
a sort OF rogues gallery OF those who were stanch-
\ est in the support OF their king. The politicians
Of those days worse than those OF to-day. In
the quaint language OF the time they said that the
Rev. Lawrence is common freqilenl"r OF ale
houses not only himself sitting daily tipping there,
but also encouraging others in that hcastly vice.
\ and hath often been drunk. ic hath said that the
parliament have papists belonging 10 them
In their armies than the king had about him in
his armie and tina, the parlialnent's armie did
more hurt than the cavaliers. and that they did
none at all; and hath published them To b. traitors
that lend or assist the parliament
The reverend gentleman never again made his