Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-02-20


OF Of podlgree tracing depends upon the dol
lar. If the price be paid genealogical tree
VIII be drawn up, which finally will strike its roots
into some royal tomb.
There is famous name which can be traced
back for more than 700 years. The family boasts
OF no royal ancestor, and it held any hered-
tary title, but all through this long time its
bers were people of position.
In 11S3-before surnames were thought ola
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
cash for it, and also agreed attend the bishop
! with two greyhounds on occasions of state hunt
1ngs and to furnish alarms when the lord
bishop had any fighting hand. This William
hereafter known Sir William Wessyngton,
was the first the name, and was
dlrect ancestor of George Washington. The name
is pure Saxon, meaning the town the marshy
meadow; and the village known as Washing
ton is In the coal mining district about ten miles
from Durham. The Washngtons soon spread all
over the north of England where the still is
common, and branch the family settled in
the county of Lancashire.
From Lancashire one Lawrence Washington went
up to London, to study law in Grays inn. He made
his mark and. leaving London for Northampton
was so successful there that he twice became may
or of that city. This in the days of King
Henry the Eighth-bluf King Hattie man
could not make his marriage ideas in with the
ideas of the church, and quarreed with it.
Church property confiscated all hands, and
among other fertile spots the mayor of Solgrave
fell into his clutches. 1t was bestowed upon Law
renee Washington, who thus became lord of the
manor of Sograve in Northamptonshire and was
revered by the community.
The house still stands. Lawrence Wash
ington altered it to suit his tastes, in the
carvings of both stone and woodwork and the
decorations of the windows he his of
Stars and Stripes.
Old fashioned folk shook their heads and said
that property taken from the church could
prosper. However that may be, the family only
held Solgrave for three generations. The first
Lawrence had a large family of four sons and seven
daughters, and his family twice intermarried with
the noble Spencer family-drect ancestors of the
vyh len h1o anne on
the family the earl built home for his kinsman
in the little village of Brington in the county
Here in the old village church Lawrence Washing
ton. grandson of the first Lawrence, is buried
cording to tradition
Though reduced" the family was not impover-
ished, did its members lose their worthy stand
ing This Lawrence exceeded his grandfather in
the number of his children. for 16 born to
him. Two of his sons became knights some of his
daughters married knights other dis
tinction, and his fourth son, also named Lawrence
became fellow of BrEzenose college, Oxford and
clergyman.
Times changed quickly in those old days Henry
the Eighth and his children long were in their
graves, Charles the First was on his troubled
throne. As became old country family the
Washingtons and all for their king and
several fought bravely against Cromwell his
parliamentary troops. While the knights fought
the clergyman preached, and it is evident that he
did not mince words The parliamentarians writhed
under his home thrusts, and when they got the up
per hand they did not forget him. His church
taken from him. and not content with that they
published his iniquties in book of "Malignants,'
a of rogues' gallery of those who were stanch
in the support of their king. The politicians
of those days were worse than those of to-day In
the quaint language of the time they said that the
Rev. Lawrence lis a common frequenter of ale
houses only himself sitting daily tipping there
but also encouraging others in that beastly vice.
and hath often been drunk He hath said that the
parliament have more papists belonging to them
in their armies than the king had about him in
his armie, and that the parliament's armie did
more hurt than the cavaliers, and that they did
at all: and hath published them to be traitors
that 10ndr RI nr aSSS he 1qr1 a ont
The reverend gentleman never again made his