The state herald., 1909-02-19
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and Mrs Noah. The profession
oil pedigree tracing depends upon the dol
iar II the price can be paid genealogical tree
VIII be drawn up, which finally will strike its roots
into some royal tomb.
Ihere Is one famous name which can be traced
back for more than 700 years The family boasts
OIL no royal ancestor. and 1t never held any heredi
tary title. but all through this long time its men,
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 Tor II, and also agreed 10 attend the bishop
with two greyhounds on occasions of state hunt
ihgs and to furnish manatarms when the lord
bishop had any fighting hand. This William
hereafter known as Sir William Of Wessyngton,
was the first mnn 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 IL 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 one Lawrence Washington went
up TO London. TO study law In Grays ina He made
his mark and leaving London for NortSampt on,
was so successful there tina, he twice became may
or of that city. This In the days OF King
Henry the Eighth-bun King Hal-the man who
could not make his marriage ideas it In with the
ideas OF the church. and quarreed with It.
Church property was confiscated on all hands and
among other fertile spots the mayor of Solgrave
fell into his clutches. II was bestowed upon Law.
renee Washington. who thus became lord Of the
manor OF Sograve In Northampionshre and was
revered by the community.
The manor house s stands Lawrence Wash.
ngton altered II 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 and said
that property taken from the church never could
prosper. However that may be. the family only
held Soigrave for three generations. The first
Lawrence had n large family OF four sons and seven
daughters, and his family twice ntermarried with
the noble Spencer famy-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 Brngton In the same county.
Here in the old village church Lawrence Washing.
ton. grandson OF the first Lawrence. is buried nc.
cording to tradition.
Though reduced" the family was no, impover.
ished. did Its members lose their worthy stand.
ing. This Lawrence exceeded his grandfather In
the number Of his children. for i6 were born TO
him. Two OF his sons became knights some OF his
daughters married knights or other men OF dis.
inction. and his fourth son. also named Lawrence.
became n fellow OF Brazonosc college oxford. and
n clergyman.
Times changed quickly In those old days. Henry
graves, and Charles the FRS, was on his troubled
throne. Az became an old country family the
washingt one and all were for their king, and
several fought bravcy against Cromwell and his
parliamentary troops. While the knights fought
the clergyman preached. and It II evident that he
did not mince words. The parlamentnrians wrhcd
under his homcthrusts, ana when they got the up.
per hand they did not forget him, His church
taken from him. and not content with thni they
published his inauitieH In book Of "Malignnn,a.'
IA Of IN hp Nc IA.
est 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 "iA common frcdnont.r OF ale
houses. not only himself sitting daily tipping there.
but also encouraging others In that beaatiy vice,
and hath often been drunk lie hath nad that the
parliament have more pnpatn belonging 20 them
IN their afmiea than the king had about him or In
his armie. and that the pafllanenis armie did
more hurt than the cavaliers. and that they did
none nj all. and hath published them 10 be traitors
hat lend 10 or assist tho parliament"
rhe reverend scntamss ssycr agap made his