The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1909-03-04
II I | |
l 81

and Mrs Noah. The profession
OF pedigree tracing depends upon the dol
lar If the price 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 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 1t, and also agreed to attend the bishop
with two greyhounds occasions of state hunt
ings, and to furnish man-at-arms when the lord
bishop had any fighting hand. This William.
hereafter known Sir William of Wessyngton,
was the first 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 Washingons soon spread all
the north of England where the name still is
common. and branch of the family settled in
the county of Lancashire.
From Lancashire one Lawrence Washington went
up to London to study law in Grays inC. He made
his mark and. leaving London for Northampton.
was SO successful there that he twice became may
of that city. This was in the days Of King
Henry the Eighth-bluf King Hattie man who
could not make his marriage ideas fit in with the
ideas of the church, and Quarreed with it.
Church property confiscated on all hands, and
among other fertile spots the mayor of Solgrave
fell into his clutches. 1t was bestowed upon Law
Washington, 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 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 Sograve for three generations. The first
Lawrence had large family OF four sons and seven
daughters. 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 knsman
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 mpover-
fshed nor did its members lose their worthy stand
ing This Lawrence exceeded his grandfather in
the number of his children for 16 were born to
him. Two of his sons became knights some of his
daughters married knights other men of dis
tinction, and his fourth son. also named Lawrence.
became fellow of Brazenose college. Oxford. and
a clergyman.
Times changed quickly in those old days. Henry
the Eighth and his children long were In their
graves and Charles the First was on his troubled
throne. AS became an old country family the
Washingtons one and all were for their king. and
several fought bravely against Cromwell and his
parliamentary troops. While the knights fought
the clergyman preached, and 1t is evident that he
did not mnce words. The paramentarans wrthed
under his home-thr and when they got the up
per hand they did not forget him. His church was
taken from him. and not content with that they
published his iniquties in book of "MaligDants
q sort of rogues gallery of those who were stanch-
est in the support of their king. The politicians
OF those days than those of to-day. In
the quaint language of the time they said that the
Rev. Lawrence sis common frequenter of ale
houses not only himself sitting daily tipping there,
but also encouraging others in that beasy 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 or In
his armie and that the parliament's armie did
more hurt than the cavaliers. and that they did
none at all; and hath published them to be traitors
lat lend to or assist the parliament"
The reverend gentlamaa never again made his