The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-02-18

Am and Eve, by way of Mr.
and Mrs. Noah. The profession
Sf pedigree tracing depends upon the dol.
Var If the price be paid a genealogical tree
VIII be drawn up, which finally will strike its roots
tnto some royal tomb.
! There is one famous name which can be traced
Pack for more than 700 years. The family boasts
pf no royal ancestor and It held any heredi-
tary title. but all through this long time it's mem.
Ebers were people of position.
v In 1lS3-before surnames were thought ola
Norman knight named William of Hertburn bought
fhe manor of Wessyngton from the bishop of Dur.
ham in England. He paid four pounds In good
cash for 1t, and Also agreed 70 attend the bishop
with two greyhounds occasions OF state hunt
pngs and TO furnish manatarms when the lord
bishop had any fighting hand. This william.
hereafter known as Sir William of Wessyngton,
fwas the first man to bear the name. and the
direct ancestor OF George Washington. The name
rs 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
byer 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 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
Hery the Eghth-bluff King Hal--the man who
ideas of the church. and quarreed with it.
Church property was confscated on all hands, and
among other fertile spots the mayor of Solgrave
fell into his clutches. It was bestowed upon Law
renee Washington, who thus became lord Of the
manor of Solgrave in Northamptonshire and
revered by the community.
The manor house still stands Lawrence Wash
sngton altered it 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
chat property taken from the church never could
prosper. However that may be, the family only
Iheld Solgrave for three generations. The first
Lawrence had large family of four sons and seven
daughters, and his family twice intermarried with
hhe noble Spencer family-direct ancestors Of the
present Earl Spencer. So when trouble came
the family the earl built home for his kinsman
in the little village of Bringon 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 were born to
him. Two of his became knights some OF his
daughters married knights other men of dis
tlncton. and his fourth son, also named Lawrence.
became a 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 old country family the
Washingtons one and all were for their king. and
several fought bravey against Cromwell and 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 iniquities in a book Of "Magnants."
a sort Of rogues gallery of those who were stanch
est In the support of their king The politicians
of those days were worse than those of to-day In
one quaint language of the time they said that the
Rev. Lawrence rs a common frequenter OF ale
houses, not 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 parliaments armie did
more hurt than the cavaliers, and that they did
none at ali: and hath published them to be traitors
that lend TO assist the parliament"
The reverend eentiemaa never again made his