Gilpin observer., 1909-02-18
IY|

and Mrs. Noah. The profession
Oh pedlgree tracing depends upon the dol
lar If the price be paid a genealogical tree
will be drawn up, which finally will strike its roots
into some royal tomb.
There is one famous which can be traced
back for more than 700 years. The family boasts
of no royal ancestor. and 1t never 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
nam 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-atarms 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 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 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
Henry the Eighth-blur King Hal-the man who
could not make his marriage ideas fit in with the
ideas of the church, and quarreled with it.
Church property confiscated on all hands and
among other fertile spots the mayor of Sograve
fell into his clutches. 1t bestowed upon Law
renee Washington, who thus became lord of the
manor Of Sograve 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 a>d 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 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 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, ac
cordng to tradition
Though reduced" the family 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 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 In their
graves, and Charles the First was on his troubled
throne. AS became an old country famlly 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 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 sort OF rogues gallery of those who were stanch-
est in the support of their king The politicians
of thpaa duys yara Nynra hnn NJ p.du In
the quaint language of the time they said that the
Rev. Lawrence us 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 or in
his armie, and that the parlament's armie did
more hurt than the cavaliers. and that they did
none at all; and hath published them to be traitors
that lend to assist the parliament"
The roverend gentleman never again mnde his