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APPENDIX.

VOL. I.

68

APPENDIX.

No. I.

ORIGIN AND GENEALOGY OF THE WASHINGTON FAMILY.

THERE was a tradition in the branch of the Washington family to which General Washington belonged, that their ancestors emigrated to America from Yorkshire in the North of England. No facts had been collected, however, to confirm this tradition, nor did General Washington himself pretend to have any certain knowledge on the subject. Soon after he became President of the United States, Sir Isaac Heard, then Garter King of Arms in London, wrote to him, stating that from curiosity he had been at considerable pains to investigate this matter, and had made some progress, but that he was still in doubt as to several points, and he requested such particulars as could be furnished by the family in America.

To gratify this request, as far as it was in his power, Washington applied to several aged persons for their reminiscences, procured copies and abstracts of wills, and collected such other materials as could be found, from which he drew up a paper and forwarded it to the Garter King of Arms. This paper was the basis of an imperfect genealogical table, which was constructed and sent to Mount Vernon; but an inflammation of the eyes, which seems to have afflicted Sir Isaac Heard for several years before his death, prevented his pursuing the inquiry; and it does not appear, that Washington obtained any other facts than those contained in the paper above mentioned. Sir Isaac Heard ascertained, however, that the two brothers, who were the first of the family that came to America, were not from Yorkshire, but from Northamptonshire, and he traced their ancestors to Lancashire.

While I was in England, searching for the materials which have been used to fill out and illustrate various parts of Wash

ington's writings, I embraced the opportunity to make further inquiries respecting the origin and history of the family. At the Herald's College I was politely allowed access to all the manuscripts of Sir Isaac Heard on this subject; and, with the aid of these and of the voluminous county histories in the public libraries, I was enabled to collect a few facts, which may be thought worthy of being preserved in connexion with the life of one, who has added so much lustre to the name.

In the County of Durham is a parish called Washington, and the earliest period, in which any person is known, or supposed, to have been called by that name, was towards the close of the twelfth century. The following is Hutchinson's account of this parish.

"The manor is mentioned in the Boldon Book,* wherein it is said WILLIAM DE HERTBURN held the same, except the church and the lands thereto appertaining, in exchange for the vill of Hertburn, rendering four pounds, serving in the great chase with two greyhounds, and paying one mark to the palatine aid, when such happened to be raised. At the time of making Bishop Hatfield's survey, the resident family had assumed a local name, and WILLIAM DE WESSYNGTON, knight, then held the manor and vill. On the inquisition taken at his death, in the twenty-second year of that prelate, it appears that in his service he was to provide three greyhounds for the chase, and, if he took any game in his way to the forest, it should be for the Bishop's use, but what he got on his return was to be taken for his own benefit. In Bishop Langley's time, we find Washington was become the estate of the Blackstons." ||

The same particulars are stated by Shurtees, who adds the following.

"It seems probable, that either William de Hertburn, or his immediate descendants, assumed the local name; for William de Wessyngton occurs as a witness in charters of Bishops Robert de Stitchell, and de Insula.** William de Wessyngton, chevalier,

"So called from the parish of Boldon (near Washington), where it was written in 1180, it being a record of survey."

"About A. D. 1345, when Hatfield was made Bishop."

"About 1367."

"Langley was made Bishop in 1406, and died in 1437."

1274.

HUTCHINSON's History of Durham, Vol. II. p. 489.

Robert de Stichell was made Bishop of Durham in 1261, and died in

-

- HUTCHINSON'S History of Durham, Vol. II. p. 214.

** Robert de Insula, made Bishop in 1274, died 1283. — Ibid. p. 223.

had license to settle the manor on himself, his wife Katherine, and his own right heirs, in 1350, and died in 1367, seized of the whole manor and vill, by the abovementioned free rent of four pounds, leaving William his son and heir, who held by the same tenure under Hatfield's survey. Before 1400 the direct line expired in another William, whose only daughter, Dionisia, married Sir William Tempest of Studley."

From these authorities it appears, that Hertburn was the original name of the Washington family, that the latter name probably was assumed by William de Hertburn between the years 1261 and 1274, and that the manor was held in the male line till about the year 1400, or one hundred and thirty years. During this period the name seems to have been usually written Wessyngton, though it is sometimes found Wessington. In its subsequent changes it was probably written variously at different times, and by different branches of the family. At the Herald's College, in the "VISITATION BOOK" (so called) of Northamptonshire for the year 1618,. I found the autographs of Alban Wasshington and Robert Wasshington. These persons were uncles to John and Lawrence Washington, who emigrated to Virginia.

Notwithstanding that the manor was no longer held by a person of the same name, yet the family extended itself; and one of the number, called John de Wessyngton, attained to considerable eminence as a scholar and divine, being elected Prior of Durham on the 5th of November, 1416.

"This learned Prior," says Hutchinson," wrote many tracts, particularly one, De Juribus et Possessionibus Ecclesiæ Dunelm., wherein he proves, that the Priors of Durham were always invested with the dignity of Abbots. There are some of his manuscripts in the Dean and Chapter's library. The account of the paintings in the windows, and of the ornaments and ceremonies of the church, now extant, is by some attributed to him. He renewed the dispute with the Bishop touching the profession of the monks, which was determined in the Prior's favor, and presided at the general chapter held for the order of St. Benedict, at Northampton, in the year 1426. In his time several licenses were obtained for acquiring lands for the monastery. Prior Wessyngton presided thirty years, and departed this life in the year 1446. He was buried before the door of the north aisle, near to St. Benedict's altar. On his tombstone was an inscription in brass, now totally

lost." †

* SHURTEES'S History of Durham, Vol. II. P. 40.

+ HUTCHINSON's History of Durham, Vol. II. p. 96.

VOL. I.

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