The writings of George Washington; being his correspondence, addresses, messages, and other papers, official and private, selected and published from the original manuscripts; with a life of the author, notes and illustrations. By Jared Sparks.

APPENDIX.] WASHINGTON FAMILY. 541
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 Ecclesict 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." f
* SHURTEES'S History of Durham, Vol. II. p. 40.
t HUTCHINSON's History of Durham, Vol. II. p. 936.
VOL. 1. TT