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.

542 WASHINGTON FAMILY. [APPENDIX.
Concerning the times in which the several branches of the
family separated from the original stock, and the directions in
which they spread, very little is known. During the century following Prior Wessyngton's death, we can trace them in Northumberland, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, and perhaps in other parts of England. If we may judge
from the records of the transfers of estates and monumental inscriptions contained in the county histories, many, who bore the
name, were persons of wealth and consideration. Their armorial
bearings were varied, but whether to distinguish different branches
of the family, or for other reasons, neither my knowledge of their
history, n6r my skill in heraldry, enables me to decide."'
The prior of Durham was not the only man of learning among
them. Joseph Washington, an eminent lawyer of Gray's Inn,
Thoresby says, " is to be remembered among the authors." He
wrote the first volume of "Modern Reports"; "Observations upon
the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Kings of England," published
in 1689;" Abridgment of the Statutes to 1087."; a translation of
part of "Lucian's Dialogues"; and other tracts.t- He was buried
* The following extract from Edmondson's Healdry will show some of the
varieties, as adopted by the Washingtons in several counties.
WASHINGTON ARMS.' 1. Gules on a fess argent; three mullets pierced of the field.
" 2. In Buckinghamshire, Kent, Warwickshire, and Northamptonshire; argent, two bars gules in chief, three mullets of the sec6nd. Crest, a raven
with wings indorsed proper, issuing out of a ducal coronet or.
" 3. Gules, two bars in chief, three martlets of the second.
4. In Lancashire; barry of four argent and gules on a chief of the
second, three mullets of the first.
" 5. In Yorkshire; vert, a lion rampant argent, within a bordure gobonated
argent and azure."
The second variety here described was the one used by General Washington, being probably the original arms of the family.
t THORESBY'S History of Leeds, p. 97. Toland says, that he was the translator of Milton's Defensiopro Populo.Jnglicano, in reply to Salmasius. Life
of Milton, p. 84. The translator's name is not prefixed to the first edition;
but the publisher states in anadvertisement," thatthe person, who took the
pains to translate'it, did it partly for his own private entertainment, and
partly to gratify one or two of his friends, without any design of making it
public, and is since deceased." This edition was printed in the year 1692,
and it is probable, that Joseph Washington had died not long before that
time. The translation is the samethat is usually printed with Milton's prose
writings. The interest he took in this performance indicates the tenor of
his political sentiments, as well as the fact mentioned by Hunter, that he
was an intimate friend of the celebrated Lord Somers.