Washington Family Genealogy Tracing the royal ancestry of the Washington Family down through the centuries from before 439AD. (With Thanks to Audrey Fletcher) 0*** to before 0439AD: Eochy Munrevar (Eugenius), King of Dalrieda. Before 0439 to 958: a hereditary line of Kings of Scotland descended from Eochy Munrevar. 958 to 1034: Malcolm II, King of Scotland. A continuation of the hereditary line of Scottish Kings. 1043 to 1045: Bethoc (Beatrix), Queen of Scotland. Daughter of Malcolm II, she was born in Angus in 984 and married Crinan the Thane, “Mormaer of Atholl”. He was born in 975 and died in battle in 1045 in Dunkeld, Scotland. He was the Abbott of Dunkeld. Their eldest son, King Duncan of Scotland, died unmarried c1043. Maldred of Scotland, Lord of Allendale and Carlisle, and King of the Cumbrians. The Washington Line is descended from this Maldred. He was the younger son of Beatrix, Queen of Scotland and Crinan the Thane. Born in 1009 or 1015 at Dunbar he was slain in battle in 1045 alongside his father. He married Aeglithia (Ealdgyth) of Northumbria sometime between 1030 and 1038. She was also known as Edith of Northumberland, and was the grand-daughter of Lady Godiva of Mercia. Her father was Ughtred of Northumberland and her grandfather was King Ethelred II. Maldred’s eldest brother became Duncan I, King of Scotland and was killed by Macbeth. Macbeth was succeeded by Duncan’s two sons: Malcolm III, King of Scotland, and Donald III, King of Scotland. Their story was immortalised by Shakespeare. 1066: The Norman Invasion and Conquest. Radical changes occurred in England and Scotland as a result of the Norman Invasion. The people of the North did not accept William the Conqueror as their new King and the opposing forces clashed at the Battle of Shaden’s Hill in 1068, on the northern boundary of Washington, Tyne and Wear. William the Conqueror won, his weapons were better than ours. The Danes and the Scots helped us fight the battle so we didn’t stand alone. Some of the fighting was on the Black Fell, but the main fighting was on Shadens Hill. Those survivors who weren’t able to flee were slaughtered, whole families of them. Widespread famine followed and corpses rotted where they fell, there was no-one left to bury them. The North of England became virtually uninhabited as people were either slaughtered, fled or died of famine. This state of affairs lasted for nine years. Had William had the Doomsday Book compiled a few years earlier than he did then the pages for the North of England would have been left completely blank. Maldred, Lord of Allendale. Born around 1039, he was the elder son of Maldred of Scotland and Edith of Northumberland. He received Winlaton from the Bishop of Durham in 1084. His younger brother, Gospatrick, who was born about 1040, bought the Earldom of Northumbria from William the Conqueror. The cost was high; the betrayal of his cousin, Malcolm III King of Scotland, and his Scottish ancestry. This is the story of the betrayal: Malcolm III King of Scotland was using Cumberland and Westmoreland as a base for raids against William the Conqueror in 1070. To prove his loyalty to William the Conqueror, Gospatrick plundered Cumberland and slaughtered the inhabitants. He then returned with his plunder to his fortress at Bamburgh Castle. Malcolm took his revenge, not against his cousin Gospatrick but against the people of Northern England! He was no better than William the Conqueror, he slaughtered what few inhabitants were left or took them as slaves. This incident became known as “King Malcolm’s Revenge”. That Gospatrick was created the First Earl of Dunbar (whose Coat of Arms is Gules a Lion Rampant Argent) by his cousin King Malcolm of Scotland leads to the speculation that they were perhaps playing “War Games” at the cost of the Northern English. Uchtred fitz Maldred. Not a lot is known about Uchtred fitz Maldred. He was the son of Maldred, Lord of Allendale and married Athelreda, born in Dunbar yet reputed to be an English Princess. He died in 1128/9.
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Dolfin fitz Uchtred, Lord Raby. Not a lot is known about Dolfin fitz Uchtred. He was the son of Uchtred fitz Maldred and married Adilicia (Alice) of Durham, whose father is said to have been Walcher, Bishop of Durham who was burnt to death in 1080 when a mob set alight a church he was in. Dolfin fitz Uchtred was appointed Lord of Raby in 1131 and died in 1136. The “Dolfin” part of his name is a reference to “the House of Dunbar”. Sir Patrick fitz Dolfin Raby. Born before 1136 at Hertburn, he was a younger son of Dolfin fitz Uchtred. He died around 1190. Upon his marriage to Cecily de Offerton he became known as Sir Patrick de Offerton and Hirsel. The lands of Offerton stand across the River Wear from Washington. He also had estates in Scotland, including Le Hirsel which lies on the north bank of the River Tweed two miles NW of Coldstream. (Today Le Hirsel is the seat of the Earls of Hume. The 14th Earl, Sir Alec Douglas Hume, was British Prime Minister 1963-1964.) Sir William fitz Patrick de Hertburn. The eldest son of Sir Patrick fitz Dolfin Raby he was born about 1150 in Hertburn, near Stockton-on-Tees, and died about 1194. Upon his first marriage he gained lands at Stockton-on-Tees. His second marriage was to his kinswoman Marjory (Margaret) de Huntingdon, Countess of Richmond. She was also born around 1150 and this was her third marriage. Countess Margaret was sister to William the Lion, King of Scotland, and Malcolm IV the Maiden King of Scotland. Her father was Henry, Earl of Northumberland and Huntingdon and her paternal grandfather was David I, the Saint King of Scotland. Her youngest brother, David Earl of Huntingdon, was the ancestor of the de Bruce and Balliol families. Sir William and Countess Margaret shared the same Great-great-great-great Grandparents; Beatrix, Queen of Scotland and Crinan the Thane. The Washington family name was acquired in 1183 when William fitz Patrick de Hertburn assumed tenancy of the Washington lands from the Bishop of Durham at a cost of four ponds per year. It was to his advantage to accept Washington in exchange for his Stockton lands since he was already heir to the lands at Offerton, which lie just across the River Wear from Washington. It was upon his acquisition of the Washington lands in 1183 that Sir William fitz Patrick de Hertburn became William de Wessynton I. The Washington Line Continues: William de Wessington I was succeeded by direct male descendents and their families until the death of his great-great-great-great grandson, Sir William de Wessington V in 1399. As he and his wife, Alina, did not have a male heir the Washington Manor passed into the hands of the Tempest family, when their daughter Eleanor married Sir William Tempest, a relative from Yorkshire. However, as Sir William Tempest also died without leaving a male heir the Washington Manor then passed into the hands of the Mallory family when their daughter Dyonisia Tempest married William Mallory, Lord of Hutton Conyers. As Dyonisia was heiress to Studley Royal as well as Washington Manor, upon their marriage William Mallory became Lord of Hutton Conyers, Lord of Studley Royal and Lord of Washington Manor. They named their first daughter Jane Mallory. George Washington, the First President of the United States of America, was descended from William de Wessington I. William de Wessington I had a grandson, William de Wessington III. A younger son of William de Wessington III married Joan de Stickland in 1292. She was heiress to Carnforth, in Warton, Lancashire. It is from this union that George Washington, the First President of the United States of America, is descended.
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Lords of Washington Manor: The Washington, Tempest, Mallory and Blakiston Families The Norman Manor House built by William de Wessynton was both inherited and inhabited by his direct male descendants and their families until the death of his 4xgt-grandson Sir William de Wessynton V in 1399. Unfortunately he did not have a male heir. The property therefore passed into the hands of the Tempest family when Sir William de Wessington V’s daughter Eleanor (Alianora) married her kinsman William Tempest of Studley Royal and Hertford in Yorkshire, and Trefford in County Durham. The Tempest family had acquired Studley through the marriage of Richard Tempest to Isabel, daughter and heir of Sir Richard de Bourne of Studley in 1355. This was his second marriage. Upon his first marriage to Joan, daughter and heir of Sir Thomas Hertford, he acquired the Manor of Hertford in Yorkshire. Sir William Tempest and his wife Eleanor de Wessington had two children, William and Dionisia. In 1440 William Tempest Jnr married Elizabeth Montgomery, daughter of Sir John Montgomery. Unfortunately, William died on 20th December 1443 leaving behind a son John, who died in 1450, and a daughter Isabel. Isabel inherited Hertford and Hetton (County Durham) from her brother John, and married Richard Norton of Norton Conyers. Dionisia Tempest inherited Studley Royal and Trefford from her brother William. As a result of Sir William Tempest dying without a male heir, Wessington manor passed into the hands of the Mallory Family when his daughter, Dionisia married Sir William Mallory around 1430. At the time of their marriage Sir William Mallory was Lord of Hutton Conyers in Yorkshire. Upon his marriage he became Lord of Wessington. In 1443 when Dionisia inherited Studley and Trefford from her brother William, Sir William Mallory also became Lord of Trefford and Lord of Studley Royal. It was indeed a very advantageous marriage for Sir William Mallory. The Mallories were Lords of Wessington Manor for almost 180 years, until it was sold to the Blakiston Family around 1606/7 by Sir John Mallory, a descendant of the original Sir William Mallory and Dionisia Tempest. The first Washington/Blakiston connection goes back much further in the history of Durham when Roger, son of Hugh de Blaykeston, married Christiana de Wessington. There was a much earlier De Wessington/de Blaykeston connection in 1376, in the form of the “Wessington/Blaykeston Deed” which records a settlement between Sir William de Wessyngton and William de Blaykeston. Sir William Blakiston of Gybsette, Gibside, County Durham (1562-1641) married Jane Lambton, daughter of Robert Lambton and Frances de Eure, great-granddaughter of Lord Ralph Eure amd great-neice of Anne (Eure) Mallory and Sir John Mallory of Washington Manor. The Blakiston Family sold the Washington Manor to the Bishop of Durham in 1613. Washington and the Washington Family Washington Village, Tyne and Wear, is renowned the world over as the ancestral home of George Washington, the First President of the United States of America. His great-grandfather, Colonel John Washington emigrated to Virginia in 1656 from Sulgrave Manor in Northamptonshire. The Washington family relocated from Washington manor to Sulgrave Manor via Westmoreland, Lancashire and Warwickshire in the early C16. The Washington family name was acquired in 1183 when William de Hertburn, a father of four assumed tenancy of the Washington lands from the Bishop of Durham at a cost of four pounds per year. It was to his advantage to accept Washington in exchange for his Stockton lands since he was already heir to lands at Offerton which lay just across the River Wear from Washington.
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William de Hertburn was undoubtedly a man of great importance. He was son and heir of Sir Patrick de Le Hirsell who had estates in Scotland, and his second marriage was to Countess Margaret, sister to William the Lion, King of Scotland. Interestingly, this marriage took place about the same time as William’s move to Washington leaving one to wonder if the two events were connected, and if so, for what purpose. The Washington Coat of Arms The Coat of Arms adopted by William de Wessyngton reflects his position and status of a knight. It comprises three five-pointed stars and two red banners, in the horizontal position, on a white background. Originally, however the background was silver.
The introduction of heraldry into England is credited to William I after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Originally the shields are believed to have been a single colour but as the custom grew more popular a second colour was introduced. The very early composition of the Washington Coat of Arms is reflected in its use of only two colours. The Washington family took great pride in their heritage, such that when they emigrated to America they retained their family crest. As a result, when George Washington, who was a prominent Freemason, became the First President of the United States, it was the Washington Coat of Arms which were adopted as the basis of the American flag “the stars and Stripes”.
Washington Old Hall The Ancestral Home of George Washington The First President of the United States of America Where to Build the Manor House? The ideal location for William de Wessyngton to build his Manor House was on the lower southern side of the hill upon which the Anglo-Saxon Village Church stood. This position, which was outside the Church boundary, afforded him protection both from the elements and from the fear of flooding. In fact, should flooding arise the waters would create a moat of sorts. I would suspect however that the plot of land was already cut and filled, and had been previously occupied, probably over a period of hundreds of years.
Within the precincts of the Feudal Manor of William de Wessyngton there would have been stables, a barn, a mill, the village, a pond, marshland, woodland, strip fields for planting at various times of the year and the common pasture.
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Outside the precincts of the Feudal Manor there would have been the Church on the Hill, the Glebe Lands of the Church, the clergyman's house and his fields known as "God's Acre". The 12th Century Manor House In the 12th Century many of the Feudal Manor Houses were built of timber and infilled with wattle and daub. However evidence shows that the Manor House built by William de Wessyngton for his royal Scottish bride was of stone, reflecting his wealth and prestige. The original Manor House was built in the distinctive shape of the letter "H". This is confirmed by the original foundations which are preserved in the current 17th Century Old Hall. The letter "H" is symbolic of the Double Tau. The main entrance was centrally positioned on the northern side of the Great Hall which itself was flanked by butteries, pantries, and great kitchen on one side and possibly sleeping quarters on the other. This same main entrance was retained in the later 17th Century building. The Last of the Direct Washington Line The Norman manor house built by William de Wessington was both inherited and inhabited by his direct male descendents and their families until the death of his great-great-great-great grandson, Sir William de Wessington V in 1399. Unfortunately he did not have a male heir.
The property passed into the hands of the Tempest family when Sir William's daughter Eleanor married Sir William Tempest, a relative from Yorkshire. However, Sir William Tempest also died without leaving a male heir and so the manor then passed into the hands of the Mallory family through the female line. The Washington Line Continues
George Washington is descended from the original William de Wessington. William de Wessington's grandson was William de Wessington III. A younger son of William de Wessington III, Robert de Wessington, married Joan de Strickland in 1292. She was heiress to Carnforth, in Warton, Lancashire. It is from this union that George Washington, the First President of the United States of America, was descended. Washington Manor House becomes Derelict Today there are many Washingtons throughout England and the world who are descended from the original William de Wessyngton. In 1613, during the reign of James I, the original 12th Century Washington Manor House was pulled down. A larger, new one was built in its place on the old foundations, by William James the Bishop of Durham. The tradition adopted during the reign of the previous monarch, Elizabeth I, of building in the form of an "E" in her honour, was incorporated into the new manor house.
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The 17th Century Manor House
In adding a new wing was the owner, the Bishop of Durham, perhaps making a political statement? Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII, was Protestant while her nephew James I (James VI of Scotland) was Catholic. As the years slipped by the needs and circumstances of the owners changed, and the manor house was let out to tenants in the 1700s. Gradually the building deteriorated with the result that by 1894 it was described as an " ... interesting old building, now fast falling into decay, and at present divided into tenements of the poorest description." (Whellan's Directory of County Durham)
By 1894 the Washington Old Hall had fast fallen into decay. It was divided into tenements of the poorest description.
The final blow came in 1936 when the building was condemned as unfit and unsafe for human habitation. It was to be demolished. Little Usworth Hall, about a mile up the road, had met a similar fate around twenty five years earlier. Washington Manor, the Old Hall, is saved from Demolition Local school teacher and historian, Fred Hill, was instrumental in saving the Old Hall from demolition. He was a leading figure in "The Old Hall Preservation Committee" which bought the building and the surrounding land.
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"It is our hope that the old place will be completely restored and utilized as the Village Community Centre, with provisions for a guest chamber for American tourists!" In post-war Washington however, the restoration could not begin immediately, there were other priorities.
"... when the housing scarcity is overcome then the work will be commenced." Fred Hill 1946 For the funding of the project, the Preservation Society looked to the people of the USA for help.
"During the war years between 400-500 Americans visited the Manor and the suggestion that Americans should supply the funds always met with approval." " ... we would much rather that the Americans as a people decide to defray the cost, and not an individual." "We want the old building to be a tangible link between the People of America, and the People of Britain!" Fred Hill 1946 (The Fred Hill extracts, 1946, are recorded in: "From Washington to White House" by The Vagabond) Fred Hill's dream was realized on 28th September 1955, when the fully restored Old Hall was opened to the public by the American Ambassador. Two years later it was handed over to The National Trust, who also acquired the Lower Garden as a gift from Mr. and Mrs. Mothersole.
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