Notes for Roger Worthington

Notes for Roger Worthington

!Material gathered from web site of Michael Willis Freeland:
http://users.erols.com/freelanm/Worthington.htm
!alternate web site at:
http://hometown.aol.com/hdw3/ancestors.html
The Worthington family, of ancient English origin, possessed landed estates in Lancastershire and Devonshire, England, prior to 1236 A.D. Queen Elizabeth was once entertained at "Worthington Hall," in Devonshire, by a Mr. William Worthington. The surname Worthington, like many other family names, is derived from the locality where the first-known progenitor of the family resided. Its etymology is from three Saxon words, viz., Wearth-in-ton, i.e., Farm in Town. About twenty miles northeast of Liverpool, England, in the hundred of Leyland, and parish of Standish, is the township of Worthington. Here and on the adjacent manors resided for many centuries the family of Worthington, established in high repute from the time of the Plantagenets. They appear to have been distinguished rather by heroic acting than by the arts of courtiers. The main stock can be traced in the public archives as far back as Worthington de Worthington (20th of Henry Ill., 1236-7), the progenitor of all the Lancashire Worthingtons. The old hall at Worthington, where the fimily resided for seven hundred years, was pulled down not many years since.
Professor Childs, of Harvard University, says: "the name was originally spelled Weorthington, and is as old as any thing in England." Translated into modern English, it means, "the descendants of the men who settled the place." During the civil war between Charles I and the Puritans, the Worthingtons were staunch supporters of the Crown and the established Church; in consequence of which they lost the estates which they had held for more than four hundred years, and which had been bestowed upon their progenitors for loyalty and martial valor. Upon the accession of Charles II most of this land was restored to the original owners. The arms born by the various branches of the English family vary in several minor details, but all are of a general character and display agricultural devices: three forks on a shield; a sheaf of wheat resting on a wheel, and a garland of leaves with a goat surmounting it, etc., etc. The motto: Virtute dignum avorum = "Worthy to bear the dignity of our ancestors." They appear to have been landed gentry of local influence and importance, and several were distinguished divines. In 1635 two brothers of this name emigrated to Massachusetts, and have numerous descendants in the Northern and New England States.