...the story of the Watlingtons, without too many dates and without sources. The founder of the line, of whom there is authentic record was a Saxon duke or chief named Wada--circa 789. Ferguson, in his book ``English Surnames'' mentions the illustrious race of Watlings who gave their name to the Watling Street--one of the main roads across England, running from Dover to Cardigan. Not that they had anything to do with building it, for it was a Roman highway, but in some way it was associated, by their contemporaries, with the Watlings. Here, I quote from the book. ``Certain it is that the family was in existence long before the conqueror came (1066). The name is in itself a proof of this assertion for in the old Anglo-Saxon tongue the meaning of the name is `ton' (the town of) `ing' (the children of) `Wada' (he who possesses a garment). The Watlingtons were therefore dressed in garments at a time when others were not. What better proof than this could be obtained of the great antiguity and high respectability of the clan?''So, my friend, you are a member of an ``antigue and respectable clan'' that is over a thousand years old. Their lands were recorded by William the Conqueror in his Domesday Book. I have a record of the genealogy dating from Sir Robert de Watlington, circa 1135. Without detail I can tell you that they probably were invaders from the continent that settled first in Norfolk, near what is called, to this day `The Wash' at a place they called `atlington'. Over the centuries, this has degenerated to `Watton' (still on the map). Subsequently they migrated south and west to a point near Oxford--about 40 miles west of London and a little north of Reading. Again (they were in a rut) they named the place `Watlington' (It's still there--thatched roofs and all. You can stand at one end of the main street and photograph the whole town). From this Watlington they went to Reading and provided one of its most influential families during the 12th, 13th, 14th and early 15th centuries. They furnished many Lord-Mayors, Church leaders, etc. during this time. Even to this day there is a ``Watlington House'' that is a sort of semi-public building, maintained by a group known as ``Friends of Watlington House'' and used as a meeting place by the girl scouts, garden clubs, etc. It was originally built by a Samuel Watlington in the later part of 1600's. The next step, you might say, ``is shrouded in mystery,'' and maybe Hereward is right in his estimation that Watlingtons didn't care to have their movements made too public at this time (and I know why)--they came to Bermuda. This was during the early part of 1600. It is quite possible that some came straight to America then, too, because Paul Watlington of Gloucester Co., Va. married Elizabeth Reade about 1650 and he had been born in America. His sons and grandsons stayed right around Gloucester Co. and the neighboring territory until after the Revolution. Incidentally, the land for what is now Yorktown, Va. famed in American History, was donated for town site by the Reade family. ...Now just before and during the Revolutionary Period, the family had been migrating again--always west and south--and it was about this time 1768 that Thomas--a vestryman in Frederick Parrish, Va. began to use the 'd' instead of the 't' when spelling his name--why, we'll probably never know, but he did and all the 'd's start there.
-- James L. Watlington, 1962
Jackson, Tenn.