WELLINGS
Variations
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Histories and Origins
The name Wellings has many variants, we have Weller, Walling, Wellingsly, Welles. But to name a few of the
better known.
The name Welling can be found in the South of England, also in the Rhine land of Germany. Just how or when
the name came to Britania no one can honestly say. Some eminent historians have advanced personal theories,
as indeed they have put forward theories as to the origin of the name Welling also, but, theories often fall short
of the facts.
It has been claimed the above was written into Roman writings dealing with the peoples of Britania, I personally
would not dismiss this out of hand, all the more so since we know the Romans to be sticklers for details, the fact
of which we find recorded in the Holy Bible where it speaks of an order going out to the effect all living within
the Empire had to report for registration.
Suffice it to say, however 'the Welling' name found itself in Britania, whether by the Roman practice of conscription
or during the great Anglo Saxon migration to these Islands following the Romans leaving, once here, they appear
to have made good use of their new found lands.
Not a great deal is known of Saxon England outside the Chronicles. Saxons were great story tellers and in this
way passed down both tribal and family histories. It must be said with the coming of Christianity to these shores
some improvement along the afore lines was made, but it was not until 1066 A D, and the coming of the Normans
that some semblance of order took place.
With the Advent of the Doomsday book , records of peoples and places began to give a better understanding
of just who lived where, and whom owned what by the good grace of his majesty, William I of England. It is
now we begin to catch up withe name Wellings, or, what ever way the particular cleric gave his rendering of the
name, which again depended somewhat on his dialect and what part of the kings realm he came from.
Wellings, when not trading blows in the joust, or the kings name, were for the most part merchants. That they
made frequent trips across Europe is evident from such references, William de Wellynge petitions the king, Richard II
for his grace to intercede on his behalf, complaining. "The King of Prussia had taken the goods of himself and
fellow merchants wrongly." This was sworn before the council at the translation of St Thomas the Martyr 1386 A D.
I make reference to the above, but it was not by any means a singular incident as can be seen from the
Doomsday records. We have another William, William de Welles this time, as keeper of Lesneven Castle, but there
is a John de Wellynge named as keeper at another period of time.
We again see a John De Wellynges as a knight serving John de Montague, steward of the household of John O Gaunt
King of Castile and Leon, with a Richard Hembrigg sergeant of arms of the King.
Well, In every family lies a story said Churchill and this is true for the Wellynge's and before we leave the South
of England its worth mentioning a Robert de Wellynge who in some accounts is refered to as Lord of Lavenham
it follows a Robert de Welles or Wellen, whome Robert de Wellynge claims as his father was murdered by the men
serving the Earl of Oxford and his friend Lord Mortymere, the latter who now turn their venom on Robert de Wellynge
(Wellynges) , and obviously they plot against him, as in the Poem 'THE PLOTTERS'
By strength of arm caused men to yield
and won a fortune on the field
(The bishop in league with Oxford and Mortymere, goes on to say - in reference to Roberts late father)
And are ye not Lord Roberts son
To horse say I, this day all ready won
then grabbing up both lance and shield
he charged out into the field (Of course not being so skillfull as his opponent, one of the conspiritors)
Records show Robert lost his right to lands and tittles, he having fallen on the field. Oxford goes on -
Lord Robert Qoath Oxford ye understands
To this knight and squires forfiet yor lands
forfiet all deeds and tittles held
upon this field fair was thou felled.
( The bishop with foxy glance joins in )
But ever head strong as your breed
saw chance to gamble in your greed
So it is here we leave the Wellings of Southern England, I suppose we should just mention Lady Katherine Wellynge
prioress of the convent of Wykes likely widow of de Welles or Wellen, slain by Oxfords men.
Of course the North of England can boast a few Wellings or variants, including Northumberland, where we see
Maticoa Welling (Wellon) birth 1100 AD; another dated 1132 AD; and again 1128 AD
But it was in Shropshire where the Wellings families had a sudden impact, such as can be seen from the sixteenth
century onward. There appeared a record of Wellings brothers, a Richard who went to live in Ludlow, where
the Clerics spelt his name Wellan, we have a John, John went to Bridgenorth, here they recorded him as Wealan
whilst the other two, seemed to be written down, one as Welles and the other as Wellynge.
By the Seventeenth century, all the afore according to the records had settled for Wellings. It is clearly seen
the Wellings were wealthy by normal standards, and held in great respect. AS such , and like most wealthy families
they married Wellings with Wellings, from time to time. But the greater majority served as town burgesses, in the
various towns of Shropshire, throughout many generations.
Before we finally bid the Wellings goodbye, its worth noting the Wellings of Shropshire left to settle in many
other lands, the USA and Australia in particular.
This has been a very brief history of the name Wellings, its origins, and how it spread in Britain, and should not
be understood by the reader as a roll of decendancy.
Submitted by Rattiecolin
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