The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-02-22
Our Olio.


Gen. Washington's Great-Great- Grandfather
Perhaps no place in ''the old country"
is calculated to be of more interest to
Americans than the parish of Brington, in
Northamptonshire, its old church contain
ing as it does memorials the most curious
and suggestive of the Washington ances-
try, while at Althorp House and the vii
lage of Little Brington there are nemen-
toes of the same family no less interesting.
The parish of Brington is situated about
six miles from Northampton, and contains
the villages of Great and Little Brington,
Nobottle, and Althorp, the seat of the
Spencer iamily-a family that has been
power in the state and has Influenced the
tide Of affairs for many generations.
Great Brington (or Brighton, as it is cal
led by the natives, from Jrya, hill, and
ton, town is village of some hundred to
hundred and twenty houses, and is the
seat of the parish church. Little Bring
ton and Nobottle are mere hamlets. The
former is about half mile from Great
Brington, and is noteworthy as containing
the house formerly occupied by the ances.
tors of George Washington.
The church at Little Brington-an an.
cient structure dedicated to the Virgin
bears the traces of many alterations and
restorations. Originally of the style known
as Decorated, it now has the appearance
of Perpendicular church from the re-
pairs and additions made by the families
of Ferrsrs, Grey and Spencer during the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. 1t con-
sists of tower containing five bells, nave,
north and south aisles, modern south porch,
chancel, and north chapel. The north
chapel is divided from the chancel by
three pointed arches, completely built up
with monuments, and from the north aisle
by an arch closed with wooden screen.
1t is lighted by three uniform windows.
This is the mortuary chapel Of the Spen-
GERS, and exhibits an interesting and al
most unbroken series of tombs and efigies
from the time of the Tudors to the present
day. OF the mural monuments one of the
latest is in marble, sculptured by Flaxman
to the memory of Georgina, Countess Spen-
Ger. Another is to the memory of Sir
John Spencer, the third of the Althorp
line, who married Kitson, daughter Of
Sir Thomas Kitson, London merchant.
and through whom he became related to
the Northants Washington family.
There is tradition that when Charles
the First was a prisoner at Holmby House
-"tho fair House of Holmby"-situated
within some three miles of Brington, and
distinguishable amid the trees to the south
west from the church-yard, he used to
come and receive the communion through
the altar rails, he being more or less ex
communicated by the chaplain of the man
sion where he was state prisoner The
church is supposed to have been erected
toward the end Of the thirteenth century,
and many parts of the interior resemble por.
tions of Henry the Seveuths chapel at
Westminster. This arose from the cir
cumstance that the same architect had
been employed on both.
But more interesting to Americans than
the tombs of the Spcncers, or the tradi-
tions Of kings, are the memorials of the
'"J ""'Sh baNo uutH W Oue VINO was
more than king amongst men. On the
pavement Of the chancel, beneath the
shade, as il were, Of the splendid Spencer
monuments, is stone slab bearing this
inscription;
Here lieth the bodl OF Lawrence Washington some
and heire OF Robert Washington of Sovlgrave In the
Counue OF Northamton Esquier who married Mar
garet the Eldest daughter ofwlliam Butler OF Tees
IN the Counte of Susseke Esquier who had issue nv
her sons and daughters which Lawrence Dcces.
sed the IL OF December A. Dni 1916.
Those that by chance or choyce Of this hast sight
Know lie TO death resigns rs daye 10 night;
bnt as me sums retorne reyiyes the day
so Christ shall us though turnde to dust and clay.
Beneath this inscription, deeply engray-
en- in stone, are the arms Of this Lawrence
Washington impaled with those of his
wife.
This Lawrence Washington was the
lineal ancestor, presumably the great-great-
grandfather, of George Washington, the
first President of the United States.
Near this memorial, but 10 the nave is the
grave of another Washington, the brother
of Lawrence Harper's Maoaxi,,e.