The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-05-12

horror of watch dogs, which in lone farm
houses are sometimes more than Tree.
On the way | said:
"lou have some ancient relies here OF
the Washingtons, believe "''
Never heard Of them, he said.
care there not shields. having stars
and stripes
Not to my knowledge said he, and
spot.
THE MANOR HOUSE.
The Manor lIouse-that part which is
left of it's dlapidated, and is inhabited
by a man named Cook, Il farmer. 1t is
kept scrupnlously clean. The mistress
informed me that farming was not what
it had been, and that it was struggle
to get a living now, that they formerly
kept twelve cows, and now only two.
They had occasional American visitors
one of whom was so enthusiastic that he
Clipped the corner off the stone mantel
upstairs and left the broken edge I'M
tidylike. The house still shows signs OF
its former greatness. The entrance hall
is expansive, and there are some figures
in relief on the walls Not many years
ago the stars and stripes. in stained glass
adorned the window (Which fact is men-
toned by Washington Irving): but the
landlord had it taken out and removed to
his own house for safe custody. where it
unfortunately got smashed, and so ended
one of the most interesting relics of the
Washingtons, of Solgrave. Passing
through the front doorway we get into
the garden; very badly kept Evidently
there is no time to cultivate flowers here
A honeysuckle clung to the wall. and
few rose trees stood on the borders
There was also a plot of grass long
enough to Craze Il COW. The "porcl, or
entrance still exists, and is of stone,
and the front has an archway. Here is
to be seen the Oldest record in existence
of the stars and stripes. for half way up
the arch, travelling from its spring, are
two stone shields. Hhe left one is broken
but the right is still perfect, and has
carved on it the same design as in the
churches of Solgrave and Brington; stars
and stripes, fac -simile in the chart !
am much indebted to the doctor in the
village for the plaster cast he was good
enough to give me. That cast has multi
piled since it came into my possession,
and on my arrival in the States present
ed fac SMILES to the Historical Societies
of New York and Brook Ign, and shall be
happy to show it to any one interested i'll
the American arms. This must have
been placed there about the year 1899.
How the Washingtons came into pos
session of Solgrave is curious. Readers
of English history will remember that in
the year 1888 King Henry VIII quarreled
with the Pope of Rome because he would
not grant him a divorce from Queen
Katharine. 1t seems His Majesty had
cast his eyes upon pretty young lady of
the court: by the name of Anne Boleyn,
and in oider to get lawful possession of
her it was necessary for him to get rid
of his old lady-although they had been
married more than quarter of a cen
fury. The Pope, on being consulted, saw
no Just cause of divorce, although it must
be remembered that Henry was a favor
lite at Rome, as he had written a book
against Luther and his heresies, for which
the Pope had dubbed him DEFENDER of
the Faith" title which the monarchs
of England retain to this day.
Henry. being deep in love and strong
in will, threw off allegiance to the Pope
of Rome, established the Church of Eng
land, in its present form, and placed him
self at its head, a position also retained.
Having made himself head of the Church
and obtained a divorce by English law
and married Anne Boleyn (whom he
loved SO dearly that he cut her head OH,
he took forcible possession of all Church
property. The money and va!ua bles
stored in the religious houses of England
he carted away, and the lands he dis
trbuted among his friends and followers.
The manor of Solgrave was the property
of the prior of St Andrews Northamp-
ton. Now Laurence Washington was
A SHREwD LAWYER
and an ex-mayor. a man, too, of power
and influence The King could not bet
ter utilize this i'll gotten land than by Civ
ing it to him. and SO it came to pass that
the manor of Solgrave was presented to
Laurence Washington in the year l33>.
"GOD SAVE THE KING.
1t is said these Church lands never
turned out lucky to the grantee; anyhow
certain it is that the first heir (Robert)
had to come to terms with his son (Lau-
rence) to cut off the entail and sell the
estate, which sale was effected in 1910
and the estate was bought by one I.au-
renee Makepeace. Laurence Washing
ton (the third in descent) then retired TO
Brington, where he died in 1916. as the
monument records. The probable rea-
son for choosing Brinston wa to be I'M
der the protection of his kinSman, Lord
Spencer, as the families had twice inter :
was knghted by James l.. and mari led
half sister of George Niliers, Duke of
Buckingham, the favorite of Charles |.
The next brother, John, was also
knighted at Newmarket. After the civil
war ended unfavorably to the king whose
cause he had espoused, John found it
prudent to leave England, and emigrat ID
to Bridges Creek. America. and there
established the American line, being in
fact great grandfather to the first Presi
dent.
The third brother, Laurence, graduated
at Brasenose College, Oxford, III 1922,
and was Lector Phil 1852 and 3. These
facts had straight from the librarian of
the college. John, the emigrant, died at
Bridges Greek, and his will is dated
1919, Sd that he lived about twenty years
in the new country. He was succeeded
by his son, the same family Christian
name running from beginning to end.
He married Mildred Warner, and died in
1857. Augustine (son Of this laurence
followed his father. He was twice mar
ried: First, to Jane Butler (who died,
leaving three chidren), and secondly, tc
Mary Ball, by whom he had six children.
The eldest son of this second marriage