New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-22
THE WASHINGTON BRASSES
PRECIOUS RELICS TAKEN FROM sULGRAyp
CHURCH.
From Nc stratfod.upon.Avon Herald.

From The Stratfor-up0n-AyOn Herald.
Considerable excitement has recently been causAx
in the little Northamptonshre village Of sulgraya M,
old home of the WashingtOns ancestors OF The b.
lgstrlous founder Of the american Republlcl BY ,Ss
discovery that two memorial brasses Of great nteress
had been stolen from the parish church They repre.
yen nted m mo ro, 81 me x FAMILY ard ws
appears that about fortnight ago two men IN gentle.
be Americans thought It at all out OF The w.y
that they should visit the parish church They vars
allowed Gs2 run Of the place Which 6.o invariably
TO which many patriotic Americans make devotional
pilgrimage when visiting the mother country. Ina
brasscs affixed TO tho Washington slab in the nays
had been forrbly removed and taken away. This slab
wife of Lawrence Washington, as memorial Of hor.
self and her husband SIX different plates Of brass
ington coat OF arms, argent. bars gues in chief
muets Of the second. This IN ordinary English
means white shield crossed with two red stripes
and toward the top three red stars This coat OF arms
borne by the Washngtons who emigraied to America
Carriers Of the United States, the National flag Near
one on each side In brass, were formerly efgies Of
plate Of obong shape was the following inscription In
three lines
Herr lyeth buried ye bodys Of Laurence Washington
4 VII daughts VIC laurence Dyed ye day Of /
a ano Dn 1854 N''' ''''''eu inc VI Jay " o'''O''
Under this are representations Of the four sons and
seven daughters IN two groups.
The costume OF Lawrence Washington and his chi-
dren IS that OF the ordinary attir, OF civilians OF hs
middle Of the sixteenth century. The father wears
close-fittng doublet, large loose gown with DENT.
canon sleeves purified with fur and large broad-tOed
shoes: The boys wear large doube's, knee brooches
long hose and shoes. like their f2ther and each hai
his gyfclere at his glre The girls close fitting
caps, with gowns reaching to the ankles, and secured
Amy Washington no longer remains.
From the brasses would seem that the decease d
the wife was the occasion for the laying down Of thu
monument the date of her DEATH 1861 is inserted,
while the date Of her husbands demise IS left blank
too however.
that was not done.
This Lawrence Washington, of sulgrave, whOss
monument has just been robbed. was twice Mayor Of
northampton, in 1888 and again in 1916 and MS
appears upon two Of the mayoralty shields in this
as Of northampton and Grays Inn Esquire His
first wife Elizabeth Cough, the widow Of WILLIAM
daughter Of Robert Parser. Of Greatworth. In hi
thriieth wear Of the reign Of Henry VIII G53s'39.
the dissolved priores OF CanOns Ashby and Gatesby
were granted 10 him. After his death, In 1888, his
named Lawrence, sold the manor to another membes
of the family.
OF course the great interest in This memorial cen'
tres in the relation Washington bore TO the
founder of the United states Republic. Baker, in his
great History of NOrthamptODshire. traces the ped.
gree of George Washington from John Wahln gtOn, Of
Whitfield, in Lancashire through this IDENTICAL
Lawrence and his second wife, Amy. and their grand:
Dryden however writes:
According to Baker, the last named Lawrence had.
To- AMERICA and from the first of whom was descended
George Washington the first President Of the United
States. It has been shown by Colonel Chester, IN
The Herald and GeneaOgst.' Of August, 1855, than
there Is evidence that John and Lawrence VINO
emgrated were the John and Lawrence, the sons 1T
Lawrence who died in 1916, that they came from
this country, and that there IS strong presumpiye
eSe Sas been ' accepted By nearly ali inders from
his dav 10 the present 1t was only coincidence than
John and Lawrence Washington of the sulgrav4
family existed about the same period as another
John and Lawrence Washington emlgrated to America,
II IS needless here to go into the question OF ths
relative claims of the Lancashire and Northampton.
shire branches of the family OF John Washington of
Whitfield. Each has its champions and It's defenders.
There are. however, many both in America and IN
England who believe thar George Washingtons I'M
mediate ancestors were Norhamptonshfe people.
Time has told somewhat on this monument o1
Lawrence and Amy Washington ana u Is also 70 Ds
regretted the hand OF the thief as well. The head OF
Iawrence Washington has been knocked off the brasi
eli ~ of his wife has been stolen and taken away
bodilv and the enamel with which the coat of arms
vas cOlored has crmbef nearly all away, leaving
taken away are those representing the iii sons and
vii daughters Each of these pieces could De GOV.
cred by a sheet OF nOtepaper We may add that Oh
The Surrave brass the family name IS spelled Wassh-
IN the contrary nOwths landing. In the Northampton
Grammar school Deeds the name OF this same Lawrence
ts eneiIcd Washington. Hudson. In his Brasses 90
Voribamntonshiren gives a reduced fac-simile OF thu
omitted 10 copy the coat Of arms. Probably hOwI
even that was due TO the fact that the arms Wero
originally colored. enamelled, and the panstaNn?
author did not consider that painted memorial shout
be included in work on Dfasses
Rubbings OF the brasses are still IN existence, and
we understand that the police are investigating ING
matter The theft Of these interesting memorials OF
81 famous a race Will be serious archaeolOglca oss
10 the country, for there seems to be little hope
their recovery.