New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-06

feld are insignificant villages on the eastward
edge Of Nottinghamshire; but the exodus of the
Pilgrim Fathers began where William Brewster
and William Bradford lived when they were
driven for conscience sake into exile Thou
sands Of American visitors on foot or on wheels
have made the pilgrimage to these villages and
have seen the cottages where these leaders Of
New-England thought and religious independ-
ence lived; but they have left behind them no
memorial of their respect and gratitude. Ecton,
near Northampton. is the village where Benja-
bellfounders. and occupiers of a small farm for
several centuries; and while the house ordi-
nar1ly pointed out as their manor hardly
have been the home Of the philosophers father
and the shop Of the village blacksmiths has
disappeared. the births, marriages and deaths
of generations OF Franklins are recorded IN the
books Of the parish church. Thousands OF
Americans have visited Ector Church but there
is neither memorial window nor carved tablet
nor polished brass to indicate national gratitude
to the English Franklins In the churchyard
the name can be read the gravestones as
the Washington crest be seen at Sulgrave
and Great Brngton; but there is no token of
adequate appreciation Of the great men of Amer
lean history in the English homes where they
or their ancestors were Graded
On this account it is to be hoped that the
rector Of Purleigh and his church wardens will
receive a large measure OF encouragement at the
meeting OF Americans in the Mansion House
The tower strengthened and virtually rebuilt by
American subscription would become Wash
ington memorial of unique interest. While not
in the section of the midlands usually associated
with the English Washngtone, it would stand
on the east coast whence the majority Of the
early pioneers of American colonization whether
soldiers Of fortune religious refugees set out
in their courses across the Atlantic to the New
World. The bells when rehung in the Norman
tower could be rung Washington's birthday
and Independence Day, and if the wind carried
the strains of Yankee Doodle far afield as
Maiden, there would be revolt against Amer
lean invaders Mrs. Morgan Richards has al
ready provided American flag for Purleigh
Tower, and II will match the Stars and Stripes
OF the Washington crest and shield as seen in
Sulgrave. Great Brington and Wickhamford
where Washingtons have been quietly buried.
The hints and inspiration for that flag came
from the Washington coat of arms, carried in
death as in life IN English shire, as the prom
Use OF the potency Of greatness Of character was
In the strain of the blood Of the English Wash
ingtons. The flag be waved and the bells
rung without any fear lest genealogists have
been lawless and the proofs of identity between
the English and American Washingtons are I'M
satisfactory. Sparks and other biographers
without doubt made mistakes IN their lists and
for a long period English historians affirmed
that the ancestry Of the first American Presi-
dent could not be traced beyond John Washing
ton. who settled in Virginia about 1857 Within
ten or fifteen years the documentary evidence
has been completed by the discovery of old wills
in England and Virginia, and there is no longer
any reasonable doubt that the rector of Pur-
leigh was the father of the two emigrant Wash
ingtons and that they were the descendants of
the Washingtons of Sulgrave and Brngton
/. n. F.