The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-02-18
Hor7ze eT AAsh1ugEou2s Ance.5ko1,

At Wessyngton, this their family coat
And at Mount Vernon myself have noted
An old cast-iron scutcheoned chimney-back
Charged with that heraldry.
The old building is in excellent state OF
preservation. The main hall has fine fireplace
and an oak beam ceiling. The ancient oak stair
case has very beguiling twisted bansters and
fascinating secret cupboard at the intermediate
landing. The drawing room Is on the second
floor was the custom in the days when 1t
built, and in one of the bedrooms it is said that
Queen Elizabeth once slept.
The estate surrounding Sulgrave manor con-
sists of about two hundred acres OF gently rolling
land, substantially all of it in fun view of the
manor. Phe ownership carries with it the lord
ship OF the manor, with the Rights, Royalties,
Privileges and Appurtenances thereto belonging"
and Is subject TO "a fee farm rent of lis sd s2sSD
per annum."
Sulgrave Manor is the place in England most
closely associated with the name of Washington,
and yet 1t is true that George Washington him
self attached little Importance TO this fact In the
early days OF the American republic ancestry
was despised much more than is the case.
In 1888 George Washington refused to accept the
dedication of book on heraldry because a por-
tion of the community were
"Camorously endeavoring to propagate an idea
that those whom they wished invidiously to des-
gnate by the name welborn were meditating
in the first instance to distinguish themselves
from their oompatriots and to wrest the dearest
privileges from the bulk of the people,
But the ability to trace ones ancestors has a
greater value in this country today than II had
in the days of the first president. Washington
knew very little about his own forefathers When
he asked about them by the Garter Kng-of-
Arms, he said the first of his family in Virginia
had from one of the northern counties in
England, possibly Yorkshire or Lancashire, or
even farther north. Later there was considerable
dsputation about the root of the family tree
from which he descended, and it was finally
agreed by genealogists that the Washingtons of
Sulgrave and Brighton did actually spring from
the Washngtons in Warton, Lancashire, place on
the Westmoreland border.
Several generations of Washingtons of Warton
are recorded, and one of these was the father OF
Laurence Washington mayor of Northampton in
1882 and 1876 He seems to have taken up his
residence at Sulgrave, though members of his
family continued to remain at Warton for several
generations. This Laurence Washington had for
mother the daughter of Robert Kytson of Hen
grave in Suffolk. This proved a matter of very
considerable Importance in their history, because
it brought them into connection with the Spen-
GERS of Althrop and Wormleighton, through the
marriage of Sir Thomas Kytsons daughter, Cath
erine TO SS John Spencer of Wormleghton.
whose grandson. Sir Robert Spencer, created
Baron Spencer of Wormleighton in 1903.
In the process of time the Washingtons OF Sui
grave appear to have got into financial difficulties.
Laurence Washington entered the wool trade per.
haps induced to do by the fact that Lord
Spencer of the great hock-masters of his
day. This Laurence acquired considerable riches
in the wool trada In 1539 he became possessed
OF the Manor of Sulgrave for the of three
hundred and twenty-one pounds. fourteen shil-
lings. and subsequently he purchased additional
property.
Sundial With Washington Arms.
He had many sons. of whom the oldest
Robert. the ancestor OF George Washington. He
succeeded his father In 1886, when he was OF the
age OF forty. but he does not seem to have been
so prosperous as his father. Yet II appears that
he was able to send both his sons. Christopher
and William, TO Oriel college. oxford. where they
we're in 1858. the year OF the great armada.
Roberts oldest was named Laurence. probably
after the mayor OF Northampton, and In 1910
Robert. in agreement with his son. agreed to sell
Sulgrave to their cousin. Laurenos Makepeace
The second Laurence Washington then removed
to Brington. near Northampton. his father per-
haps going with himi though the latter was buried
IN the family vault at Sulgrave. Laurence Wash
ngton had seventeen children. two OF whom rose