The state herald., 1916-02-18
tome S@ MsAlngzons Ancesko1y

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 an excellent state OF
preservation. The main hall has fine fireplace
and an oak beam ceiling. The ancient oak stair
case has very begulng twisted banisters and a
fascinating secret cupboard at the intermediate
landing. The drawing room is on the second
floor. as was the custom in the days when 1t was
built, and in one OF the bedrooms It is said that
Queen Elizabeth once slept
The estate surrounding Sugrave manor con
sists OF about two hundred acres OF gently rolling
land substantially all Of II In full view OF the
manor. The 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 $3.50
per annum."
Sulgrave Manor is the place in England most
closely associated with the name Of Washington.
and yet II 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 now the case
In l7ss George Washington refused to accept the
dedication OF a book on heraldry because q Dor
tion Of the community were:
"Clamorousiy endeavoring to propagate an idea
that those whom they wished invidiously to des.
ignate by the name 'well.born were meditatinK
in the nrst instance to distinguish themselves
from their compatriots and to wrest the dearest
privileges from the bulk OF the people
But the ability to trace ones ancestors has
greater value In this country today than Il had
In the days Of the nrst president. Washington
knew very little about his own forefathers. When
he was asked about them by the Garter Kingof.
Arms. he said the first Of his family In Virginia
had come from one of the northern counties In
England. possibly Yorkshire or Lancashire or
farther north Iaf ther was idaro
disputation about the root of the family tree
from which he was descended. and II was finally
agreed by senealogists that the washingtons of
Sulgrave and Brighton did actually spring from
the washingtons In warton. Lancashire. n place on
the Wcstmoreland border.
Several generations OF Washingtons of warton
are recorded md one OF these was the father Of
Laurence Washington. mayor OF Northampton In
1882 and i6t5. He seems to have taken up his
residence at SulgrRye. though members OF his
family continued to remain at Wnrton for several
generations This Laurence Washington had for
mother tho daughter OF Robert Kytson OF Hen.
grave In Suffolk This proved n matter OF very
considerable importance In their history, because
II brought them into connection with the Spen.
GERS OF Althrop and Wormleighton. through tho
marriage OF Sir Thomas Kytson's daughter. Cath.
crime. to Sir John Spencer OF wormcighton.
whose grandson. Sir Robert Spencer. was created
Baron Spencer OF Wormlcighton In 1908
grave appear TO have got into financial difficulties
Laurence Washington entered the wool trade per.
haps induced TO do 80 by the fact that Lord
Spencer was one OF the great flock mnstcrs OF his
day. This Laurence acquired considerable riches
In tho wool trade. In 1859 he became possessed
OF the Manor of sugravo for the sum OF three
hundred and twcnty.one pounds. fourteen shil.
lings. and subsequently ho purchased additional
property.
sundlsI With Washington Arms.
lie had many sons. OF whom the oldest waa
Robert the ancestor OF George Washington. Bo
succeeded his father In 1855. when he wna OF the
age OF forty. bu, he does not seem TO have been
no prosperous his hthor. Yet II appears tina,
no was able TO send both his sons, Christopher
and william. to oric college. oxford. whore they
were 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 non agreed to sell
sulgrnyo TO their cousin Laurence Makopcneo
The second Laurence Washington then removed
TO ilrington. near Northampton. his father por
hnpn going with him. though the latter was buried
In tho family vault nt Sugrave. Laurence Wash.
lnrton had seventeen children. two of whom rose