Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-02-18
Ao,1e @ AA.shzngzous Auceskov

At wessyngton. this was their family coat
And at Mount Vernon myself have noted
An old cast-iron. scutcheoned chmneyback
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 beguiling twisted banisters and
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 Suigrave manor
ssts of about two hundred acres of gently rolling
land. substantially all of It in full view of the
manor. The ownership carries with 1t 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 ($2.S
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 now the case.
In 1888 George Washington refused to accept the
dedication of a book on heraldry because a por-
tfon OF the community were:
"Clamorously endeavoring to propagate an idea
that those whom they wished invidiously to des-
ignate by the name 'wellborn were medItating
in the first 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 II had
in the days of the first 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 Lancashire.
even farther north. Later there considerable
disputation about the root of the family tree
from which he was descended. and It finally
agreed by geneaogists that the Washingtons OF
Sugrave and Brighton did actually spring from
the Washingtons in Warton. Lancashire. place on
the Westmoreand border.
Several generations OF Washingtons of warton
are recorded and of these was the father of
Laurence Washington. mayor of Northampton in
1882 and 1915. 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 matter of very
considerable Importance in their history. because
1t brought them into connection with the Spen-
GERS of Althrop and Wormeighton. through the
marriage of Sir Thomas Kytson's daughter. Cath.
crime. to Sir John Spencer of Wormleighton.
whose grandson. Sir Robert Spencer was 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
day. This Laurence acquired considerable riches
in the wool trade. In 1889 he became possessed
of the Manor of Sulgrave for the sum of three
hundred and twenty-one pounds, fourteen shi
lings and subsequently he purchased additional
property.
Sundia With Washington Arms.
He had many sons. of whom the oldest
Robert the ancestor of George Washington. He
succeeded his father in 1885. when he was of the
age of forty, but he does not seem to have been
so prosperous his father. Yet it appears that
he was able to send both his sons. Christopher
and William. to Oriel college. Oxford. where they
were in 1888. the year of the great armada
Roberts Oldest named Laurence. probably
after the mayor of Northampton. and in 1910
Robert in agreement with his son. agreed to sell
Sulgrave to their cousin Laurence Makepeace
The second Laurence Washington then removed
to Brington. Northampton. his father per-
haps going with him. though the latter buried
in the family vault at Sugrave. Laurence Wash.
ington had seventeen children, two of whom rose