Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-02-18
tome ct MAshlngzonS Ancestov

AT Wessyngton, this was their family coat.
And at Mount Vernon / myself have noted
An old ~castiron. scutcheoned chimney-back
Charged with that heraldry.
The old building is in an excellent state of
preservation. The main hall has a fine fireplace
and an oak beam ceiling. The ancient oak stair
case has very beguiling 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 It was
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 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 ($2.SD
per annum."
Sulgrave Manor is the place in England most
closely associated with the name of Washington,
and yet it 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 Oh heraldry because a por.
ton Of the community were:
"ClamOrously endeavoring to propagate an idea
that those whom they wished invidiously to des-
ignate by the name 'well-born' were meditating
III ~ hAoA Nah " hlSlluBulSn NuGMlEtlNG0
from their compatriots 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 It 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 King-of.
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
even farther north. Later there was considerable
disputation about the root Of the family tree
from which he was descended, and it was finally
agreed by genealogists that the Washingtons Of
Sulgrave and Brighton did actually spring from
the Washingtons in Warrior, Lancashire, a place on
the Westmoreland border.
Several generations Of Washingtons Of Warrior
are recorded, and one of these was the father of
Laurence Washington. mayor of Northampton in
1889 and 1545. He seems to have taken up his
residence at Sulgrave, though members of his
family continued to remain at Warrior 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
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 so by the fact that Lord
Spencer was one of the great h~ock-masters of his
day. This Laurence acquired considerable riches
in the wool trade. In 1888 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.
sundlaI With Washington Arms.
He had many sons, Of whom the oldest was
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 as his father. Yet It appears that
he was able to send both his sons, Christopher
and william. TO Oriel college. Oxford. where they
we're in 1888. the year Of the great armada
Roberts oldest was named Laurence, probably
after the mayor OF Northampton. and in 161C
Robert. in agreement with HIS son, agreed TO sell
Sulgrave to their cousin. Laurence Makepeace
The second Laurence Washington then removed
to Brington. near Northampton, his father per
haps going with him. though the latter was burie'
in the family vault at Sulgrave. Laurence Wash
ington had seventeen children, two Of whom ros'