Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-02-26

At Wessyngton this was their family coat
And Mount Vernon myself have noted
An old cast-iron. scutcheoned chimney-back
Charged with that heraldry.
The old building excellent state of
preservation The main hall has fine fireplace
and oak beam ceiling. The ancient oak stair
case has very beguiling twisted banisters and a
fascinating cupboard at the intermediate
landing The drawing is the second
floor. as was the custom in the days when it
built, and in of the bedrooms it is said that
Queen Elizabeth slept.
The estate surrounding Sulgrave manor con-
sists of about two hundred 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 "a farm rent of lis sd (s2S4
per annum"
Sulgrave Manor is the place in England most
closely associated with the of Washington,
and yet it is true that George Washington him
self attached little Importance this fact In the
early days of the American republic, ancestry
was despsed much more than is the case.
In 17SS George Washington refused to accept the
dedication of book heraldry because a por-
ton of the community were:
"Clamorously endeavorfng to propagate an idea
that those whom they wished invidiously to des-
ignate by the 'welIborn' were meditating
in the first instance 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 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 Kingof-
Arms. he said the first of his family 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 finally
agreed by genealogists that the Washingtons of
Sugrave and Brighton did actually spring from
the Washingtons in Warrior. Lancashire. place
the Westmoreland border.
Several generations of Washingtons of Warton
are recorded and one of these the father of
Laurence Washington, mayor of Northampton in
1892 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
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 Wormleighton 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 1908.
In the process of time the Washingtons of Sui
grave appear have got into financial difficulties
Laurence Washington entered the wool trade. per-
haps induced to do 50 by the fact that Lord
Spencer one of the great fock-masters of his
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 shil-
Ings, and subsequently he purchased additional
property
sundiaI With Washington Arms
had many sons. of whom the oldest was
Robert the ancestor of George Washington He
succeeded his father in 1855. when he of the
age OF forty, but he does not have been
prosperous his father Yet it appears that
he able to send both his sons Christopher
and William, to Oriel college. Oxford. where they
were in 1858. 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 was buried
in the family vault Suigrave- Laurence Wash