The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-02-18

At Wessyngton this was their family coat
And at Mount Vernon myself have noted
An old cast-iron, scutcheoned chmneyback
Charged with that heradry
The old building is in an excellent state OF
preservation. The main hall has fine fireplace
and oak beam ceiling The ancient oak stair
has very beguiling twisted banisters and
fascinating secret cupboard at the intermediate
landing. The drawing room is on the second
floor. the custom in the days when 1t
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 to "a fee farm OF lis sd ($2S4
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 despsed much more than is the case.
In 1888 George Washington refused to accept the
dedication of a book on heraldry because a por-
ton of the community were:
"Clamorousy endeavoring to propagate 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 IL 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 Kng-of-
Arms he said the first of his family in Virginia
had come from of the northern counties in
England, possibly Yorkshire Lancashire,
even farther north. Later there was considerable
dsputation about the root of the family tree
from which he was descended and it was finally
agreed by genealogists that the Washingto of
Sulgrave and Brighton did actually spring from
the Washingtons in Warrior, Lancashire PLACE on
the Westmoreland border
Several generations OF Washingtons of Warrior
are recorded, and of these the father Of
Laurence Washington, mayor of Northampton in
1882 and 1916. He seems to have taken up hts
residence at Sulgrave. though members of his
family continued 10 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
IL brought them into connection with the Spen-
GERS of Althrop and Wormleghton, 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 Wormleghton in 1903
In the process of time the Washingtons of Sui
grave appear 10 nave got lHIO HHdICldi ulHlCulLeS
Laurence Washington entered the wool trade per-
haps induced to do so by the fact that Lord
Spencer one OF the great hockmasters 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 twentyone pounds, fourteen shil
lings and subsequently he purchased additional
property.
sundial With Washington Arms.
IIa bad of ubo fho old
Robert the ancestor OF George Washington. He
succeeded his father in 1856, when he of the
age of Sorty, but he does not seem to have been
SO prosperous his father. Yet 1t appears that
he was able to send both his sons. Christoohey
and william, to Orel college, oxford, where .hoF
were in 1883, the year of the great armSnia.
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, near 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