Some Local History, Myth & Legend

Brackley is in the South Western end of Northamptonshire. The local area is rich in known history over the last 2000 years.

The Washington family lived in the area before going to America. The Spencer family have lived in the area for about 400 years.

Military activity in the area has been important from Roman, Saxon, Danes, Normans, the Civil War, the Napoleonic wars right through to the Cold War with the presence of many United States Air Force bases.

This month we will tell you something about the Washington Family with a small excerpt from "The Homeland Handbooks - Northampton with it's Surroundings - published in 1907 by The Homeland Association Ltd., London".

In the chancel of Great Brington Church is a funereal slab to the memory of Laurence Washington, who died in 1616. At the foot are the following lines:

"Thou that by chance or choyce of this hast sight, Know life to death resigns as day to night; But as the sunns retorne revives the day, So Christ shall us though turned to dust and clay."

In the nave is another memorial slab, recording the death of Robert Washington, his brother. Both bear the Washington coat of arms, the distinguishing features of which are three mullets and two bars (stars and bars), the only difference being that in Robert's case a crescent is introduced, the mark of cadency of a second son.

Both Laurence and Robert were grandsons of the Laurence Washington who was mayor of Northampton in 1533 and 1546. The mayor had no doubt ingratiated himself with the powers that be, for when the Priory of St. Andrew, Northampton was dissolved, he received the grant of the manor and lands of Sulgrave. He died at a ripe old age. But the fortunes of the family, after his departure began to decline, and Laurence, his grandson, was compelled to sell Sulgrave and retire to Brington, where he would, no doubt be sure of the hospitality and protection of his powerful kinsman, the first Baron Spencer.

A house of sandstone in Little Brington, is still known as Washington House, where one of the brothers is supposed to have lived. Over the doorway is the inscription: "The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord. Constructa, 1606." Near to the house a stone dial has recently been discovered bearing the Washington arms and "R.W., 1617"; no doubt the initials of Robert Washington, who died in 1622. Robert died without issue. Laurence Washington, the grandson of the mayor, left a large family; several of them attained some distinction. The first became Sir William Washington, of Packington, Leicestershire; he married a sister of the Duke of Buckingham. The second became Sir John Washington, who married a daughter of Philip Curtis, of Islip, near Thrapston, Northants. A mural tablet to her memory may be found in Islip Church. She died in 1624-5. Sir John, who lived at Thrapston, died and was buried there. At the west end of the church his coat of arms will be seen.

Another son was the Rev. Laurence Washington, Fellow of Brasenose College, and Rector of Purleigh, in Essex, who suffered for his loyalty to the royal cause. He died in 1654. His eldest son, John, who was, of course, the grandson of the Brington Washington, and the great, great grandson of mayor Washington of Northampton, emigrated to America, in 1657, and became the grandfather of General George Washington, the founder and first President of the United States' Republic. In the red and white bars, and the stars of the Washington shield, and in the "eagle issuant" of the Washington crest, we have the origin of "the stars and stripes" of the American flag, and the spread-eagle, the American national emblem.

When visiting Sulgrave or Brington, make sure you call in at the antiques shops in Northamptonshire, especially in Brackley. You will then be able to buy something of which you can say: "This is an antique from the ancestral home county of the Washingtons, Northamptonshire".