MY DEAR SIR,—Since our last conversation I have received from Earl Spencer precise copies of the two “Memorial Stones” of the English family of George Washington, which I described to you as harmonizing exactly with the pedigree having the sanction of your authority.[41] The copies are, as I understand, of the same stone and of the same size with the originals, and have the original inscriptions,—being in all respects fac-similes. They will therefore give you an exact idea of those most interesting memorials in the parish church near Althorp, in Brington, Northamptonshire.
The largest is of Lawrence Washington, father of John Washington, who with his brother Lawrence emigrated to America. It is a slab of bluish-gray sandstone, and measures five feet nine inches long and two feet six inches broad.
This is the inscription:—
HERE·LIETH·THE·BODI·OF·LAVRENCE
WASHINGTON·SONNE·&·HEIRE·OF
ROBERT·WASHINGTON·OF·SOVLGRÆ
IN·THE·COVNTIE·OF·NORTHAMTON
ESQVIER·WHO·MARIED·MARGARET
THE·ELDEST·DAVGHTER·OF·WILLIAM
BVTLER·OF·TEES·IN·THE·COVNTIE
OF·SVSSEXE·ESQVIER·WHO·HAD·ISSV
BY·HER·8·SONNS·&·9·DAVGHTERS
WHICH·LAVRENCE·DECESSED·THE·13
OF·DECEMBER·A: DNI: 1616
Thov·that·by·chance·or·choyce
of·this·hast·sight
know·life·to·death·resignes
as·daye·to·night
bvt·as·the·svnns·retorne
revives·the·daye
so·christ·shall·vs
thovgh·tvrnde·to·dvst·&·clay
Above the inscription, carved in the stone, are the arms of the Washingtons, with the arms of the Butlers impaled,—the latter being, in the language of heraldry, azure, a chevron between three covered cups or.
The other stone is placed over Robert Washington and Elizabeth his wife. Robert was uncle of the emigrant. This is a slab of the same sandstone, and measures three feet six inches long and two feet six inches broad.
The inscription, on a small brass plate set into the stone, is as follows:—
Here lies interred ye bodies of Elizab: Washington
widdowe, who changed this life for imortallitie
ye 19th of march 1622. As also ye body of Robert
Washington gent: her late hvsband second
sonne of Robert Washington of Solgrave in ye
Covnty of North: Esqr: who depted this life ye
10th of March 1622 after they lived lovingly together
MANY YEARES IN THIS PARRISH