The George Washington - Warton, Lancashire UK
Posted by: 
martlakes
N 54° 08.699 W 002° 46.181
30U E 515044 N 5999676
During their early history the family of George Washington owned many places in the north of England, however, their roots lie in the original Washington in the NE and in Warton in Lancashire. The local pub has been renamed in GW's honour.
Waymark Code: WM3KAZ
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 04/15/2008
Views: 94
Robert de Wessyngton I of Westmorland married Joan de Strickland of Sizergh Castle near Kendal in 1292. Robert de Wessyngton II succeeded his father who died in 1324. He married Agnes le Gentyl and had three sons, the eldest of whom was born in 1326. The direct line follows through two more Roberts, and then through the younger brother of a forth Robert named John who married an heiress named Joan Croft, and became the first of the family to live in Warton, a village in Lancashire about six miles north of Lancaster. Members of the Washington family continued to live at Warton until 1823.
John's son Lawrence, like his uncle Sir Thomas, engaged successfully in the wool trade and left Warton for Northampton about 1530. He became Mayor of Northampton and owner of estates ranging from Higham Ferrers to Sulgrave which he bought from the King in 1539. He died in 1584 and left Sulgrave to his son Robert.
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In Warton, Robert Washington II is likely to have helped pay for the tower of St Oswald's Church, around 1480. A memorial to Elizabeth and Thomas Washington, dated 1715, can be seen at the east end of the church. The Washington coat of arms was formerly on the outside of the tower, but in 1955 it was placed inside. This has three mullets and two bars, and is said to have inspired the design of the flag of the United States. A family tree of the Washingtons of Warton can be seen in the church.
It should be noted that the exact line of the ancestry of George Washington does seem to vary depending on the source. There's no doubt, however, that his ancestors did indeed live in Warton for many years. A 'stars & stripes' is usually flown from the church tower on July 4th each year.
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About Warton, see (
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The pub used to be called the Black Bull until a few years ago.