Whilst reading the other day that George Washington was an English man, I stumbled across an interesting little story. During the American War of Independence a group of soldiers were trying to put a heavy beam into position with ropes. No matter how much the corporal shouted and bullied the men it would just not go. A man in civilian clothes stopped to watch the scene then wandered up to the corporal and mentioned that if the corporal were to lend a hand then the job might be managed. The corporal looked at the civilian and stared at him wide-eyed and forcefully put the message over that I was below his dignity. So the civilian took off his coat, joined in and the task was soon complete. He then turned to the corporal and said, "If you have that sort of problem again, just send for the Commander-in-Chief. I will be always glad to help." Even George's humour had an English irony to it. George's family own a house in Northamptionshire so we are niegbours.
Lawrence Washington obtained the house in 1539. He had come to Northamptonshire from Lancashire and became a successful wool merchant. After the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, Lawrence had the opportunity of buying Sulgrave Manor, which had belonged to the Priory of St Andrew at Northampton. He bought it from the Crown for £324-14s-10d.