Some Interesting Documents

Mrs. J. O. Wortley, of Ypsiianti, has ooine into posscssion of several rare documenta which her fatber, the late George H. Ratten bury, obtained in Bngland. One of the most interesting, thongh it is not the oldest, is a oonVflyance of property in Yorkshire, and dated June 9, 1590, and signed by Riohard Washington, an ancestor of George Washington. It bears the seal of the Washington family, three stars and two bars, and is believed to be the only seal in existence. The parchment is well pres9rved and the words, ritten in ink in Frenen and Latin, are olear and legible. So far as Mr. Rattenbury knevs, this is the oldest doonment in existence conneoted with the history of George Washington's family. Mr. Rattenbnry's colleotion also inclndes doenments making conveyances of other property in Yorkshire, one datad dnring tbe reign of Charles I, and one in 1553, dnring the reign of Edward VI. All are written with ink on parohrnent and give evidenoe of laborious effort. The latte is partioularly trne of two xuortgages abont three feet square fllled with fine writing. All the parchments are in an excellent state oí preservation. It would seem tbat the sovernment should purohase the ington