George Percy (1580-1632), son of the 8th Earl of Northumberland who lived at Petworth House, was one of the original adventurers who sailed to Virginia in the first expedition of James I’s reign in December 1606. His expedition established the first permanent English settlement in North America. He was one of the founders of the second Company of Virginia in 1609, was a member of the Council of Virginia and was twice appointed Deputy-Governor of the colony between 1609 and 1612. He took a leading part in the bitter power struggles of the early colony.

One of the English branches of the Washington family, from which George Washington, first President of the United States, was descended, was living in Petworth in the late 17th century. There are references to several members of the Washington family in the Petworth parish register at West Sussex Record Office.