I came across this book online:
Chapin, Howard M.,. Colonial heraldry : a roll of the arms used in the English colony of Rhode Island in New England, 1636-1776 : together with historical and heraldic notes. Providence: E.A. Johnson Co., printers, 1929.
I know a little about Chapin—that he created arms for towns in Rhode Island. Does anyone have this book? Is it considered a good source of information?
arriano;66337 wrote:
I came across this book online:
Chapin, Howard M.,. Colonial heraldry : a roll of the arms used in the English colony of Rhode Island in New England, 1636-1776 : together with historical and heraldic notes. Providence: E.A. Johnson Co., printers, 1929.
I know a little about Chapin—that he created arms for towns in Rhode Island. Does anyone have this book? Is it considered a good source of information?
I don’t have it, but I’ve looked at it. As I recall it is well documented and scholarly. Chapin was a well respected historian, especially on New England colonial history and early American naval history, a member of the American Antiquarian Society (which is by election, not merely application), and librarian of the NEHGS. I’d be inclined to take his work seriously.
Thanks. I’ll try to find some time this weekend to read through it. I don’t have any connections to colonials of Rhode Island (at least of which I’m aware) but I thought it might be interesting.
arriano;66337 wrote:
I came across this book online:
Chapin, Howard M.,. Colonial heraldry : a roll of the arms used in the English colony of Rhode Island in New England, 1636-1776 : together with historical and heraldic notes. Providence: E.A. Johnson Co., printers, 1929.
I know a little about Chapin—that he created arms for towns in Rhode Island. Does anyone have this book? Is it considered a good source of information?
It’s a pretty decent little (88 pp.) book. It’s very well done for what it is—a record of arms used in a confined area for a specific period of time. I expect it would be most interesting to someone who is either researching early Rhode Island (for whatever reason) or heraldry in colonial British North America.
David
David B. Appleton
Heraldry: Musings on an esoteric topic
If its out of copyright, a listing of the arms contained in the book (names, towns, blazons) would seem to be a useful addition to our website, given Joe’s posting re: the background of the author.
Out of print currently, yes. However, if you subscribe to Ancestry.com it’s available to read, download, etc.
It might be good to include the names/arms evetually to the ongoing "Roll of Early American Arms" section.
Also, the basic info about the book might be worth listing on the Bookshelf page.