America’s Heraldic Treasures

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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23 December 2010 10:08
 

Well, if someone else hadn’t brought it up, it wouldn’t have occurred to me that I was approaching post #5,000, or that I should do something special for the occasion.

But since they did, herewith my selection for a top ten list of America’s heraldic treasures, defined as original pieces of heraldic art more than 200 years old of particular historic significance, or locations with exceptionally rich collections of heraldic pieces from that timeframe. The competition was fierce, and some will undoubtedly differ with my selections, but nevertheless…

 

We’ll do it Letterman style:

 

#10. Van Renssalaer window by Evert Duyckinck (ca 1656), now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (originally at the Dutch Church in Albany)

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/images/h2/h2_52.77.46.jpg

 

#9. Banner of the Carpenter’s Company of Philadelphia, carried in the Constitutional Procession of July 4, 1788; now at Carpenters Hall, Philadelphia

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/heraldry/McM1-PhlCarp.jpg

 

#8. St James Church, Goose Creek, S.C. Contains two rarities: one of four original emblazonments of the British royal arms in an Episcopal church in the U.S. as well as one of two hatchments that I know of that’s still hanging in its original church, plus various other heraldic tablets, etc.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/heraldry/Royal-GooseCreek.JPG

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/heraldry/Izard-Harchment-sml.JPG

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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23 December 2010 10:32
 

#7. Granary Burying Ground, Boston. One of many New England cemeteries with a wealth of armorial tombstones, but containing some of the best. For example, that of Peter Faneuil:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/heraldry/Faneuil-gravestone-sml.JPG

#6. The Gore Roll of Arms (1701-24), New England Historic Genealogical Society. The oldest heraldic manuscript in the United States. The arms of Gurdon Saltonstall, Governor of Connecticut, from the Gore Roll:

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/heraldry/GSaltonstall.JPG

 

#5. Royal Arms of Queen Anne (1703), St. Peter’s Church, New Kent, Va. Probably the oldest and best emblazonment of the British royal arms surviving in the United States.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/heraldry/St Peters New Kent.JPG

 

#4. Arms of the Franciscan Order, Facade of Mission San Xavier del Bac, near Tucson, Arizona. An element of our heraldic history that is often ignored. These arms appear on a number of missions in the Southwest and California, but I think this is the best, although not the earliest:

http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/az/az0000/az0061/photos/008212pr.jpg

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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23 December 2010 10:49
 

#3.  Signet Ring of George Washington, now owned by the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution, Louisville, Ky.

http://www.revolutionarywararchives.org/washandgen-3.jpg

#2.  Original die of the Great Seal of the United States, 1782, National Archives, Washington, DC.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/heraldry/GSFirstDie.JPG

 

And my number one choice for America’s most important heraldic treasure:

 

#1.  Signet Ring of Master Kendall of the Roanoke Island settlement in modern North Carolina, 1585-86; discovered by archeologists excavating the site of the Hatteras Indian village of Croatan in 1998, and confirming contact between the Roanoke settlers and Croatan.  Now at the Joyner Library, East Carolina University

http://digital.lib.ecu.edu/encore/ncgre000/00000001/00000927/00000927_ac_0001.jpg

 
Chuck Glass
 
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Chuck Glass
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23 December 2010 11:10
 

An excellent compilation, Joe.  I’m an American history buff myself, and I really enjoyed seeing these.  I suggest that we set up a section on the home page under the Heraldry in the USA section with this list.

 
arriano
 
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arriano
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23 December 2010 11:47
 

A terrific list without a doubt. But I have to admit (mildly embarrassed) that I can’t make heads or tails of what is depicted on the signet ring of Master Kendall. Little help?

 
arriano
 
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arriano
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23 December 2010 11:48
 

Oh, and congrats Joe on 5000+

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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23 December 2010 11:55
 

arriano;80696 wrote:

A terrific list without a doubt. But I have to admit (mildly embarrassed) that I can’t make heads or tails of what is depicted on the signet ring of Master Kendall. Little help?


A lion passant. Here’s a smaller picture on which it’s easier to make out.

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/heraldry/Roanoke signet ring.jpg

 
Donnchadh
 
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Donnchadh
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23 December 2010 13:34
 

two thumbs up Joe! excellent!!

 
Michael F. McCartney
 
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Michael F. McCartney
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23 December 2010 17:43
 

Wonderful list!

Other contenders might include:

 

*  the stone markers along the Mason-Dixon Line (surveyed boundary between the colonies of Pennsylvania & Maryland), with the arms of Penn & Calvert (the respective Lords Proprietors) IIRC on opposite sides

 

* the armorial seals of the American signers, on the Treaty of Paris recognizing the independence of the United States

 
Benjamin Thornton
 
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Benjamin Thornton
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24 December 2010 06:39
 

Well done, Joseph.  Always glad to see what insight you have to offer.

 
Brad Smith
 
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Brad Smith
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24 December 2010 10:55
 

It’s nice to see this collection of treasures!  It is so easy to find bad heraldry in the US that I sometimes forget that we have some good heraldry. :D

 
arriano
 
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arriano
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24 December 2010 13:50
 

Joseph McMillan;80698 wrote:

A lion passant. Here’s a smaller picture on which it’s easier to make out.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeohzt4/heraldry/Roanoke signet ring.jpg


Yes, that is easier to see, especially when you point out what it is. Thanks!

 
Guy Power
 
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Guy Power
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26 December 2010 18:35
 

Michael F. McCartney;80715 wrote:

...Other contenders might include:

*  the stone markers along the Mason-Dixon Line (surveyed boundary between the colonies of Pennsylvania & Maryland), with the arms of Penn & Calvert (the respective Lords Proprietors) IIRC on opposite sides


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Masondixonmarker.jpg

 

Here’s a site for more images of the stones:

http://www.masondixon-line.com/map.html

Many marker images showed only the front sides and contained merely an "M" within a circle:

http://www.masondixon-line.com/two/picts/18a.JPG

or a "P" within a circle:

http://www.masondixon-line.com/two/picts/32a.jpg

I thought it was a "D"—but closer inspection shows it to be a "P"

 
Michael F. McCartney
 
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Michael F. McCartney
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27 December 2010 20:11
 

Guy—thanks for the images & link!

(Of particular personal interest to me because I had ancestors on both sides of the Line.)

 
Mitya Ivanov
 
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Mitya Ivanov
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28 December 2010 21:54
 

A HUNDRED YEARS AGO:

AMERICAN PRESS ON HERALDRY

1907: Washington Bookplates:

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045433/1907-07-07/ed-1/seq-11/

 

1895, 1898, 1900: History of the Great Seal:

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1895-02-24/ed-1/seq-21/

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1898-08-14/ed-1/seq-39/

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020274/1900-10-14/ed-1/seq-38/

 

1894: Bound to have a Crest (Heraldry for Ladies):

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn94052989/1894-02-25/ed-1/seq-13/

 

1902: Genealogy and Arms:

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1902-03-02/ed-1/seq-9/

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1902-03-02/ed-1/seq-10/

 

1890: Modern crests:

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030193/1890-06-03/ed-1/seq-3/

 

1905: Fashion for heraldry:

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030214/1905-04-09/ed-1/seq-21/

 

1908: Republican Nominees (for President) boast Coat of arms (Taft and Sherman):

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1908-07-14/ed-1/seq-3/

 

1907: Americans with titles and near no titles:

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87076843/1907-06-07/ed-1/seq-3/

 

1912: The Harp on the Shield (History of the Great Seal):

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn87076843/1912-03-08/ed-1/seq-3/

 

1915: Van der Heyden Family Arms:

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045433/1915-10-17/ed-1/seq-6/

 

1897: Romance of the ‘Scutcheon:

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn99021999/1897-11-28/ed-1/seq-16/

 

...

 

Well, I’m tired:)

Just enter the word ‘heraldry’ here -

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/search/pages/

- and surf through the sheets of American press 1860-1922.

 
Guy Power
 
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Guy Power
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29 December 2010 00:38
 

Mitya Ivanov;80782 wrote:

...1908: Republican Nominees (for President) boast Coat of arms (Taft and Sherman):

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84026749/1908-07-14/ed-1/seq-3/


Mitya, great find!


Quote:

"Alfred Rodway, of Birmingham, Eng., Sketches Armorials for the Candidates.
<hr class=“bbcode_rule” >
Here is the coat-of-arms which William Howard Taft is entitled to sport if he is elected President or any other time, for that matter:

ARMS FOR TAFT.

 

ARMS.  Argent, a chevron between three crosses formee fitchee sable.

CREST. A Phoenix in flames proper.

 

The word Taft, Toft or Tuft signifies a small clump of trees; a tuft in the old English language.  Hence the crosses formee fitchee in the shield (wood stakes).  The family came to New England in 1679.

 

Here, too, is the coat-of-arms which descends to James Schoolcraft Sherman, Republican candidate for Vice President from his ancestors in dear old England.

 

ARMS OF SHERMAN.

 

Orginally an ancient family of Suffolk, England.

 

ARMS.  Or, a lion rampant sable between three holly leaves vert.

CREST.  A sea lion, sejant, sable

 

Alfred Rodway, of Birmingham, England, a distinguished authority on heraldry, sketched these armorials.  Mr Rodawy discovered the McKinley arms some years ago.

 

"President McKinley requested an emblazoned copy,"  Mr Rodway writes now, "The autograph letter of thanks from that martyred gentleman is among my treasures."

 

When the lamented Richard Mansfield produced "Henry V" here he desired, as always, the strictest historical accuracy in the production.  So he summond Mr. Rodway to New York, and he made sure that all details of heraldry and the insignia in the play were correct


Joe ... will these blazons make your "Presidents of the United States" armorial list ????????

 

—Guy

 

Edit:  Hmmmmmmm ..... Rodway’s "Taft" emblazon is so similar to the Davenport Arms—but replacing the cross-crosslet with cross-formee.  Then again .... he tried to prove Shakespere and John Harvard had a common ancestor:
Quote:

...Five years later [1912], a still more enterprising scholar named Alfred Rodway drew upon deep and profound research in ancient English heraldry (those coats of arms again!) and etymology to demonstrate that William Shakespeare and John Harvard were both descendants of the same sixth-century Danish invader of the East Anglian coast. The results were published in a book called The Sword of Harvaard (1912). At a time when most Ph.D. dissertations in early American history still supported Herbert Baxter Adams’s "germ theory" of history (i.e., that English colonists carried the genetic "seed" of republican self-government to America, originally cultivated by the Angles and Saxons in the forests of northern Europe), Rodway’s conclusions were not all that far fetched. Through breeding and through marriage, it was now obvious that Harvard’s ostensibly Puritan roots were but an aberration—the institution had been Shakespearean and Shakespeare’s doing, all along.

Source here