A Roll of Early American Arms

Heraldry in the USA
A Roll of Early American Arms

Compiled by Eric Hall, Arian Collins, and Joseph McMillan
Illustrated by Eric Hall, Robert Tucker, Scott Denison, Joseph McMillan, and Chuck Glass

Personal heraldry has been used in what is now the United States since the earliest European settlements. This roll of arms borne in the present-day United States before 1825, compiled by AHS members, is intended to document the vitality of the American heraldic tradition over the years.

Note: Arms are included in this roll based on use as attributed by the sources given. Where it has been possible to validate the user's right to the arms or actual use of them, that information is provided. Names given in italics indicate that we are unaware of any contemporary evidence that the person to whom the sources attribute the arms actually used them, but this should not necessarily be interpreted as evidence of non-use of the arms.

Arms are indexed by the first letter of the armiger's last name. Names beginning with the particules "de," "von," "van," and the like are generally found under the name of the principal word in the surname. Where a person bore multiple surnames, or a surname and title, the arms appear under the name by which he or she is best known in the United States.

ARM NAME BLAZON COMMENTS SOURCE
1. Wormeley, Ralph (Middlesex Co, Va, 1650-1703)
2. Wormeley, Ralph (Rosegill, Middlesex Co, Va, 1744-1806)

Gules on a chief indented Argent three lions rampant Sable.

2. On his bookplate and engraved on silver

1. Crozier 1, Crozier 2
2. Bolton
Woodward, Abraham (in Annapolis, 1700)

Argent two bars Azure over all three bucks’ heads cabossed Or

Crozier 1, Matthews
Woodward, Peter (in Dedham, Mass, 1640)

Or on a bend cotised Sable three martlets Argent within a bordure engrailed Azure

Crozier 1
Woodward, Charles (in Philadelphia, 1800)

Barry of six Or and Sable a canton Gules.

Matthews
Woodman, Edward (in Boston, 1694)

A man holding a club [tinctures not given]

Seal

Bolton
Woodman, Edward (in Newbury, Mass, 1635)

Argent a chevron Sable between three escallops Gules

Crozier 1
Woodhull, Richard (from Thenford, Northants; in Setauket, Long Island, NY, c. 1648)

Or three crescents Gules.

Crozier 1,NEHGS #235
Woodhouse, Henry (Winterton, Norfolk, 1607-Norfolk, Va, 1655)

Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Ermine plain; 2nd and 3rd Azure a leopard’s face Or

Visitation of Norfolk, 1563

Crozier 2, NEHGS #649
1. Woodford, Thomas (in Plymouth, Mass, 1632)
2. Woodford, Gen William (Rockingham Co, Va, 1734-New York, 1780)

Sable three leopards’ faces jessant-de-lis Or

2. On his seal

1. Crozier 1, Matthews
2. Crozier 2, Bolton
Woodbury, Andrew (in Manchester, Mass, 1731)

Or a fess checky Sable and Gules a chief dancetty Azure

Crozier 1, Matthews