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. Winslow, Edward (Droitwich, Worcs, 1595-at sea near Jamaica, 1655)
2. Winslow, Josiah (Plymouth, Mass, 1628-Marshfield, Mass, 1680)
3. Winslow, Joshua (Boston, 1695-1769)

Argent on a bend Gules seven lozenges conjoined Or

1. Governor of Plymouth Colony, 1633-34, 1636-37, 1644-45; on an engraved portrait. See alternative arms above.
2. On slate slab in Pilgrim Hall, formerly his tombstone. Governor of Plymouth Colony, 1673-80; son of Edward Winslow, #1
3. In Gore Roll of Arms; distant cousin of Josiah Winslow, #2.

1. Bolton
2. Bolton
3. Gore Roll
Winslow, Edward (Droitwich, Worcs, 1595-at sea near Jamaica, 1655)

Or a bend lozengy Gules and Argent

See alternative arms below.

NEHGS #185
Wingfield, Edward Maria (1550-1631; in Jamestown, Va, 1607-08)

Argent on a bend Gules cotised Sable three pairs of wings conjoined in lure Argent

Arms confirmed to his father Thomas Maria Wingfield, M.P., at the 1619 visitation of Norfolk. President of the Council of Virginia, 1607-08

NEHGS #446
Wilson, William (in Clermont, N.Y., 1784)

Sable a wolf salient Or ducally gorged and chained Gules in chief a mullet Or between two mullets Argent

Crozier 1
Wilson, John Custis (Somerset Co, Md, 1784-1832)

Sable a wolf salient, on a chief [Or?] three estoilles of six points [Sable?]

On a gold watch charm

Bolton
1. Wilson, Col William (d. Elizabeth City Co, Va, 1713)
2. Wilson, Willis (York Co, Va, ca 1673-1701)

Sable on a cross engrailed between four cherubim Or a human heart Sable wounded on the left side Gules and crowned with a crown of thistles Vert

1. On his tomb at St. John’s churchyard, Hampton, Va, destroyed during Civil War
2. On his tomb, St. John's churchyard, Hampton, Va.

1. Crozier 2, Matthews
2. Bolton
Wilson, Dr. Robert (Fifeshire, Scot, 1736-Charleston, 1815)

Gules a chevron embattled counterembattled between three mullets Argent

Crozier 1, Matthews
Wilson, Rev John (d. Boston, 1667)

Per pale Argent and Azure three lions’ gambs erased fesswise in pale counterchanged

On a seal; arms granted to his grandfather William Wilson.

Bolton, Crozier 1, Matthews, NEHGS #25
Willoughby, Capt. Thomas (d. Lower Norfolk Co, Va, 1691)

Or on two bars Gules three water bougets Argent

The same person as Capt Thomas Willoughby above?

Crozier 2
1. Willoughby, Francis (in Massachusetts, 1628)
2. Willoughby, Capt Thomas, (in Elizabeth City Co, Va, 1658)

Or fretty Azure

1. On his seal.

1. Crozier 1, Bolton,NEHGS #49
2. Crozier 1