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
  • Williams, Thomas (in Philadelphia, 1733) Graphic

    Williams, Thomas (in Philadelphia, 1733)

    Argent a greyhound courant Sable between three Cornish choughs proper all within a bordure engrailed Sable charged with eight crosses formy and eight roundels alternately Or

    Crozier 1
  • Williams, Brig Gen Otho Holland (Prince George’s Co, Md, 1749-Woodstock, Va, 1794) Graphic

    Williams, Brig Gen Otho Holland (Prince George’s Co, Md, 1749-Woodstock, Va, 1794)

    Argent, a chevron between three boars’ heads couped Gules.

    Matthews
  • Williams, John C. (Massachusetts, mid-1700s) Graphic

    Williams, John C. (Massachusetts, mid-1700s)

    Azure a lion rampant [Argent?]

    Bookplate by Hurd

    Bolton
  • Williams, Henry Howell (Roxbury, Mass, 1736-1802) Graphic

    Williams, Henry Howell (Roxbury, Mass, 1736-1802)

    Quarterly, 1st and 4th Or a lion rampant Gules on a chief Azure two doves rising Argent; 2nd and 3rd Azure a fess Ermine between three bells Or (Bell)

    Embroidered “hatchment” by his daughter, ca 1770s

    Bolton
  • Williams, John, (Boston, 1722-82) Graphic

    1. Williams, John, (Boston, 1722-82)
    2. Williams, Jonathan (in Salem, Mass, bef 1700)
    3. Williams, Isaac (d. Salem, Mass, 1696)
    4. Williams, Henry I. (Philadelphia, early 1800s)

    Or a lion rampant Gules on a chief Azure two doves rising Argent

    1. Granted by the English kings of arms,1767,with extended destination to the descendants of his father Jonathan Williams, #2, and uncle Isaac Williams, #3. Engraved on a coffee pot made 1767-68; bookplate by Callender
    2. Father of John Williams, #1.
    3. Brother of Jonathan Williams, #2
    4. Bookplate.

    1. Bolton, Crozier 1, Vermont, Oxford Guide to Heraldry
    2. NEHGS #51
    3. NEHGS #51
    4. Bolton
  • Williams, Rev Roger (London, 1603-Providence, 1683) Graphic

    Williams, Rev Roger (London, 1603-Providence, 1683)

    A lion rampant within an orle of nine pheons [tinctures not given]

    Seal on letter. Founder of Rhode Island.

    Bolton
  • Williams, John, (Wethersfield, Conn, 1762-1840) Graphic

    Williams, John, (Wethersfield, Conn, 1762-1840)

    Sable a lion rampant contourny Argent.

    Bookplate by Richard Brunton; the contourny placement is probably an engraver's error.

    Bolton
  • Williams, Robert (England, 1608-Roxbury, Mass, 1693) Graphic

    1. Williams, Robert (England, 1608-Roxbury, Mass, 1693)
    2. Williams, Deacon Jonathan (Boston,1673-1737)
    3. Williams, Rev William (Newton, Mass, 1666-Hatfield, Mass, 1741)
    4. Williams, Dr Thomas (Roxbury, Mass, 1736-Quincy, Mass, 1815)
    5. Williams, Jonathan (Boston, 1751-Philadelphia, 1815)
    6. Williams, Rev John (in Massachusetts, 1705)
    7. Williams, ----- (Hartford, ca 1800-10)

    Sable a lion rampant Argent

    2. On two “bellied” mugs Jonathan gave to First Church, Boston, 1737
    3. Engraved on silver; grandson of Robert Williams, #1
    4. On a silver seal ring
    5. Seal
    6. Seal on petition to General Court, 1705
    7. Embroidered on silk probably by a student at the Misses Pattens’ School, Hartford

    1. Crozier 1, Matthews
    2. Bolton
    3. Bolton
    4. Bolton
    5. Bolton
    6. Bolton
  • Williams, Azarias, (England, 1765-Concord, Vt, 1849) Graphic

    Williams, Azarias, (England, 1765-Concord, Vt, 1849)

    Azure three eagles displayed one and two Or, on a canton Argent a sinister hand ruffled erect [proper?]

    On bookplate by Rollinson dated 1795

    Bolton
  • William and Mary, College of (Williamsburg, Va, f. 1693) Graphic

    William and Mary, College of (Williamsburg, Va, f. 1693)

    Vert a college or edifice masoned Argent in chief the sun rising Or the hemisphere proper

    Granted by the English kings of arms, 1694, to the trustees of the college.