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
Wilder, Thomas (in Charlestown, Mass, 1638)

Gules issuant from a fess Or charged with two barrulets Azure a demi-lion Or

Crozier 1
Wilbur, Samuel (in Boston, 1633)

Sable on a fess between two boars passant [Argent?] a javelin head Sable

Matthews
Wijckersloot, Sophia van (b. Utrecht, 1630; to New Netherland by 1656)

Three chess rooks [tinctures not given]

On an 18th century drawing. Wife of Dirck van Hamel.

NYG&BR 65:213
Wight, Thomas (in Dedham, Mass, 1637)

Gules a chevron Ermine between three bears’ heads couped Argent muzzled Sable

Crozier 1
Whitwell, ----- (Massachusetts, ca 1725)

Gules a fess checky Argent and Sable double cotised Or

Tricked in Gore Roll of Arms

Gore Roll
Whitwell, RAdm Sir Matthew (in Virginia, 1749?)

Azure three griffins' heads erased Or

Engraved on an alms dish, Christ Church, Norfolk, Va

Bolton
Whittlesey, John (in Saybrook, Conn, 1635)

Azure a fess Ermine between three escallop shells Or

Crozier 1
Whittingham, ----- (New England, early 1700s?)

Argent a fess Vert over all a lion rampant Gules

Filigree (rolled paper) emblazonment

Bolton
Whiton, Thomas (in Hingham, Mass, 1635)

Gyronny of four [i.e., per saltire] Azure and Ermine a leopard’s head in chief three roundels Or

Compare various arms of Whiting, above.

Crozier 1, Matthews
Whitney, Henry (in Connecticut, 1649)

Azure a cross compony Or and Gules

Crozier 1