I Love My Friends. Artificial Intelligence, Not So Much

Late last year a friend of mine, Katie, returned from a two-week river cruise vacation in Europe, and here and there amidst all of the fun and good times she was having there, she thought to take some pictures of the coats of arms she saw there just for me!

And now, with her kind permission, I get to share some of her photos of heraldry with you.

The trick, of course, is to identify all of these coats of arms. "Ah,", I thought. "This could be a good trial of just how effective artificial intelligence can be in helping to identify at least the buildings, and likely the coats of arms carved on their facades."

Well, I was half right.

The first trial was this shot, taken in Bratislava, Slovakia.

I uploaded this photo to AI, and it quickly (and accurately; I checked) told me that this building is the Reduta, the historic home of the Slovak Philharmonic in Bratislava, Slovakia, built between 1913 and 1915.

Then I asked it specifically about the coats of arms above the doorway. (Alas, the oval cartouche in the center of the triangular pediment in the upper portion of this picture is blank. No arms or any other carving.)

It quickly and, again, accurately, identified the arms on the shield on the right as the coat of arms of the city of Bratislava: Gules a triple-towered castle argent roofed proper portcullised or. These arms have been used by the city since 1436.

However, regarding the arms in the oval frame on the left, AI flat out lied to me! It explained that the arms on the left were those of the Kingdom of Hungary.

A close look at the photograph above, and comparing to some other photographs of this doorway I found on-line, what I see there is not one, but four overlapping shields: Two behind and flanking, with eagles displayed; a larger one in the center, with looks like a pale, but I can’t see it clearly enough to be sure; and a smaller uppermost shield which looks a bit like Slovakia (or the sinister half of the arms of the Kingdom of Hungary). The Slovakian arms are a 20th century creation based on an existing 14th century Hungarian coat of arms in the seal of King Louis I of Hungary.

So, not a single shield with the arms of Hungary, but four shields with different charges on them, none of which appear to be the arms of Hungary.

But who am I going to believe, AI or my own eyes?

For some reason, I am reminded of Carol Kane playing Miracle Max's wife in The Princess Bride:

Liar! Liar!

A Heraldic "Stray" in Massachusetts

I have often said that "You can find heraldry everywhere," and my travels, both local and further away, still confirm that.

Nearing the end of my trip to Massachusetts last year, "visiting relatives, both living and dead," I found myself facing a commercial van with a heraldic flag on its rear door.

A few minutes of research upon arriving back home, and I learn that this is the heraldic banner (a flag of the coat of arms) of Sicily.

The arms of Sicily are blazoned, in Italian: Trinciato di rosso e d'oro alla triscele di carnagione, con il gorgoneion e le spighe al naturale.

My attempt at a blazon in English  is: Per bend gules and or a triskelion of legs surmounted by a Medusa’s face wreathed in ears of wheat all proper.

I had already known that there was a large Italian presence in the state; my father grew up in Milford hearing a lot of Italian being spoken, and a lot (as much as half, perhaps, though I haven't actually counted them) on the World War II Memorial listing the names of all the men from Milford who served in that war were of Italian origin.

Still, it was unexpected to see the arms of Sicily right there over the hood of my rental car! But again, "You can find heraldry everywhere!"

A Final Armorial Tomb from Granary Burying Ground in Boston, Massachusetts

For our final tombstone with a coat of arms on it, we come to the tomb of Thomas Jackson.

The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, p. 140, informs us: This tomb, situated next to the Quincy tomb in the easterly corner of the yard, is recorded as belonging to Thomas Jackson. The arms and motto seem to show that it was intended to be one of the coats recorded by Burke. These are all a fesse between three birds—in one case three shovellers; in another three shovellers, each charged wit6h a trefoil slipped; in a third three magpies; in a fourth three shell-drakes; in a fifth three falcons, close. The motto is given to the family at Beach Hill, co. Surrey, baronets, who have three shovellers charged with a trefoil. The coats have undoubtedly a common origin, and the family seems to have been settled chiefly in Yorkshire.

Preachers, Patriots & Plain Folks: Boston’s Burying Ground Guide to King’s Chapel, Granary and Central Cemeteries, by Charles C. and Suzanne Austin Wells, adds: Jonathan Jackson (1743-1810), ae 67, Loc Tomb 23, A-389. Continental Congress 1782, member of Constitutional Convention 1779, Treasurer of MA 1802, president of Boston Bank, now Bank of Boston 1803-1810.

Of the arms on the tomb, Bolton’s An American Armory tells us: Jackson. Gules a fess argent between three shovellers (tufted on the head and breast) argent (each charged with a trefoil slipped vert, on an inescutcheon the Badge of Ulster in chief.
        Crest: A shoveller.
        Motto: Innocentiæ securus (Secure in his innocence.)
        Thomas Jackson’s tomb, Granary Burying Ground, by Tremont Building, Boston. Stone is reinforced or reset. Arms of the baronets of Beach Hill, Co. Surrey. Heral. Jour., vol. 2, p. 140.

Crozier’s General Armory cites: Jackson. Massachusetts. Thomas Jackson, Boston. (Surrey.) Gules a fess between three shovellers tufted on the head and breast argent each charged with a trefoil slipped vert.
    Crest: A shoveller as in the arms.
    Motto: Innocentia securus.

Beyond what all these worthies have to say about the man, his tomb, and his heraldry, I cannot add much, beyond noting that the name "JACKSON" is inscribed underneath, and nearly as wide as, the arms.

And with this, we end our tour of heraldic memorials and tombs to be found in three old burying grounds in Boston, Massachusetts, which I was able to visit last year.

A "Freaky" Coat of Arms

You must pardon me for the pun in the title of this post. (Well, not necessarily "must", but I wish that you would.)

But whether you do or not, our next armoiral tombstone is that of John and Elizabeth Freke.

Again, it's not the greatest photograph, but I was limited in what I could do by having to stay on the paved paths.

The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, pp. 130-131, says of this armorial tomb: “The Arms of John and Elizabeth Freke.” An examination of this stone satisfies us that the impaled coat is “on a bend, between three roundles as many swans,” which arms were borne by many family of Clarke. Hence we identify the persons here commemorated as John Freke, who m. in 1661, Elizabeth, dau. of Capt. Thomas Clark, by whom he had several children. He was a merchant, and was killed by an explosion on board a ship in Boston harbor, 4 May, 1675, ages less than 40 years. His widow m. Elisha Hutchinson.

Preachers, Patriots & Plain Folks: Boston’s Burying Ground Guide to King’s Chapel, Granary and Central Cemeteries, by Charles C. and Suzanne Austin Wells, adds the following information about this lady: Elizabeth (Clarke) Freake Hutchinson (1632-1712/3) is famous for her portrait with baby Mary at the Worcester Art Museum. Her father Thomas Clarke was a rich Boston merchant. She married merchant Thomas Freake and had 8 children. He was killed in 1675 in a ship explosion in Boston Harbor and was also the subject of a portrait also in Worchester [sic]. Next she married Elisha Hutchinson,* Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, and had 5 or possibly 6 children. He was a wealthy North End merchant, owner of Hutchinson’s wharf, and who with two other merchants had a salt works near Roxbury. They were the great grandparents of Gov. Thomas Hutchinson, Royal governor just before the Revolution. All except Gov. Thomas are buried in Tomb 18 (next to John Molineux Tomb [in Granary Burying Ground]). Her funeral is noted in Judge Sewall’s diary.

In the photo below, I have tried to modify the perspective to give you a clearer view. It's still not really up to snuff, and you will want to click on the image to go to the full-size picture so that you can zoom in to see more detail.

Bolton’s An American Armory tells us: Freke. Sable two bars and in chief three mullets or, impaling: Argent(?) on a bend gules between three pellets as many swans argent(?) (Clarke).**
        Crest: A bull’s or talbot’s head sable collared or.
        “The armes of John and Elizabeth Freke.” She was the daughter of Major Thomas Clarke and married in 1661. He was killed in 1675. Granary Burying Ground, Boston, altar tomb. Heral. Jour., vol. 2, p. 130.

As I said in the title, a "Freaky" coat of arms.

* We have seen the Hutchinson arms in our recent (January 26, 2026) review of heraldic memorials in Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, Boston.

** This is a variant of the Clark/Clarke coat of arms that we recently saw up on Copp's Hill Burying Ground, which there was blazoned Argent a ragged staff bendwise between three roundels sable.

An Important Tomb With an Unusual Coat of Arms

Our next armorial tomb in Granary Burying Ground in Boston, Massachusetts, is the table tomb of the Faneuil family.

The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, pp. 121-122, informs us about this family:

[T]he tomb of the Faneuils, which was probably erected by Andrew F., who died in 1737. This family, whose name is indelibly associated with Boston [e.g., the famous Faneuil Hall there], was of Huguenot origin. … It seems that in 1685, there were living in or near Rochelle, in France, three brothers and two sisters of the Faneuil family. These were Benjamin, Andrew, John, Susanna and Janes; of whom John and Susanna were Catholic, and remained at Rochelle, Jane was a Huguenot, married Pierre Cossart, and died in Ireland. Andrew settled in Boston, as early as 1709, and married, but had no children. He acquired a large fortune by commerce, which was left, at his death, in 1737, to his nephew Peter.
        Benjamin Faneuil, the other brother, married in 1699 to Anne Bureau, and settled at New Rochelle, N.Y., by whom he had eleven children. Of these the survivors were Peter; Benjamin; Anne, who m. Rev. Addington Davenport; Maray, wife of Gillam Phillips; Susanna, wife of James Boutineau; and Mary Anne, wife of John Jones.
        Peter Faneuil, so well known for his gift to the town of the public hall which bears his name, died unm. In 1743.
        Benjamin Faneuil, his brother, married, and had Benjamin, peter, and Mary, wife of George Bethune. He died October 1785.
        In regard to the arms here figured, we may note first, that they are on Andrew Faneuil’s will, and in that will he directs three pieces of plate to be given the French Church in Boston, “with the coat of arms and name of the donor engraven upon each of them.” Peter Faneuil also had these arms painted on his chariot, and engraven on his silver. With this distinct claim to a right we must remain content.

And Preachers, Patriots & Plain Folks: Boston’s Burying Ground Guide to King’s Chapel, Granary and Central Cemeteries, by Charles C. and Suzanne Austin Wells, tells us:

        Peter Faneuil (1700-1743), gave us Faneuil Hall. The “Jolly Bachelor,” was born in New Rochelle, NY, the oldest of 11 children. He came to Boston in 1719 to live with his rich uncle Andrew Faneuil (pronounced Funnel at that time) when his father died. Andrew’s businesses were trade in West India goods, imports from England, owning and building ships, Boston real estate, and probably slave trading. He was the richest man in Boston.
        When Andrew became incapacitated, Peter managed his affairs and, after his uncle died in 1738, he inherited all of his immense wealth and businesses. Peter became Boston’s richest resident and benefactor. In 1740, he contributed to the construction of King’s Chapel and was an early member, generous donor and trustee of the Boston Episcopal Charitable Society. He provided funds for Faneuil Hall, designed by his intimate friend and artist John Smibert. Peter Faneuil died suddenly March 3, 1742/3, unmarried.
        Tomb 138, loc. D-70, is his burial place. It hold a lot of other people: Uncle Andrew Faneuil; brother Benjamin and his family; and sisters Mary Ann Faneuil Jones, Anne Faneuil Davenport, Marie Faneuil Phillips, and their families. The “P. Furnal 1742” is a phonetic spelling of the name and it was also prounced “Fennel.”
        The Faneuils were all Tories and most went to England during the Revolution. However, the name Faneuil Hall is synonymous with the Independence movement because of all the meetings held there.

But of course it is the arms on the tomb that really catch our attention:

Bolton’s An American Armory cites this coat of arms as: Faneuil. A heart in the center, four six-pointed stars in chief, three like stars below the dexter star, all in pale, and a cross within an annulet in the sinister base.
        Crest: A martlet(?). (I personally don’t think so; click on the image above to take a closer look at its legs and feet.)
        Peter Faneuil’s box-tomb, 1743. Granary Burying Ground, Boston. Heral. Jour., vol. .2, p. 121.

The arms are most unusual in their assymetry and arrangement of charges. Indeed, I cannot recall seeing anything like this coat anywhere else, ever.

Researching further, Rietstap's Armorial Général does not have Faneuil listed, nor does the surname appear in the Index to d'Hozier's Armorial Général de France of 1696. The closest surname in the latter is le Fanu of Brittany and Caen.

So we have an important New England colonial family, with a coat of arms which they used at that time, but whose origins are somewhat cloudy. Or perhaps, just "lost in the mists of time."

The Armorial Tomb of the Rev. Joseph Eckley

Once again, The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, pp. 128-129, gives us a lot of biographical and genealogical information about the owner of this tomb:

“The Rev. Joseph Eckley, D.D., was born in London 22 Oct., 1750, His father removing to New Jersey, about 1767, he was graduated at Princeton in 1772. He was ordained as the successor of Mr. Hunt at the Old South Church in Boston in 1779, and remained there till his death, 30 April, 1811.” Dr. Allen’s account, from which we collect these facts, furnishes other particulars of his ministerial labors.
        Mr. Eckley married Sarah Jeffries, and had three sons, Joseph, Thomas, and David.
        Joseph died unm. at Marblehead, about 1860.
        Thomas m. his cousin of the half blood, Julia Ann Jeffries, and had Julia Ann, now deceased; Sarah, wife of Prof. H. L. Eustis of Harvard College; and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Rhett. David Eckley m. Caroline S., daughter of Jonathan Amory of Boston, and had Joseph S. of Buffalo, David, Edward (deceased), John L., William (deceased), Henry of Framingham, Arthur A. and Frances A. Mrs. Eckley died in June, 1866.

And Preachers, Patriots & Plain Folks: Boston’s Burying Ground Guide to King’s Chapel, Granary and Central Cemeteries, by Charles C. and Suzanne Austin Wells, adds: Rev. Joseph Eckley (1750-1811) ae 61, Loc Tomb 67, called “the evangelist,” he served 2nd Baptist Church 1790-1826 and edited the Baptist Missionary magazine for 23 years. Honorary degrees from Brown University and Union College.

Bolton’s An American Armory cites: Eckley. Gules three swords in fess paleways points upward argent hilts and pommels or the middle one surmounted by an inescutcheon bearing a dexter hand couped. (Given the usual heraldic defaults, this blazon could be made a little shorter: Gules three swords in fess proper, the central one surmounted by an inescutcheon bearing a dexter hand.)
        Crest: A dexter arm embowed and armed.
        Rev. Joseph Eckley, D.D. Box tomb, 1811, Granary Burying Ground, Boston. Heral. Jour., vol. 2, p. 128. These are the arms of Clarke of Salford, Co. Warwick, Baronet.

Researching Burke’s General Armory for Clarke of Salford, we find: Clarke (Salford, co. Warwick. See Woodchurch. These arms were confirmed as a quartering by the Deputies of Camden, Clarenceux, to Sir Simon Clarke, 19th in descent from Clarke Woodchurch, who m. Susan, dau. and heir of Henry Clarke). Gules three swords in pale argent. Crest—A fleur-de-lis per pale argent and sable.

Looking further for Woodchurch, we find only one: Woodchurch (Woodchurch, co. Kent). Gules three swords in pale argent.

Burke also cites: Clarke (Shirland, co. Nottingham, bart.). Gules three sword erect in pale argent hilts or. Crest—A hand couped at the wrist proper holding a sword as in the arms.

I am left thinking that there is more to it than what Bolton and Burke are showing us, because the crest on the Eckley tomb does not match either of the Clarke coats of arms cited. On the other hand, the only Eckley to be found in Burke matches neither the arms nor the crest shown here.

So we are left with a bit of a conundrum: where did the arms and crest on the Eckley tomb come from? I am at a loss to say.

The Bowdoin Armorial Tomb

Of this next heraldic tomb, The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, pp. 135-136, tells of this family:

        This stone is placed at the entrance of the Bowdoin tomb, and probably the arms were assumed on good authority. The family here originated with Pierre Baudoin, a physician of La Rochelle, who fled to Ireland, in 1685, on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Thence he came to Casco and Boston, where his name was translated into Peter Bowdoin, and after a prosperous career as a merchant, he died here in September, 1706. He had two sons, William, who left an only daughter who married her cousin James Bowdoin, and James. This James Bowdoin was one of the wealthiest men in Boston, a member of the Council, &c., and died 8 September, 1747. By his three wives, he had sons William and James, and three daughters.

Of James Bowdoin, Preachers, Patriots & Plain Folks: Boston’s Burying Ground Guide to King’s Chapel, Granary and Central Cemeteries, by Charles C. and Suzanne Austin Wells, tells us:

        Hon. James Bowdoin (1726-1790), ae 64, Loc B-T6, 2nd MA Gov. 1785-87. Owned extensive lands in Main and Boston. Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME, is named in his honor. A friend of Benjamin Franklin, he was the 1st president of American Academy of Arts & Sciences 1780-90. Also 1st president of present-day Bank of Boston. As governor, he was even handed in his treatment of the participants in Shays’ Rebellion in 1786 in Western MA, much to the opposition of Samuel Adams who advocated harsh punishment. His marker has the Bowdoin Coat of Arms. Son James Jr (1753-1811), graduate of Harvard and Oxford, was minister to Spain and associate minister to the French court. Interest in agriculture, he bred fine horses and cattle.  

The inscription below the arms reads: “Hon. James Bowdoin first of that name built this tomb before 1744 probably much earlier. In it were buried perhaps Pierre Baudouin the Hugueot without doubt Gov. James Bowdoin of Revolutionary memory and numerous other members of the Bowdoin family.

Bolton’s An American Armory cites: Bowdoin. Azure a chevron or between three teazels* proper.
        Crest: A swan. (The “swan’s” wings are elevated and addorsed, and it appears to be “vulning itself.” Is this depiction really supposed to be “a pelican in it’s piety”? Asking for a friend.)



* "Teazel bird" refers primarily to the European Goldfinch, which is famous for feeding on the seeds of the Teasel plant during winter. These birds use their specialized, slender beaks to extract seeds from the spiky, dried seed heads.

See, the things you might never know if not for reading this blog!

How Do You Spell "Lazenby"?

I have often been heard to state that spelling in times past was a bit more "flexible" that it is today. But back then, people wrote down what they heard, rather than worrying overmuch about a specific spelling of a name. The example from my own family history that I like to use is the varying colonial era spellings of one particular surname: Bigelow. The spellings for that name run the gamut from the very short Biglo to the much longer than necessary Biggalough.

The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, pp. 129-130, gives us a lot of biographical and genealogical information about the person memorialized in the next tombstone (along with two of my own explanatory footnotes):

        Mr. Joseph Lasinby, Died Sept. 9th 1774 Aged 80 years. The family of Leasonbee, Lasenbee, Lasinby, or however the name may be varied, is, we believe, not recorded by Savage.[*] Still, Thomas and Mercy L. of Boston had born here, Thomas, 21 January, 1688; Benjamin, 27 August, 1691; Joseph, 20 August, 1694; Mary, 22 April, 1696, and Margaret, 5 March, 1699. Thomas probably d. about 5 April, 1717, when his will is dated. His widow Mercy survived till near 30 December, 1732, when the heirs signed a division of their father’s estate. These were Thomas L. and Zeruiah his wife, Joseph L. and wife Elizabeth, widow Mercy Bant, and Mary, wife of Alexander Chamberlain.
        Thomas and Zeruiah Lazenby had a son Thomas, born 31 March, 1725, who died apparently in 1746, when his father administered his estate.
        Joseph Lazenby m. 1st, Mary Proctor, 29 April, 1719, and had Joseph, b. 6 February, 1720; Mary, 26 May, 1721; Mary, 29 December 1722;[**] Benjamin, 10 June, 1724; Benjamin, 26 March, 1726; Elizabeth, 3 June, 1727; Samuel, 19 June, 1728; Mary, 11 August 1729.[**] His wife d. 6 November, 1730, aged 37. He m. 2d, Elizabeth Farmer, 1 July, 1731, and had Benjamin, b. 29 September, 1732; Thomas, b. 19 February, 1733-4; Mary, 3 October, 1735.
        He died, as above shown, 9 September, 1774.

Per The Heraldic Journal, the motto scroll reads “By the Name of Lazinby” (Alas, even enlarging the picture above sufficiently does not give us enough clarity to read the scroll. Again, a downside to having to stay on the paved paths in the burying ground and photographing the heraldry from a distance.)

Bolton’s An American Armory cites: Lasinby. Gules a fess between three cushions argent tasselled or overall a bend sable goutty d’or.
        Crest: A demi-unicorn holding a heart.

His citation is this stone in this burying ground. “’By the name of Lazinby.’ Joseph Lasinby of Boston d. 1774, aged 80 years, Granary Burying Ground, Park St. wall, Boston. Heral. Jour., vol. 2, p. 129.”



* A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, by James Savage, former President of the Massachusetts Historical Society (originally published in Boston, 1860-1862).

** When a child died, its name was usually given to the next-born child of the same sex. This occurred in New England in 80% of all cases where another baby of the same sex was born following the death of a child. Here in the Lazenby family, you can see that this occurred twice.

A BIG Armorial Memorial in Granary Burying Ground, Boston

One of the largest memorials, with heraldry or not, in Granary Burying Ground in Boston, Massachusetts, is that memorializing John Hancock.

I trust that I don’t really have to give you the biography of John Hancock, the Massachusetts merchant (and smuggler) whose signature appears so large on the Declaration of Independence. If you want to know more about him, he has his own (very long) entry in Wikipedia, at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock

That article also has a color image of his coat of arms.

The monolith here is clearly not contemporaneous with Mr. Hancock’s death, being plainly 20th century in style. But above the bust of Mr. Hancock, at its top it has the carved Hancock coat of arms, complete with crest and motto.

Bolton’s An American Armory cites: Hancock. Gules a dexter hand couped erect on a chief argent three cocks gules.
        Crest: A cock gules holding a dexter hand couped at the wrist argent.

And Crozier’s General Armory cites: Hancock. Massachusetts. Nathaniel Hancock, Cambridge, 1652. Gules a hand couped and erect on a chief argent three cocks gules.
        Crest: A cock gules holding a dexter hand couped at the wrist argent.

The crest on the monument differs from those cited, being A demi-griffin wings elevated and addorsed. Oddly, the demi-griffin issues from a torse of seven twists, rather than the usual six.

The motto underneath the arms reads Obsta principiis, "Contrary to principles". I'm not sure what that is supposed to mean. I am tempted to read it as a misspelling of Obsta principis (with a single instead of a double "i"), which translates as "Contrary to the prince", which certainly fits well with Mr. Hancock's participation in the Americn Revolution as being "contrary to the Prince" in the person of King George III.

An Armorial Memorial in Granary Burying Ground, Boston

Having completed our review of the armorial headstones and memorials outside and inside King's Chapel in Boston, Massachusetts, we move now a few blocks away to Granary Burying Ground.

The burying ground is a bit of a tourist trap, owing to a number of famous individuals buried there; John Hancock (whose memorial we will see shortly), Benjamin Franklin's parents, the slain in the Boston Massacre of 1770, Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, General Dr. Joseph Warren, and a number of others. So what was at the time I visited it, off-season and on a weekday, Granary Burying Ground was full of tourists and tourist guides, leaving me feeling just a little claustrophobic. (The burying ground really isn't all that large: it's only about two acres total in size, with a little over 2,300 grave markers for an estimated 5,000-6,000 interments there.

That said, I was able to get some good photographs of many of the armorial headstones and tombstones in Granary Burying Ground, even with all of the foot traffic there being restricted to the paved paths, which don't always let you get that close to the heraldry to be found there.

The first armorial headstone is that of Richard Sears. (You will probably want to click on the image below to go to the full-size photograph to get some greater detail. As I said, I was having to take pictures from the paved paths, and thus not always as close as I would have liked to be to the heraldry.)

The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, pp. 137-140, tells us of the family: "Though we do not know the date of this inscribed slab, we presume it has been placed here during the present [19th] century. From information, now made public, we learn that the emigrant ancestor of the Sears family was Richard Sears of Yarmouth, Mass., who died in 1676. He was born in Holland, and was the son of John Bourchieer Sears, by his wife Marie L., dau. of Philippe Van Egmonde of Amsterdam.
        "Richard Sears of Yarmouth had sons Knyvet, Paul, and Silas, of whom Knyvet died in England in 1686, at the residence of his relative Catherine, daughter of Sir John Knyvet. By wife Elizabeth Dimoke he had a son Daniel, b. in 1682, who had three sons, Richard and David, both killed at Culloden, and Daniel, b. in 1719. This Daniel, by wife Fear Freeman, had sons Richard and Daniel, whose lines are extinct, and David, b. in 1752, who was a great purchaser of lands in Maine, and married Ann Winthrop. His only son is Hon. David Sears of Boston, who married Miriam Clarke, dau. of Hon. Jona. Mason. Mr. Sears is too well known in Boston to render any sketch of his public services necessary. He has had ten children."

Bolton’s An American Armory gives us the colors of the arms: Sears. Gules a chevron argent between three eagles (or pewits) proper on a chief ermine an escallop between two mullets gules.
        Crest: An eagle displayed wings inverted.

And Crozier’s General Armory cites: Sears. Massachusetts. Richard Sears Plymouth, 1630. (Colchester, Essex.) Gules a chevron argent between three eaglets proper on a chief ermine an escallop between two mullets argent.
        Crest: An eagle displayed wings inverted proper.
        Mottoes: (1) Exaltat humiles. (2) Honor et fides.

While the motto on the belt surrounding the shield reads “Exaltat humiles,” I believe that it should be: Exaltavit humiles (He hath exalted the humble). But what do I know?