The Emperor's Beasts?

Well, admittedly, I ask that question in the title above because of the well-known British "Queen's Beasts", various animals holding shields which appeared at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation at Westminster Abbey.

Anyway ....

Having sailed up the Danube from Bratislava to Vienna, Austria, my friend Katie took two pictures of what I like to think of as the "Emperor's Beasts", crowned lions holding shields of arms, just outside of and flanking the way up to the Schweizertor (Swiss Gate) of the Hofburg Palace there.

The Schweizertor is a historic Renaissance-style archway built between 1552-1553 under Emperor Ferdinand I. Recognized by its striking red and black design, it serves as the entrance to the Schweizerhof (Swiss Court) and connects it to the Innerer Burghof. It is a beautiful example of 16th-century fortification architecture.

The crown that each lion is shown wearing is, of course, the Crown of St. Stephen, the coronation crown used by the Kingdom of Hungary since the 12th Century.

This lion holds the very well-known arms of Austria (Österreich): Gules a fess argent.

Directly across from the first lion is this one, holding what I believe are the arms of Niederösterreich (Lower Austria): Azure five eagles displayed or.

That said, the arrangement of the birds (which don't especially look like eagles, more like the quail on the arms of Wachtler that we looked in our last post) on the shield is unusual: one, two, and two, rather than the more common two, two, and one. Now, this could, of course, simply be an error of the stonecarver. (I mean, I've seen some heraldic carvings that really didn't match the blazon of the arms closely at all!) Or not.

Niederösterreich was created as a Duchy in 1156 and became part of Austria in 1282. Around 1450 a large part, now mainly Oberosterreich, was removed from the Duchy.

The arms with the five eagles first appears in 1335, as the legendary arms of the H. Leopold, who originated from the area. Around 1360 Duke Rudolf IV adopted the eagles as the arms of Old Austria. Ever since the arms represented Niederösterreich in the ducal and imperial arms.

The arms were not officially granted until 1920.

And Vienna was the capital of Niederösterreich at least until the city became a separate state in 1921.

So all of this history leads me to believe that this shield is the arms of Niederösterreich, at least until someone can lead me to a different conclusion.

Do you have thoughts about these "Emperor's Beasts" and the coats of arms they hold?

Artificial Intelligence, Maybe Not Quite So Intelligent After All

At least not for correctly identifying coats of arms, anyway.

My on-going, and only partly successful, attempts to use artificial intelligence (AI) as an aid in the identification of coats of arms continues, with mixed results.

For today's coat of arms, photographed in Bratislava, Slovakia, it was eventually mostly successful, but only after several attempts where I had to keep double-checking everything it was trying to tell me, explain why what it said was incorrect, and have it try again.

I was asking AI for the specific building in Bratislava with this coat of arms above the doorway, and the name of the family whose coat it was.

AI did manage to give me the name of the building pretty quickly (naturally, I had told it that this building was in Bratislava, to enable it to narrow down its search).

It told me that this building is the "Palffy Palace, and is among the oldest historic sights in Bratislava. Detailed research in the interior discovered masonry from the first half of the 13th century. In 1988 the palace was taken over by the Bratislava City Gallery that holds here a range of permanent expositions and temporary exhibitions."

Super! Now I have an identification of the building.

For the arms, though, I had to go through several iterations with AI to get a good identification.

First it told me that the bird was an eagle (a close look at the arms makes this unlikely), and I had to keep guiding guiding it back on track to get it to finally produce an identification that not only made sense, but was also corroborated by other information on the internet.

This is what AI finally told me (my comments about its findings are contained in square brackets):

"It [the coat of arms] belongs to Bernhard Wachtler, a member of the Prešov city council. [I question this; Prešov is quite a distance from Bratislava. Other information I found about Bernhard tells me that Bernhard Wachtler (†1827) became a member of the city council of ... Bratislava, Slovakia in 1801.]

The Wachtler family was the owner of the palace from 1870 to 1945. [So the arms are in fact not those of this Bernhard; he died 43 years before the family owned the palace.] The coat of arms shows a quail holding a stalk in its beak. It is a so-called speaking [canting] coat of arms (quail, German: wachtl), which corresponds to the surname of its bearer. The crown above the coat of arms with five pearls (baronial) indicates that its bearer was a nobleman. [I decided not to get into a conversation with AI about this statement. I was looking for the identification of the arms, and not the family's status.] The Wachtlers were wealthy merchants and city officials, and owned or renovated several properties in central Bratislava."

I've not been able to find a blazon for the Wachtler arms in any of the usual suspects (most importantly, J-B Rietstap's Armorial Général). The field, presumably, is blue. The trimount in base, equally presumably, is green. The quail, likely silver, but possibly gold, and is either rising or displayed. I have not been able to identify the sprig in its beak; it appears to consist of a short branch with three or four leaves and what may be a couple of berries of some type on it. (Though this last could just by my misinterpretation of the way the carving looks.)

Be that as it may, with at least a fair bit of coaching and explaining and telling it outright that it was wrong, AI finally did come up with an accurate (mostly) identification of the arms over the doorway on the façade of the Palffy Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia.

My thanks once again to my friend Katie, who thought to take pictures of heraldry for me while on her river cruise through Europe.

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?

A Final Amorial Memorial in King's Chapel, Boston, Massachusetts

As we have seen over the past few weeks, there is a lot of history, and heraldry, among the memorials inside King's Chapel in Boston. Today, we're going to look at one final memorial before moving on.

The pamphlet King’s Chapel: Historical Notes, Guide to the Monuments, Present Activities (1935), gives us the following information: "Monument to Samuel Vassall. 'A London Merchant.' A defender of freedom in England in the 17th century. His father 'the gallant ]ohn Vassall,' in 1588 fitted out at his own expense, and commanded, two ships which fought against the Spanish Armada. The descendants built the house on Brattle Street, Cambridge, which was afterwards the home of Longfellow. They were royalists and left New England at the time of the Revolution. Some of the family were buried under the monument. It was erected by Florentius Vassall, of ]amaica, in 1766."

The long inscription on the base of the monument reads (and here I have transcribed the "long s" which looks a bit like an "f", as the modern "short s", to make reading it easier on my readers):

Sacred to the Memory of

SAMUEL VASSALL Esq. of LONDON Merchant,

one of the original proprietors of the lands

of this Country;

a steady & undaunted

assertor of the Liberties of ENGLAND.

In 1638

he was the first who boldly refused to submit to the Tax

of Tonnage & Poundage,

an unconstitutional claim of the CROWN

abitrarily imposed:

For which (to the ruin of his family)

his goods were seized & his person imprisoned by the

Star Chamber Court.

He was chosen to represent the City of

LONDON,

in two successive Parliaments, which met Apr. 13 & Nov. 3

1640.

The Parliament in July 1641 voted him

£10,445 . 12 . 2

for his Damages,

and resolved that he should be further considered

for his personal Sufferings:

But the rage of the times & the neglect of

proper applications since,

have left to his family only the honour of that

Vote & Resolution.

He was one of the largest Subscribers

to raise money

against the Rebels in IRELAND:

all these facts may be seen in the Journals

of the House of Commons.

He was the Son of

the gallant JOHN VASSAL,

who in 1588

at his own Expence, fitted out & commended two Ships of War

with which he joined the Royal Navy

to oppose

The SPANISH ARMADA.

This monument was erected by his great grandson

FLORENTIUS VASSAL Esq.

of the island of JAMAICA, now residing in ENGLAND

May 1766.

Okay, that's a lot of history! Want more? The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, pp. 15-18 not only transcribes the inscription I have done above, but gives a genealogy of the Vassall family from Samuel (here) and his brother, William, and their descendants, as well as noting an augmentation of arms to the third great-grandson of Samuel, Col. Spencer-Thomas Vassall, for his service at Montevideo.

And there is also no dearth of information about the coat of arms on this monument:

Bolton’s American Armory cites: "Vassall. Azure in chief a sun in splendor, in base a chalice or. Crest: A ship, sails furled, pointing to the dexter. Motto: Pro Republica semper. Monument erected to Samuel Vassall, M.P. by his great grandson, Florentius Vassal of Jamaica and New England, 1766. King’s Chapel, Boston, West end."

Crozier’s General Armory tells us: Vassall, Massachusetts. Leonard Vassall, Boston, 1723 (London). Azure, in chief a sun; in base a chalice or. Crest—A ship rigged and masted proper. Motto—Saepe pro Rege, semper pro Republica.

And finally, in Burke’s General Armory, we find: "Vassall (New England; descended from John Vassall, Alderman of London, who equipped and commanded two ships of war against the Spanish Armada. The senior male line has become extinct, but is represented in the female line by the descendants of two of the children of Florentius Vassall, viz., Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Richard Vassall, Esq., of Jamaica, who m. Henry Richard, third Baron Holland, and Elizabeth Vassall, m. Hon. John Barrington, son of John, first Viscount Barrington). Azure in chief a sun, in base a chalice or. Crest—A ship rigged and masted proper. Motto—Sæpe pro Rege, semper pro Republica."

The Latin motto (of which only an abbreviated version is found on the monument, on the green ribbon along the base of the circular arms, as cited by Bolton, above) translates to "Often for the king, always for the state."

Whew! Is that enough history, and heraldry, for you? It is for me, too! (Well, at least for today, anyway.)

Come back next time, when we'll walk down a few blocks from King's Chapel and look at some of the heraldry to be found in Boston's Granary Burying Ground.

Whose Crest Is This?

Our next armorial memorial contains a conundrum. It contains at the top a very prominent crest (at least I am assuming it is a crest, as it sits above a torse of six twists), but I have been unable to locate this crest anywhere.

The inscription on the memorial reads:

In Memory Of

William Endicott

1826-1914

A Gentleman in civil life

distinguished for

conspicuous loyalty in the War

which preserved the Union

and destroyed slavery

His Companions

of the Commandery

of the State of Massachusetts

of the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion

of the United States

Have here placed this tablet

Lex regit arma tuentur

The Latin at the bottom translates as: The law governs, weapons protect.

The dates match, but I don’t know if this is the same William Endicott: “William Endicott, Jr. was born on 4 January 1826, in Beverly, Massachusetts, to his father, William Endicott and his mother, Joanna L. Rantoul Endicott. He married Annie Thorndike Rand on 31 March 1857, in Boston, Massachusetts. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 2 daughters. He died on 7 November 1914, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 88, and was buried in Central Cemetery, Beverly, Massachusetts.”

The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), is a military fraternity organized on April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Union Army. The original membership was consisted of commissioned officers of the Regular or Volunteer Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, or the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served during the American Civil War or who had served and thereafter been commissioned and who thereby had aided in maintaining the honor, integrity, and supremacy of the national movement during the Civil War. Today, the Order serves as a hereditary society (male relatives of eligible officers) rather than as a functioning military order (though many Companions are either military veterans or on active military duty). (Wikipedia)*

You will notice the medal of MOLLUS at the base of the tablet.

Because the tablet was erected by MOLLUS, made plain both in the text and by the use of the medal, I have to assume that William Endicott was a commissioned officer in the Union forces during the Civil War, but I have been unable to find a record of his service in that conflict.

Be that as it may, we are here to look at the heraldry at the top of the tablet:

This crest, as nearly as I can make it out: Above a torse, an eagle standing on a shield wings elevated and addorsed maintaining in its dexter talons a laurel branch and in its sinister a sheaf of arrows above the word “America” all within an arch of 13 mullets.

I can find no information on this crest. The emblem is not that of MOLLUS, which uses an eagle displayed holding arrows and laurel, as on their medal here:

The posture of the eagle standing on a shield with wings elevated and addorsed reminds me of, but isn't, the coat of arms of the State of Illinois:

I can find no Endicott/Endecott in Burke’s General Armory, nor in Fairbairn’s Crests, so I can only assume it is not a crest belonging to the family.

Given the patriotic look of it, my best guess for this crest is that it was something used by the Massachusetts Commandery of MOLLUS at some time. However, it does not appear on their website, and so I cannot confirm that speculation. But it's the leading hypothesis I have at this time.

* I don’t get to join, except perhaps as an associate rather than an hereditary member; none of my ancestors ever achieved a rank higher than Sergeant, though a second cousin, six times removed was Brevet Major General Rufus Ingalls, Chief Quartermaster of the Army of the Potomac from August 1862.

An Armorial Memorial With a Link to a Famous New England Author

Our next heraldic memorial speaks much of this man's membership and activity in the church of King's Chapel, but very little about his life outside of that, and gives no mention of his famous granddaughter.

The inscription reads:

JOSEPH MAY,

Born in Boston, March 25 1760, died Feb. 27 1841.

A member of this church during nearly sixty years,

and one of its Wardens for more than thirty,

He was one of those who voted in 1785 to revise the liturgy

and subsequently to ordain as Rector the Reverend James Freeman,

whereby this became an independent church,

His love for this church was constant and peculiar,

His attachment to its worship intelligent and life-ling,

and his devotion to its interests was unwavering,

of inflexible integrity, exact, untiring, unselfish,

firm in the Christian faith,

sustained by an animating hope,

and in charity generous, patient and judicious,

'He might have been traced

through every quarter of the city by the footprints of

his benefactions.'

On a more genealogical note, Col. Joseph May was born on 25 March 1760, in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts Bay Colony, to Samuel May, and  Abigail (Williams) May. He married Dorothy J. Sewall on 28 December 1784, in Boston, Massachusetts. They were the parents of at least 7 sons and 6 daughters. He died on 27 February 1841, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 80, and was buried in a family tomb in Central Burying Ground in Boston.

He was the maternal grandfather of famous New England author Louisa May Alcott (Little Women, Little Men, and many more), through his daughter Abby, who married Amos Bronson Alcott.

The arms at the top of the monument are uncolored and not deeply carved in the stone; that they are not well lit in the chapel adds to the difficulty in making them out clearly.

Fortunately for us, we have several sources that can shed sufficient light of them.

Bolton’s American Armory cites: “May. Gules a fess argent between eight billets sable(?), four in chief and four in base. The billets are tricked sanguine and are properly or.” “Wall tablet to Joseph May, 1760-1841, King’s Chapel, Boston.”

Crozier’s General Armory: “May. Massachusetts. John May, Roxbury, 1640. (Mayfield, Co. Waterford.) Gules a fess between eight billets, four in chief and four in base or.”

And finally, in Burke’s General Armory: May (Faunt, co. Sussex; Thomas May, temp. Edward IV. Visit. Leicester, 1619). Gules a fess between eight billets or.

Whose Are the Wife's Arms in This Memorial

The next armorial memorial in King's Chapel, Boston, we find are a bit of a mystery.

Not the husband's arms, but those attributed to his wife.

Further muddying the waters, there have been several men named Charles Apthorp, each with, naturally enough, wives of different surnames.

But before trying to see what we can discover about the wife's arms on this monument, let's deal with the husband and his arms.

The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, pp. 14-15 gives a transcription of the full Latin text of the inscription on the monument, and then goes on to give additional family information:

The next monument is that of Charles Apthorp, son of John and Susan (Ward) Apthorp, who was born in 1698. Charles Apthorp was a merchant here, paymaster and commissary of the English troops. He married, 13 Jan. 1726, Griselda, dau. of John Eastwicke, by his wife Griselda, dau. of John Lloyd (called by Bridgman  Sir John Lloyd of Somersetshire.) The Apthorps were numerous here, and very well connected. Of the children of Charles, Griselda m. Barlow Trecothick, Lord Mayor of London; John m. Alicia Mann, sister of Sir Horace Mann, British minister at Florence. Rev. Dr. East Apthorp m. a dau. of Foster Hutchinson, &c.

Here is a better view of the arms at the base of the monument, as we consider the husband's arms to dexter and begin to look at the confusion caused by the wife's arms on the sinister side of the shield:

Bolton’s American Armory cites: “Apthorp. Per pale nebuly argent and azure; impaling, Checky gules and ermine (Garter?). Wall tablet to Charles Apthorpe, 1698-1758, Boston merchant, King’s Chapel, Boston, north aisle. He married Griselda Eastwicke. There is no evidence on the shield of the usual “two mullets in pale [sic. Should be “in fess” or even left unblazoned, as that should be the default for two charges on a per pale field] counterchanged.”

The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, p. 14  notes that “We cannot explain the arms here given, which should be Apthorp impaling Eastwicke.”

The Gore Roll of Arms, no. 20, is labeled "Mary Apthorp wido of Charles Apthorp of Boston Mas 1709." Dr. Harold Bowditch, in his review of the arms in the Gore Roll, ascribes the widow’s arms there (Quarterly or and or four eagles displayed gules) to Mansbridge. Burke’s General Armory cites two different Mansbridge arms, both from London: Quarterly argent and vert four eagles displayed counterchanged; and Quarterly argent and or four double-headed eagles displayed vert. Obviously, neither of these Mansbridge arms are the checky coat to be found here in King’s Chapel.

These checky arms are not found in Burke’s General Armory under Eastwicke or Mansbridge, the surnames of the ladies married to one or another Charles Apthorp.

Burke does cite “Garter. Checky ermine and or” but without any other information. (Presumably, this is where Bolton got his guess that this may be Garter.)

So what are we left with here? The husband's arms, though lacking the two stars, are certainly those of Apthorp. But the wife's arms shown here have left heraldists scratching their heads for at least 160 years (Volume II of The Heraldic Journal having been published in 1866), and I have not been able to shed any additional light upon it, even with the greater access to armorials and information than ever before. As only one example, there is a coat of arms for Eastwick given in the American Heraldry Society's "A Roll of Early American Arms," but it shows a chevron between three bucks statant, not the checky shield we see here.

In the end, it's still a mystery.

The Next Armorial Memorial in King's Chapel, Boston, Massachusetts

Our next memorial with a coat of arms on it is that of Frances Shirley, née Barker, the wife of Massachusetts Governor William Shirley.

The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, pp. 12-13, gives a clean drawing of the arms shown here, and a transcription of the very long Latin text on the memorial.

That same volume, on pp. 116-118, gives us some of the family background of Governor Shirley, and goes to state:

His first wife was Frances, dau. of Francis Barker, and the arms on her monument (Vol. II, p. 12) show she was probably of the Yorkshire family of that name.

The Heraldic Journal then goes on to list their children.

But now for the impaled arms:

Bolton’s American Armory cites: Shirley. Paly of six argent and sable (properly or and azure) a canton ermine. Impaling: Argent three bear’s heads erased gules muzzled or in chief three torteaux (Barker). Crest: A bearded face couped at the shoulders. Wall tablet to Frances, wife of Gov. Shirley. King’s Chapel, Boston, south aisle.

It's always a bit annoying when someone paints a carved coat of arms in incorrect colors. But I've seen it just about everywhere I have found such painted coats.

Burke's General Armory cites: Shirley (Shirley, co. Derby, Staunton Harold, co. Leicerster, and Chartley, co. Stafford ...). Paly of six or and azure a quarter ermine, reduced during the 17th and 18th centuries to a canton, but the older arms were Paly of six or and sable, without any quarter. Crest--The head of a Saracen proper couped at the neck wreathed round the temples or and azure.

And for Barker, Burke gives us: Barker (Newbury). Argent three bear's heads erased gules muzzled or in chief as many torteaux.

I just love it when you go looking for confirmation of a (or in this case, two) coat of arms in the General Armory and they just pop right up for you.

This is not to say that I can say with any certainty that either of these two marshaled coats was borne by either family right; even in the pre-Revolutionary War period here in America, there were people who were using arms based solely on their use by someone else of the same or similar surname. For example, many of clients of the Gore family, carriage and sign painters and producers of patterns for heraldic embroideries in Boston. See, e.g., the Gore Roll of Arms.

But I also can't say with any certainty that they were not borne by right. And in either case, they were certainly used by the Shirleys and the Barkers, whether by inheritance or not. And in the end, a lot of what I look at is that usage, which can tell us a lot about the people who bore coats of arms and the period in which they lived.

And isn't that part of the attraction? To see how heraldry can add to our knowledge of history?

The Well-Known Arms of Newton in King's Chapel, Boston

Our next armorial memorial in King's Chapel, Boston, Massachusetts, is that of Thomas Newton, Esq.

Thomas Newton, Esq., served as King's Attorney and prosecuted the witchcraft cases in Salem, Massachusetts until 26 July 1692. On that day he was succeeded by Anthony Checkley, the colony's attorney general. Newton had come to Massachusetts from England in 1688 and was one of the first legally trained lawyers in Massachusetts. Over the course of his career, he also served as Controller of the Customs at Boston, Judge of the Admiralty Court, and Attorney-General for the Province of Massachusetts.

All of the biographical information I can find for Thomas Newton (beyond that given on the face of the memorial, and much of which confirms the colonial offices he held) gives his death date as May 28, 1721, but the memorial here gives his death as June 12, 1721. The difference has to be more than just the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian, as May 28 under the former would only be June 8 under the latter. So color me confused.

The Heraldic Journal, Vol. II, p. 12, gives the following biographical information on Mr. Newton: "At all events, this Thomas Newton is termed Esquire in his will, dated 6 March 1720[/21], proved 5 June 1721, in which he mentions his wife Christian, son Hibbett Newton, and daighters Elizabeth, Christian and Hannah."

Following his death, we find the following advertisements and notices about the sale of his extensive personal library:

On 14 August, 18 September, 9 October 1721, in the Boston News-Letter: "To be Sold by Auction upon the Third Tuesday of October next, being the 17th Day of the said Month, A very curious and valuable Collection of Books, being the Library of the late Thomas Newton Esq, of Boston, Deceased, consisting of Divinity, History, but mostly of the Law (being the greatest and best Collection of Law Books that ever was exposed to Sale in this Country.) The Sale is to be at the House where his Widow now dwells in Queen-Street, Opposite to the Prison on Boston, and begins at Four a Clock in the afternoon, and so de Die in Diem till all are Sold. The Books may be seen Fourteen Days before the Sale, and Catalogues may be had gratis at said House."

Notice text of 28 August 1721, in The Boston Gazette: "Whereas several Books of the late Mr. Newton's Library are missing, being lent in his Life time and not yet returned. This is to desire that all Persons having any such Books, will return them to his Widow at her house in Prison Lane, Boston. The late Mr. Newton's Library is to be Sold by Auction at the House abovesaid, on Tuesday the 17 of October next, where Printed Catalogues may be had Gratis."

Advertisement text on 9 October 1721, in The Boston Gazette: "A Collection of Curious and Valuable Books, being the Library of the late Mr. Newton, are to be Sold by Auction, on Tuesday the 17th Instant, at the House of his Widow's in Queen-Street."

Postponement announcement text on 16 October 1721, in the Boston News-Letter: "By reason of the Small Pox, the Publick Sale of the Library of the late Thomas Newton of Boston, Esq, Deceased, that was to be on Tuesday next, is at present put off to a more convenient Season; and in the interim, any Gentleman may be accommodated with what Books they want till the Publick Sale."

Advertisement text on 14, 21, 28 May 1722, in the Boston News-Letter: "To be Sold by Publick Vendue on Tuesday the 29th Instant at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon, at the Sun Tavern on Dock-square, a Valuable Collection of BOOKS, being the Library of Thomas Newton Esq, deceased; with sundry other Valuable Books added to them."

But of course, it is the coat of arms displayed on his monument, rather than his extensive library, in which we are interested.

Bolton’s American Armory, p. 121, cites: "Newton. Sable two shin bones in saltire argent the sinister surmounting the dexter. Crest: An arm holding a battle axe. Wall tablet to Thomas Newton, warden of King’s Chapel, 1704, and attorney-general, d. 1721. King’s Chapel, Boston, south aisle." In short, the memorial tablet that we are looking at is the source for Bolton's citation of these arms.

I couldn't get high enough to see the full motto on the scroll beneath the shield, and I didn't find it listed in Fairbairn's Crests, my usual "go-to" source, either under "Newton" or in the Mottoes section with anything beginning with "DE" and ending in "GO".

Still, an interesting coat of arms memorialing a man who certainly lived in interesting times.

Another Armorial Memorial in King's Chapel, Boston

Our next heraldic memorial in King's Chapel in Boston, Massachusetts, is that of John Lowell, Jr.

This one differs from the one in our previous post in that, while the inscription thereon is still fully in Latin, most notably it contains a complete bust of the man as opposed to a bas-relief.

John Lowell, Jr. (1749-1840) was an American political pamphleteer, born at Newburyport, Massachusetts. He graduated at Harvard in 1786; was admitted to the bar in 1789; took up his residence in Boston, became eminent as a lawyer, and was an active, honored, and public-spirited citizen, but never took an office. He was a notable member of the Federalist Party in the early days of the United States.

He is sufficiently important enough to have his own entry in Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lowell_Jr._(lawyer)

But, as usual, it is the coat of arms at the top of the monument which caught our eye.

The arms do not appear in Burke’s General Armory, nor the crest or motto in Fairbairn’s Crests.

Nor do the arms appear in the American Heraldry Society's "A Roll of Early American Arms," which can be found on-line at https://www.americanheraldry.org/heraldry-in-the-united-states/roll-of-early-american-arms/ (This on-line roll is stated to be of arms "borne in the present day United States before 1825, which one would think ought to include the Lowell arms here, but it any event it is otherwise generally very helpful in researching arms as used in what is now the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries.)

Bolton’s American Armory cites: Lowell: Sable a hand couped at the wrist grasping three darts points down, one in pale and two in saltire argent. Crest: A stag’s head cabossed or between the antlers a pheon (azure?). (Bolton's source: "Wall tablet to John Lowell, 1769-1840. King’s Chapel, Boston." South Aisle. In other words, the memorial we are looking at today!)

Crozier’s General Armory gives us: Lowell. Massachusetts. Percival Lowle, Newbury, 1639. Sable a hand couped at the wrist grasping three darts, one in pale and two in saltire argent. Crest: A covered cup or. So, the same arms as seen here, but an entirely different crest.

Motto: Occasionem cocmosce (Seize the opportunity).

So what we have here, as in several other cases recently, is a coat of arms used in late colonial America for which I have not found a European antecedent. Still, there they are -- arms, crest, and motto -- literally carved in stone. So there you have it.

The Armorial Memorial of William Sullivan

Having finished our review of the armorial graves and gravestones outside in King's Chapel Burying Ground, we paid the $5 entrance fee (by credit card; they no longer accept cash) into the interior of King's Chapel, and having asked if photography was allowed inside (Answer: Yes, but without flash), we begin our review of the memorials containing heraldry inside the Chapel.

The first of those memorials is that to William Sullivan.

The memorial contains, as you can see, a long and involved inscription entirely in Latin. Please feel free to click on the image above to go to the full-size photograph that shows this in greater detail.

William Sullivan (1774-1839) was a son of Governor James Sullivan, and is buried outside in King's Chapel Burying Ground in Tomb 146 with his two brothers, John and George.

William was a prominent Boston lawyer, Federalist politician, and author. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1795, served on the Massachusetts General Court (1804-1830), and was a delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention (1830). From 1830, he devoted most of his career to writing about political institutions of the United States. He also wrote the Political Class Book, a textbook which first introduced the study of nature and the principles of our government into the nation’s schools.

But of course, it was the shield, crest, and motto at the base of the monument which attracted our attention.

Lacking the colors, it was somewhat difficult to determine exactly what was depicted on the shield, or to determine what kind of bird was in the crest. So, of course, we resorted to some of the standard reference works for English heraldry, and things became clearer. 

Burke’s General Armory gives us: Sullivan (Thames Ditton, co. Surrey, baronet). Per fess the base per pale, in chief Or a dexter hand couped at the wrist grasping a sword erect pommel and hilt gules the blade entwined with a serpent proper between two lions rampant respectant gules; the dexter base vert charged with a buck trippant or, on the sinister base per pale argent and sable a boar passant counterchanged. (So the field was indeed not "Quarterly" as I had at first suspected; it's even more complicated than that. Good to know!)

And Fairbairn’s Crests cites: Sullivan. On a ducal coronet or a robin holding in its beak a sprig of laurel proper. (A robin and not, as I had thought, a dove. Also good to know.)

Motto: Lamh foisdin eachan uœchtar (The hand of the one who rests above). This is a variant of the Sullivan motto cited in Fairbairn: Lamh foistinneach an uachdar (The gentle hand uppermost).

I don't recall having seen the use of a "motto belt" in place of the more usual motto scroll before. Interesting.