Heraldry Used In Tree Climbing (2)

The next step in this "Heraldry" adventure was to use Burke and look up the surname JONES.  In this addition on pages 547 - 549 there are listed the "Armorial Bearings" for my surname.  One hundred and eight listings are given...can you believe it!  They read like..."Sa. a fesse embattled erm. betw. three boars' heads couped or."...and..."Ar. three bull's heads cabossed sa."...and..."Chequy or and sa. on a fess gu. three leopards' faces jessant-de-lis of the first".  Say what?  A new language it is.

Trying to sort through this organization of terms, abbreviations, flow of thought, and arrangement of words took a good amount of effort.  This effort lead to a number of discoveries, and opened a new area for my tree climbing experiences.  [Burke contains a "Glossary" describing the various markings, symbols, and abbreviations used.]  Needless to say, there were many other sources that added to a beginning understanding of this topic.

Some of the most helpful references on my book case are:

The Story of Heraldry, by L.G. Pine, first published 1952 with the last edition being revised 1963.

Simple Heraldry Cheerfully Illustrated, by Iain Moncreiffe & Don Pottinger, first published 1953 and reprinted 1956.

The Elements of Heraldry, by William H. Whitmore, first published 1958. [The title page states "An Explanation of The Principles of  The Science and A Glossary of The Technical Terms Employed and With an Essay Upon The Use of Coat-Armor in The United States.]

American & British Genealogy & Heraldry, compiled by P. William Filby, first published 1975.

Heralds And Ancestors, by Sir Anthony Wagner, 1978. [A Colonnade Book published by British Museum Publications Limited.]

A Complete Guide To Heraldry, by A.C. Fox-Davies, 1978.

A Guide to Heraldry, by Ottfried Neudecker, 1979.

Heraldry Illustrated, by W.H. Abbott, 1897.

Concise Encyclopedia of Heraldry, by Guy Cadogan Rothery, first published 1915 and reprinted 1985.

Wow...enough you say.  Other books on my shelf provide additional information. 

Into The Same Boat

For what would you give your life?  This existence as we know it.  For some it may be their family.  For others it may be their country.  An idea perhaps... a belief... or issue that is priority for ones life, may head the list.  We would probably choose not to think about it, but our ancestors often did.

Asking what did our ancestors give their life for, will often help us understand their life, and at times help us get around some of those brick walls.  It was not until I started asking these types of questions to my ancestors, that I got help getting the connections across the big pond.

My genealogy research had led me to the shores of Virginia.  The folks there had made their way across this big pond prior to 1650.   How in the world do you climb out the correct branch across all this water?   Why did they come?  What forces or events made them risk their lives on this difficult and trying adventure. [ I am sure that not all would have considered it an adventure!]

I had also spent years on the other side of the pond looking for connections.  A common bond, a common life event, a common experience that might put some of these folks into the same boat.

The English Civil War was such an event. [1638-1660 depending on who's side you read.]  This complex, social, political, religious, cultural series of events cost many their lives and fortunes.  It was this time in my family that they were basically forced to leave their home...to get on those boats...and cross the great pond.  It was a good thing for me that not all gave their life.

What about your ancestors?