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Arms & RegaliaA coat of arms is a visual heraldic design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard. The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in its whole consists of a shield, supporters, a crest, and a motto. A coat of arms is typically used by an individual person, family, state, organization, school or corporation.
Historically, heraldic arms and other regalia were only granted to a specific individuals, rather than a family. Official Coats of Arms are considered legal property, in some countries, and can only be used undifferentiated by one person at any given time. Other descendants of the original bearer could bear the ancestral arms only with some change, usually a different color or the addition of a distinguishing charge. One notable, and important exception to this would be in Ireland, where arms can be granted and used, unaltered, by verifiable and registered direct descendants and sometimes even verifiable septs. In all cases this would then need to be approved and registered by the appropriate regulatory authority.
Arms. Shields, Badges, and other regalia shown below are those we know of, granted to various Jam?son from Aberdeenshire and the North East part of Scotland.
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This is the oldest use of this basic design we know of. Early references to these arms are best described[1] as: Azure, on a saltire or, between four ships argent, flagged gules, a rose of the last. They are also mentioned differently in two other places[2][3] and described there as "Argent, on a saltire or [!] between four ships sable, a rose guiles." The arms are said to be displayed on the "Heraldic Ceiling" at Marischal College, in Aberdeen, Scotland.[3][4] It might be important to note here that most heraldic scholars have issue with the heraldic description of this latter description of these arms, in that the "or" (gold) saltire on a argent (white or blank (silver metallic)) shield is outside of generally accepted heraldic rules. It is suggested that the color was most likely meant to have been "azure" (blue-sea). However, if that was the case, then the four ships "sable" (black) would not have been correct, that perhaps they should have been "argent" (silver) but had tarnished (silver oxidizes to black over time) and that this was as such wrongly interrupted and then incorrectly repeated, at some later date. |
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This is the oldest use of this basic design we know of. Early references to these arms are mentioned in a number of places[5] and best described (and illustrated on the cover) by John Bulloch, in his book "The Scottish VanDyck" as "Argent-a fessi wavy, azure, between three anchors. Motto, Sine Metu (Without Fear). The crest is a ship in full sail with a flag displayed.[6] |
There has long been a legend amongst Jam?sons, that there once were two illegitimate sons of King James I of Scotland, with the surname Jamesone, who were ship owners and mariners at Aberdeen. King James gave them the task to arm their ships for an expedition against Norwegians, Pirates and others of the King's enemies, which at that time had infested the north coast of Scotland. They were both successful in their expedition and did good service for the country. In his appreciation and gratitude of this, King James I granted them Armorial Bearings : A Shield with three Anchors divided by a Fese wavy - For a crest a Roman Galley armed, with sails spread and flags displayed proper - The Motto: Sine metu ad Littora tendid (Without Fear he Defends the Coast) - This the brothers divided, one adopting the first part, the other the second part.[7] Sometimes this legend included that their mother was a Janet (Jonat) Gunn, a concubine of the King.
Suffice to say, we do not know who these Jamresone brothers of Aberdeen actually were, nor if any other part of the above legend is true and accurate. Typical of most legends, very little validation of this tale can be found or even otherwise verified. However, because this supposedly happened in Aberdeen and because the description of the arms and motto seem to match those arms we know (above), it would seem appropriate to mention here. Further details and analysis can be found here and here.
| [1] | Scottish Notes and Queries - Vol X, Jun 1896-May 1897. Aberdeen p.5, # 22 |
| [2] | Records of the Marischal College and University, Aberdeen - Vol.1, Endowments, Peter John Anderson, (The Aberdeen University Press -1889), p.221. |
| [3] | Apparently destroyed about 1840 - Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Vol XXIII, Session MDCCCLXXXVIII-LXXXIX, (Neil & Company - Edinburgh - 1889). p.169-177. |
| [4] | Doric Columns - The History of the City of Aberdeen - Marischal College & University 1593 |
| [5] | Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Vol XXIII, Session MDCCCLXXXVIII-LXXXIX, (Neil & Company - Edinburgh - 1889) |
| [6] | George Jamesone - The Scottish VanDyck, John Bulloch, (Edinburgh - David Douglas - 1885), p.190. |
| [7] | Typically as: here |
