LAWTON ARMS

An excerpt from Lawton Ancestral Lines:

The report of the family line from its earliest known history, on preceding pages, includes information of the marriage of a son of the Davenport family and Agnes de Lauton of the seventh known generation of Lawtons. This is the eighth generation - counting in reverse order as this compiler does in this writing for reasons stated - from the generation of English Lawtons next preceding that of the first of the family in our line known to be in America.

With this marriage, Davenport changed his residence to Lauton, assumed the Lauton name, and husband and wife were grantees "of a message in Lauton from her grandfather Richard." The Lawton ancestral line proceeds from this union. (First spelled with 'w' about 1500)

Works on genealogy and heraldry contain various though similar descriptions of authenticated Lawton arms, Ormerod's famed history presenting the fullest, accompanied by a good-sized engraving. A copy of the latter in smaller size will accompany this writing. Ormerod's reference to the family arms is as follows:

"Arms - Argent, a fesse Sable between three cross crosslets of the second, on the fesse a cinquefoil Argent. [The original coat, however, was Or, a chevron between two cross crosslets in chief, Gules, and a dolphin in the base, Azure, being a combination of the coats of the early Lautons and the Davenports. The mantle of the present coat, given in the annexed engraving, is copied from the Arms of the family, carved on a snuff box formerly of Car. II.]

Crest - On the wreath a demi-wolf rampant Argent, licking a wound in the right shoulder, Gules.

[Arms - Or, a chevron between three dolphins, Gules, for Lauton ancient.]"

Interpretations: Or, gold or yellow, represented by dots if in black. Argent, white representing silver. Gules, red, represented by perpendicular lines. Sable represented by vertical and horizontal lines. Silver shield means clear conscience. Sable fesse, sash of commander. Cinquefoil on sash also means commander. Black cross crosslets with point at base means pilgrimage and applies. Dolphin means strength and swiftness; king of fishes; seeks its enemies furiously. Wolf, fierceness and a brave strategist. Rampant, standing upright on hind legs as if attacking a person. Chevron represents a rooftree and means protects country from its enemies. Mantle, "that appearance of folded cloth drawn about a coat of arms," - Webster. Man on whom arms conferred by sovereign said to have paid some $3,000, although supposed to be free.

From "Visitation of Cheshire," 1580, Harleian Society publications, another version:

"Arms - Argent, on a fesse between three cross-crosslets fitche Sable, a cinquefoil of the first, pierced of the second.

Crest - A demi-wolf salient, regardant Argent, vulned in the back Gules, and licking the wound.

These Arms and Crest were granted by Robert Cook, Clarencieux by l'res patentes. Dated 14 R. Elizabeth (1572)."

Clarencieux - (klar-en-shu) - In Great Britain, the second king at arms, so called from the Duke of Clarence, and appointed by Edward IV. His office is to marshal and dispose the funerals of all baronets, knights, and esquires, on the south of the river Trent. -- Old Webster

Still another description of the Lawton coat-of-arms is given in Burke's General Armory, 1884:

Arms - "Argent, on a fesse between three crosses crosslet fitche sable, as many cinquefoils of the field."

Crest - "A demi wolf salient regardant argent, vulned in the breast gules."

---

-end-

Click Here to Return to the Realm of Lawton Homepage