Arms of Wardens and Governors

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Arms of Wardens and Governors



This article by Norman Rybot was first published in the 1920 Annual Bulletin of La Société Jersiaise. A number of dates given in the original article for the start and end dates of terms of office have been found to be incorrect, and have been adjusted


As an introduction to the blazon of the Lords', Keepers', and Governors' Arms, it is perhaps necessary to make a few remarks on the position of Heraldry both in England and in this island.

Two schools of heraldry

In England, it would appear that two schools of Heraldry now exist: the Official and the Antiquarian. These schools are to a certain extent antagonistic to one another; for the former insists that Heraldry must continue to submit to the vagaries of official evolution; while the latter maintains that the only true Heraldry is that which flourished in those bygone ages when the art was of real and indeed often of vital importance - in war, when the leader was armour-clad, and in peace, when his ignorance of handwriting made his seal his signature.

On those ooccasions when she sought instruction in heraldic lore, Jersey has perforce turned for assistance to the Official School; and it is to this school she owes her "lionized-leopards" and her Payne's "Armorial". This "Armorial", valuable in so many respects, has, in others, unfortunately, increased rather than diminished the discredit and disrepute of heraldry and heraldic design, which already, and very naturally, existed in the minds of a public who took mostly from the pages of Sir Walter Scott's unscientific romances their knowledge - or rather ignorance - of the subject. The "Armorial", in fact, appears almost completely to have discouraged further investigation into Island Heraldry.

That such investigation is of importance to the local historian is apparent, when one studies the sealed documents upon which much of our history is ultimately founded. It is of even greater importance to the local artist or designer, who can only find in those ancient seals the vigorous and lively designs on which the success of his work must depend.

Had the study of the ancient seals been pursued, the States of Jersey would now be flying the Banner of Arms to which their shield entitles them, viz three gold leopards on a red field; and those well-fed catlike creatures that seem to purr on the official shield, on bronze coins or on Press notices, would have assuredly been ousted by the redoubtable beasts that lurk on the original 13th century seal of the old Bailiwick of Jersey.

References in libraries

In these latter days, however, some of the results of the accurate researches of the Antiquarian School have become accessible in this island; and the blazon which hereafter follows contains, for the convenience of local readers. special references to those works. In the Public Library a splendid summary of the Art of Heraldry is to be found in the eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, under the heading "Heraldry". And much accurate information is, in the same instisution, to be obtained from the pages of Archaeologia.

Members of La Société Jersiaise have also at their disposal in their library Sir John Hope's Grammar of English Heraldry and Heraldry for Craftsmen and Designers; also a complete edition of The Ancestor, a defunct quarterly replete with heraldic information of unquestionable accuracy.

The names of the persons whose Arms are now to be described, are taken from Julien Havet's Seigneurs et Gardiens des Iles Normandes with amendments by H M Godfray and others, and from the lists of Governors published by the Rev J A Meseervy. A large proportion of these names are famous in English history, having been borne by great soldiers and adventurers, who, during some three centuries, endeavoured to retain or to wrest back the possessions in France of the English crown.

When these possessions were on the point of being lost, the Channel Islands had strategic value as military and naval bases; but when they were actually lost and the hope of regaining them still remained, the Islands in consequence retained this value.

Eventually, when the Leopards were hunted back to their island lair, the French, during centuries of counter-attack, strove to drive the English from the Norman Archipelago - the last of their French possessions.

Consequently we find famous names appearing on our list to its very end - the last being Wellington's right-hand man, Marshal Viscount Beresford, on whose death in 1854, the title of Governor of Jersey fell into abeyance.

Some difficult to find

It follows that a great number of these arms are to be found with ease. Certain others, however, borne by persons of lesser importance, have been difficult, and, in some cases, impossible to trace. Some of the Keepers indeed, may never have borne arms; as for instance John Coke (Keeper in 1373), whose seal, preserved in the Public Record Office, London, is of antique classical design.

In other cases this roll contains arms concerning which doubt must still be entertained. eg to John de Roches "Sable, two leopards silver" has been assigned - a blazon taken from an ancient Roll in the possession of the Society of Antiquaries of London, which has been reproduced (in part) in the 11th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica in the article on heraldry. Therein figure the arms just given, under the narne of a "Mons de Roches", who certainly may not have been that John de Roches who built the Rochefort Tower at Mont Orgueil. In instances such as this. therefore. the remark" doubtful" or "unconfirmed" has been added.

Finally, where the names of two or more members of the same family occur, the paternal arms only are blazoned and the difference marks omitted.

(Note: The original article contained more information about some of the office holders, and references to details about their arms. Follow the links to Jerripedia biographies of the Wardens and Governors. In some cases spellings given in the article have been adjusted to those shown elsewhere and believed to be more accurate.)

  • John, Earl (Comte) of Mortain (1198-99): Gules, 2 leopards gold (seal on exhibition in British Museum)
  • Pierre de Préaux (1200-06): Gules, an eagle gold.
  • Hasculf du Suligny (1206-12): Quarterly, ermine and gules (unconfirmed). The namo Hasculf is now written "Hacquoil" in Jersey and pronounced 'haku'.
  • Geoffrey de Lucy (1224-26): Gules, three pikes, or luces, silver. (The first of the few 'canting' or 'punning' blazons in this list.
  • Philippe d'Aubigné (1212-24; 1232-34): Gules, an indented fesse of four fusils silver
  • Hugues de Saint Philibert (1226): Bendy of six pisee. silver and azure
  • Richard de Gray (1226-27)and brother John de Grey (1229-30; 1252-54) Lords of Codnor: Barry of silver and azure
  • William de St Jean (1227-29; 1232): Silver a chief gules with two gold molets thereon
  • Henri de Trubleville (1230-32; 1234-39) Azure, 2 gold sexifoils and a leopard of gold in the first quarter
  • Arnaud de St Amand (1232): Gold fretty sable, a chief sable with three bezants thereon
  • Philip de Carteret (1232): Gules, an indented fesse of four fusils silver
  • Gerard de Lambersard (1235): not yet disoovered
  • William Blom (1235):Silver, a saltire gules between four crosslets gules (doubtful).
  • William de Dampierre (1235): Silver, 3 lozenges sable (doubtful)
  • Drouet de Barentin (1235-52; 1258): Sable, three eagles silver
  • Guillaume de Bouelles, Boeles, Boheles or Buell (Keeper pro tem) (1240): not yet discovered. (Seneschal of Gascony in 1245).
  • Prince Edward (1254-72): England (gules, three leopards gold), with a label azure.
  • Richard, Duke of Cornwall (1270): Silver, a lion crowned gules, within a border sable, bezanté. (during Prince Edward's absence at the Crusades, Richard of Cornwall acted for him).
  • Hugh de Turberville (1268-70): Silver, a lion gules.
  • Arnaud Jean, de Contino (Bayonne) (1271-75): not yet discovered.
  • Otto de Grandison, or Graunson (1275-94; 1297-1328): Paly silver and azure, with a bend gules and three gold scallop shells on the bend
  • Sir Henry de Cobham (1294-97): gules, strewn with gold fleurs de lys, a cross silver
  • Sir Nicholas de Cheney (1297-98); William de Cheney (1231); Edmund de Cheney (1359-66): Gules, an indented fesse of four fusils silver, with a scallop shell sable on each fusil

(Note:A number of wardens in this gap are not included in the article)

  • Jean de Clyvedon (1324): Or, a lion azure, crowned gules.
  • Sir Ralph Bassett of Drayton (1326-27): Gold, 3 piles gules meeting in base, with a canton of ermine.
  • John de Roches (1326-27; 1328-30): Sable, 2 silver leopards (unconfirmed)
  • Robert de Norton (1326-27): Vert, a golden lion (unconfirmed)
  • Pierre Bernard de Pynsole, Pynchol or Pinzol, of Bayonne (1330-31): undiscovered
  • Laurens de Gaillard, Gallard or Gallars (of Bayonne) (1330-31): Gold, 3 crows (unconfirmed)
  • Thomas, second Lord Wake of Liddell (1331-33): Gold, two bars gules, with three roundels gules in the chief
  • Guillaume de Montagu, Earl of Salisbury (1334-37): Silver, a fesse indented of three fusils silver
  • Henry de Ferriers or Ferrers (1334-37), Thomas de Ferrers, (1337-41; 1343-48) Lords of Groby: Gules, 7 voided lozenges gold
  • Thomas de Hampton (1341-42): Silver, a cheveron gules between 3 cinquefoils azure, with 3 bezants on the cheveron. (Doubtful).
  • Gautier de Weston (1343): A cheveron between 3 crowns with 3 lions (?) on the cheveron
  • Robert Wyvill (1348): Gules, a cross silver fretty azure, between four molets gold.
  • Thomas de Clifford (1348): Checky gold and azure, a fesse gules.
  • Jean Mautravers (1348-54): Sable fretty gold, with a label ermine
  • Guillaume Stury of Rossall, Salop (1354-57): Silver, a lion purpure with a double tail
  • Thomas de Holland, Earl of Kent (1357); Otes de Holand, brother (1357-59): azure, strewn with fleurs de lys, a laopard rampant silver
  • Gautier Hewet, Huet or Huwet (1367-73): not yet discovered
  • Sir William Asthorp (1373): Silver, a cheveron sable between three martlets sable (doubtful)
  • John Coke (1373)
  • Edmond Rose (1373-76) A cross pommettee, with a small buckle in the first quarter. Colours not known.
  • Hugh Calvilegh or Calviley (1376-93): Silver, a fesse gules between 3 calves sable
  • Sir John de Golafre (1393-96): Wavy silver and gules, a bond sable with three bezants thereon Sir John was Ambassador of Richard to France. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
  • Edward, Duke of York (1396-1415): Quarterly France and England with a label of 3 pieces and 3 roundels gules on each piece
  • Sir Thomas Pickworth or Pykworth (1405): Silver, 3 picks gules, (unconfirmed)
  • John, Duke of Bedford (1415-35): Quarterly France and England, with a label of five pieces (2 of Brittany and 3 of France)
  • Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (1437-47) Quarterly France and England, within a border of silver
  • Anne de Beauchamp (1447-49): Gules, a fesse gold between six crosslets gold
  • Sir John Bernard (1447): Silver, a bear rampant sable, muzzled gold
  • John Nanfan (1452-61): Sable, a cheveron ermine between three silver wings
  • Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick (the King-maker) (1449-71): Gules, a saltire silver and a label gobony of silver and azure. Richard Neville was the last English Lord of the Isles
  • Pierre de Breze (1461-65); Jacques de Breze (1465-68) Comtes de Maulevrier. Rulers of Jersey after French invasion. Azure, a scutcheon silver with gold border, and an orle of eight crosslets gold.
  • Sir Richard Harliston (1468-85). First Governor of Jersey after French occupation ended. Silver, a saltire gules between four fleurs de lys azure
  • Matthew Baker or Basquer (1486-97). Party bend wise gold and silver. a lion (with a forked tail) azure, armed gules. On a chief gules, a cross formy-fitchy between two molets silver.
  • Sir David Philip (1486) appointed at same time as Baker, but possibly for Guernsey: Party bendwise gold and silver, a lion sable within a border gobony vert and silver
  • Thomas Ovray (1497-1500): Gold, three martlets azure (doubtful)
  • Jean Lempriere (1500-02): Gulesw, three eagles gold
  • Sir Hugh Vaughan (1502-31): Party purpure and azure, three pikes heads erect and erased gold, each swallowing a Welsh spearhead silver
  • Sir Anthony Ughtred (1532-34) Gules, a cross paty silver bearing five stars gules
  • Sir Arthur Darcy (1534-36): Azure, crusily silver, three cinquefoils silver
  • Thomas, Lord Vaux (1536-37): Cheeky gold and gules, a cheveron azure with three gold roses thereon
  • Sir Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset (1537-50): Quarterly. 1 and 4 gold six fleurs de lys azure, a pile of England. 2 and 3 gules, A lure of wings gold
  • Sir Hugh Paulet (1550-78); Sir Amias Paulet (1571-90); Sir Anthony Paulet (1590-1600): Sable, three silver daggers with gold hilts and pommels, points meeting in base. These arms are carved on gateways in both Mont Orgueil and Elizabeth Castles.
  • Sir Walter Raleigh (1600-03): Gules, a bend indented silverf. A martlet for difference
  • Sir John Peyton (1603-30): Sable, an engrailed cross of gold.
  • Sir Thomas Jermyn (1631-43);
  • Henry, Lord Jermyn (1644-1650; 1650-51; 1660-66);
  • Robert Rich, Earl of Warwick (1643) Gules, a cheveron gold between three crosslets gold
  • James, Duke of York (1649-50): The Royal Arms, as borne by the Stuarts, with a label ermine
  • Robert Gibbon (1655-59): Gold, a lion sable with three scallop shells sable
  • Sir Thomas Morgan (1665-79): Silver, three bulls heads caboshed, sable
  • Sir John Lanier (1679-84): Azure, a saltire lozengy gold between four gold eagles. This shield is carved in high relief on the north wall of the magazine in Elizabeth Castle.
  • Thomas, Lord Jermyn (1684-1703): Sable, a crescent silver between two silver stars in pile
  • General Henry Lumley (1703-22): Silver, a fesse gules and three parrots vert with beaks and legs gules, A crescent, for difference
  • Richard, Viscount Cobham (1723-49): Quarterly. 1 and 4 gold, an eagle sable. 2 and 3 silver, two bars sable with three gold maartlets on each bar
  • George Keppel, Earl of Albemarle (1761-72): Gules, three scallop shells silver
  • General Henry Seymour Conway (1772-95): 1 and 4 sable, a bend cotised silver, with a rose and two annulets sable on the bend. 2 and 3 as for the Lord Protector Somerset, a crescent for difference. The General's shield, carved in stone, was originally in position over the door in the old Royal Court House.
  • Sir George Howard (1795-96): Gules, a bend between six crosslets fitchy silver, with the augmentation for Flodden
  • George, First Marquis Townshend (1796-1807): Quarterly. 1 and 4 azure, a cheveron ermine and three scallops silver, 2 and 3, Vere. A crescent sable for difference
  • John Pitt, Earl of Chatham (1807-21): Sable, a fesse cheeky silver and azure, and 3 bezants
  • Marshal Viscount William Carr Beresford (1821-54): Silver crusilly fitchy and three fleurs de lys sable, a border wavy sable, ermined gold
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