Some Acheson Coats of Arms

THE FOUR MARYS.MID

It should be noted from the outset, that this section is not meant to imply that the coats here exhibited are the property of anyone, except to the single individual to whom they rightfully descend (under Scottish law). That being said, it is possible that some of these coats may now be ownerless, and since if the proper line of descent has since died out, descendants of the next in line of succession may be unaware of their right to reclaim the arms. Should an individual eventually find out that they do have right to a coat of arms, they may petition the Lord Lyons of Scotland to have their lineal coat updated or reinstated (very expensive).

However, it is possible for an individual descended from a person bearing such a coat (along any legitimate line of descent) to utilize a variation of their ancestor's coat, provided that it has been diffentiated in some fashion to indicate descent from someone other than the eldest son. This may be done in unregistered fashion (ironically except in Scotland). A new registered coat of arms might also be granted by the Lord Lyons of Scotland, or some other body, if lineal descent can be proven.

Scotland is particularly strict about its arms usage even to the present day.

If anyone viewing these coats can provide any additional information reguarding them, please submit it to AGES and share it with the Clann. Images of other variant coats are also highly desireable...

This is an image provided by Richard David Acheson, Jr. the AGES Chief Herald and Page Founder, from a forgotten internet source listing several assorted coats of arms. I believe it is taken from a book of plates which this genealogist has seen, and will try to find again. The surname spelling was for most of the others below- ACHESON. The plain form of this coat might indicate that it is one of the oldest of these coats.

Image from Halbert's Family Heritage, The World Book of Achesons, utilized here without permission, as they never bothered to ask us if they could use it either! Image created from Burke's General Armory citation and said to have been the oldest listed in that source.

Image provided by AGES Founding Member and Chief Editor James Etchison. It is taken from Halbert's Family Heritage, The World Book of Etchisons, utilized here without permission. The image was created from a Burke's General Armory listing. The cross staff and astrolabe together probably insinuate some connection with ships or shipping.

This image and the one below are provided by Richard David Acheson, Jr. the AGES Chief Herald and Page Founder, from forgotten internet sources. Perhaps a good example of some sort of impaling of two coats (the hand likely added- for a younger son, or perhaps a noteable intermarriage with some family utilizing a hand or glove, such as the one below).

See note above. This is a coat belonging to the O''Neill Clann of Co. Tyrone, N. Ireland. taken from and unknown internet source.

Image provided by AGES Founding Member and Chief Editor James Etchison from an unknown internet source. It would appear that this coat has been varied by removing one of the eagles heads from the typical Acheson coat.

The image above was provided by AGES Founding Member and Chief Editor James Etchison from an unknown internet source. A good example of how a coat of arms might be used to reinforce and verify associations between some variations on the Acheson surname. Notice that this coat contains the same basic double eagle crest as the others, but otherwise seems considerably more divergent than the rest, as though the seemingly extreme variation of Atkinson from the Acheson spelling of the surname might lead one to believe that these two surname variants split at some point distant in the past. The coats seem to have literally evolved apart from one another. The continued double eagle motif hawever continues to hint at a single ancient forerunner for all of these coats. It would be interesting to see if other variations of the surname exhibit such similarities.

This is an image of a fairly recent coat of arms for the Acheson Earl of Gosford. Provided by AGES Founding Member Verona Alice Douglas. (perhaps via Cedric Robert Acheson- Deceased)

 

In my opinion, I don't subscribe to what Scottish law says about the usage of a variation on an ancient Acheson coat of arms. I feel that today they are the collective property of the Acheson family, as our Clann's motifs, while Scotland at present merely documents them. Many of our most noteable ancestors and kinsmen have used variations of the black double-headed eagle as the symbol of their heritage, and I believe that we should reclaim it here as our own. Though the English may have disbanded our Clann and scattered it to the four winds, that does not change the fact that we are still Clann. Both through my research and in my heart, I know that the ancient device of the black double-headed eagle is as Acheson as water is wet.

The blood of some distant collective Acheson ancestor yet flows through our veins. Scottish law has carried little weight with me or mine, since the Act of the Union of Crowns (1707). It is they who have lost their way, not us! If you don't believe that then just look at what they did to their own people in the 1600's. Have we all so soon forgotten the Scottish Declaration of Independence sealed at Arbroath? Our own Clann Chief, Sir Adam Gordon who led us at Bannockburn, helped to hand deliver it to the Pope in 1320. As Scots we were a free and sovereign people, and through the Arbroath Declaration we stated that no amount of punishment that the English might deliver unto us would make us bow down to them.

So what happened? We actually permitted the English to steal the very Scottish Monarchy itself from us- not once, but three times! First when Edward I (hammer of the Scots) stole the Stone of Scone and forced John Balliol to pay homage, next with the Act of the Union of Crowns, and finally by turning many of Scotlands own countrymen against their rightful Stuart Kings, to side with a German born line that yet reigns today.

There is in fact a light at the end of the tunnel though. Scotland has at last voted to reinstate its own Parlaiment on Jan 1, of the year two thousand and roughly 68% of the population now support full independence. Borrowing from an old prophecy- "As Rome was, and London is, Edinburgh will be..."

I am an Acheson descendant; and if you are reading this, then you evidently are too. Always remember that no law ever written may bind us from calling one another Kin or Clann. It is a right of our very birth, not something that can be given or taken by any scrap of paper. The definition of a Clann is- an extended family who are descended from a collective ancestor. By blood we are still descended from that very same common ancestor that we were of old. That is immutable, and will never change. In my mind we are yet Clann- always have been- and always will be.

I hope that you too will reclaim your birthright. By joining us here at AGES, in the spirit of common roots, you have taken a good step in that direction. Remember too, that you are part Scot, as am I. That also is a right of birth that can not be taken away. King Robert the Bruce himself was principally of Norman blood, but none would dare to call him not a true Scot. Being a Scot is in the blood, surely and truly- but even more than blood, it is in the heart... as it was in the now legendary Heart of the Bruce; and like he, I know where my heart lies...

"My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here;

My heart's in the Highlands a chasing the deer;

Chasing the wild deer; and following the roe;

My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go..."

Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)

 

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