Smyrna times., 1881-07-06
For the Smyrna Times.
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EngIand,l (America,
1889. 1862.
rHEEAGLEAND THERED, WHITE ANDBLUE
Fourth of July, 1881.
Mr.. EDITOR This day being the |
nations anniversary, and the eagle still
our emblem of Liberty, and the red, white
and blue our national colors, floating to-
dav over an unbrolxen and unbreakable
union and unfurled on every sea and in
every harbor all around the world, my
thoughts have turned to fact in family
history that have never before publicly
referred to. do so now, because in my
"reminiscences of Smyrna 30 years ago"
published in the TINES. | incidentally
alluded to the prominence of the Winners
in connection with the church OF England
in America. prior to the Revolution also
of the P. f. Church in its organization
and subsequent history. Since then and
especially since the publication of some
Genealogical articles, have received in
0uiries from a number of persons not re-
lated to or connected with the Winners,
hut persons interested ia church history,
asking if know anything of the aptece
dents of the family in England prior to
1862. when Simon Wilmer the progenitor
of the family in America, emigrated to the
Isle of Kent, in the Province of Maryland
For the information Of churchmen and
others who may feel interested in the
history of family that has been so large
ly identified with and so prominently
represented in both the Clergy and Bish-
Opric's and Educational Institutions of the
z. E. Church and Colleges of this country,
have concluded to send you brief state
ment of leading facts, emitting details,
(which. however, have the data for and
will merely say that the Winners of Eng.
land. were an ancient and distinguished
family. They were seated of RaytOn,
Meridian. and Starton, County of War
wick, and of Sywell, County Of NOrthamp-
ton. England. Their Coat Of Arms was
confirmed February 1g, 1882, three hun
dred years ago. 1t is Gules-( Red disk
A chevron vair, (patches of fur, bell shape,
blue and white) between three full spread
eagles in gold-Crest, an eagles head
between two wings expanded. See Banks
General Armory, and Fairbanks crests,
London, vol. l, page 500, Plate 81, crest 10.
Here let me say, that the fact, that in
the last ten wears over 5000 persons have
consulted books of heraldry in the Aston
Library, alone shows that this country
has a great many scholars in special direc
tions who read to exhaust subject anC
ascertain all there is in relation to it, with
ont any thought of giving to the public
the results they have reached.
You will observe that in this Coat o
Arms, the Crest is spread eagle in golC
and the colors of the Shield are red, white
and blue
Two hundred years after the Crown iaG
confirmed this Coat of Arms to the vii
mers, the eagle became our national em
hiem and the red, white and blue on
national colors. The fact that both tn
emblem and cOlOrs are identical, is
noteworthy coincidence.
The Winners were true to their color
In l776, and in 1912. In the late civil wa
IaanY Of them were faithful found amon
the faithless; among the false unmoved
llnshaken, unreduced, unterrifed; Thei
loyalty they kept, their zeal their love-"
wish could say as much for all {
lhe name, but, HumGRun es! eTTGre and i
truth do not ON this anniversary da
desire, MfaHdam re noUdre doLOrum.
Recently you published q. description
sent you of a family Bible printed 500
after the King James translation of 16Il
have another heirloom that has descend
ed through five generations. 1t is SUI
posed to be about 200 years old, but hs
NSh
nitely stated. 1t is small, bulls ey
gold hunting watch. The face is curiOu
such as you see ON the very anciel
.,Grand-fathers elocksH The Messrs Sal
Tiers (old jewellers jR Baltimore) say Il
sniy duplicate of this watch that the
1aye eyer seen, is In the family of Charl
carroll, of Carrollton. Theirs like miI
still running. They were both made |
collins, London, ! wear naine daily al
ma M 80 good time piece that i {
not have to follow the instructions giv'
oy Captain Cutie lin Domby & SOM
Walr my lad" who when he ga
Walter his watch as a parting gift, to
nm to put it back half an hour eve
morning and about another quarter I
wards the afternoon and its watch that
10 ,yoa credit" Notwithstanding I'll
aeclaration, a friend TO whom have ju
shown the watch, says he is sure it is n
worth a cuss and that weay IL on
Because my ancestors wore it ceptgr
ago, -'s,ssIrs III III