The sun., 1897-12-05
PURSUIT OF THE ANCESTOR.
An EnElnhmnn who Wants TO Look Up Coats
or Arms for Americans.


or Arms for Americans.
Whether or not every good American who
pays $15 for a copy of an English edition of an
American Armoury and Blue Book" is going to
find himself among the number of Americans
entitled to boar arms is n question which recent
circular sent to this country from London docs
not answer. But the circular does imply that
many Americans may enjoy the distinction who
are now deprived of 1t. This circular replies
moro in sorrow than in anger to tho following
arigraph from a London newspaper:
Americans complaining OF the omission OF their
names In recently published book OF Lists OF Fam.
ilics OF Great Britain anu Ireland" In this volume
twenty.four American families are mentioned AS
being entitled 10 use armouria bearings. The thou
what principle or selection these twenty. four were
fees the Heraids College are registered in this way
but certain 1t is that some OF the "bluest" blood
In the States has been ignored.
The names of the lucky twonty-four are not
revealed, but the necessity of subscribing Sl5
for the new book is eoquently expressed in
those words:
Such statements as the foregoing suggest not only
the need OF. but an undoubted demand for. the conf
pilation of work that shall aim being Complete
bearing Arms such work must be not only Of the
greatest personal interest from genealogical point
and antiquarian concern. Afmouriai Bearings. which
DR.. Johnson has rightly observed and shown
have a history that is unrlSsed for It's
n nd IN s a r., s in
days when the brotherhood of man Is emerging from
clear atmosphere OF realism in its PRACTICAL nppca
tion to the solution OF human problems. espel ialy
speaking Nations they weld together with invinci
Bile strength those social bonds OF union which bind
the most perfect Fellowship even across the broad
expanse OF the Atlantic.
The capitals are the authors and may be the
result OF his enthusiasm at contemplating the
great union of nations that is to follow so soon
as every American citizen has traced, or rather
had traced by this particular genealogist. his
relation 10 English families.
From the sample submitted it appears that
the best that the book can do for an American is
to print first his full name and then ali his other
names back of it, Just as the English books OF
heraldry do, and add in neat.looking row the
names of all his children with the dates of their
births marriages. and deaths after them in the
most approved English fashion and the word
issue oyer the top Then some coat of arms
person who has paid the $15 will be expected
TO think that he has got his moneys WORTH.
II aspGe hdnF FtSs Of
concern which 80 willingly comes to the assist
ancc OF Americans is willing for a somewhat
larger fee TO look UP a coat of arms. Tho cx-
pense of establishing pedigree" is matter
on which the English concern will not commit
itself. But the bcncfccnt results of its activity
arc summed up In these words:
In large majority of cases it will be found that
American families have "borne arms" and that
tnere are means OF establishing the right to bear
though this right through the vicssitudes OF
fortune or the restless ambition OF ancestors may
have been lost sight Of Genealogical research Is by
no means AZ expensive might be imagined, but
when general search has been conducted among
printed records becomes possible to give def
mite idea OF the cost OF establishing pedigree re.
gard being had to the fees charged for searches by
custodans OF Wills. parish registers, &C., and by other
public officials.
With the present enterprise on the part of
American publish who are getting up his.
tories of New York families 1t would look MS
II the Englishmcn were little too far off
this time several such publications are appear.
ing, and one publisher deyotes special mon thly
paper to every family that subscrbes. But
figures at which one may obtain the services OF
the English publisher. They rarely cost less
than $780, and some OF those published In this
city have sold for double that amount. Most OF
tho work, moreover. is done by the subscribers,
who send in to the publishers all the available
data about their families.