The Washington herald., 1914-09-06
A CORNER IN ANCESTORS.
By FRANCES COWLES.

The Rosser family is OF English origin.
the name originally meaning "a dweller
upon the heath or promontory. The
only coat OF arms for the family belongs
to the family of County Suffolk, England.
II Is as follows: Or on a cross formee
sable. FIVE estoiles Of the field. Crest, an
arm endowed and erect from the elbow.
habited or. Cuffed ermine holding in the
hand four leaves vert.
To Mrs. W. NJ r. who asks for in
formation about the McRrayer or Mac
briar family. OF South Carolina.
This family is probably akin to the
Scotch family of McBriare. Motherhood.
Dumfries County. to whom belongs the
following coat Of arms: Argent a Jesse
gulos between three stars in chief and
a lion rampant in base OF the last.
Crest. a lion rampant gules. Can any Of
our readers tell US anything about the
South Carolina family Of the name?
To s NJ. who asks for information
about tho Shrevo family. Of Holland. with
description Of coat ~ arms Of the family
The custom Of bearing family coats Of
arms was not usual among the Dutch
and 50 the family Of Shreve, though an
ancient one. possesses no coat OF arms
have been unable to find any record
Of the American Shrevcs Can any OF
our readers help Us in getting this in
formation?
To !. II. p. H.. who asks for informa-
tion about the Hall family who landed IN
Charleston :. .. about 1890 and Of the
Blair family. who came from Scotland
to Wilmington. y. 9. in colonial times
7 have boon unable In any record Of the
American Hall family to find mention Of
tho Halls who landed in CharIestown,
y. G. \ distinguished American family
~ tn" name. tho Halls. Of Virginia. hears
the following coat OF arms: Three tigers
heads. and the crest. a lion rampant This
coat or arms was engraved on a snufr
box belonging to Thomas Hall. In 1873
an advertisement appeared to recover
this snuff box. which had been lost, and
in this Advertisement appeared the de-
sCription Of the coat Of arms as above
given by wav Of Identification Of the
snun box This was the Thomas Hall
who married Molly. daughter Of Mai.
Henry Power. in James city, IN 49,. He
was probably a grandson Of Thomas
Hall Of New Kent County. Va. who was
executed IN 1875 because Of the part he
took in Racon's rebellion. Whether or
not members Of this family settled in
North Carolina does not appear in the
records
Their" is some information about the
blair family in question 10 he found in
Saurd"-s "EarIv Settlers in Alabama
According 10 that authority a James
blair. ~ the waxhaw settlement Ca
tauha River. Lancaster County. :. c.
was the only child. probably. Of James
Blair. who with a brother John came
from Antrim. ireland. They were Of
SCotCh-Trish parcntage. James Blair. the
only son. married and had John. James.
who settled in Mobile. Ala: Sarah Dick
ev. Mary Hayser. and lane DiCkev.
In the CenealoEv Of the Rolling family
there is interesting reference TO the John
Blair who married daughter Of Archi-
bald Rolling. This John blair was a
graduate Of William and Mary College.
and had prenared for the profession Of
Law in the Temnle. London. He was a
member Of the House Of BurSesses and
a member of the Virginia convention. In
17Ss Madison. Washington. and this John
Blair were the Virginia siEners Of the
Federal Constitution. He Is said to have
been descended from p brother Of the
"Coumissioner James blair as are all
In Virginia excent the descendants from
tho Rev. John Blair. ~ Richmond"
The Commissioner Rlair was commits
siorer Of the BishoT Of London for VIr-
Cin'a and came 70 this country in 1858
after having withdrawn from Scotland
70 England for religious reasons. In 1892
he obtained from King William the char
ter for William and Mary College. He
died childless at an advanced age and
was buried in Jamestown. his heirs be-
Ing his nephews. His fine library he
gave to the college no had bsen Ins+ru-
mental in founding.