Dirk Weissleder appointed General Secretary of ICGH

From Dirk Weissleder:

The General Assembly of the International Confederation of Genealogy and Heraldry (Confédération Internationale de Généalogie et d`Héraldique, CIGH) on Friday, 20.09.2019 in Antwerp, Belgium, elected Dirk Weissleder (50), Chairman of the German umbrella organization (DAGV), from Laatzen near Hanover, as its General Secretary. Weissleder, who heads the German umbrella organization for family history research (genealogy) and heraldry, succeeds the Russian Dr. Stanislav V. Dumin from Moscow, who was elected 3rd Vice President. Weissleder is the first German to hold the position of General Secretary of the World Federation.

The CIGH was founded in 1971 in Brussels as the worldwide umbrella organization of genealogical and heraldic associations and has its headquarters in Paris. The aim is the international exchange, networking and cooperation between associations and federations in the fields of genealogical-heraldic research and studies. Dirk Weissleder, who is at the same time 2nd Vice President and co-founder of the worldwide umbrella organization for German genealogy of the International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP), said in his inaugural speech: "Genealogy and heraldry are currently facing undreamt-of challenges that are very similar worldwide despite all their differences. The question arises: Why do I need associations when I get "everything" on the Internet? And in addition, genealogy and heraldry often present themselves internationally as unconnected islands. This is a great opportunity to learn more with and from each other and to connect the individual players." He continued: "My term in office begins in a phase of upheaval and I am convinced that the future of genealogy and heraldry will be decided today and not sometime in the future".

The world association currently has around 80 member organizations and associated partners from 43 countries on five continents. In addition to the annual meetings, the biennial International Congress of Genealogy and Heraldry is considered to be the highest event, organized in close cooperation with the two International Academies of Genealogy (AIG) and Heraldry (AIH). The next 34th International Congress will be held in Madrid in October 2020.

Pic: CIGH President Pier Felice degli Uberti from Italy (right) welcomes Dirk Weissleder as new General Secretary of the World Federation ofGenealogie and Heraldry (CIGH)

(With thanks to Dirk, and congrats!)

Chris

Order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. My next Scottish Research Online course starts 2 September 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

New Windsor Herald of Arms appointed

For those interested in heraldry, the latest appointment of a herald to the College of Arms (www.college-of-arms.gov.uk) in England:

By Letters Patent under the Great Seal dated 5 July 2019, Her Majesty The Queen has been pleased to appoint John Michael Allen-Petrie, Rouge Croix Pursuivant of Arms, to the Office of Windsor Herald of Arms, vacant by the retirement of William George Hunt, Esquire, T.D.

The College of Arms has no jurisdiction over Scottish heraldry, but is instead the body which oversees matters armorial in the rest of the UK. For the body which oversees Scottish heraldry, visit the Court of the Lord Lyon website at www.courtofthelordlyon.scot.

(With thanks to @yorkherald via Twitter - original announcement at https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/news/item/166-windsor-herald)

Chris

Pre-order Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) for just £11.99 at https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-Family-History-on-the-Internet-Paperback/p/16483. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

New website for the Court of the Lord Lyon

I've just noticed that the Court of the Lord Lyon, which regulates the use of heraldry in Scotland amongst other things, has changed - the new site is available at https://www.courtofthelordlyon.scot/.

Amongst the offerings on the site is a blog and a FAQs section.

Have fun exploring!

Chris

My next Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs course starts May 13th 2019 - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=302. Details of my genealogical research service are available at www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk. For my Scottish and Irish themed books, visit https://britishgenes.blogspot.com/p/my-books.html. Further news published daily on The GENES Blog Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

Trumped in attempts to acquire a Coat of Arms

The New York Times is reporting an update to an old heraldic story, that the Court of the Lord Lyon (www.lyon-court.com) in Scotland challenged Donald Trump over his intentions to use a coat of arms on his Scottish golf courses. The Lyon Court's intervention forced a change to the design in 2012 that the US president wished to use.

The update is as follows:

"By 2012, when the golf course in Aberdeenshire opened, the new coat of arms had appeared. The same one is used at Mr. Trump’s course in Ayrshire, on Scotland’s west coast, which he bought in 2014. That year, Mr. Trump trademarked the redesigned emblem.

"Britain’s trademark office would not initially acknowledge the earlier application by Mr. Trump. It provided a copy last month only after The New York Times made a Freedom of Information request, and would not say why the application was rejected, citing a law restricting its ability to release information.

"The College of Arms, which oversees coats of arms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, provided more detail. The emblem originally submitted in 2007 by Mr. Trump to Britain’s trademark office matched one that had been granted to Mr. Davies, an American of Welsh descent who once served as ambassador to the Soviet Union."


The coat of arms that the American president wished to use had previously been granted in 1939 to Joseph Edward Davies. The only difference was that the Trump organisation apparently changed the motto from "Integritas" (Latin for "integrity") to the much more imaginitive err.... "Trump".

A key point here for genealogists is that the use of someone else's coat of arms in Scotland is a breach of the law, effectively amounting to theft, and for which you can be prosecuted by the Court of the Lord Lyon, which has its own procurator fiscal (public prosecutor). The College of Arms (www.college-of-arms.gov.uk) in England also sets rules for armorial issues, although it does not have its own public prosecutor.

The full New York Times story is at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/28/business/trump-coat-of-arms.html?_r=0.


Chris

My next 5 week Scottish Research Online course commences Sept 11th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102.
For details on my Scottish & Irish genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.
For my genealogy research service, please visit http://www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk.

Coat of Arms heraldry database

I've been asked to give a mention to a heraldry website which may be of interest to some readers. It is called the Coat of Arms Database, and is located at www.coadb.com. Site founder John Lehman describes its properties as follows:

a) Whereas other websites depict only the shield, we depict the crest and supporters (if present)
b) Whereas other websites only have one arms per surname, we list multiple arms per surname (ex. we have 54 arms for Allen)
c) We include the blazon for the arms and the source of the blazon.
d) We try not to use the erroneous term "family crest" which implies arms belong to a family as opposed to individuals

NB: Note the last point in particular, for which the site also states "Purchasing products featuring these arms does not entitle you to claim the arms as your own". There are just under 8200 coats of arms depicted on the site just now, though Mr Lehman states that the intention is to expand further from this.

Note also that there are many authoritative guides available on heraldry and heraldic records for genealogical purposes, not least of which is the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings from 1672-1913, for Scottish heraldic records, as regulated by the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh (www.lyon-court.com). This is available on the ScotlandsPeople website (www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk).

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

Cheshire Heraldry Society talks programme

Cheshire Heraldry Society talks programme for 2015/16:

Sept 26th 2015
The Regalia of Ashton Court Leet. Martin Goldstraw

Oct 17th 2015
Heraldry at Aldermaston. John Titterton

Nov 21st 2015
The heraldry at Thrumpton Hall, Notts. Vic Taylor

Jan 16th 2016
Grants of Arms by ‘Private’ Individuals in England and Wales c.1300-1450. Adrian Ailes

Feb 20th 2016
Aspects of Wiltshire Heraldry. Steve Slater

March 20th 2016
Ockwells Manor. John Titterton

Apr 16th 2015
Annual General Meeting.

Further details along with venue and times can be found on the Society’s web page at http://cheshire-heraldry.org.uk/weblog/

(With thanks to Martin Goldstraw)

Chris

The latest British GENES podcast is available at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/podcasts.html. For details on my latest book Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, and my other genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.

Glasgow to host heraldry conference in 2016

News concerning a heraldry conference coming to Glasgow in 2016:

The 32nd International Congress of Genealogical and Heraldic Sciences will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from Wednesday 10 August until Saturday 13 August 2016.

Organised under the auspices of the Academie Internationale de Genealogie and the Academie Internationale d'Héraldique, this is a biennial event, dedicated to topics of heraldic and genealogical interest, and bringing together scholars and other interested persons from around the world.

Recent Congresses have been held in St Andrews (2006), Quebec (2008), Stuttgart (2010), Maastricht (2012) and Oslo (2014). The Oslo Congress programme is still available online, and gives a flavour of the event (https://www.congress2014.no/).

Register your interest for Glasgow 2016 at www.congress2016.scot - more programme details will emerge, and there will be a call for papers on the theme of "Origins and Evolution".

For the first time, students of Genealogy and Heraldry will be encouraged to offer Poster Presentations.

(With thanks to Bruce Durie)

Chris

For details on my range of genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.

Obtaining copies of recent grants of Arms in Scotland

I'm doing some research at the moment which has involved the exploration of a 17th century Coat of Arms as part of a gentleman's story that I am investigating. Although I'm clued up on the basics, heraldry is one of those subject areas where I rarely tread, but in pursuit of this, I contacted the Lord Lyon's office in Edinburgh. The Court of the Lord Lyon is the body which has responsibility for the granting of Arms in Scotland, for prosecuting the illegal use of Arms, as well as for various other ceremonial functions. The wonderful Sophie Reilly, the court secretary, has been exceptionally helpful, noting a recent matriculation of the Arms that I am interested in from 1999, which is a potential research avenue I'm now pursuing.

This raised a broader question, the answer for which may be of interest. In terms of obtaining the recent grant of Arms, it occurred to me that I had no idea what the mechanism was to do so. The ScotlandsPeople website at www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk hosts the digitised images of grants of Arms from the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings from 1672 (when it commenced) to 1913, which cost £10 each to download. I therefore asked Sophie what the procedure was for entries recorded after this. It's very easy - simply email the Lyon office and for a fee of £15 they will send an image by email and a transcript of the entry in the Public Register. Contact details for the Lyon Office are available at www.lyon-court.com.

And remember that it is illegal to use someone's coat of Arms in Scotland if they are not granted in your name, as a set of Arms can only be owned by one person. If you don't own them, but use them, you're essentially committing theft. Best avoided really - I've seen the outfits of the Officers of Arms, and they look like they mean it...! :)

(With thanks to Sophie Reilly)

Chris

For details on my range of genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.

Forthcoming IHGS courses

Two forthcoming events at the Institute for Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (www.ihgs.ac.uk) in Canterbury:

Professional Approach Seminar 2015 - 7th March 2015.
The course has been confirmed as running and places are filling up. So do book early to avoid disappointment.

If you wish to develop your hobby into a part or full time occupation then this seminar day will provide invaluable advice and assistance. All genealogists, whether practising or not, are invited to join in discussion of research and business practices. The day will be led by professional genealogists.

Heraldry - 21st February 2015
Many genealogists and family historians turn aside from heraldry with the misconception that it is not for them but rather some medieval mystery. This course aims to show that the records of heraldry can be of great use to family historians and is suitable for absolute beginners and those with some experience. Practical guidance will be given on how to understand heraldry and how to identify coats of arms.

The price for each course is £40.00 or £35.00 for IHGS Members and correspondence course students. Buffet lunch is included. To book, visit http://www.ihgs.ac.uk/shop/contents/courses/dayresieven_courses/index.html.

(With thanks to the IHGS)

Chris

For details on my range of genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.

College of Arms Clerk of Records passes away

The College of Arms, the heraldic authority for England and Wales, has announced that its Clerk of the Records and chief scrivener, Keith Alexander Evans MVO, passed away on December 22nd 2014.

A short statement paying tribute to his sixty years of service to the college is available at http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/news/item/107-keith-evans-mvo

(With thanks to @yorkherald via Twitter)

Chris

For details on my range of genealogy guide books please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. To commission me for genealogical research, please visit my research site at www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk.

Dr Joseph Morrow is new Lord Lyon King of Arms

The new Lord Lyon King of Arms is Dr Joseph Morrow, following in the footsteps of David Sellars, who is stepping down from the post after five years in office. The Lord Lyon is the senior authority in Scotland on all things to do with heraldry, and holds a judicial post - in Scotland, breaches on the law of arms can be prosecuted at the Court of the Lord Lyon (www.lyon-court.com).

The official Government press release is at http://scottishgovernment.presscentre.com/News/New-Lord-Lyon-King-of-Arms-appointed-856.aspx - for more coverage on on the appointment visit http://forargyll.com/2014/01/advocate-and-student-of-heraldry-takes-up-ancient-position-as-new-lord-lyon-king-of-arms/ and www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/dundee/former-dundee-councillor-joe-morrow-made-lord-lyon-king-of-arms-1.178550.

COMMENT: Still no Lady Lyoness then!

Chris

My latest genealogy books are Tracing Your Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records, and Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet. My next Pharos course is Scottish Research Online, which commences Feb 27th 2014, 5 weeks, price £45.99.

Wanted - new Lord Lyon King of Arms

David Sellar, the current Lord Lyon King of Arms, is to retire in December after 5 years in post at the Court of the Lord Lyon (www.lyon-court.com), the main administrative body for heraldic law in Scotland, which has slightly more legal oomph than its English counterpart as it is considered part of the civil law of Scotland. You steal someone's coat of arms in Scotland, they'll 'ave ye!

The Scottish Courts are currently advertising for a replacement at www.scotcourts.gov.uk/news/all-news/2013/10/18/the-office-of-lord-lyon-king-of-arms-vacancy.

For more on the story visit www.bletherskite.net/2013/10/21/situations-vacant-lord-lyon-king-of-arms/.

Chris

My latest book, Discover Scottish Civil Registration Records, is now available from http://www.gould.com.au (print) and http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html (ebook), whilst Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet is available at http://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Tracing-Your-Irish-History-on-the-Internet/p/3889/. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the OPRs, starts Nov 13th - see http://pharostutors.com.

New website for Coat of Arms journal

A new website has been launched for The Coat of Arms, the bi-annual Journal of the Heraldry Society. The site carries details of the latest issue and also contents listings for all journals back to 2005. It can be consulted at www.the-coat-of-arms.co.uk.

(With thanks to Peter O'Donoghue @yorkherald)

Chris

My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!

Cornish heraldry

This one just popped up in a Google alert - a Wikipedia page on heraldry from Cornwall. I'm all for something different! It's an interesting read at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_heraldry.

Chris

My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!

Heraldry talk in Dunleer

The Dunleer and District Historical Group are hosting a talk in Dunleer on Thursday February 28th at 8pm, providing an introduction to Heraldry in Ireland, with a particular focus on mid-Louth. The speaker is Seamus Bellew, the venue is Dunleer Parish Hall. Further details at www.midlouthhistory.com.

(With thanks to the Press Display website at www.pressdisplay.com)

Chris

Pre-order my new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, through Pen and Sword (30 April 2013), or purchase early at Who Do You Think You Are Live 2013 in London. For my other genealogy books, please visit  http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html; whilst for my online Scottish based genealogy courses please visit the Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd site.

Heraldry talk in Tudhoe

A heraldry talk will be given at the Tudhoe and Spenymoor Local History Society on January 28th by Ollie Burton. Further details at www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10171758.Historian_s_talk_on_heraldry_and_North_East_families/

Chris

Pre-order my new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, through Pen and Sword (30 April 2013), or purchase early at Who Do You Think You Are Live 2013 in London. For my other genealogy books, please visit  http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html; whilst for my online Scottish based genealogy courses please visit the Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd site.

Family History Show episode 9

The latest edition of the Family History Show has just gone online, this month taking a look at the work of the College of Arms in London, the heraldic authority for England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and most of the Commonwealth countries with Queen as sovereign (excepting Canada and Scotland). To view the show visit www.familyhistoryshow.net/episode-9-full-show.

Incidentally, the College of Arms has no role in Scotland, where the Court of the Lord Lyon, under the guiding hand of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, is the legal authority. For more on its role visit www.lyon-court.com. A major difference here in Scotland is that the law of arms is treated as part of civil law - hence the 'Court' of the Lord Lyon. Use someone's arms in Scotland that aren't yours and it will soon have you hauled up on a charge...! If you want to know more about the prosecutor responsible, visit the new Facebook page of the Procurator Fiscal to the Court of the Lord Lyon at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Procuator-Fiscal-to-the-Court-of-the-Lord-Lyon/190376270991644

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Cheshire Heraldry Society talks

Cheshire Heraldry Society has published its talks itinerary for the next 212-13 session on its blog at http://cheshire-heraldry.org.uk/weblog/:

Sept 22nd 2012  Elias Ashmole, Windsor Herald 1660-1692, by Dr. Adrian Ailes
Oct 20th 2012   The heraldic glass at Charlecote - Chris Purvis
Nov 17th 2012   Goss China - Nigel Griffin
Jan 19th 2013   Aspects of Medical Heraldry - Alan Fennely.
Feb 16th 2013   Architectural Heraldry - Prof. James D Floyd
Mch 16th 2013   Trade Guilds of Scotland - Leslie Hodgson
Apr 20th 2013   Annual General Meeting

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Heraldic crisis at Euro 2012...!

OK, perhaps not a crisis, but this one tickled me a wee bit...! :)

Apparently the Spanish football team have had to have an emergency redesign of their strip following the discovery that the badge on their tops shows a heraldic design from the wrong royal house, being that of a French line instead of that of the correct Spanish variant.

Thank God the media picked up on it - the world as we know it may never have been the same again...! :)

The story is at www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120620/euro2012/euro-2012-briefs.425214

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Ludlow's coat of arms

It appears that the town of Ludlow is having a few issues sorting out a coat of arms for its council! The full story is at www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/9745635.Plans_revealed_to_give_Ludlow_a_brand_new_town_crest/

Chris

Check out my Scotland's Greatest Story research service www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)