Ferriter Family Arms: Ferriter Family Arms: The Whys and the The Whys and the WhereforesWherefores

(Or How Shopkeepers and Looters stole (Or How Shopkeepers and Looters stole the Glory)the Glory)

The Myth of ArmsThe Myth of Arms

Many people, mostly Americans, Many people, mostly Americans, believe that every family was once believe that every family was once issued a coat of arms and then issued a coat of arms and then everyone born with that family name everyone born with that family name automatically gets to use the same automatically gets to use the same coat of arms. If you believe that, it is coat of arms. If you believe that, it is time to correct the myth.time to correct the myth.

The Reality of ArmsThe Reality of Arms

C1300

Heraldic symbols came to be painted on the sleeveless surcoats worn over armour and the term "coat of arms" appeared. Early records of the arms associated with particular families include the seals of the hundred barons who signed and sealed a letter to Pope Boniface VIII in 1301, and the documents called Rolls of Arms which commemorate knights attending battles and tournaments at around the same time.

Celtic (Irish) ArmsCeltic (Irish) Arms

The original native Irish did The original native Irish did not employ armorial not employ armorial symbols. History speaks of symbols. History speaks of the use of banners, the use of banners, sometimes emblazoned with sometimes emblazoned with the symbol of the associated the symbol of the associated Sept, or clan/tribe. These Sept, or clan/tribe. These Sept symbols seem to have Sept symbols seem to have been typically nature motifs. been typically nature motifs. An example is the Flanigan An example is the Flanigan “Tree”. In some cases these “Tree”. In some cases these symbols were later (much symbols were later (much later) incorporated in to later) incorporated in to armorials and registered.armorials and registered.

Ferriter BackgroundFerriter Background The Ferriters arrived into Kerry during the early The Ferriters arrived into Kerry during the early

period of Norman political and military period of Norman political and military consolidation. The Family, (or its head at the time), consolidation. The Family, (or its head at the time), was granted extensive landholdings in the areas was granted extensive landholdings in the areas now identifiable as Dunurlin, Dunquin, now identifiable as Dunurlin, Dunquin, Ballyoughtera, Marhin, Ballyferriter, and Ferriter’s Ballyoughtera, Marhin, Ballyferriter, and Ferriter’s quarter. Documentary evidence exists that places quarter. Documentary evidence exists that places these early Ferriter chiefs in the status of “knight these early Ferriter chiefs in the status of “knight of the shire”, the fundamental political and military of the shire”, the fundamental political and military unit of the feudal system. In this capacity, the unit of the feudal system. In this capacity, the knight held lands as a fiefdom, in fealty to a local knight held lands as a fiefdom, in fealty to a local lord, to whom he provided rent in kind, and a lord, to whom he provided rent in kind, and a commitment to military service (along with a commitment to military service (along with a certain number of soldiers), when needed, or for a certain number of soldiers), when needed, or for a set period, usually 40 days per year.set period, usually 40 days per year.

The ParticularsThe Particulars

Grants of arms were not an aspect of the earliest Grants of arms were not an aspect of the earliest period. Knights in service to a FitzGerald no doubt period. Knights in service to a FitzGerald no doubt wore FitzGerald "colors", but that was all. During wore FitzGerald "colors", but that was all. During the late period - especially going into Tudor times, the late period - especially going into Tudor times, individual arms became fashionable. On the verge individual arms became fashionable. On the verge of the dissolution of the Catholic Order, (Hiberno-of the dissolution of the Catholic Order, (Hiberno-Norman Order) in Ireland, The office of "The Ulster Norman Order) in Ireland, The office of "The Ulster King of Arms" was set up to manage the King of Arms" was set up to manage the application for, and issuance of armorial symbols application for, and issuance of armorial symbols to Irish Families. This happened in 1552 just about to Irish Families. This happened in 1552 just about the time that the rug was pulled out from under the the time that the rug was pulled out from under the Desmond FitzGeralds, and all hell began to break Desmond FitzGeralds, and all hell began to break loose across Ireland, but particularly in Kerry.loose across Ireland, but particularly in Kerry.

The Legacy of the TudorsThe Legacy of the Tudors

Those who conformed to English ways – Those who conformed to English ways – politically, legally, and religiously, politically, legally, and religiously, survived and advanced. During this survived and advanced. During this period, any property holder or merchant period, any property holder or merchant who desired arms, and could who desired arms, and could demonstrate good standing in the English demonstrate good standing in the English community was granted arms. Assumed community was granted arms. Assumed arms of earlier eras were often arms of earlier eras were often registered.registered.

Heraldic DevicesHeraldic Devices

Ferriter’s Friends and Ferriter’s Friends and NeighborsNeighbors

The following few slides depict armorial The following few slides depict armorial symbols assumed, or granted to key symbols assumed, or granted to key parties in West Kerry: DeMarais, parties in West Kerry: DeMarais, FitzGerald, Fitzmaurice, Hussey, Rice FitzGerald, Fitzmaurice, Hussey, Rice and Trant. The first three would predate and Trant. The first three would predate the “granting” process, the latter three the “granting” process, the latter three would be granted, or assumed and later would be granted, or assumed and later registered.registered.

DeMaraisDeMarais

FitzGeraldFitzGerald

FitzMauriceFitzMaurice

HusseyHussey

RiceRice

TrantTrant

SummarySummary

Armorial bearings began as a form of martial identification.  Armorial bearings began as a form of martial identification.  Medieval knights drew designs on their shields to distinguish Medieval knights drew designs on their shields to distinguish themselves one from another while covered from head to toe themselves one from another while covered from head to toe in armor.  However, in largely illiterate societies, the clergy, in armor.  However, in largely illiterate societies, the clergy, merchants, peasants and tradesmen could not resist merchants, peasants and tradesmen could not resist adopting such useful insignia to identify themselves and their adopting such useful insignia to identify themselves and their institutions.  Anyone could legally assume arms in the Middle institutions.  Anyone could legally assume arms in the Middle Ages. Ages.

Beginning in the 16th century, monarchs began asserting Beginning in the 16th century, monarchs began asserting control over this practice, and just as noble titles and control over this practice, and just as noble titles and knighthood evolved from concrete military commitments into knighthood evolved from concrete military commitments into honours, so did armorial bearings granted by monarchs honours, so did armorial bearings granted by monarchs evolve from warrior ID into a kind of graphical honorific. evolve from warrior ID into a kind of graphical honorific.

More SummaryMore Summary““Everyone was free to adopt arms at his Everyone was free to adopt arms at his pleasure, as long as they were different pleasure, as long as they were different from those of others. Cases of fortuitous from those of others. Cases of fortuitous resemblance were settled by arbiters. The resemblance were settled by arbiters. The possession of a coat of arms did not rest on possession of a coat of arms did not rest on any right, but came out of a social habit. any right, but came out of a social habit. Just as today that of a top-hat, the Just as today that of a top-hat, the possession of arms was, in the Middle possession of arms was, in the Middle Ages, unchanging and inevitable among the Ages, unchanging and inevitable among the higher classes of society; going down the higher classes of society; going down the social scale, arms became rarer and social scale, arms became rarer and indicated at the same time social indicated at the same time social aspirations." aspirations."

From the Chief HeraldFrom the Chief Herald

. In the words of Fergus Gillespie, Chief . In the words of Fergus Gillespie, Chief Herald of Ireland:Herald of Ireland:

“ “It is indeed unusual that there seem to It is indeed unusual that there seem to be no coats of arms in any of our be no coats of arms in any of our sources associated with the name sources associated with the name Ferriter” (e-mail, F. Gillespie to G. Ferriter” (e-mail, F. Gillespie to G. Ferriter, 4/14/2008)Ferriter, 4/14/2008)

O.K., What Gives?O.K., What Gives? So why not Ferriter?So why not Ferriter?

The principal factors at work in this The principal factors at work in this circumstance were circumstance were politicalpolitical, and , and numericalnumerical : :

Quite frankly, the family almost died out.Quite frankly, the family almost died out. Just at the time that an office was set up to Just at the time that an office was set up to

register/assign Arms to Irish families, the register/assign Arms to Irish families, the Ferriters found themselves more or less Ferriters found themselves more or less isolated, and on the wrong side of the isolated, and on the wrong side of the fence. If they held arms, those did not enter fence. If they held arms, those did not enter the booksthe books

Faux Arms of FerriterFaux Arms of Ferriter

For many years, probably centuries, a For many years, probably centuries, a business has been made in creating new business has been made in creating new and unregistered arms for individuals and and unregistered arms for individuals and families. This is fine. In more recent families. This is fine. In more recent times, unscrupulous hucksters have times, unscrupulous hucksters have taken to assigning arms based upon taken to assigning arms based upon mere similarity of name. The following mere similarity of name. The following slide depicts an example of this.slide depicts an example of this.

Spurious ArmsSpurious ArmsThese arms were offered on the internet as "Ferriter Family Crest", but are actually for the Farron/Fearon Family (and questionable at that). The accompanying "history" simply assumes that "Ferriter" is a spelling variant of "Farron", and proceeds with all sorts of misleading information on that basis.

Unregistered Arms of Unregistered Arms of FerriterFerriter These arms belonged to

Charles Arthur Ferriter, (1901 – 1969). How he came to have them is unknown, however he thought enough of them to hang the ’original’ behind glass in the front hallway of his home, dating at least back to the late 1950s. These armorials have been given intense scrutiny. There exist certain evidentiary artifacts that suggest that they are not a random fake or fantasy.

Arms of Ferriter (?)Arms of Ferriter (?) The arms of Ferriter assumed by C.A. Ferriter just The arms of Ferriter assumed by C.A. Ferriter just

may have certain historical merit, dating from the may have certain historical merit, dating from the time of Dominick Ferriter, who is very likely to have time of Dominick Ferriter, who is very likely to have been Piaras Feiritears oldest son.been Piaras Feiritears oldest son.

Domick served as an officer in Catholic Domick served as an officer in Catholic Confederacy the fight against Cromwell, c1641 – Confederacy the fight against Cromwell, c1641 – 1651. After the fall of Ross Castle, he took exile to 1651. After the fall of Ross Castle, he took exile to Europe along with many other “Wild Geese”Europe along with many other “Wild Geese”

Continental Armies required officers to “bear Continental Armies required officers to “bear arms”, or be armigersarms”, or be armigers

Arms of Ferriter: A Theory with MeritArms of Ferriter: A Theory with Merit

The key battle of Knockanauss was lost by The key battle of Knockanauss was lost by Lord Theobald TaaffeLord Theobald Taaffe

When Ross Castle surrendered, it was under When Ross Castle surrendered, it was under the Command of MG Lucas Taaffe, and the Command of MG Lucas Taaffe, and Dominick was probably thereDominick was probably there

Dominick reappears as a Regimental Major in Dominick reappears as a Regimental Major in Flanders, with Capt Christopher Taaffe as a Flanders, with Capt Christopher Taaffe as a subordinatesubordinate

““Hot words” between the Captain and the Hot words” between the Captain and the Major Lead to Taaffe’s murder/executionMajor Lead to Taaffe’s murder/execution

The Crest and Motto of TaaffeThe Crest and Motto of Taaffe

The Motto for the Taaffe Coat of Arms is "In hoc signo spes mea", The Motto for the Taaffe Coat of Arms is "In hoc signo spes mea", which means "In this sign is my hope”which means "In this sign is my hope”

So What?So What? It is perhaps reasonable to postulate It is perhaps reasonable to postulate

that Dominick had armorials drawn up that Dominick had armorials drawn up that commemorated the conflict that commemorated the conflict between the Ferriters and the Taafes.between the Ferriters and the Taafes.

Given the relative position and Given the relative position and influence of the Taaffes and the influence of the Taaffes and the Ferriters, these arms either remained Ferriters, these arms either remained assumedassumed (never registered) or were (never registered) or were disallowed.disallowed.

Heraldic Symbolism of C. A. Ferriter’s ArmsHeraldic Symbolism of C. A. Ferriter’s Arms

Background Color: Gules (Red). Gules Background Color: Gules (Red). Gules carries the symbolic meaning of being carries the symbolic meaning of being appropriate for a Warrior or Martyr, appropriate for a Warrior or Martyr, with the attributes of Military Strength with the attributes of Military Strength and Magnanimityand Magnanimity

Arm/Hand: Qualities of LeadershipArm/Hand: Qualities of Leadership Sword: Justice and Military HonorSword: Justice and Military Honor Clouds: Mystery of Obscured TruthClouds: Mystery of Obscured Truth

This isn’t a Sales Pitch, SO - This isn’t a Sales Pitch, SO - What’s the Story Here?What’s the Story Here?

Unregistered arms may be “authentic”Unregistered arms may be “authentic” Authentic in the sense that they carry Authentic in the sense that they carry

meaningful symbolism and history for meaningful symbolism and history for the family that bears themthe family that bears them

If your branch of the family has Arms If your branch of the family has Arms that are meaningful, pleasing, and that are meaningful, pleasing, and haven’t been lifted from someone else haven’t been lifted from someone else – by all means keep and display them– by all means keep and display them

Conclusions and ConclusionConclusions and Conclusion The idea that Coats of Arms are or were The idea that Coats of Arms are or were

reflective of some noble past or honor reflective of some noble past or honor bestowed is most often NOT correct. In bestowed is most often NOT correct. In keeping with historical practice, anyone can be keeping with historical practice, anyone can be an armiger. The importance is in the meaning, an armiger. The importance is in the meaning, and in the history. If historical arms are and in the history. If historical arms are uncertain, an armigerous individual may uncertain, an armigerous individual may assume them. assume them.

Assumed arms may be newly created, or may Assumed arms may be newly created, or may have some tradition. If confident that they are have some tradition. If confident that they are unique, they may be registered. If you are Irish, unique, they may be registered. If you are Irish, you may pay to have arms granted, and you you may pay to have arms granted, and you may even design them yourselfmay even design them yourself..