Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

l^ottH on tfft ifmniUtu of J3ontr antr Siuagne
We have not attempted to have an official search made for the family
and arms of our " William Swayne, Gentleman," and his son Samuel.
But we have collected some notes which we consider pertinent to lay
before our readers. There can be no doubt of Mr. Swayne's high social
standing in England. It must have been the prestige of dignity and
importance there which led the colonial government to write his name
"Gentleman," to give him the respectful title of "Mr.," and to select him
at once for offices of such trust and responsibility. He came from England
a "Gentleman"—that is, an "armiger"—the terms were synonymous:
" a gentleman in English law is one who bears or is entitled to a coat of
arms." At the time of which we write there was no general education to
level the social barriers, and no man was a " Gentleman," unless he
belonged to " the gentry," i. e. the arms-bearing class.
In English books of heraldry we find only two distinct grants of arms
to persons of the name of Swayne (Swaine, or Swain). One of them is
merely mentioned without any baptismal names, or other indications, to
associate it with our family. It will be seen that in the grants of the other
coats and their confirmations, with differences, the names which appear are
William and Samuel ;
and only those who have studied genealogies know
how much proof of descent in past generations is conveyed by a corres-
pondence of family-names. The arms are given by an English correspondent
thus : "Azure,
a chevron between 3 pheons Or, on a chief Gules as many
maiden-heads ppr. crined of the second is borne by the name of Swayne, and
was confirmed in the 44"" year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth to WiUiam
Swayne of London, Gent., who produced a grant of the said coat to
William Swayne of the county of Somerset (his progenitor), under the
hand of Guion King of Arms, bearing date 29*'' June in the 39*'' year of
the reign of King Henry 6* ;" and :
" He beareth Aztire, a chevron
between 3 pheons Or, on a chief Argent 3 roses Gules, seeded \and^ barbed
ppr., by the name of Swayne. This coat was assigned by Sir W. Segar,
Garter, and William Camden, Clarencieux, the 10*^ July 1612, in the 10*''
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