Drewry
Coat of Arms

Everyone, not just those of us who are in hot pursuit of our family heritage, is interested in knowing whether or not their family has been granted a Coat of Arms. The Drewrys are no exception! In my research I was fortunate to discover several different Coat of Arms from various sources. While many were similar in design several were distinct which led to the question: Which one, if any, was the authentic Arms for the Drewry family? To answer that question I turned to the College of Arms, London, England, and commissioned them to do a study on the Drewry Arms. To my surprise I found that many of the examples I had discovered each had some basis in fact for being the Drewry Arms. However, the resulting report from the College of Arms cleared up the matter once and for all.

As you progress through this section on the Drewry Coat of Arms you will see pictures of the actual Arms granted to the Drewry family with explanations of the Blazon, the language that Arms are described by, for each. I have also included for your enjoyment several of the Arms I discovered from various sources purporting to be the Drewry Arms with explanations as to what they actually are. Before we introduce the Drewry Arms let's first understand something about Coat of Arms and how they came into use.

The use of Arms dates to the 12th century in medieval Europe and England. The use of symbols as an insignia for identification was common in these medieval societies and predates 1000 AD. The principle value Arms served was to positively identify, through their bold, colorful and unique arrangement of symbols, individuals on the battlefield. The designs used had to be bold and easily seen across the great expanses of the battlefield. Using a system of decorative symbols in an attractive and dramatic way, Arms were, in fact, a system of hereditary identification. The symbols, at first simple but bold in design, were arranged in a pattern upon a escutcheon, or shield, used by nobles and knights in battle. These same symbols placed on the tabard, the tunic worn over the armor, gave rise to the term "Coat of Arms" or "armorial bearings."

The Crusades, beginning in the 11th century and lasting to the 14th century, involved many nations across Europe and aided the spread of heraldic identification rapidly throughout the entire region. Over the centuries the symbols, or Arms, became more and more elaborate and spread beyond the military field. Nobles used Arms as a means of identifying themselves and commonly appeared on their wax seals, windows and monuments. Within a short period, these symbols became popular as a means of identification for the clergy, lawyers and other prominent citizens as well. Understandably a system had to be devised to control the use of these art-forms, avoid duplication and authorize the adaptation of new designs.

In 1417 King Henry V issued Writs to the sheriffs of various counties stating that men might not assume their own Arms. Thereafter, the right to bear Arms could only be acquired through proof of descent in an unbroken male line from someone using Arms before 1417, or by a new Grant of Arms. King Henry V delegated the power to validate a family's claim to Arms and grant new Arms to the senior Heralds, or King of Arms, officials under the Crown's authority whose responsibility it was to oversee and control the use and grants of Arms. The earliest surviving Letters of Patent granting Arms by an English King of Arms is dated 1439.

In 1530, King Henry VIII issued commissions to Clarenceux and Norroy, the two provincial King of Arms, to visit the counties in their provinces and record the Arms and pedigrees of the principal families in each county. Thus began the system known as the "Herald's Visitations," which lasted until 1689. During these visitations, or systematic surveys, it was the responsibility of the Visitors to examine and validate a family's claim to Arms. The results of their review could have devastating effects for families whose claims were rejected. False Arms, those found by the Heralds to not be supported by proper hereditary descent, were removed and destroyed from all monuments, windows, etc. Individuals were forced to sign disclaimers of any pretense to the Arms or the title of Gentleman. Such disclaimers were proclaimed at the assizes and a list was set up on the annexed forbidding the sheriffs and the bishops' registrars to describe those so listed as "gentleman" on summons to jury service or otherwise. Those refusing to sign these disclaimers were held legally answerable; the court still exists today to deal with the bearing of false Arms. Obviously proving one's right to bear Arms had significant impact, both economically and socially on a family.

The term Arms describes the escutcheon, or shield, and the symbols which appear on it. It does not refer to the Crest which may or may not appear above the shield. The term Crest is often misused to describe the whole ensemble including both the Arms and Crest as a single unit (such as "family crest"). Arms and Crests are separate and distinct elements. It is possible to have Arms without a Crest and, in one documented case, there exist a Crest without Arms. Crest began to appear in the 14th century well after the introduction of Arms throughout England and Europe and, like Arms, were granted to families. In many cases grants of Crest occurred well after the original grant of Arms, in some cases, several hundred years later. In the latter centuries Arms and Crest could have been granted together. In addition to Crest, various shaped helmets, used to indicate the rank of a warrior, were also common. The helmet and Crest were placed above the Arms in a complete grouping of elements called the "armorial achievement." Other elements, such as family mottoes, were placed above and/or below the armorial achievement were also added over the centuries.

The Drewrys were fortunate indeed to have been granted several Coat of Arms. The acknowledgment of these grants were documented during the heraldic visitations of the 16th and 17th century. As you will see by the included pictures these different Arms were, in fact, quite similar, no doubt denoting different branches of the same family. Two of the predominant Arms are presented here.