Is this your ancestor?

Last year this exquisite gold armorial finger-ring, with seal-matrix bezel incorporating a quality engraving of a family coat of arms, was found on farmland near Chester, Cheshire, England.

Although part of the hoop is missing, the main body is almost pristine with its elaborate engraving sharp and intact.

* It is possible that the “rose” within the shield is a “cinquefoil”, a five-leafed flower.

The ring fragment has been dated by curators at the British Museum, heraldry experts and master engravers as post-Medieval, having been made in the 17th century, possibly before or during the English Civil War period [1642-1651].

The ring is almost certainly 22 carat solid gold, has an oval bezel measuring 21mm by 13.8mm and weighs 6.6 grams. The perimeter has a distinctive, uniformly, dotted border.

The armorial is orientated vertically and depicts a shield containing an engrailed saltire [St. Andrew's cross with scalloped edges] and with a rose (*or cinquefoil) in the upper-centre. 

The rose may be a substantive part of the design of the arms, or it may be a “mark of cadency” a small difference added to the arms of a younger son or the head of a younger line to indicate junior status. 

According to a system widely used in England since the 16th century a rose is used by a seventh son on his arms and crest.

The crest above the shield comprises a knight's helmet with closed grill, on which rests a torpe [wound rope ring] used to secure to the knight's helmet a mantle [a type of cloak]; represented here as elaborate scroll-work on both sides. In the wax seal impression the helmet visor faces left. 

The picture above has been “flipped” and digitally enhanced to indicate the intended orientation of the seal-impression, with the helmet visor now facing left.

Above the helmet, also forming part of the crest, is a vested [gauntlet-clad] forearm and hand clutching an engrailed saltire.

The ring has a practical function – to seal with molten wax important documents, leaving a clear, fixed impression of the owner's personal coat of arms and therefore his identity. 

Close inspection of the top right corner of the cross within the shield (see first photograph)

reveals what is believed to be a minute particle of original sealing wax in-situ.

The composition of the coat of arms, in particular the distinctive elements making-up the crest, is crucially important to establishing the identity of the original gentleman-owner of this fine piece of history.

The provenance of the ring is not yet established but it is certain that the original owner would have been a person of considerable substance, learning and wealth. Heraldic records show that there are a several families that are known to use elements of the armorial in their coat of arms.

For Example:

Family members of Clan Colquhoun [or Cahoon] use the engrailed saltire in their family armorial.

Perhaps significantly, William Colquhoun of Kenmuir, who in the 17th century inherited the Stirling Estates, had the rose 'gules' [red] 'in chief [top centre] of his shield. 

The arms of Stirling of Law comprise both the Kenmuir arms and the Stirling family arms.



Several branches of the distinguished Middleton family have the engrailed saltire as a main element within the shield of their coat of arms. This long-established family have ancestry deeply embedded in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and the engrailed saltire is a common feature. 

The Middleton's have roots in Sussex and a number counties bordering Cheshire and North Wales.

Intriguingly, branches of the Irish Patrick family, who also have Scottish ancestral links, have in their armorial the saltire as a prominent feature and importantly, in their crest, a 'cubit' arm and hand grasping a second, smaller saltire.

This short-list of candidates for ownership of the arms is by no means exhaustive and there will be other families who have used the key elements. Is your ancestor a candidate? Our small trusted team of metal detecting enthusiasts, dubbed “Finders-Sharers” is dedicated to the search, discovery and preservation of buried local history. 

We are determined to solve this mystery by identifying the original owner of the ring, through the distinctive coat of arms – and the powerful combination of the internet and social media platforms.

Do you recognize this family coat of arms, in particular the crest?. Maybe it once belonged to one of your ancestors and you have a picture of the original? If so, we would very much like to hear from you.

Further information about the find can be viewed at:

British Museum - Portable Antiquities Scheme
http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/609482

United Kingdom Detector Finds Database ( UKDFD )
http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ Item 46647

Stephen Plowman's excellent Heraldry website blog
http://www.heraldry-online.org.uk/blog.html

Facebook page of William “Roy” Aldington

Or alternatively please leave a comment in the comments box below. 

Thank you for having interest in solving this conundrum and for taking the time to view the detail.