VIRGINIA
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At the origin of the Commonwealth of Virginia is the Virginia Company. The Virginia Company was a collectivity of two joint stock companies chartered under James I on 10 April 1606 with the goal of establishing settlements on the coast of North America. The companies were called the "Virginia Company of London" (or the London Company) and the "Virginia Company of Plymouth" (or the Plymouth Company); they operated with identical charters but with differing territories. An area of overlapping territory was created within which the two companies were not permitted to establish colonies within one hundred miles of each other. The Plymouth Company never fulfilled its charter, but its territory was claimed by England and became New England. As corporations, the companies were empowered by the Crown to govern themselves, and they conferred that right onto their colonies. The Virginia Company failed in 1624, but the right to self-government was not taken from the colony. The principle was thus established that a royal colony should be self-governing, and this formed the genesis of democracy in America. |
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The Coat
of Arms of Virginia |
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The
achievenent of Virginia 1619-1776 Stained glass window |
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On the frontispiece of Smith’s History[1] |
On 20 October 1619 the Virginia Company appointed a committee to meet at Sir Edwin Sandy’s “to take a cote for Virginia, and agree upon the seal.”On the 15th of November the device was presented for inspection. It was: An escutcheon quartered with the arms of England, and
France, Scotland, and Ireand, crested by a maiden queen with flowing hair and
eastern crown. Supporters: Two men in armour, beavers open, helmets
ornamented with three ostrich
feathers, each holding a lance: EN DAT
[DAY] VIRGINIA QUINTUM. [2] “This motto, allusive
to five crowns (corona), was in the taste of the times. Spenser, Raleigh’s
friend, dedicated his ‘Faerie Queene’s’ to Elizabeth, ‘Queen of England,
France, Ireland, and Virginia.’ After James of Scotland succeeded to the
throne of England, Virginia could, in compliment, be called the fifth
kingdom, and it was so called by the Rev. Patrick Copland, who, on April 8, 1622, spoke of ‘this noble plantation tending so
higly to the advancement of the Gospel and the honouring of our drad souereign
by enlarging his kingdome and adding a fifth crowne unto his other four, for,
for “En dat Virginia Quintam”is the motto of the legal seal of Virginia.’ As
the coat of arms appears with the motto ‘En dat Virginia Quintum’on the
frontispiece of Smith’s History, editions of 1624 and 1632, the ‘Quintum’ may
be an error of the engraver, as “Day”undoubtedly is.”-Tyler. Mr, Hankins exoresses
his doubt a to whether this seal was ever used, and Professor Tyler states
the following: “The assumption,
however, that any change in the Colonial seal took place in 1619 is a
mistaken one. The coat of arms adopted in 1619 was for the use of the company
in London, and it is so statedin their proceedins; the Colony Seal was not changed at this time, nor even after the abrogation of
the charter of the Company in 1624. The council in Virginia was not abolished, thouigh the company was, an so we find the
old seal authorized in the original charer for the local council in use for
many years later as ‘the seal for the colony.’ Several instances of this use
as late as 1643 have come under my observation. I have two roiginal land
patents, granted by Sir John Harvey, Governor between
1635 and 1639; one of them has the precise date torn off, the other dated August 14t ,
1639, both bearing perfect specimens of the ancient seal authori- |
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zed by the charter of 1606. The wax is placed between a folded sheet at the right hand upper corner, and the obverse and the reverse impressions appear on the outer pages of the paper. The manuscripts are mutilated, but of beautiful chirography, and are said by Harvey to be ‘given under my hand and seal of the colony.’The impressions areelliptic, about two inches and a quarter in height, and an nch and a quarter wide. There is also in the Virginia Historical Siociety Rooms an original land grant by Sir William Berkeley to Richard Kemp, dated April 7th, 1643; and this paper likewise bears an unmistajable impressio of the same seal, though the wax in part is worn away. It may be then stated , with confidence, that the seal described in the charter for ‘the first colony of Virginia’contuedn the recognized emblem until the treaty of Jamestown in 1652 with the parlamentary commissioners.
Achievement
of Virginia as in John Stowe’s “Survey of London”1633. “As a consequence of
the treaty a change of government ended, and the royal seal was discontinued.
From 1652 to 1660 the recorded copies of the land patents in the land office
in Richmond are no longer decrlared to be unde the
seal of the colony, but under the hand and seal of the governor, attested by
the secretary of the state; and the public papers in the stae archives bear
the private seals of Bennett and other governors of the interregnum.
Capitol
Building (1701-1705) Williamsburg,
Virginia
On the frontisipiece of Beverley’s History and Present State of Virginiam 1705 Burke, B.: The General
Armory. London 1880 describes the achievement as follows: Arms: “Ar a cross gu. betw four escutcheons, each regally crowned ppr., the first escutcheon in the dexter chief, quarterly: France and England, quarterly; the second in the sinister chief the arms of Scotland; the third the arms of Ireland; fourth as the first . Crest: A maiden queen couped below the shoulders
ppr., her hair dishevelled of the last, vested and crowned with an eastern
crown or. Supporters:: Two men in complete armour, with their
beavers open; on their helmets three ostrich feathers ar.,
each charged on the breast wit a cross gu., and each holding in his exterior
hand a lance ppr. Motto En Dat Virginia Quartam.
Achievement
of Virginia in the Georgian era 1714-1776 The arms modified by replacing the arms of England in the frist by the arms impaled of England an Scotland (Great Britain) and the arms of Hannover in the fourth (Per point arched of Brunswick, Luneburg and Hannover and an inescutcheon of the Arch Treasurer of the Holy Roman Empire). After the Revolution new achievements were proposed for Virginia which, however were never adopted or aknowledged [3] The coat of arms for Virginia as devised by M. Pierre Eugčne de Cimetiere of Philadelphia, was as follows: Field-a cross of St. George (as a remnant of the ancient Coat of Arms, showing the origin of the Virginians to be English) haying in the center a sharp pointed knife, in pale, blade argent, handle or, alluding to the name the Indians have given to that state. In the first quarter, a tobacco plant fleury, proper. In the second argent, two wheat sheafs in saltoir, proper. In the third argent, a stalk of Indian corn, full ripe, proper. In the fourth vert, four fasces waved argent, alluding to the 4 great rivers of Virginia. (N.B. The pieces contained in the above, may very well admit of a different disposition, if thought necessary, any more emblematical or heraldical.) Supporters—Dexter, a figure dressed as in the time of Queen Elizabeth, representing Sir Walter Raleigh, planting with his right hand the standard of Liberty, with the words of Magna Charta written on it, and with his left supporting the escutcheon. Sinister—A Virginian rifleman of the present times, completely accoutered. Crest—The crest of the ancient arms of Virginia—the breast of a Virgin naked, and crowned with an antique crown, alluding to Queen Elizabeth, in whose reign the country was discovered. Motto—Rebellion to Tyrants in obedience to God; or Rex est qui regem non habet. (Suggested by Mr. Jefferson.) Another interesting design which there is no reason to suppose ever came before the Committee is that which appeared as heading for the Virginia Gazette during the months of May and June, 1776. It consisted of the heading "Thirteen Colonies—United we stand, Divided we fall," below which was the following coat of arms:
Arms: On a shield (Gules) a coiled rattle snake with head in dexter chief and tail in sinister base. Supporters: Dexter: a bear rampant, with collar around neck and loose flowing rope attached to the collar; Sinister: a dear rampant. Back of the bear is a stalk of growing corn, and back of the deer is growing plant of tobacco. Crest: a knight’s helmet surmounted by a wreath upon which is a demi virgin queen crowned with an ancient crown. Underneath is the Motto: "DON’T TREAD ON ME."
Arms of Virginia by
Doolittle, 1791 After the device on the seal
Bő˙e, Herman: A Map of the State of Virginia, Constructed
in Conformity to Law from the Late Surveys Authorized by the Legislature and
Other Original and Authentic Documents / by Herman Bő˙e, 1825; Corrected
by Order of the Executive, 1859 by L. v. Buchholtz. G3880 1859 After the Civil
War it was tried to make a coat of arms with the same
device as on the seal. An example is from H. Mitchell: State Arms of the
Union, Boston 1876. Ć See illustration in the head of this
article But after 1876 these tries were stopped. |
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Colonial
seals of Virginia |
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Seal of
the Colony of Virginia, authorized by the charter granted 10 April 1606 “In the original patent of April 10th, 1606, to Sir Thomas Gates and others for the colonization of Virginia, ‘two several colonies and companies’were providded for, each to have a council of thirteen persons, to be guided by the King’s instructions, and each to have a seal with the King’s arms engraved on one side ’and his portraiture on the other;’ on one side of the seal of the first Colony were to be the words “SIGILLUM REGIS MAGNĆ BRITANIĆ, FRANCIĆ ET HIBERNIĆ,’on the other side ‘PRO CONSILIO PRIMĆ COLONIĆ VIRGINIĆ.’ The seal of the second was the same as the first execept the change in the legend on one side to ‘PRO CONSILIO SECUNDĆ COLONIĆ VIRGINIĆ.’ There was also provision made for a council, resident in England, known as the ‘King’s Council of Virginia,’which should have the managing and direction of the settlement within the limit of the thirty-fourth and fourthy-fifth degrees of north latitude. This council was to have a seal like the others, but ‘with the legend on one side, ‘PRO CONSILIO SUO VIRGINIA.’ An example of this seal, with the same dimensions and devices, but with the differing legend on the reverse of ‘COLONIA VIRGINIĆ – CONSILIO – PRIMA,’ is in the collections of the Virginia Historical Society. It is of red wax, between the leaves of a foolscap sheet of paper, and is affixed to a patent for land issued by Sir John Harvey, Governor, dated 4th March 1638.
Seal used
after the restoration of Charles II (1660-1685) “Dre. William P.Palmer, in his introduction to the
‘Calendar of State Papers of Virginia,’ [4]
states that the small number of documents preserved in the archives of the
State ’bearing impressions of the Royal, Colonial and other official seals,
is limited to the short period included between the time of James II, and the
latter part of Queen Anne’s reign,’ and that ‘the earliest of these, dated
1686 September the 1st, is a writ of election for
certain members of the House of Burgesses, issued at “Rosegill” (the seat of
the Wormely family, whom he was then doubtless visiting) by the governor,
Lord Howard, Baron Effingham. The impressions of the Colonial seal on this
document (as well as others herein) (the Calendar) is upon wafer. It displays
a shield in the centre field, quartering the arms of England and France first
and fourth, with those of Scotland and Ireland second and third, enclosed by
the Order of the Garter and its appropriate motto. In the exergue appear the
words EN DAT VIRGINIA QUINTUM,” the whole surmounded by the crown proper
and flanked right and left respectively by the characters “C” and “R.” This
was evidently a continuation of the use of the seal of the preceding reighn
of Charles II., under the government of Sir William Berkeley. In the ‘Ricmond
Dispatch,’of 15th October 1882, appeared a
communication from the editor, including one to him from Charles Dean LL.D,
Cambridge Massachusetts, giving a proclamation from James II., dated 21st December, 1687, apponting a new seal for Virginia, as
follows: ‘Engraven with our Royal effigies sitting in our Royal Robes enthroned,
having on each side a landskip, and upon the Canopy, which is supported by
two angels and a cherubim overhead, this motto Ix (Ex) DAT VIRGINIA QUINTUM, with our Royal Title in the Circumference, and on the other side
our Royal Coat of Arms, with the Garter, Crown, Supp0rters, and Mottoes, with
this inscription in the circumference SIGILLUM
DOMINI NOSTR. : VIRGIN . AMERICA.’
This seal was brought from England by Colonel Bird, the first of the family
in Virginia, but it does not appear to have been used.
[5] “The first use of
such a seal, broad and pendent, was in the reign of Queen Anne, by
proclamation dated 6th October, 1712, which
veritable document was published, with engraving of the accompanying original
waxen seal, [6] and is thus described: ‘Engraved on the
side with an effigy and an Indian on his knee presenting tobacco to us. This
inscription EN DAT VIRGINIA QUARTAM, being under the effigy, and around the
cricumference VIRGINIA IN AMERICA
SIGILLUM PROVINCIĆ. On the other side of the said seal is engraven our
arms, garter, crown, supporters, and motto, with this inscription around the
circymference ANNE DEI GRATIA MAGNAE BRITANNIĆ
FRANCIĆ ET HIBERNIĆ REGINA FIDEI DEFENSOR, for use to affix the said seal to all patents and grants of land, and to all public acts and
instruments of government, which shall be made and passed in our name within
our said colony.’ On the 6th of March, 1706-7, the
Queen had given her royal assent to an ‘Act for an Union of the two Kingdoms
of England and Scotland’and thenceforth the motto read QUARTAM
instead of QUINTUM. “It is a quite
common error, into which many writers have fallen, that Charles II gave the
motto EN DAT VIRGINIA QUINTUM in recognition of the loyalty of the
colony during his exile, but the title was held as early as the reign of
Elizabeth, when Virginia was the sole
dominion of the Crown of England on the continent of America. In the
inscription accompanying an admirably-engraved portrait of the ‘Virgin Queen,’ hanging in the hall of the Westmoreland Club-house,
Richmond, Virginia, in which the Virgina Historical Society has its rooms,
she is entitled ‘SERENISSIA AC
POTENTISSIMA PRINCEPS ELISABETH D.G. ANGLIĆ, FRANCIĆ, HIBERNIĆ ET CIGINIĆ
REGINA FIDEI CHRISTIANĆ PROPUGNATRIX ACERRIMA.’ “The use of the great
or broad pendent seal appears to have been common to all
the colonies from the time of Queen Anne, with like designs of obverse and
reverse, as have been described. They are of white wax papered,
and measure about five inches in diameter and one-fourth of an inch in
thickness. Documents and local commissions issued during the eign of George
II and George III., with small pendent seals of white wax, crown-shaped, and
without other insignia, are also in existence.”
Seal of
the Colony used during the reign of Queen Anne 1704-1712
Obverse of
the seal of Queen Anne, 1712 (1714)
Obverse of
the seal of George II (1727-1760)
Obverse
and reverse of the seal of George III (1760-1776) |
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“The celebrated State Convention of 1776 which formed the frist written constitution for any State broke away from the old taditions completely. Royalty, and heraldry its accopaniment, fell into utter disrepute; the Roman and Grecian Republics, afforing, as theu did, the noblest exemplars of valor and grandeur known to the world at that time, became the ideals of our statesmen. One of the frist acts of the Convention was to provide for a seal. The design was reported by George Mason, but is said by Girardin, under the supervision of Jefferson, to have been devised by George Wythe. The design was enirely classic, and the words of the report describing the seal are remakable for clearness and precision: ‘Virtus, the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon, resting on a spear with one hand and holding a sword in the other, and treading on Tyranny, represented by a man prostrate, a crown falling fromhis head, broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right. In the exergon, the word “Virginia”over the head of Virtus; and underneath, the words “Sic Semper Tyrannis.”On the reverse, a group, Libertas with her wand an pileus; on one side of her Ceres, with the cornucopia in one hand and an ear of wheat in the other; on her other side Ćternitas, wit the globe, and Phśnix; in the exergon these words: “Deus nobis hćc otia fecit.”’ The Convention substituted for this last word ‘perseverando’over the heads of the figures. The seal was executed in France, under the supervision of the accomplished scholar Dr. Arthur Lee, but it was nit ready till Septmber 4th, 1779. In the mean time the Governor was empowered to issue all necessary commissions under his signature without any seal; but when in 1778 William Lee was appointed Virginia’s agent in France to borrow two millions of livres for the State, a seal became necessary to authentica his power. One was improvised in America, which was not a true representation of the ideas of the Convention; to save expense it was subsequenly adopted as the lesser seal of the Commonwealth, and, being far more frequently used than the great seal, has caused incorrect ideas of the figure and significance of virtus, the commanding emblem of the great seal. |
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Obverse
1776 |
Reverse
1776 |
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On a
document 1819.04.07 The original disc of the great seal itself, executed in Paris, the great centre of art, according to the most approved classic ideas, existed in 1856, when being so worn by use as to be incapable of making an impression, it was substituted by a new one, which in turn was substituted in 1884 by a third, in the preparation of which every effort was made by Colonel Sherwin McRae, then Librarian of the State, to make the figure upon it conform to the best classic models.
Obverse
and Reverse of the seal made in 1856
by Alexander Galt It is claimed by Colonel McRae that no other American State has a seal equal to that of Virginia in classic beauty and appropriateness, and the fact that it was described so carefully at the beginning has been of infinite importance in securing its exact reproduction at the present time. The seal of a State, as Colonel McRae declares, ‘is not a bauble, but an important and necessary element of government; indeed, the Convention of 1776 was so impressed with the truth that the great seal was made a specific constitutional provision. [7] Soon after the Civil War Governor Francis Harrison Pierpont had new seals made - exact copies of the old, with the exception that the words "Liberty and Union" were added both to the obverse and reverse. |
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The new
seals made after the Civil War The motto LIBERTY AND UNION added On a document 1867.04.08 "An ACT concerning the seals of the commonwealth, defining their Use, and the oases in which the Tax upon them is to be collected. Passed Feb. 28, 1866. Whereas reasonable doubt exists as to the present state of the law in reference to the seals of the commonwealth, particularly as to the distinctive uses of the two seals, and whether the tax imposed upon the use of what is termed in the law 'the seal of the state', is to be charged for each, or only for the great seal; and it being desirable that the law should be definite and clear on these points: Therefore, l. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That the great seal and the lesser seal, now under the care of the secretary of the commonwealth, as keeper of the seal, are and shall continue to be the seals of the commonwealth. 2. The great seal shall be affixed to documents signed by the governor which are to be used before tribunals, or for purposes outside of the jurisdiction of this state; and in every such case, except where the state is a party concerned in the use to be made of the document, the tax imposed by the law on the seal of the state, shall be collected and accounted for by the secretary of the commonwealth, as keeper of the seals. 3. The lesser seal shall be affixed to all grants for lands and writs of election issued by the governor; to all letters of pardon and reprieve; to all commissions, civil and military, signed by the governor, and to all papers requiring seal, authorized to be issued by the governor for the purpose of carrying the laws into effect within this commonwealth; and also, when deemed necessary by the secretary of the commonwealth, may be used by him as an authentication of his official signature: but no tax shall hereafter be charged upon said lesser seal, except upon commissions appointing notaries public, inspectors of tobacco and other commodities, commissioners of wrecks, and commissioners in other states, or taking acknowledgments, and so forth, and upon certificates of the secretary of the commonwealth, when, at the request of the parties desiring such certificates, the seal is attached. In all such cases, the tax shall be the same as upon the great seal, and shall be collected and accounted for in the same manner. 4. This act shall be in force from its passage." |
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1873 "1. Whereas, the seals of the commonwealth of Virginia, which were adopted in seventeen hundred and seventy-nine and used until the year eighteen hundred and sixty-five, were stolen or mislaid at the time of the evacuation of the City of Richmond in April, eighteen hundred and sixty-five; and whereas, on the restoration of the State government under Gov. Pierpoint, he caused a new seal to be engraved similar in every respect to the old, except that it contained the words 'Liberty and Union,' which said words seem to have been added to the seal without any authority of the law; and whereas the Legislature of Virginia on the twenty-eighth day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, passed as act entitled an act concerning the seals of the commonwealth defining their use and the cases in which the tax upon them is to be collected: the first section of which said act is in the following words, to-wit: 'Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That the great seal and the, lesser seal now under the care of the secretary of the commonwealth, as keeper of the seals are and shall continue to be be seals of the commonwealth; and whereas, at the time of the passage of the said act, the old seal had been returned to the custody of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and both seals were then under his care, having some doubt as to which seal the Legislature intended to adopt and legalize; and whereas, the old seal is very much worn by long usage; therefore; Be it enacted by the General Assembly that the great seal of the commonwealth shall consist of a metallic disc, two and three quarter inches in diameter, containing within an ornamented border one quarter of an inch wide, the following devices and mottoes, viz: On the obverse, Virtus, the genius of the commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon resting on a spear held in her left hand, and holding a sword in her right hand, her left foot on the figure of tyranny, represented by a man prostrate, his head to her left, a crown falling 'from his head, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right hand. Above the group, in a line parallel with the border, the word, 'Virginia', and in the exergue, on a curved line, the motto 'Sic Semper Tyrannis.' On the reverse a group, Libertas with her wand and Pileus in her right hand. On her right, Eternitas, with the globe and phoenix in her right hand; and on the left of Libertas, Ceres, with a cornucopia in her left hand, and ears of wheat in her right. Over this device, in a curved line, the word 'Perseverando.' 2. The lesser seal of the commonwealth shall be one and nine sixteenths inches in diameter, and have engraved thereon the device and inscriptions contained in the obverse of the great seal. 3. The Governor is hereby authorized and directed to procure and cause new seals to be prepared, as hereinbefore described, to be engraved in the best manner, with a suitable press for taking impressions therefrom; and thereafter to cause the seals now under the care of the secretary of the commonwealth to be defaced, by filing two marks at right angles across the faces of the same, and the seals now being used by the secretary of the commonwealth shall continue to be used until the fourth day of July eighteen hundred and seventy three; and their use heretofore, and until the new seals are ready for use, is hereby declared to be valid. 4. The great seal shall be affixed to documents, signed by the Governor, which are to be used before tribunals, or for purposes outside of the jurisdiction of this state; and in every such case, except where the State is a party concerned in the use to be made of the document, the tax imposed by law on the seal of the state shall be collected and accounted for by the secretary of the commonwealth, as keeper of the seals. 5. The lesser seal shall be affixed to all grants for lands and writs of election issued by the Governor; to all letters of pardon and reprieve; to all commissions, civil and military, signed by the Governor; and to all other papers requiring seal authorized to be issued by the Governor for the purpose of carrying the laws into effect within this commonwealth, and also, when deemed necessary by the secretary of the commonwealth may be used by him 118 an authentication of his official signature; but no tax shall hereafter be charged upon said lesser seal, except upon commissions appointing notaries public, inspectors of tobacco and other commodities, commissioners of wrecks, and commissioners in other states for taking acknowledgments, and so forth, and upon certificates of the secretary of the commonwealth, when, at the request of the parties desiring such certificates, the seal is attached. In all such cases the tax shall be the same as upon the great seal, and shall be collected and accounted for in the same manner." |
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Obverse
and reverse of the seal made by Colonel Sherwin McRae, then Librarian of the State, 1884 |
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1903-12-08 An Act to amend and re-enact section 32 of the Code of Virginia. Approved Dec. 8, 1903. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That section 32 of the Code of Virginia be amended and re-enacted 80 as to read as follows: § 32 The great seal.—The Great Seal of the commonwealth shall consist of a metallic disc, two and three quarter inches in diameter, containing, within an ornamental border one quarter of an inch wide, the following devices and mottoes, viz: On the obverse: Virtus, the genius of the commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon, resting on a spear held in her right hand, and holding a sword in her left hand, her left foot on the figure of tyranny, represented by a man prostrate, his bead to her left, a crown falling from his head, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right hand. Above the group, in a line parallel with the border the word 'Virginia', and in the exergue, on a curved line, the motto, 'Sic Semper Tyrannis'. On the reverse, a group of Libertas with the wand and Pileus in her right hand; on her right, Aeternitas, with the globe and phoenix in her right hand; and on the left of Libertas, Ceres, with a cornucopia in her left hand, and ears of wheat in her right. Over this device, in a curved line, the word, 'Perseverando.' 2. This act shall be in force from its passage [8] |
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The present seals of the Commonwealth of Virginia were adopted by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Virginia, approved March 24, 1930 [9] The act reads: “Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That sections twenty-seven and thrity-one of the Code of Virginia, be amended and re-enacted so as to read as follows: “Section 27. The great seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia shal consist of two metallic discs, two inches and one-fourth in diameter, with an ornamental border one-fourth of an inche wide, with duch words and figures engraved thereon as will, when used, produce impressiosn to be described as follows: On the obverse, Virtus, the genius of the Commonwealth, dresses as an amazon, resting an a spear in her right hand, point downward, touching the earth; and holding in her left hand, a sheathed sword, or parazonium, pointing upward; her head erect and face upturned; her left foot on the form of Tyranny represented by the prostrate body of a man, with his head to her left, his fallen crown near by, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right. Above the group, and within the border conforming therewith, shall be the word Virginia, and in the space below, on a curved line, shall be the motto, sic semper tyrannis. On the reverse, shall be placed a group consisting of Libertas, holdinga wand and pileys in her right hand; on her righ, Aeternitas, with a globe and phoenix in her right hand; and on the left of Libertas, Ceres, with a cornucopia in her left ahnd , and an ear of wheat in her right; over this device in a curved line, the word perseverando. “(a) The governor is hereby authorized and directed to cause a new great seal of the Commonwealth to be constructed and engraved, with all reasonable dispatch, in strict conformity with the forgoing description, by artists and engravers of high rank in their profession and under the supervision of the art commission of Virginia, and when completed, to also have constructed and engraved a new lesser seal of the Commonwealth in accordance with section twenty-eight of the Code of Virginia. The governor shall, after said seals shall have been completed, and approved by him, proclaim the same, by such means s he may deem sufficient, to be the true great seal and lesser seal of the Commonweath. “(b) The great and lesser seals now in use in the office of the secreatry of the Commonwealt are hereby decrlared to be the true great and lesser seals of the Commnwealth for the time being, and to so continue and be used as such, until the new seals shall be completed and proclaimed as herein provided for, and all official acts done thereunder, in the name of the Commonwealth, are hereby decrlared to be valid in so far as the affixing of the seal of the State thereto, may have been, or may be, a necessary part of the due execution, or performance thereof. “(c) Any and all seals now under the care of the secreatry of the Commonwealth shall, after the completions and proclamation of the new seals herein provided for, be cancelled by quartering the same with two straight lines crossing at right angles at the center of the discs, and cut at least as deep as the figures thereon, which seals so cancelled shall be safely kept in the office of the secretary of the Commonwealth and at least three clear impressions thereof filed with the Styate librarian to be by him duly indexed and safely kept in a suitable place. “(d) The new, and permanent, seals of the Commonwealth, herein provided for shall, when completed, be kept and used as provided by law, and at least three clear impressions thereof shall be made and filed with the State librarian to be bim kepts and displayed in some suitable place in the State library for public inspection. “(e) A sum sufficient, not to exceed fifteen hundred dollars is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, to meet the necessary expenses of carrying out the provisions of this act.” The Proclamation by the Governor, proclaiming the new seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia says: “Whereas it is provided by section twenty-eight of the Code of Virginia that ‘The lesser seal of the Commonwealth shall be one and nine-sixteenth inches in diameter, and have engraved thereon the device and inscriptions contained in the obverse of the great seal,’” “Now, therefore, in conformity with the provisions of section twenty-seven of the Code of Virginia, I do hereby proclaim the first of the said seals, hereinabove described, to be the great seal of the Commonwealth, and the second of the said seals, to be the lesser seal of theCommonwealth. “Given under my hand and under the lesser seal of the Commonwealth, at Richmond, this 2nd day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand, nine hundred and thirty-one, and in the one hundred and fifty-sixth year of the Commonwealth. By the Governor: Jno. Garland Pollard, Governor, Peter Saunders, Secretary of the Commonwealth.”[10] Coloured
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The Seal for the Senate of Virginia was initiated in 1973 by Senator James D. Hagood, President pro tempore. Senator Hagood was concerned with the misuse of the great seal of the Commonwealth and wanted a seal designed for the Senate. Senator J. Harry Michael, Jr., was selected to head the project. In 1976 the Commonwealth was given permission by Queen Elizabeth II, visiting Virginia, to use the arms of the Company of 1619 again. The College of Arms in London agreed to undertake the project and designed armorial bearings drawn from the devisal of arms of the London Company. A general description of the Senate armorial bearings on the warrant reads as follows .....We have devised the Armorial Bearings following, that is to say for Arms: Argent a Cross Gules between four Escutcheons each ensigned with a Royal Crown those in the first and fourth quarters emblazoned with the Arms of France (modern) quartering these of England the Escutcheon in the second quarter with the Arms of Scotland and that in the third quarter with the Arms of Ireland on the Cross an Ivory Gavel palewise proper. For the Crest upon a Helm with a Wreath of the Colours Issuant from a Wreath of Dogwood Flowers proper a Female Figurecouped below the shoulders also proper crined Or vested Gules garnische Gold on her head an Eastern Crowm of the last and for supporters Dexter a Cardinal Bird wings addorsed proper and sinister a Dragon wings addorsed Gules. ...this Tenth day of September of the year of Our Lord One thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine To denominate the Senate as a law-making body, on the cross there is superimposed an ivory gavel. Above the shield is a helmet, otherwise referred to as a "helm", with a wreath of dogwood flowers, the state flower, supporting the female figure which represents Queen Elizabeth. There is a scroll on each side of the maiden. The ribbon at the base of the shield contains the motto of the Senate, "Floreat Senatus Virginiae", translated as "May the Senate of Virginia flourish." The Senate seal was accepted by the Senate on January 22, 1981. |
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Arms: Argent, a cross Gules charged with an ivory gavel; in the first and fourth quarters the arms of England being quarterly of France and England, royally crowned; in the secons the arms of Scotland, royally crowned; in the third the arms of Ireland, royally crowned. Crest: On a helmet lambrequined Gules and Argent, on a wreath of the colors and dog wood flowers (Cornus sanguinea – Cornaceć), the bust of a maiden proper, vested Gules and crowned with a pointed crown Or Supporters: Dexter: A cardinal Gules (Cardinalis cardinalis - Fringillidć) [11]; Sinister: A dragon Gules.[12] Motto: FLOREAT SENATUS VIRGINIĆ (May the Seate of Virginia flower) in black
lettering on a white ribbon. [13] |
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Mace The original mace of the House of Delegates was presented to the House of Burgesses by the Royal Governor of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia in 1700. That mace, alas, has since been lost. The current mace dates only from the Edwardian period, and is constructed of silver covered in 24-karat gold. It was purchased by the Jamestown Foundation and presented to the House of Delegates in 1974. It is processed by the Serjeant-at-Arms into the current House chamber in the Virginia State Capitol (seen above) whenever the House is in session and removed to the old House chamber in the same building every day at the adjournment of the House. [14] |
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Cap Badge |
Sleeve
Patch |
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Crest |
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Description That for the regiments and separate battalions of the Virginia Army National Guard: From a wreath of colors, "Virtus the genius of the Commonwealth dressed as an Amazon, resting on a spear with one hand and holding a sword in the other; and treading on Tyranny, represented by a man prostrate, a crown falling from his head, a broken chain in his left hand and a scourge in his right" all Proper.
Symbolism One of the first acts of the Virginia State Convention of 1776 was to provide a seal. The design was reported by George Mason but is said by Girardin, under the supervision of Jefferson to have been devised by George Wythe. The design was entirely classic and the words of the report describing the seal are remarkable for clearness and precision. Background The crest for color bearing organizations of the State of Virginia was approved on 8 October 1923. |
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Distinctive Unit Insignia |
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Description A gold color metal and enamel device 3.18 cm in height consisting of a white saltire on a scarlet background enclosed by a circlet of twelve black chain links, the lower central link separated into two parts by the shaft of a gold spearhead issuant vertically from the center of an obtuse V-shaped blue scroll enclosing the base and inscribed in gold "THUS EVER TO TYRANTS," the spear tip impaling the chain link at upper center. Symbolism The white saltire on the scarlet background refers to Virginia's colonial heritage and further signifies Virginia's entry into the union as the 10th state. The broken chain, the spear and the motto as well are adapted from the Seal of the State.
Background The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment and noncolor bearing units of the Virginia Army National Guard on 31 August 1971. It was redesignated effective 30 March 1983, for Headquarters, State Area Command, Virginia Army National Guard. The insignia was redesignated for the Virginia Army National Guard Element, Joint Force Headquarters and amended to update the description effective 1 October 2003. |
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Shoulder Sleeve Insignia |
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Description On a scarlet five-sided polygon tapered and pointed at top a gray saltire within a 32 mm) gray border the scarlet area edged white, the saltire charged with a white chain throughout, crossed and broken at center by a white spear bendwise, 8.41 cm in height and 6.67 cm in width overall. Symbolism The scarlet is for bravery and also alludes to the blood of Virginia troops shed in defense of State and Nation. The color gray and the saltire refer to the Confederacy and also to unity of strength. The spear severing the chain symbolizes the breaking of the "chains of tyranny," and the constant readiness of the Virginia Commonwealth to fight for freedom, the color white referring to purity of purpose. Background The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved for Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Virginia National Guard on 23 November 1956. It was redesignated with description amended for Headquarters, State Area Command, Virginia Army National Guard on 30 December 1983. The insignia was redesignated for the Virginia Army National Guard Element, Joint Force Headquarters and amended to update the description effective 1 October 2003. (TIOH Dwg. No. A-1-246) |
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As of the 16th Century, what is now the state of Virginia was inhabited by Iroquoian, the Eastern Siouan & the Algonquian tribes The tip of the Delmarva Peninsula south of the Indian River was controlled by the Algonquian Nanticoke. Meanwhile, the Tidewater region along the Chesapeake Bay coastline appears to have been controlled by the Algonquian Piscataway (who lived around the Potomac River), the Powhatan & Chowanoke, or Roanoke (who lived between the James River & Neuse River). Inland of them were two Iroquoian tribes known as the Nottoway, or Managog, & the Meherrin. The rest of Virginia was almost entirely Eastern Sioux, who held lands from the Bluestone River between West Virginia & Kentucky, all the way around through southwest Virginia and up to the Maryland border (the region of the Shenandoah River Valley was controlled by a different people). Also, the lands of Muskogean people connected to the Mississippian Culture may have just barely crossed over into the state into it's southwestern corner. Later, these tribes merged to form the Yuchi. The Commonwealth of Virginia passed legislation in 2001 to develop a process for state recognition of Native American tribes within the state. As of 2010, the state has recognized a total of 11 tribes, eight of them related to historic tribes that were members of the Powhatan paramountcy. The state also recognizes the Monacan Nation, the Nottoway, and the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway), who were outside the paramountcy. Descendants of several other Virginia Indian and Powhatan-descended tribes still live in Virginia and other locations. |
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Eastern Chickahominy Indians Tribe |
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Mattaponi Tribe |
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Monacan Nation |
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Nansemond Indian Tribal Association, |
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Patawomeck |
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Rappahannock Indian Tribe
(formerly United Rappahannock Tribe). |
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An unrecognized tribe, Rappahannock Indian Tribe, also uses this name. |
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Upper Mattaponi Tribe |
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© Hubert de Vries 2017-12-06
Heraldry of the World