Orders and Medals

The authors's medals for membership in various orders/societies arranged by prece
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025
Click to enlarge 

I needed a break from shields, mottos, and the like.  I started thinking of a new project that would be quasi-heraldic and deeply personal, reflecting me.  Following my investiture in the Order of St. John this past fall, I've been awestruck since lost in disbelief that I would ever be worthy of such an honor.  The breast medal for my grade of Member is a constant reminder to serve all people--for the faith--and some days its hard to believe others thought so highly of me.  It is humbling.  Thus, that medal provided inspiration for my new project.  The spirit and intention is not to "peacock" my bling, but rather to challenge me in learning new design skills, etc.  So, this is not a bragging post!

On the advent of taking my first steps in the world of heraldry, circa 2011-2013, I began researching my family history as so much of it was unknown to me.  I wanted to learn whose footsteps were imprinted in my soul and share that with my children--sharing this story was everything to me.  While uncovering all manner of facts and legends, I wanted to somehow place a permanent marker in our timeline, documenting all that predated my existence.  Enter hereditary societies.  I knew nothing about this rather interesting world of genetically like-minded people whose ancestors' DNA and their human experiences created a common bond and medal to wear.

Nonetheless, these hereditary societies work assiduously preserving evidence-based family lineages focusing one theme or another.  This shared interest--documenting family lineages with the evidence--solved my problem of how to plant that familial stake in the ground while I still roam above it.  Thus, I "earned" a rack of medals.  

Precedence for ordering hereditary society medals is set by the founding date of the organization.  Highly recommend the Hereditary Society Community's website for any reader interested to learn about all of these groups.  Please click this link to see the medals/insignia for each society.

1. The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

Medal of a Serving Member.  The Order of St. John, of course, is not a hereditary organization but an order of chivalry bound through the "fount of honor" the Sovereign Head, HM King Charles III.

2.  The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (1865)

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For ancestors who served as officers in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

3.  The Sons of the Revolution (1876)

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For ancestors who served the cause of freedom and fought during the American Revolutionary War.

4.  The Sons of the American Revolution (1889)

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For ancestors who served the cause of freedom and fought during the American Revolutionary War.

5.  The Hereditary Order of First Families of Massachusetts (1985)

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For ancestors who, "settled within the bounds of the Massachusetts Bay Colony before the year 1650."

6.  The Order of First Families of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation (1991)

Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2025

For ancestors, "resident on land presently a part of the State of Rhode Island

and the Providence Plantations prior to January 1, 1647-1648."

The Arms of First Families of Massachusetts

Seal concept designed by Chad Krouse, 2024.

As a proud member of the Hereditary Order of First Families of Massachusetts (HOFFMA), I recently had inspiration to see if I could create fresh renderings for the Order's use as those in print are rather dated.

My qualifying ancestor, Stukeley Westcott (1592-1677), was apparently quite the character since he was tossed out of Massachusetts only to become one of the first settlers to establish the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.  He was a 2-for-1 as I am a member of both First Families of Massachusetts as well as Rhode Island.  Interestingly enough, Westcott was also an early member of the First Baptist Church in America.  

Coat of arms of First Families of Massachusetts
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

History lesson aside, HOFFMA was organized in 1985 under the leadership of the late Dr. Roswell Levi Atwood of Massachusetts.  Dr. Atwood also designed HOFFMA's coat of arms around that same time, blazoned: "Barry wavy of six Azure and Argent on a chief of the second a cross Gules charged with a lion passant guardant Or of England."

Atwood goes so far as devise supporters blazoned: "on each side a griffin per fess Gules and Argent wings elevated, beaked, eared and tufted Or, armed Gules, and displaying above the shield a pillar Or; tassels pendant Gules."  This is pretty much all I'm going to cover on the supporters as they really don't interest me.

After becoming a member in 2015, I really wanted our coat of arms, well, to be simpler?  Thankfully, Atwood avoiding any temptation to run with a quartered coat!  So I've taken up the challenge in rendering a few design assets for HOFFMA with the hopes of their usefulness.  

Banner of arms, First Families of Massachusetts.
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024.

The annual directory sent to members notes that the flag of the Order--also an Atwood design--was apparently lost following the death of his son.  The flag, "reflects the Order's emblem on a field of white with gold trim."

After reading this I immediately saw the forthcoming banner of arms as rendered above.  I am planning to have the flag physically at 3ft x 5ft.  Not quite like Atwood's flag, perhaps cooler?

Members' medal of First Families of Massachusetts
Rendered by Chad Krouse, 2024

Now the Order's medal for members is rather slick and was quite fun to recreate digitally.  I actually need to order a miniature medal and excited to wear on formal occasions.  

I have at least one other hereditary society coat of arms to present and more to come soon.

Plot Twist

Recently, I received a kind email from Andrew Cusack who blogs andrewcusack.com, alerting me to the existence of the arms of the County of London (England).  The London County Council received a grant from the College of Arms in 1914: Barry wavy of six azure and argent, on a Chief of the last the cross of St George charged with a lion of England.  

The County of London was abolished in 1956 and replaced with the Greater London Council that seemingly bore the same arms until it was abolished in 1985-86.

Yikes!

So, did Dr. Atwood know that these arms existed?  Is it possible that he believed with the Greater London Council's abolishment in 1985-86 that the design was up for grabs?  Who knows.  Nonetheless, I believe its never wise to take another's coat of arms; differencing a design is rather easy and helps avoid infringement and the arms of FFMA are definitely crossing (or towing) that line.