Yes, Nancy, I know all about the misunderstandings about family crests. I think they have been written, re-written, and discussed on almost every genealogy list. Evidently you did not see the bottom of the coat of arms which includes the statement and copyright symbol: DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS JAMES CARTER And, that statement is followed by the copyright symbol. In addition, there is the statement to the right side of the bottom of the crest: The "Coat of Arms" is for use as a symbol of relationship by family members, and is NOT a royalty symbol. I do not know any better way to explain the purpose of the crest; It is to be used by the Descendants of Thomas James Carter. Tim Carter Surch@juno.com On Mon, 01 Mar 1999 22:21:16 -0600 ncarter@vzinet.com (Nancy Carter) writes: >Your Coat of Arms is very nice. Please read the 10/04/1997 article in >the >Dallas Morning News written by Lloyd Bockstruck in his genealogy >column. He >wrote of family coats of arms and how widely misunderstood they are. >First >of all, a coat of arms has never belonged to a family. It belongs >only to >the one individual person for which it was designed . It cannot >become the >symbol or property of any other person or persons, not even another >close >family member. An authentic Coat of Arms is as unique as our Social >Security number is to us in these modern times. You may wish to >appropriately designate your very unique design as your special >Family >Crest or Family Emblem. Your efforts have inspired me to design an >"emblem" >for our >family, thanks for sharing. > > >Tim C wrote: > >> I have put a coat of arms on my homepage for: >> >> "CARTER, Thomas James & Descendants" at: >> >> http://www.parsonstech.com/genealogy/trees/tcarter/tjcarter.htm >> >> This crest was redesigned from one that we found and which we are >not at >> all sure of any authenticity. My daughter and I changed it to meet >our >> own requirements, i.e., >> >> because we are into genealogy, there are >> >> 1) Sherlock Holmes cap, magnifying glass, and pipe. To indicate >that we >> are diligently searching for the answers in our family history. >> >> 2) shovel and pick axe. To indicate that we are "diggin m up". >> Actually, it is more likely that these tools will be used for >cleaning up >> cemeteries than for "diggin m up". <G> >> >> 3) computer with monitor, keyboard and mouse. To indicate one of >the >> methods we are using to search, and that we are recording everything >we >> find, even though we might not divulge some of it for some time to >come. >> >> 4) "DESCENDANTS OF THOMAS JAMES CARTER" is written across the >bottom of >> the crest, followed by the copyright symbol. >> >> At the right side of the crest is a notice of our "Carter Reunion & >> Genealogy Search" date and location. Just below that notice is the >> following statement: >> >> The "Coat of Arms" is for use as a >> symbol of relationship >> by family members, >> and is NOT a royalty symbol. >> >> Tim Carter Surch@juno.com >> PO Box 724 >> Broken Arrow, OK 74013-0724 >> >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. >> Get completely free e-mail from Juno at >http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html >> or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] > > > > ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]