The Allen Coat Of Arms
A Coat of Arms is an emblem or a device which is displayed by titled persons, persons of royal blood, and their descendants. Coats of Arms were originally used for purposes of identification and recognition on the field of battle as well as in civil life.
It is claimed by some writers that Coats of Arms, in a crude form, were used by Noah’s sons after the flood. There are records of other Coats of Arms, in one crude form or another, at different periods of ancient history. Heraldry, however, as we know it today, did not become of much importance until soon after the invasion of England by William the Conqueror, A. D. 1066. Heraldry became of general interest at about the time of the Crusades.
The Allen Coat of Arms shown in the front of this volume is the Arms of the Allens of Bedfordshire; Dale Castle, co. Pembroke; and Cresselley, co. Pembroke. Coats of Arms very similar to it are used by the Allens of Cheshire, Suffolk, and Wilts; Brindley, co. Chester; The Rhyd; City of Chester (cr. 1697) and many others. The Allens of London and numerous other branches of the Allen family use Coats of Arms resembling it.
This is the most widely used of all Allen Coats of Arms and has been in existence for many centuries. It is described in BURKE’S GENERAL ARMORY, BURKE’S GENTRY, BURKE’S PEERAGE AND BARONETAGE, and other reliable works on heraldry, in some cases accompanied by illustrations. Crozier records it for Roger Allen, from Bedfordshire, who settled in Connecticut in 1639, and it has been used for generations by his descendants and by many other American branches of the Allen family.
ENGLISH DESCRIPTION HERALDIC LANGUAGE
Arms Per bend rompu argent and sable, six martletts counterchanged. Six birds on a black and silber shield.
Crest An eagle argent holding in the beak an acorn or, leaved vert. A silver eagle, holding in its beak a golden acorn with green leaves.
Motto Amicitia sine fraude (Latin) Truth without deceit.
Sir Bernard Burke, of Heralds College, London, said “Heraldry is prized by all who can show honorable ancestry or wish to found honorable families.”
Besides its family significance this Coat of Arms makes an excellent mural decoration and inspires the admiration and comment of all who see it.
It is quite appropriate that members of the Allen family who have a pride in their ancestry should display the family Coat of Arms, in proper colors.
