The Lack Arms
   

 

Arms were granted to John Lack in 1808

In that year Spain revolted against Napoleon's occupation, starting the Peninsular War. It was three years after Trafalgar.

John Lack's ancestors are not known; in the grant of arms pictured below it states that he is by tradition descended from a family of the same name seated at Antwerp. When I asked in Antwerp about 18th.C records, I was informed that they had all been burned in the war.

   
Detail of the Lack Coat of Arms
 
The Blazon (description) reads:-
TO whom these presents shall come, Sir Isaac Heard, Knight Garter principal King of Arms and George Harrison, Esquire, Clarenceaux King of Arms in the South East and West parts of England from the River Trent southwards send greeting Whereas John Lack of Chelsea in the county of Middlesex Esquire hath represented unto the most noble Charles, Duke of Norfolk Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England that his family is by tradition descended from a family of the same name seated at Antwerp, but not finding on an examination of the records of the College of Arms that any armorial ensigns have been recorded to his family. He therefore requested the favor of his Grace's Warrant for Our Devising, Granting and exemplifying such as may be proper to be borne by him and by his descendants according to the Laws of Arms. And foreasmuch as the said Earl Marshal did by warrant under his hand and seal bearing date the twenty third day of June last authorise and direct us to devise grant and exemplify unto the said John Lack such armorial ensigns accordingly: know ye therefore that we, the said Garter and Clarenceaux in pursuance of his Grace's warrant and by virtue of the letters Patent of our several offices to each of us respectively granted have devised and do by these presents grant and exemplify unto the said John Lack the arms following that is to say: Azure a fess wavy cottised argent in chief an eagle displayed of the second between two besants and in base a fleur de lis or. And for the crest on a wreath of the colours a besant charged with an Eagle displayed azure as the same are in the margin hereof more plainly depicted to be borne and used for ever hereafter by him and his descendants according to the Laws of Arms. In witness hereof we the said Garter and Clarenceaux kings of arms have to these presents subscribed our names and affixed the seals of our several offices this twentieth day of September in the Forty eighth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King defender of the faith etc. and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eight
Isaac Heard, Garter Principal King of Arms
George Harrison, Clarenceaux King of Arms
Recorded in the College of Arms London and examined therewith this eighth day of November, 1808. Ralph Bigland Norroy, Deputy Register
 
A Comment on the Arms
Bezants
The two gold disks are heraldic representations of bezants, coins brought by the crusaders from Byzantium. The bezant, a coin modeled after Muslim gold dinar, circulated in the Crusader states. Because of its Muslim origins, the coin was replaced by the bezant staurat , depicting a Christian cross, but an Arabic inscription. By 1270, it was replaced by a bezant with a Latin inscription and the Lamb of God. It is sometimes called a "Talent," the emblem of Justice, and equal dealing among men.

An early Bezant

 
A Fess Wavy
A fess is a horizontal band, cottised means between two others, argent is silver. The wavy strip often represents a river or sea - perhaps denoting immigration across the Channel?
 
The Fleur-de-Lys
In its simplest, diagrammatical form, it is thus
My design is thus
The fleur-de-lys is the old heraldic symbol of France, also sometimes used in heraldry to denote the sixth son. It is a representation of the water Iris.
 
The Full Grant of Arms made to John Lack in 1808
 
 
The Lack Crest and Motto
 
 
Laboribus Quaesivi -
'I have sought through work'
 
Crest on Signet Ring belonging to the family