Arms of Jacques

[steven harris]

I was wondering if anyone could help me properly identify these arms.



I don't know if they come from France, or perhaps Canada. I do not have a grantee's name, nor the proper tinctures.

Any help would be appreciated!

[Chris Green]

St Joseph de Beauce is in Quebec, Canada.

http://www.chaudiereappalaches.com/en/travel-quebec/la-beauce/saint-joseph-de-beauce/saint-joseph-de-beauce/municipality/

The shells are the clue. They are pilgrim shells, the traditional emblem of St James (St Jacques).

From Wiki:

The scallop shell is the traditional emblem of James, son of Zebedee, and is popular with pilgrims on the Way of St James to the apostle's shrine at Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (Spain). Medieval Christians making the pilgrimage to his shrine often wore a scallop shell symbol on their hat or clothes. The pilgrim also carried a scallop shell with him, and would present himself at churches, castles, abbeys etc., where he could expect to be given as much sustenance as he could pick up with one scoop. Probably he would be given oats, barley, and perhaps beer or wine. Thus even the poorest household could give charity without being overburdened. The association of Saint James with the scallop can most likely be traced to the legend that the apostle once rescued a knight covered in scallops. An alternative version of the legend holds that while St. James' remains were being transported to Galicia (Spain) from Jerusalem, the horse of a knight fell into the water, and emerged covered in the shells.

Their Fire Department has a CoA, but it is quite different to the one you illustrate.

http://www.pompierstjoseph.com/

In 1987 it was 250 years since the town was founded. I found a link to "un tournoi" (a tournament), but it turned out to be ice hockey not jousting.

[Jeremy Kudlick]

I find it somewhat odd that the date given for the "Fête de Saint Jacques" is July 11 since the traditional Catholic feast day for St. James is July 25.

I can't readily locate any arms attributed to St. James, but many towns, cities, and churches named for him include scallop shells in their arms or other insignia. For example, St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Virginia, has adopted the arms Chequy Or and Azure on a chief ermine a cross gules charged with an escallop of the first. Their explanation of the arms leaves a little to be desired, especially their description of Azure, but it is an excellent use of heraldry in the States.
http://www.stjamesleesburg.org/coatOfArms.asp

[steven harris]

Are these the arms of the city of Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, in Québec?

[Jeremy Kudlick]

They may have been adopted. I noticed on the town's official website that 2012 was the 275th anniversary, which would mean that 1987 was the town's 250th anniversary. I can't find any grant in the CHA's online Register, but we all now that the online Register is incomplete. The 250th anniversary celebrations were also a full year before the CHA was created, but these may well be arms designed for the celebrations.

Since we've established that these are not French arms but are instead associated with a Canadian town, may I suggest relocating this thread to the Canadian Heraldry subforum?

[Chris Green]

Are not the arms depicted on the Fire Department's web-site (3 times) more likely to be those of St-Joseph-de-Beauce? Perhaps someone could check those against CHA records. The sketch in the original post looks "unofficial" to me.

[Ryan Shuflin]

Where is the sketch from?

My theory is that is the canting arms of someone surnamed Jacques living in Saint-Joesph de Beauce. Perhaps the July 11th is the date of a family reunion? Anyway I could not find Jacques in the online register(no surprise there).

also, the arms of Saint-Joesph de Beauce http://grandquebec.com/armoiries-blasons/armoiries-st-joseph/