Matriculating Arms for a LIVING Ancestor?

[Cygnus]

It has been a while since I posted in this thread, but I wanted to update everyone on my progress and ask a couple more questions (if you'll humour me).

First, I'm busily compiling my schedule of proofs and am curious to know how open Lyon is to accepting photocopies of documents? Would such documents require an official stamp of some kind from the place they were retrieved? A number of the christening records I've found have been copies from microfilm or even copies of copies that various relatives have.

Second, I've come across a story in a Great Uncle's writings that his Grandmother would tell him stories about her father, Alexander MacDonald, and older brother, Archibald Borthwick MacDonald. According to these stories, her Father was the eldest (surviving) son and heir of the Chief of the MacDonalds of Glencoe. His younger brother (who I assume was Ewen MacDonald) tricked him into signing away his inheritance after a night of excessive drinking. Upon their father's death, Alexander's younger brother produced the document and essentially left Alexander destitute. Alexander made his way to Edinburgh and had one son and two daughters. To cut a long story short, Archibald joined the military to try and gain enough money and recognition to fight his Uncle's claim in court but was killed in action, leaving only sisters behind. I am descended from the eldest of these sisters.

Would Lyon be at all interested in this? I am working on substantiating the story to sate my own curiosity, but would like to know if this information would be taken into account in designing my ancestor's arms.

Thank you, everyone, for your input!

And extra thanks goes to MoR for all of the information he has so kindly provided me already!

[JerseyLawyer]

I'm sure the Lord Lyon would be interested if what you're intending is to put your name forward as the senior heir for the name and arms, and therefore Chiefship, of MacDonald of Glencoe, for which, as I understand it, there are currently at least three competing claims that Lyon is trying to work out.

[Cygnus]

Jersey Lawyer, I wouldn't be a claimant for the Chiefship; the grandmother I mentioned married a man whose last name was Swan, and that is my last name. My understanding of the process of naming a Chief is that his name must be that of the family he wishes to lead. In any case, I wouldn't be the first in line - my father was the second son in his family, after all.

I was simply wondering if that would have any bearing in the charges selected for differencing my line of Swans from other(s).

I'm actually in the process of trying to establish a link to the only other Swan armiger I've been able to find from the time my ancestors were still in Scotland (James Swan W.S., granted arms in 1828). Given that he lived in the same area as the third-great-grandfather I have discussed in previous posts, there is a possibility that they were related somehow.

[JSFMACLJR]

I've written the petition for a grant of arms for a Scottish ancestor of mine and have begun the arduous task of assembling the required proofs (and the even longer task of amassing the funds to pay the requisite fees).

Since the line of direct inheritance branches far from myself, I know I'll have to petition a matriculation of my ancestor's arms with suitable marks of difference. It only just occurred to me, however, that I am the first son in my family. My father is still alive (and I hope that he will be for a long while yet) and is an incredibly practical man that would have no interest in matriculating arms for himself. Which leads to my question - would it be possible for me to request the arms in his behalf (which my son and I can then use with the appropriate labels)?

I'm not sure exactly how one would go about it and I have thus far been unable to find anything on the subject.

It would also be nice to know in the event that I have another son - I think a matriculation of arms with a fitting signet ring would make for a very nice graduation present when the time comes.

Have you asked these questions on the HSS Forum?

Cheers,
Sandy

[Cygnus]

Have you asked these questions on the HSS Forum?

Cheers,
Sandy

Thank you, JSFMACLJR! Because it is called the "Members Forum", I had assumed that it was restricted to members only. I've registered and am waiting a confirmation email.

Thank you!