The Adams Family Coat of Arms, attributed to John Coles, Jr. (1776-1854), Boston, Massachusetts, Circa 1800

The Adams Family Coat of Arms

attributed to John Coles, Jr. (1776-1854)

Boston, Massachusetts

Circa 1800

Together with a second shield of arms labeled BY THE NAME OF HAMMOND. The first attributed to Coles with three cats passant in pale azure with griffin head erased crest above lion and leopard passant, with gouache and gold leaf highlights, is the Seal of Thomas Adams of New Kent County, Virginia; born about 1730 in New Kent and died in 1788 in Augusta Co. (Crozier's Virginia Heraldry, p. 7). Bolton's American Armory, 1927, reprint 1989, p. 1. The motto cur optas quod habes translating to why do you wish for what you have.

Height 13 7/8 in. by Width 10 1/2 in. (sight)