the one borne by the ancestor of the Stratford, Conn., branch of the 

 Curtiss family. An ancient emblazonment on parchment has been in 

 the possession of this branch of this family beyond any doubt for over 

 one hundred and fifty years and is owned to-day by an elderly lady 

 residing in Bridgeport, Conn. It is claimed this emblazonment was 

 brought over to this country by the first ancestor, but this I have 

 been unable to substantiate. On the reverse side of this parchment 

 certain data relating to the Stratford and Roxbury members of the 

 family have been written, supposedly in the handwriting of Joseph 

 Curtiss, Town Clerk of Stratford, Conn., 1678-1728. 



The records of the College of Heraldry, in London, Eng., show 

 that this coat-of-arms was confirmed to " John Curtis, of London, 

 Gent., son of William Curtis, of Hatton in the County of Warwick, 

 Gent., son of Eustace Curtiss, of Malestock, in the said County, 

 Gent., son of William who was son and heir of John Curtis, of 

 Malestock aforesaid, Gent., by Sir Richard St. George Clarencieux, 

 the 9th of May, 1632,"' in the 8th year of the reign of King Charles 1., 

 and that this crest was granted at the same time. In the visitation of 

 London, in 1633, the name of John Curtis does not appear, so it is 

 probable that he left for New England soon after having these arms 

 confirmed. 



For further proof of the above see page viii. 



The curious description of these arms on the records is as follows : 

 " Azure a fesse dancette between three ducal crowns or," 

 " Crest : A Lyon in his ppr. collets Issuing forth of his Collers Or 

 and Azure supporting in his right pawe a Shield Azure & thereon a 

 fess dancette Or Mantled gules doubled argent." 



A general search in the archives of the College of Heraldry, 

 London, England, gives the following record of arms borne by 

 persons of the Curtiss, Curtis, etc., name. The numbers and initials 

 on the left are the reference numbers to those records. 



E. D. N. Alphabet of Arms. Curteis T Azure a fesse dancette ar- 



< gent between 3 crowns or. 

 (^ See below. 

 E. D. N. Alphabet of Arms. Curtis, London f Quarterly i & 4 azure a 



& fesse dancette between 3 



Warwick ducal crowns ; or 2 & 3 on 



a pale sable 3 mullets or. 

 Grant of a crest to John 

 Curtis of London gent, 

 son of William of Hatton 

 Co: Warwick 1632. 



' William Curtiss, who settled in Roxbury, N. E., and who is claimed to have been a brother of John 

 Curtiss, sailed for New England June 22, 1632. 



(Xii) 



