information Sir William Frances Woods
Brian Woods
information on his son Sir Albert William Woods who died in 1893,
I hope somebody can help, any information will be welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Brian.
Melvyn Jeremiah
There was a Sir William Woods who was sometime Garter Principal King
of Arms, but I don't know his dates. Do ypu have any information about
the arms, the orders and decorations, or the seat of either of the two
gentlemen you mention?
Melvyn Jeremiah
Derek Howard
I am a little confused by your names and dates. Are you referring to
the following?:
Sir William Woods (1785-1842), appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant 1819,
Norfolk Herald Extraordinary concurrently from 1825, Clarenceux 1831,
Garter 1838. Knighted 1832. Allegedly a natural son of Charles, Duke
of Norfolk 1746-1815. Secretary to the Order of the Bath Jan 1815,
Registrar of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order in August 1815.
Appointed Ross Herald in Scotland 1816 but did not take it up. He
possibly had Scottish connections as he used arms matriculated in 1812
by Lyon to George Woods of London brother and heir of William Woods
late of Edinburgh. The latter was probably William Woods comedian of
the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh (d.1802) when his brother George Woods,
tailor of London, was declared his heir. Sir William presumably was or
passed as the son of George.
Sir Albert William Woods (1816-1904). He was an illegitimate son of
Sir William Woods, Garter by Mary Ann Young. Worked at the College
from 1832, Fitzalan Pursuivant Extraordinary 1837, Portcullis
Pursuivant 1838, Norfolk Herald Extraordinary Oct 1841, Lancaster
Herald and Gentleman Usher of the Red Rod and Brunswick Herald Nov
1841. Succeded on his father's death in 1842 as Inspector of
Regimental Colours. Registrar of the Order of the Start of India 1861,
King of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George 1869 and was
appointed Garter in 1869. According to Wagner "Sir Albert was
businesslike, energetic and capable and possessed immense knowledge of
ceremonial, precedence and the day to day business of his office. He
wa not an historian or scholar and his influence on heraldic design
has been thought deplorable"
Incidentally, Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston (1874-1957) was the grandson
of Sir Albert by his daughter Caloline Marianne (1843-1902) by Sir
Arthur Naylor Wollaston (1842-1922). Sir Gerald was Fitalan 1902,
Bluemantle 1906, Richmond 1919, Norroy 1928, Garter 1930, Norroy and
Ulster 1944, Kt 1930, KCVO 1935, KCB 1937. Quite an heraldic dynasty
if not noted for its style.
(Source: A R Wagner: The Heralds of England)
Derek Howard
Derek Howard
> Sir William Woods (1785-1842), appointed Bluemantle Pursuivant 1819,
> Norfolk Herald Extraordinary concurrently from 1825, Clarenceux 1831,
> Garter 1838. Knighted 1832. Allegedly a natural son of Charles, Duke
> of Norfolk 1746-1815. Secretary to the Order of the Bath Jan 1815,
> Registrar of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order in August 1815.
> Appointed Ross Herald in Scotland 1816 but did not take it up. He
> possibly had Scottish connections as he used arms matriculated in 1812
> by Lyon to George Woods of London brother and heir of William Woods
> late of Edinburgh. The latter was probably William Woods comedian of
> the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh (d.1802) when his brother George Woods,
> tailor of London, was declared his heir. Sir William presumably was or
> passed as the son of George.
According to A C Fox-Davies, The Art of Heraldry, p.264, he obtained
the grant of a second crest when he was Garter oblivious of the fact
that he had not established a right to arms. Those he used were
certainly granted in Lyon Office to a relative, but no matriculation
of them in his own name was ever registered. Foster's Grantees of Arms
1687-1898 (ed. Rylands, Harl. Soc. v.68, 1917) does not record a grant
to Sir William of the second crest. Fairbairn does not list a crest
specifically in his name. So was there really a second crest granted?
A postcard of shields of Garter Kings of Arms for sale from the CoA
shows Sir William's arms as Azure a wild man (woodman) proper wreathed
about the loins Vert holding in his dexter had a lowered club, his
sinister hand outstretched and resting his dexter foot on a ball, on a
chief Or a lion passant guardant Gules. These presumably were the arms
granted to William Woods of London by Lyon (could a Scot please
confirm?)
> Sir Albert William Woods (1816-1904). He was an illegitimate son of
> Sir William Woods, Garter by Mary Ann Young. Worked at the College
> from 1832, Fitzalan Pursuivant Extraordinary 1837, Portcullis
> Pursuivant 1838, Norfolk Herald Extraordinary Oct 1841, Lancaster
> Herald and Gentleman Usher of the Red Rod and Brunswick Herald Nov
> 1841. Succeded on his father's death in 1842 as Inspector of
> Regimental Colours. Registrar of the Order of the Start of India 1861,
> King of Arms of the Order of St Michael and St George 1869 and was
> appointed Garter in 1869. According to Wagner "Sir Albert was
> businesslike, energetic and capable and possessed immense knowledge of
> ceremonial, precedence and the day to day business of his office. He
> wa not an historian or scholar and his influence on heraldic design
> has been thought deplorable"
Fox-Davies, at p.472 and plate CXXXIX gives the seal of Sir Albert
William Woods, Garter King of Arms (born 1816, Garter 1869): Argent a
cross of St George Gules, on a chief Azure, a ducal coronet within a
garter, between a lion of England passant guardant and a fleur-de-lis
all or, and i;paling his family arms of Woods, namely: Or, on a mount
Vert a lion statant guardant in front of an oak-tree proper, fructed
of the first, a chief Azure, theron a pale Argent, betzeen two
circlets of the crown of a King of Arms also of the first, a cross of
St george Gules, the escutcheon surrounded by the ribbon of the Order
of St Michael and St George (He was KCMG in 1890, CB 1887. Sir Albert
was at the time Fox-Davies was writing, 1904, also KCB and GCVO but no
alteration had been made to the seal). Above the escutcheon is placed
the crown of his office.
Fosters Grantees of Arms 1687-1898 (Harl. Soc.) says that he received
his grant of arms in 1892 - presumably for purposes as KCMG. This begs
the quesstion as to what arms he used on his Garter seal prior to that
date.
> Incidentally, Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston (1874-1957) was the grandson
> of Sir Albert by his daughter Caloline Marianne (1843-1902) by Sir
> Arthur Naylor Wollaston (1842-1922). Sir Gerald was Fitalan 1902,
> Bluemantle 1906, Richmond 1919, Norroy 1928, Garter 1930, Norroy and
> Ulster 1944, Kt 1930, KCVO 1935, KCB 1937. Quite an heraldic dynasty
> if not noted for its style.
> (Source: A R Wagner: The Heralds of England)
Argent three mullets pierced of the first.
Derek Howard
James Dempster
>>According to A C Fox-Davies, The Art of Heraldry, p.264, he obtained
>the grant of a second crest when he was Garter oblivious of the fact
>that he had not established a right to arms. Those he used were
>certainly granted in Lyon Office to a relative, but no matriculation
>of them in his own name was ever registered. Foster's Grantees of Arms
>1687-1898 (ed. Rylands, Harl. Soc. v.68, 1917) does not record a grant
>to Sir William of the second crest. Fairbairn does not list a crest
>specifically in his name. So was there really a second crest granted?
>A postcard of shields of Garter Kings of Arms for sale from the CoA
>shows Sir William's arms as Azure a wild man (woodman) proper wreathed
>about the loins Vert holding in his dexter had a lowered club, his
>sinister hand outstretched and resting his dexter foot on a ball, on a
>chief Or a lion passant guardant Gules. These presumably were the arms
>granted to William Woods of London by Lyon (could a Scot please
>confirm?)
Azure a woodman proper wreathed about the temple and the middle with
laurel Vert, holding in his right hand a club, head downwards, in pale
Or, his sinister arm extended and pointing upwards, and his right foot
resting on a besant, on a chief Or a lion passant guardant Gules.
George Woods, London 1812 (Balfour Paul #5531).
Unfortunately this just misses Gayre's volumes so there is no
indication of the crest or motto.
Armorial Families (6th Edn) gives the above with the provenance (LO
1812, and H Coll). Mantling Gules doubled Argent and crest (H Coll) of
"Issuing out of a ducal coronet Or a mount Vert thereon a lion statant
guardant of the first in front of an oak tree Proper fructed Or. Motto
"Robur."
No second crest is illustrated or mentioned.
The family given are the descendants of General William George Woods
CSI (1804-1880) described as son of Sir William Woods, Garter. The
general married 1833 Sarah, dau of Andrew Clark with issue Lt Col
James Andrew Woods, Royal Dublin Fusiliers (ret) b 1836, m firstly
1862 Catherine Louisa, widow of Captain T. Walter Still Kings Dragoon
Guards, secondly 1902 Fanny, eldest dau Capt W.F. Grey Royal Horse
Artillery , with issue an only son James Albert Woods b 1875.
Residence, Hove.
James
James Dempster (jdem...@easynet.co.uk)
You know you've had a good night
when you wake up
and someone's outlining you in chalk.
Melvyn Jeremiah
There is a splendid photograph of Sir Albert Woods GCVO KCB KCMG at
Plate IV of "The History of the Order of the Bath" by James C. Risk.
Melvyn Jeremiah