Person:James Lockhart (5)

Capt. (army) came to VA in response to Bacon's Rebellion Captain James Lockhart, one of his Majesties' Heraulds, b. 1647, d. Abt 1711, Virginia, m. 26 Dec 1672, Margaret Burnet. [See detailed notes] (The Lord Lyon says that his recording of ARMS reads as follows: "James Lockhart, brother sone of the House of the Lockharts of Barr, one of his Majesties' Heraulds.") ____________________________________________________________________ 16th Generation, 17th Century

It was during this era, recorded in 1670, that Barr Castle in Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland (built for the Lockharts of Barr) was purchased by the Campbells of Cessnock. (Did they still have John Lockhart's silver spoons?!)

Family Connection?--James Lockhart. James Lockhart's relationship to the Lockharts of Barr is a bit confusing as is worded in the Lord Lyon's statement, "James Lockhart, a brother sone of the house of Lockharts of Barr, one of his Majesties Heraulds," but, it seems, he was of the house of Lockharts of Barr and was one of King Charles II's heralds between 1660-1685. [The Lord Lyon King of Arms, New Register House, Edinburgh.] (King Charles II, reigned 1660-1685.)

A herald ("herauld" is the Brit's spelling version) is a specialist in the field of armorial bearings--knowing them all and to whom they belonged. They were masters of ceremony at jousts, announcing the name and title of each contestant as recognized by their armorial bearings. Thereafter they became experts on precedence and ceremony, not only for jousts but for coronations and all kinds of royal and other pageantry. Subsequently, heralds began to regulate the adoption of new coats of arms.

James Lockhart registered his arms between 1672-1680: "LOCKHART, James, one of his Majesties Heraulds; ARMS: gules on a fess betwixt three boars heads erased argent a mans heart proper enclosed within a fetter lock sable; CREST: ane hand holding forth a key bend ways proper; MOTTO: Corda Serata Pando." [The Armorial, Vol. I, p. 352, "Roll of Scottish Arms, 1672-1680."]

Listings in the Index of Register of Deeds 1676, Edinburgh, Scotland:

"James Lockhart, one of His Majesty's heralds, Granter; Nature of Deed: Bond; Date of Recording: 5 Jan. 1676; Office: Dal.; Vol. 40, Page 710."

"James Lockhart, one of His Majesty's Heralds, Granter; Nature of Deed: Bond; Date of Recording: 9 Jan. 1676; Office: Mack.; Vol. 34, Page 455."

"James Lockhart, one of His Majesty's Heralds, Granter; Nature of Deed: Bond; Date of Recording: 6 Mar. 1676; Office: Mack.; Vol. 34, Page 737."

"James Lockhart, Albany Herald, Granter; Nature of Deed: Factory; Date of Recording: 7 Mar. 1676; Office: Dur.; Vol. 35, Page 522."

"James Lockhart, one of His Majesty's heralds, Granter; Nature of Deed: Bond; Date of Recording: 12 June 1676; Office: Dal.; Vol. 41, Page 687."

"James Lockhart, one of His Majesty's Guard, Granter; Nature of Deed: Bond; Date of Recording: 12 June 1676; Office: Dur.; Vol. 36, Page 225."

From a copy of the Factory Deed recorded in the National Archives of Scotland for James Lockhart, Albany Herald, on 7 Mar. 1676 in Edinburgh, we were able to extract the signature of "Herauld Ja Lockhart."

In January 2001, a booklet was discovered, titled, "The Lockhart ancestry and known descendants of H(oratio?) James Lockhart" by Oliver Cary Lockhart, published 1964, Washington D. C. What was interesting about the title was the fact that the author wasn't sure about the name "H(oratio?);" it seems he was more certain about the "H."

A hand written document recorded 7 Mar 1676 in the Register of Deeds, Vol. 35, pages 522-526, Edinburgh, Scotland, names James Lockhart, Albany Herald, Grantor of Factory. In this document, James Lockhart signed his name with his title as one of Charles II's Heralds: "Herauld Ja Lockhart." James' hand written "Herauld" looks a lot like "Horatio," and the "H" is very prominent in the signature. Is it possible that researchers believed that his name was "Horatio" when in fact the word was "Herauld" and was not a name but a title? Was this possible misinterpretation the origin of "Horatio" James Lockhart?