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About Our Logo
The logo for Parsonage Data Services is the crest from the armorial achievement of Howard Parsons. The arms are Registration # 2001 with The American College of Heraldry.
Blason
The blason for these arms is as follows:
Azure, a canoe fesswise Or, between in chief a thistle also Or and in base barry wavy of six Or and Azure. Above the shield is plase a Helment with a Mantling Azure, doubled Or, and on a Wreath Or and Azure is set for Crest, a wildcat sejant erect guardiant, Or, holding in the forepaws a crescent Argent, and in an Escrol below the Shield this Motto: "I Will Endeavour So To Do".
The arms were designed, in consultation with myself, by the late Dr. David Pittman Johnson and rendered by the eminent heraldic artist, Andrew Stewart Jamison.
A Brief Explanation
The Thistle is a reference to Howard's Scots heritage and all the time he spends in a kilt for the Grants & Macphersons. The canoe pertains to both his Cherokee ancestry and one of Howard's favourite pass-times — One that he doesn't do enough of. The wavy bars pertain to Howard's love of hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains of VA and his work maintaining hiking trails in the Shenandoah National Park. The thistle and canoe together are an abstract representation of the lymphad on the arms of Sir William Macpherson of Cluny, Chief of Clan Macpherson. This is Howard's way of saying "Hi cousins!". The entire shield can also be a subtle reference to the arms of Scarborough, England where part of Howard's mother's family comes from.
As for the Crest itself, the wildcat comes from the Macpherson arms and the crescent refers to Howard's membership in the Shriners. Interestingly, there was a Macpherson living in England in the 1800's who had the paws of a wildcat holding a crescent.
The motto comes from the charge given to graduates in the college commencement ceremonies at North Carolina Wesleyan College.
As for the colours - Blue & Gold are the colours for Howard's High School (Hopewell High School - Class of 1970), North Carolina Wesleyan College AND the Macpherson livery.
Registering Arms In The United States
If you're interested in arms of your own or just want to learn more about Herladry in general, contact the American College of Heraldry at http://www.americancollegeofheraldry.org and learn what it takes to get your own.
Please take the time to browse our site and discover the many services we offer. Parsonage Data Services is on the side of small business — both in our home town of Charlottesville, VA and elsewhere around the world. We know that you will be intrigued by The Parsonage Difference