Chapter III: William Barton’s Designs

The report of the Lovell committee met with the same fate as the report of the first committee. It was recommitted, and nothing further was done until May, 1782, when Arthur Middleton of South Carolina, Elias Boudinot of New Jersey, and Edward Rutledge of South Carolina were appointed a committee to design a seal. The two South Carolinians were men of foreign education, and a cultivated gentleman in those days usually had some knowledge of heraldry. Boudinot had an interest in coins and medals, it is presumed, as he was appointed Director of the Mint at Philadelphia in 1795. This committee did no independent labor of a serious character, but called into consultation William Barton, A. M., a private citizen of Philadelphia. He was the son of Rev. Thomas Barton, rector of St. James Episcopal Church, his mother being a sister of the famous David Rittenhouse,[21] and in 1813 he published a memoir of Rittenhouse. He was also the author of a monograph on the nature and use of Paper Credit, etc. (Philadelphia, 1781). The reasons which prompted the committee to go to him are not known. It is evident, however, that he had studied heraldry, and his drawings show that he was ingenious in the use of his pencil. From the time he first appears in connection with the seal he is the central figure, until he divides the honors with the Secretary of Congress, Charles Thomson.

Rutledge’s connection with the committee was never active, and Arthur Lee, who had recently returned from France, acted with it, although never formally assigned as a member.

Barton’s first design for the seal was as follows:

A Device for an _Armorial Atchievement_, for the Great Seal of the
United States of America, in Congress assembled; agreeable to the
Rules of Heraldry:—proposed by William Barton, A. M.

Arms.

Barry of thirteen pieces, Argent & Gules; on a Canton, Azure, as many
Stars disposed in a Circle, of the first: a Pale, Or, surmounted of
another, of the third; charged, in Chief, with an Eye surrounded with
a Glory, proper; and, in the Fess-point, an Eagle displayed, on the
Summit of a Doric Column which rests on the Base of the Escutcheon,
both as the Stars.

Crest.

On an Helmet of burnished Gold damasked, grated with six Bars, and
surmounted of a Cap of Dignity, Gules, turned up Ermine, a Cock armed
with Gaffs, proper:

Supporters

On the dexter Side: the Genius of America (represented by a Maiden
with loose Auburn Tresses, having on her Head a radiated Crown, of
Gold, encircled with a Sky-blue Fillet Spangled with Silver Stars; and
clothed in a long, loose, white garment, bordered with Green: from her
right Shoulder to her left Side, a Scarf semé of Stars, the Tinctures
thereof the same as in the Canton; and round her Waist a purple Girdle
fringed or; embroidered, Argent, with the Word “Virtue”:)—resting her
interior Hand on the Escutcheon; and holding in the other the proper
_Standard of the United States_, having a Dove, argent, perched on the
Top of it.

On the sinister side: a Man in complete Armour; his Sword-belt, Azure,
fringed with Gold; his Helmet encircled with a Wreath of Laurel, and
crested with one white & two blue Plumes: supporting with his dexter
Hand the Escutcheon, and holding, in the exterior, a Lance with the
point sanguinated; and upon it a Banner displayed, Vert,—in the
Fess-point an Harp, or, stringed with Silver, between a Star in Chief,
two Fleurs-de-lis in Fess, and a pair of Swords in Saltier, in Base,
all Argent. The Tenants of the Escutcheon stand on a Scroll, on which
the following Motto—

“Deo favente”—

which alludes to the _Eye_ in the Arms, meant for the Eye of
Providence.

Over the Crest, in a Scroll, this Motto—

“Virtus sola invicta”—

which requires no comment.

The thirteen pieces, barways, which fill up the Field of the Arms, may
represent the several States; and the same Number of Stars upon a blue
Canton, disposed in a Circle, represent a new Constellation, which
alludes to the new Empire, formed in the World by the Confœderation of
those States—Their Disposition, in the form of a circle, denotes the
Perpetuity of its Continuance, the Ring being the Symbol of Eternity.
The Eagle displayed is the Symbol of Supreme Power & Authority, and
signifies the Congress; the Pillar, upon which it rests, is used as
the Hieroglyphic of Fortitude & Constancy; and, it’s being of the
Doric Order, (which is the best proportioned & most agreeable to
Nature,) & composed of several Members or parts, all, taken together,
forming a beautiful Composition of Strength, Congruity & Usefulness,
it may with great propriety signify a well planned Government. The
Eagle, being placed on the Summit of the Column, is emblematical of
the Sovereignty of the Government of the United States; and, as
further expressive of that Idea, those two Charges or Figures are
borne on a Pale, which extends across the thirteen pieces into which
the Escutcheon is divided. The Signification of the Eye has been
already explained.

The Helmet is such as appertains to Sovereignty; and the Cap is used
as the Token of Freedom & Excellency: It was formerly worn by Dukes
“because,” says Guillim, “_they Had a more worthy Government than
other Subjects_.”—The Cock is distinguished for two most excellent
Qualities, Necessary in a free Country, viz. _Vigilance & Fortitude_.

The Genius of the American confœderated Republic is denoted by her
blue Scarf & Fillet, glittering with Stars, and by the Flag of
Congress which she displays. Her Dress is white edged with green;
Colours emblematical of Innocence and Youth. Her _purple_ Girdle &
radiated _Crown_ indicate her Sovereignty: the Word “_Virtue_” on the
former is to show, that _that_ should be her principal Ornament; and
the _radiated_ Crown, that no _Earthly_ Crown shall rule her. The Dove
on the Top of the American Standard denotes the Mildness & Lenity of
her Government.

The Knight in Armour with his bloody Lance represents the Military
Genius of the American Empire, armed in Defence of its just Rights.
His _blue_ Belt & _blue_ Feathers indicate his Country, & the _white_
Plume is in Compliment to our gallant Ally. The Wreath of Laurel round
his Helmet is expressive of his Success. The _Green_ Field of the
Banner denotes Youth and Vigor; the Harp is emblematical of the
several States acting in Harmony & Concert; the Star, _in Chief_, has
reference to America, _as principal_ in the Contest; the two
Fleurs-de-lis are borne as a grateful[22] Testimonial of the _Support_
given to her by France; and the two Swords, crossing each other,
signify a State of War. This Tenant & his Flag relate, totally, to
America at the Time of her _Revolution_.

WILLIAM BARTON.

This, the first device of Barton, was not illustrated, and his second device, of which he offered a colored drawing, differed from it in that he transferred the eye to the reverse and the eagle from the summit of the column to the crest, thereby eliminating the cock. He put at the summit of the column a phœnix rising from the flames, left out the American flag from the dexter supporter’s hand, and changed the sinister supporter from a warrior in armor to one in continental uniform, holding in his hand a baton instead of a lance. He also left out the harp and the fleur-de-lis and transferred the motto to the reverse. The fleur-de-lis was proposed to commemorate the alliance with France, this being the only report in which the alliance figured. The design is important, because it establishes the fact that the idea had become fixed of having in the seal the thirteen stars, the blue field, and thirteen stripes of red and white or white and red. In this design appears for the first time the eagle.

Barton’s second design was addressed to “The Hon^{ble}. Elias Boudinot, Esq^r. & Arthur Lee Es^q. In Congress.”

Device for an Armorial Atchievement & Reverse of a Great Seal, for the
United States of North America: proposed by William Barton, Esq^r. A.
M.—

Blazoned according to the Laws of Heraldry—

Arms.

Barry of thirteen pieces, Argent & Gules; on a pale, Or, a Pillar of
the Doric Order, Vert, reaching from the Base of the Escutcheon to the
Honor point; and from the Summit thereof, a Phœnix in Flames with
Wings expanded, proper; the whole within a Border, Azure, charged with
as many Stars as pieces barways, of the first.

WILLIAM BARTON’S SECOND DESIGN

[Traced from the original and reduced one-half]

Face p. 28
]

Crest.

On a Helmet of Burnished Gold, damasked, grated with six Bars, a Cap
of Liberty, Vert; with an Eagle displayed, Argent, thereon: holding in
his dexter Talon a Sword, Or, having a Wreath of Laurel suspended from
the point; and, in the sinister, the Ensign of the United States,
proper.

Supporters.

On the dexter side, the Genius of the American Confederated Republic:
represented by a Maiden, with flowing Auburn Tresses; clad in a long,
loose, white Garment, bordered with Green; having a Sky-blue Scarf,
charged with Stars as in the Arms, reaching across her Waist from her
right Shoulder to her left Side; and, on her Head, a _radiated_ Crown
of Gold, encircled with an Azure Fillet spangled with Silver Stars;
round her Waist a purple Girdle, embroidered with the Word “Virtus”,
in Silver:—a Dove, proper, perched on her dexter Hand.

On the sinister side, an American Warrior; clad in an uniform Coat, of
blue faced with Buff, and in his Hat a Cockade of black & white
Ribbons; in his left Hand, a Baton Azure, semé of Stars Argent.

Motto, over the Crest—

“_In Vindiciam Libertatis_”

Motto, under the Arms—

“_Virtus sola invicta_”

Reverse of the Seal.

A Pyramid of thirteen Strata, (or Steps) Or. In the Zenith; an Eye,
surrounded with a Glory, proper.

In a Scroll, above—or in the Margin

“_Deo favente_”

The Exergue

“_Perennis_”

Remarks.

The Imperial Eagle of Germany (which is sable, and with two Heads) is
represented with a Sword in one Talon, and a Sceptre in the other.

The Phœnix is emblematical of the expiring Liberty of Britain, revived
by her Descendants in America.

The Dove (perched on the right Hand of the Genius of America) is
Emblematical of Innocence and Virtue.

The Sword (held by the Eagle) is the Symbol of Courage, Authority &
Power. The Flag or Ensign denotes the United States of America, of the
sovereignty of which the Eagle is expressive.

The Pillar is the Hieroglyphic of Constancy & Fortitude; and is
likewise emblematical of Beauty, Strength & Order.

The Pyramid signifies Strength & Duration.

The other parts have been explained.

The Armorial Atchievements of Sovereign Princes & States are usually
blazoned by the planets, to represent the Colours; but that mode is
purposely deviated from, being condemned by the best Heralds.

The committee adopted this complicated design and reported it to Congress May 9, 1782, but Congress was not satisfied with it, and on June 13 it was referred to the Secretary of Congress.

The endorsement on Barton’s design is in Thomson’s hand, except the last sentence, “Passed,” etc.:

N^o. 26—Report of M^r. Middleton M^r. Boudinot M^r. Rutledge. Device
of a Seal Ent^d. May 9, 1782 June 13–1782 Referred to the Sec^y of the
United States in Congress Assembled to take order. Passed June 20
1782.

The number on the report had reference to the arrangement of papers in the Secretary’s office. The words “Passed June 20 1782,” had reference to the later design.

It should be noticed that Barton termed the description of his device a “blazon”—that is, a verbal description so precise that a person understanding heraldry would be able to draw and color the arms correctly. All of the other reports on the seal were blazons also, thus showing the purpose of making an illuminated arms.

Barton’s design for the obverse, as he drew it for the committee, was 9½ inches by 8 inches large, and the reverse 2½ inches in diameter, and both were in colors, the coloring following the description correctly, and the lettering and scroll work being in black and white. The circumstances under which Barton was called upon to submit his final design were noted by him in a memorandum which he left among his papers:

In June, 1782 [he says] when Congress was about to form an armorial
device for a Great Seal for the United States, Charles Thomson, Esq.,
then Secretary of Congress, with Hon. Arthur Lee and Elias Boudinot,
member of Congress, called on me and consulted me on the occasion. The
Great Seal, for which I furnished these gentlemen with devices (as
certified by Charles Thomson, Esq.), was adopted by Congress on the
20th of June, 1782. Mr. Thomson informed me, four days after, that
they met with general approbation.

W. BARTON.[23]