Arms of the Family of Goodwyn
The armorial bearings as engraved upon this George IV English Sterling Silver
Gadrooned Footed Waiter or Salver by William Bateman hallmarked London 1825
are those of the family of Goodwyn. They may be blazoned as follows:
Arms: Or a fess between six lions' heads erased gules upon the fess an annulet of the first
Crest: A griffin sejant sejant wings expanded argent goutty de
poix1
These armorial bearings were recorded in the Heralds' Visitation of the County of Devon that took place in 1620.2
The pedigree that accompanies these arms is one of four generations headed by a Henry Goodwyn,
of Kesgrave in the County of Suffolk and was witnessed by Henry Goodwyn, of Torrington in the County of Devon.
This Henry was the grandson of Henry Goodwyn, of Kesgrave aforesaid.
Although the genealogical record of the Goodwyns is sketchy and as there appears to be a
preponderance of sons by the name of Henry in the Goodwyn family given the date of
manufacture of this waiter or salver I venture the following hypothesis :
Although it is difficult to pinpoint exactly the ownership of the waiter or salver upon the balance of probability
and without any evidence to the contrary, I believe this waiter or salver may well have been in the possession
of Thomas Wildman Goodwyn (born 26th April 1788 died 1830), Citizen and Fishmonger of London.
Although William was a member of The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers of the City of London,3
he was a brewer. He was the son of Henry Goodwyn, of Homerton in the County of Middlesex
which is to the east of the City of London and his wife Elizabeth Gray.
Henry was a Citizen and Pavior of London.
Thomas married Elizabeth Flower (born 30th June 1791 died 25th December 1860)
at the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Woodford in the County of Essex on the 17th August 1809.
Elizabeth was the second daughter of Sir Charles Flower,4 the 1st Baronet, of Lobb in the County of
Oxfordshire and of Woodford in the County of Essex and his wife, Anne Squire.
Otherwise, this waiter or salver belonged to another gentleman of the Goodwyn
family whose identity is not presently known and who left not too much of a genealogical trail.
The Goodwyn family was of ancient lineage having descended from Richard
Goodwyn, who was Mayor of the Borough of Lynn Regis5 in the County of Norfolk6
in the year 1486 during the reign of King Henry VII.
1 The engraver appears to have omitted the 'goutty de poix' upon the griffin's body and wings.
2 This visitation was undertaken by Sir Henry St George, Richmond Herald of Arms and Sampson Lennard,
Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms as deputies to William Camden, Clarenceux King of Arms
(Harleian Manuscript 1163, folio 131).
3 One of the City of London's livery companies.
4 Sir Charles served as the Lord Mayor of London for the year 1809 – 10.
5 Today known as King's Lynn.
6 The neighbouring county to that of Suffolk
Heraldry Courtesy of John Tunesi of Liongam
MSc, FSA Scot, Hon FHS, QG
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