|
 
Last updated 10/7/99
MIDYET(T/E)
MIDGET(T/E)
Heraldic Discription of MIDYETT:
Arms: Azure, Three Lions Rampant, Gules
Motto: Lock Sicker (Safely Secure)
The name Midget, Midgett,
Midgette, Midyett, Midyette are as American as ye Roanoke Island in Ye Countie of
Albememareie in Carolina.
Before the cartographer took quill in hand and
inscribed the words Pamlico and Albemarie Sound, an Act of God -- a storm and this family
-- MATTHEW MIDYETT.
Historical evidence associates Matthew's name
MIDYETT with the French, Dutch, English, Scotch, German, Danish and American Indian.
Many coats of arms for the variant spellings
have been found.
From the best evidence found to date, the coat
of arms here represents that which the family of Matthew Midyett had in England. It takes
but a qlance to see the Scotch, Dutch and English influence. The Lock, Scotch, the lion
rampant, English, and the Dutch tulips, Holland.
To be purely Scotch, the arms would have
spelled the word Megget, but the field is azure and the qusdranquiar lock and key are
argent; if the arms were pure Luxembourg, the blazon would have been sable with 3 lions
rampant and the Dutch tulips; if the arms had been wholly French, then there would have
been several choices, the Angel Michael with with flaming sword on the shield, or a shield
containing seven ears of corn, charged with boar sable, carring the motto "I hope to
share", in French.
In the summer of 1977, a Midyett desendant
found a coat of arms registered in France. As near as can be determined from his
description, this coat of arms is the one registered to the first Midyett --MATTHEW-- to
come to North Carolina and Matthew's father came from England; therefore, this coat of
arms must be considered English. Matthew Midyett was born 10 April 1676 in Charles County,
Maryland, the son of Richard Midget (spelled that way in Maryland records) and possibly
Eliza Lewgar. Matthew married Judith White (born 3 August 1681), at Covell, Ann Arundel
County, Maryland. This marriage occurred 13 July 1702. Both Matthew and Judith died at
Bodies Island, North Carolina. Matthew dying 25 December 1734 and Judith dying 26
September 1744. There were nine children: Samuel, John, Joseph, Ann, Matthew, Catherine,
Thomas, Judith and Diana.
Matthew Midyett came to North Carolina in the
early 1700's. His land grants attest to that. That he was a close friend of the first
governor of North Carolina, there can be little doubt, since he saved his life and
privented his capture when Emanuel Low's brigantine was firing on the house of Col. Thomas
Pollock where the government of Governor Edward Myde was in session. He served in the
Colonial courts and appears on the jury list of Chowan precinct. There is no doubt also
the MATTHEW MIDYETT was a friend of Governor Charles Eden. Matthew may even have sailed
with Blackbeard.
MIDGETTE
COAT OF ARMS
SHIELD: Of Black with three
lions of silver. Forearms crossed to form a "Cross Feet, claws and toes spread.
Thongue out. Crowns of gold, poses two and one.
CREST: A lion on top; like one
on shield. : Forepart of animal between spread wings of black sitting on a pad; roll
striped alternately of silver and black. The face of the helmet is webbed; acts as a
curtain to be open and closed to avoid the rays of the sun and is part of the vestment of
the Knight worn over his head. In heraldy it adds to the beauty of the shield. The helmet
is of gold and lined with a red cloth.
According to Elsdon C. Smith's New Dictionary
of American Family Names, the surname Midgett was patronymical in origin and meant
'descendant of Miget, a pet form of Michel, (who is like God).' This and other sources
placed the name originally in France.
The Midgett Coat of Arms bears a representation
of the Archangel Michael, a reference to the derivation of the name, holding in his right
hand a sword and in his left hand a shield, all naturally colored; in the upper part of
the shield are two silver Norman swords crossing diagonally, symbolizing the French origin
of the name. The blue background signifies loyalty and truth.
Midgett Coat of Arms
Midgett Coat of Arms
If you have any information on this please
let me know.
Midyette Coat of Arms (this is a poor photo,
I hope to get another copy of it)
| 
