Mx Family Crest

The Molyneux arms are azure, a cross moline, quarter pierced, or; those of the Teversal branch being almost invariably quartered with the coat of the Greenhalgh, of Teversal, through which family the estate was acquired. In like manner, the branch of Molyneux, Hawkeley, Co. Lancaster, springing from Thomas, second son of Sir Richard Molyneux, of Sefton, always quartered with their own the arms of Ince, of Hawkeley, Alan Molyneux having acquired that property through his marriage with the daughter and heiress of Gilbert Ince, of Hawkeley.

In 1567 ten generations of the Molyneuxes had been seated at Hawkeley, the representative at that time being Thomas Molyneux, Esq. The family appear to have resided there down to 1805, in which year the death is recorded, at Lymm Parsonage, of Bryan William Molineux, of Hawkeley Hall, Lancashire. The hall, a very ancient half-timbered structure embosomed in a dark wood, existed in 1836 as a farmhouse, but ruinous and dilapidated.

In the windows of Wigan Church, circa 1590, were depicted two shields of the arms of Molyneux, of Hawkeley,—azure, a cross moline, or, not pierced. In Warrington churchyard is a tomb of this family, with a boldly carved coat of arms, crest, helm, and mantling. The arms display the cross moline, pierced, with a mullet in dexter chief; the crest being the plume of peacock's feathers on a cap of maintenance. The inscription is as follows:—“Here lyeth the body of William Molyneux, of Hawkeley, Gentleman, who Departed this Life the 17th of February, 1697. Thomas Molyneux, Son of William Molyneux, of Hawkeley, Departed this Life the 28th of October, 1682.” “Richard Molineux, of Hawkeley, Gent., Died July 4th, 1748, Aged 47. Elizabeth, his wife, Died June 11th, 1767, Aged 42. Also, Mary, their Daughter, Died 28th November, 1775, Aged 42.”

A shield of Molineux, of Sefton, with sixteen quarterings, occurs on an armorial panel painting of the sixteenth century, preserved in the Warrington Museum.

Thomas Molyneux, Justice of Chester 22nd Richard II., second son of Sir Richard Molyneux, of Sefton, distinguished his coat armor by bearing azure, a chevron between three crosses moline, or. Roger, son of Adam Molyneux, bore the cross moline, argent. This coat was formerly to be seen emblazoned in the windows of All Saint's Church, Chesterfield.

Coat of Arms Usage

Clive G. Molyneux. Here is a statement issued some years ago by the American Board for Certification of Genealogists:

"If your male line immigrant ancestor from England was entitled to use a coat of arms, then you have a right under English law to use this same coat of arms. If he had no such right, then neither do you (unless you buy a grant of arms for yourself from the College of Arms). Thus, to establish the right under English (or German, French, Swiss, etc.) law to a coat of arms, it is necessary to prove your uninterrupted male line descent from someone who is legally entitled to use this coat armor. No "heraldry institute" or "heraldic artist" can look up a surname and provide the correct arms for you without first proving your descent. If they say they can do so, then they are guilty of fraud."

Ref: www.genealogytoday.com/columns/ receipes/tip18.html

There is nothing to stop you from buying a coat of arms and use it to 'decorate' your group. However, you cannot claim it as your own unless you can prove, conclusively, that you have direct descent to the family those arms represent.

In other words, you cannot put them on official documents etc. and claim that you are the Earl of 'whatever' without that proof. Just because you share the same surname is not proof enough.

Within my own name, I know of several Molyneux families with their own arms, the most well known being the Earls of Sefton. You will not believe the number of times I have to tell my fellow Molyneuxs, that just because they share the same surname as the Earl, does not mean that they can claim direct descent and use his arms without proof.

To Quote from the American Heraldry Society "The enthusiasm for heraldry worldwide is so high that many businesses have sprung up to sell “surname” coats of arms to thousands of people each year. Unfortunately, in the vast majority of cases customers have no direct ancestral connection to the owners of the arms and are buying someone else's property -- just as if they purchased someone else's ancestry."

The arms that decorate this group, are for decorative purposes only and we make no claim of ownership.