The Gore Roll: a talk by Brenton Simons

March 26 @ 6:00 p.m.

The Gore Roll of Arms: A Talk with Benton Simons

Thursday, March 26 @ 6pm

 The Gore Roll of Arms, the earliest known collection of heraldic arms in America, was the work of Christopher Gore’s father, John Gore (1718–1796). John Gore ran a paint shop in Boston and offered fine decorative painting on coaches for the elite of Boston. The Gore Roll includes pen, ink, and watercolor arms for New England’s most prominent families, including the Winthrops, Saltonstalls, Brattles, and Winslows. Studied by many, a copy of it was created by Isaac Child in 1847. It remained in the possession of the Gore family throughout most of the 19th century, but in 1865 was lost. In the early 20th century, Boston physician and heraldic scholar Dr. Harold Bowditch helped to secure and donate it to the New England Historic Genealogical Society. This new publication brings together, for the first time, a facsimile of the original Gore Roll and facsimiles of the 1847 Child and a 1926 Harold Bowditch copies. The publication is enriched by scholarly commentary, including an introduction by D. Brenton Simons, OBE.

 Brenton Simons is President Emeritus and Chief Stewardship Officer of the New England Historic Genealogical Society (AmericanAncestors.org). He is an author, historian, and genealogist. In this illustrated talk, Brenton will tell the story of John Gore’s remarkable book, its disappearance, and rediscovery.