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The
field of the shield is
green, which in the
immediate sense alludes
to the armiger’s
occupation as a
Physician (the Doctoral
robe of Medicine is
green). To his
descendants and future
bearers of the arms, the
green alludes to Eternal
Life, promised in Christ
in the Christian gospels
(St John 3:16). On the
field is placed a
saltire, reflecting the
armiger’s paternal
family origin being
originally from
Scotland. The saltire is
additionally part of the
flag of the State of
Alabama where he
currently resides.
Upon the shield is also
placed a golden cross
potonce, the ends being
splayed into three
points, or a
fleur-de-lis. The
fleur-de-lis represents
the armiger’s maternal
line (née Frigard) with
origins in France. More
deeply, the three points
have a Trinitarian
derivative meaning. All
together the saltire and
cross potonce possess a
total of eight arms
which indirectly alludes
to the surname of
Carter, alluding to the
wheel of a cart.
At the centre of the
design is a poppy with
symbolic adherence to
the armiger’s profession
as a physician
Anesthesiologist. In a
deeper sense, the poppy
represents life in
Heaven, free of pain and
sorrow (Revelation
21:4).
The crest is the Eagle
of Saint John. It
derives immediately from
the armiger’s wife’s
family line, nee
Jenkins, a surname from
the Middle English
meaning “John”. To
future bearer of these
arms, the Eagle of Saint
John represents the
Christian Gospels,
reigning supreme over
all of life. The three
spheres under the
eagle’s dexter talons,
alludes to the armiger’s
three children, and to
future bearers of these
arms, it is an allusion
to the Trinitarian
Christian Faith.
The motto is Latin for a
portion of St Paul’s
letter to the Ephesians,
chapter 4, verse 15: “to
live the Truth in Love.”
Lastly, the Seahorse
supporters symbolize the
great oceans which touch
the armiger’s distant
countries of origin;
Scotland and France
(secondarily Norway and
Germany) and the States
in which he was born
(Rhode Island) and of
which he has spent most
of his life, Georgia and
Alabama, all of which
are directly bordered by
the Great Waters.
The arms as illustrated
are featured on page 30
in the book “The
Heraldic Art of John
Ferguson” by Stephen
Friar.
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