Heraldry is an extensive and complicated subject. Three of my grandchildren and one of their spouses gave me for Christmas a copy of Simple Heraldry. Published in 1978 the authenticity of the work (and perhaps the complexity of the subject matter!) are indicated by the grandeur of the authors’ titles: Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk BT., O.S.T.J., PH.D., F.S.A., Advocate, Albany Herald of Arms and Don Pottinger, O.ST.I., M.A.(Hons), D.A Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms. Nevertheless, the book tells us that the component parts of a full ‘achievement’ are correctly called, from the top down, the Crest, the Helmet, the Mantling, the Coat of Arms, and the Motto. Some have Supporters on either side and Supporters stand on a mound called a Compartment. Not all Coats of Arms have all components.
Over time variations creep in but as far as we can deduce the coat of arms shown here (1) as Cobbold are pretty much what the original family arms looked like. The Mantling appears above the helmet whereas it should perhaps be below.
Charlotte Bampton née Cobbold (1817-1914) #141, a daughter of John Wilkinson Cobbold and Harriet Chevallier was an accomplished artist with a leaning towards family history, who recorded the marriages of seven of one of her brothers and six sisters on plates. In the language of heraldry, a union is called ‘impaling’ and is indicated by a vertical line down the centre of the shield (‘per pale’). As we look at it, the husband’s coat is always on the left (dexter or baron) and the wife’s father’s coat on the right (sinister or femme).
In 1827 John Chevallier Cobbold (1797-1882) #114 married Lucy Patteson (1800-1879) #115
In 1832 Katherine Georgiana Cobbold (1806-1885) #125 married Rev. William Charles Fonnereau (1806-1855) #126
In 1833 Emily Cobbold (1809-1902) #129 married George Read Dixon (1808-1839) #130
In 1835 Harriet Anne Cobbold (1811-1864) #132 married (secondly) Edward Hanbury (1808-1850) #133
In 1842 Agnes Cobbold (1807-1895) #127 married Rear-Admiral Frederick Chevallier Syer (1799-1874) #128
In 1843 Jane Octavia Cobbold (1819-1888) #143 married Rev. O Thomas Preston (1817-1897) #144
In 1855 Harriet Anne Cobbold (1811-1864) #132 married (thirdly) Borlase Hill Adams (1817-1885) #135
Charlotte had another eight brothers and sisters and we have some unidentified heraldic plates but to date we have failed to find more matches.
Anthony Cobbold
Footnote: Having consulted the family’s classical scholar, we believe the original motto was ‘Repungo’ being translated as ‘Prick back’ (holly leaves) suggesting a defensive stance. It is thought to have been changed to ‘Repugno’ in Victorian times translated as ‘Fight back’ or ‘Retaliate’ to give an altogether more aggressive feel.