William Jamesone (1591-1632)

William Jamesone  - was born May 9, 1591, in Saint Nicholas Parish, Aberdeen, Scotland, to Andro and Marjore (Anderson) Jamesone. He was the fourth son and last child, of apparently five children. William's father was a Stone Mason and Architect,[1][2] as was his grandfather, William, before that. The family lived at Stonehill, in central Aberdeen, where he attended school while young. We know very little about this William Jameson, apart from that he was a writer to the Signet (Lawyer) and that he lived and worked in Edinburgh, Scotland. William Jameson's brother was George Jameson (1587-1644) the prominent portrait painter often known as the Scottish Vandyck.[3]

William Jamesone, who apparently never married, died in 1632,[4] probably Edinburgh. In his will, he bequeathed all of his mathematical instruments and books to a Mr. William Johnstone, Doctor in Physics and Professor of Mathematics at Marischal College Aberdeen. Brother George Jamieson air and executor.[4] His place of burial is unknown.

The shields for the arms often associated with this William Jamesone, as depicted here in the upper right hand corner, are unknown as to their exact origins. The arms themselves however, are best described[5] as: Azure, on a saltire or, between four ships argent, flagged gules, a rose of the last. They are also mentioned differently in two other places[4][6] and described there as "Argent, on a saltire or [!] between four ships sable, a rose guiles." The arms are said to be displayed on the "Heraldic Ceiling" at Marischal College, in Aberdeen, Scotland.[6][7][8] It might be important to note here that most heraldic scholars have issue with the heraldic description of this latter description of these arms, in that the "or" (gold) saltire on a argent (white or blank (silver metallic)) shield is outside of generally accepted heraldic rules. It is suggested that the color was most likely meant to have been "azure" (blue-sea). However, if that was the case, then the four ships "sable" (black) would not have been correct, that perhaps they should have been "argent" (silver) but had tarnished (silver oxidizes to black over time) and that this was as such wrongly interrupted and then incorrectly repeated, at some later date.

In all cases there is no references given as to a crest or any motto.

We have chosen to show the "azure" (blue) background depiction of these arms in the upper right hand corner of this page, as the default. This then rolls (mouse over) to reflect the other "or" (silver) depiction. The version with the "azure" (blue) background shield, is quite common in use by several more recent Jam?son families, including those of the "Jameson Whiskey" family, making it more likely correct in both instances.

Y-DNA test, associated with this family, #: None Known

Y-DNA Analysis - William Jamesone is assumed to have never married nor had any children. Therefore, it will be necessary to find any descendants of yet unknown collateral relatives of this William or his ancestors. Because we don't know who that might be, any DNA analysis of this family cannot presently be done.