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The
arms of Joseph Crozer
Steepy are a variation
of his ancestor's arms (Richard Steepy ca. 1749, Reg. No. 0234, Vol.
2, pg. 51).
The three ploughs set
against a blue
background are the
recognized arms of New
Jersey and represents
the long time residence
of the family in that
area prior to the
American Revolution. The
symbolism is also
significant in that it
recognizes the family's
occupation in
agriculture. As a
younger son of Richard
Steepy circa 1815,
Joseph's arms are
differenced with a
mullet (a five pointed
star).
According
to US tradition, all
legally recognized
children are entitled to
inherit the arms of the
parent whose surname
they bear, as well as to
use those arms by
courtesy during the
parent's lifetime. This
principle is derived
from the most widely
followed traditional
practices of armorial
succession—inheritance
in the legitimate male
line—modified to take
account of modern
American family law and
customs. For families
that follow the
traditional American
naming custom in which
children take the
father's surname, this
means that the children
will use and inherit the
arms of their father.
Younger
sons of an armiger may
voluntarily choose to
use a "mark of
difference" to
distinguish themselves
from their brothers (as
is the case here with
Joseph adding the mullet
to his arms). However,
all descendants are
eligible to display the
original arms
"undifferenced" if they
so choose.
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