These include armories (the signs of this set in general), armorial (pertaining to armories), armiger (an entity legally possessing armories),
armigerous (possessing armories), and armigery (the possession and use of armories).
On October 20,1596, William Dethick, Garter Principal King of Arms, granted William Shakespeare's request on behalf of his father John--and eventually of himself--to be awarded
armigerous (gentleman) status.
Royalist cavaliers flourished in Virginia; the Dutch granted patroonships in New York;
armigerous families reproduced the feudal system in Maryland.
Some came from the gentry and are referred to with the honorific "Mrs." or are married to men who are themselves "Mr." (25) While their testimonials do not survive, we know that the wife of the Lord Mayor of Chester practiced as well, and York midwife Bridget Hodgson was
armigerous gentry and the daughter-in-law of the city's Lord Mayor.
(25) The
armigerous state of the family goes back at least another generation, however, as in his will, written on 4 March 1514 and proved in September the next year, George Ashby bequeathed to his son Thomas 'my signet w[i]t[h] my armes in it which was my grandfathers and bequethid unto me by my ffader in his last will'.
Thirdly and most interestingly, it nevertheless recognises that the daughter of an
armigerous gentleman has a right or interest in the family coat; and that if she is his only issue, she may pass on that right to the sons she may in due course bear.